Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani today claimed that the unprecedented poll boycott of parliamentary by-election in Central Kashmir has “unnerved” New Delhi. Reacting to the statement of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in which he warned ‘Kashmiri youth of consequences’, Geelani, in a statement today, said, “They are losing balance and it depicts their frustration. It is ridiculous. Instead of stating any logic they are issuing threats and adding fuel to fire.” “It is unfortunate that Rajnath Singh and other Indian politicians instead of relying on rational thinking are…
Read MoreCategory: Community
Stone Pelters probably paid by govt: Farooq Abdullah
Stoking another controversy, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is also the contestant for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, today alleged that some of the stone-throwers were “probably paid by the government”. “You don’t have to generalise the situation. There are many stone-throwers who are probably paid by the government and want to create a situation so that people don’t come out and vote. The government must investigate such things,” he said. The senior Abdullah said this here after paying obeisance at Bibi Chand Kour Gurdwara to wish Sikhs on…
Read More“You will see a transformed Kashmir in a year”: Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that one will see a“transformed” Kashmir in a year “no matter how the change takes place”. “You will see a transformed Kashmir in a year. No matter how the change occurs, one thing is certain, that there will be a change in Kashmir in a year’s time,” he asserted. Singh said he “fully agrees” with Army chief General Bipin Rawat’s remarks about dealing sternly with those trying to hinder security forces from performing their duties in Kashmir. “Those doing such things will have…
Read MoreRe-polling will trigger more violence and killings; Javaid Mustafa Mir
Expressing shock and resentment over the decision of Election Commission to go for re-polling in some parts of Central Kashmir, People’s Democratic Party legislator and former Minister Javaid Mustafa Mir Tuesday said that what was the fun of deferring polls in South Kashmir when ECI was intending to go for re-polling in Central Kashmir. “Like others, this decision of Election Commission has baffled me and I don’t understand why Election Commission wants to put people at risk,” Mir told local news agency adding that re-polling has enough potential to trigger…
Read More12 Yr old battles bullet, Pellet injuries; 35 Yr old critical; 21 Pellet victims may lose eyesight: Poll Day Horror
Another injured, Shakoor Ahmad of Rajouri, who was brought to SKIMS with head injuries, continues to be in “critical condition.” “He has multiple fractures in his head. His condition is bad,” said the doctors. Horror is writ on face of every victim who was injured in security forces’ action on Sunday and undergoing treatment at different hospitals here. At Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here, 12-year old Adnan Lateef is battling for life. Hit by bullet in chest and pellets in abdomen, Adnan, a resident of Habak Srinagar, was…
Read MoreAt 7.1%, Kashmir’s mainstream faces existential crisis
With the Srinagar constituency seeing an unprecedented boycott, clouding the next by election in the extremely volatile south Kashmir, the mainstream political parties in the Kashmir valley are facing an existential crisis as new separatism is strengthening its foothold. The 7.1 per cent turnout on Sunday in central Kashmir’s three districts was the lowest-ever in history of the Srinagar parliamentary constituency and of the region. The popular disinterest with the voting process — which was held in the backdrop of last year’s deadly unrest and a series of pro-militant protests…
Read More7.14% Polling in Srinagar seat, lowest ever in 5 decades
Amid large-scale protests and clashes, the high-profile Srinagar parliamentary segment that went to polls on Sunday recorded the lowest-ever voter turnout, with the Election Commission of India authorities putting the overall polling percentage at 7.14, considered to be worst in five decades. Regarding the killings by forces, the CEO said “it was not a good day for all of us.” Addressing a news conference here, J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer Shantamanu said nearly 7.14 percent polling was recorded in the segment for which the by-election was necessitated following the resignation of…
Read MoreResistance group calls for 2 Day Shutdown, Hails people for boycott; asks NC, PDP to apologize to people
Hailing people for boycotting the bypolls to Lok Sabha parliamentary seat, joint Hurriyat leadership Sunday called for complete shutdown on April 10 and 11 against killing of eight civilians in forces firing on poll day. In a joint statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik strongly condemned eight civilian killings in Beerwah, Pakharpora, Budgam and Ganderbal. They termed the killings as “act of state terrorism” and expressed deep sorrow over the killing of unarmed civilians and injuries to hundreds others. They asked people to observe complete…
Read MoreA new death wish in Kashmir
The violent state of affairs, which is source of frequent death and destruction, has become dangerously routinised in Kashmir. The reigning public mood is to take the bloody fallout in stride When once a month or two, senior Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Mohammad Abbas Sheikh, 40, visits his home at South Kashmir’s Rampur, the village erupts in a silent celebration. The residents turn out to greet him. The men shake his hands and women kiss his forehead, praying for his long life as they do so. But the priority of…
Read MoreBanihal-Qazigund road tunnel work to be expedited
Excavation likely within one and a half months, land acquisition almost complete A few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertions to “emotionally and physically” connect Kashmir with the rest of the country, the J&K Government has decided to expedite the work on the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel to complete another mega project of “integration”. The work on the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel, which is a part of the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) flagship project of four-laning the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, is not going on the expected speed due some…
Read More
