Ladakh Secures 95% Job Quota for Residents: Centre’s New Promise

Centre promises to reserve 95% jobs for locals in Ladakh In a major breakthrough following years of protests and strikes, the Union Government has agreed to give 95% reservation for Ladakh locals in all jobs. The government has also assured stakeholders of a discussion on Sixth Schedule and statehood for the Union Territory next month. During a meeting with the delegates of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), comprising of social, political and religious leaders, the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai assured that all…

Read More

Srinagar Ex-Mayor to Challenge J&K Reservation Policy in High Court

Srinagar Ex-Mayor to Challenge J&K Reservation Policy in High Court

Amid a growing chorus against its, the newly-elected Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government had in November formed a cabinet sub-committee to look into the issue Former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu said on Tuesday said he will file a separate petition in the high court (HC) against Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy, which has drastically reduced the open merit posts and seats in jobs and admissions, supporting an earlier plea against the policy. Mattu said the petition on the reservation policy filed in the court needs serious impetus and support…

Read More

Winter Vacation in Kashmir: DSEK Submits Proposal Due to Severe Weather

Winter Vacation in Kashmir: DSEK Submits Proposal Due to Severe Weather

DSEK Proposes Phased Winter Vacation for Kashmir Schools Srinagar, December 3, 2024 – The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has submitted a proposal to the government, suggesting a phased winter vacation for schools in Kashmir starting from December 9, 2024. This decision comes in response to the severe weather conditions, including a cold wave and dense fog, which have made it difficult for students to travel to and from school safely. Phased Vacation Schedule According to the proposal, the winter vacation for classes up to 2nd primary will begin…

Read More

Protests Erupt as Farmers Oppose Anantnag-Pahalgam Railway Line

Protests Erupt as Farmers Oppose Anantnag-Pahalgam Railway Line

Farmers oppose proposed Anantnag-Pahalgam rail line A group of farmers in Anantnag district have appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir government to drop plans to build a railway line connecting the south Kashmir district headquarters with Pahalgam, which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra. “Hundreds of acres of agricultural land will turn barren if a railway line is built from Anantnag to Pahalgam. This stretch has one of the most fertile lands in Kashmir which provides livelihoods to thousands of families,” Ghulam Nabi, a local…

Read More

Are Social Media Influencers in Kashmir Worth Your Trust?

Are Social Media Influencers in Kashmir Worth Your Trust?

The Growing Wave of Influencers in the Kashmir Valley By: Javid Amin Over the past few years, social media has turned from a platform for connection into a bustling marketplace where influencers—ordinary individuals with a knack for creating content—exert immense sway over their followers. This global trend has swept into the picturesque Kashmir Valley as well. Once known for its natural beauty and serene landscapes, the region now boasts a new crop of “social media influencers” who are making waves—albeit not always for the right reasons. In Kashmir, influencers now…

Read More

Unscheduled Power Cuts Leave Kashmir in the Cold: Residents Frustrated

Unscheduled Power Cuts Leave Kashmir in the Cold: Residents Frustrated

Unscheduled Power Cuts Haunt Kashmiris as Winter Approaches Srinagar, November 2, 2024 – In stark contrast to promises of seamless electricity supply, Kashmir is grappling with extensive power cuts, stretching from five to ten hours across the region. These prolonged outages expose the fragile state of its power infrastructure, leaving residents frustrated and in the cold. Promises Unkept Senior physician Dr. Masood Hassan expressed the sentiment of many Kashmiris when he remarked, “In this modern age, we are witnessing power cuts that seem like a forgotten narrative from a decade…

Read More

Farooq Abdullah Questions Centre: ‘Where Will They Throw 24 Crore Muslims?’

Farooq Abdullah Questions Centre: 'Where Will They Throw 24 Crore Muslims?'

Farooq Abdullah also said that no one is preventing Kashmiri Pandits from returning to the Valley and that all political parties have supported their return. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the Centre should stop actions that could create communal tension and treat Muslims equally. “There is a need to stop (incidents like Sambhal). I will tell the government of India to stop (such acts) because they cannot throw the Muslims (of India) into the sea. Where will they throw 24 crore Muslims? Treat Muslims as equals, that is…

Read More

Political Firestorm: J&K BJP Slams Mehbooba Mufti Over Bangladesh-India Comments

Political Firestorm: J&K BJP Slams Mehbooba Mufti Over Bangladesh-India Comments

J&K BJP slams Mehbooba Mufti for comparing situation in Bangladesh to India Srinagar, Dec 2: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has evoked sharp criticism from the Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit on Sunday after comparing the situation of Bangladesh — which is under public scrutiny for alleged attacks on its minorities — with that of India. Addressing party workers in Jammu, Mufti said: “Our Hindu brothers are facing oppression in Bangladesh but if we do the same thing with minorities here (in India), then what is the difference?…

Read More

National Conference Denounces Petitions Targeting Mosques and Shrines

National Conference Denounces Petitions Targeting Mosques and Shrines

National Conference condemns petitions seeking surveys of mosques, Muslim shrines; ‘Such actions undermine fabric of our society’ The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Saturday strongly condemned the barrage of petitions filed across the country calling for surveys of mosques and Muslim shrines. In a statement issued here, the party’s provincial president Kashmir, Showkat Mir expressed deep concern over the flood of petitions that have been submitted calling for surveys of mosques and Muslim Shrines. He warns that if these actions are not addressed, they could disrupt the peaceful…

Read More

Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood: Kashmir’s New Floral Wonder Welcomes Tourists

Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood: Kashmir's New Floral Wonder Welcomes Tourists

Explore Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood: Kashmir’s New Floral Marvel Opens Next Year By: Javid Amin Kashmir, often celebrated as “Paradise on Earth,” is set to elevate its tourism appeal with the introduction of Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood—a chrysanthemum-themed park near the Botanical Garden in Srinagar. The region, known for its stunning landscapes and rich heritage, continues to enchant visitors with unique seasonal attractions, and this new garden promises to be the jewel in its autumn crown. Commissioner Secretary for Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Sheikh Fayaz, announced this initiative as a follow-up to the resounding success of…

Read More