Category: Community

If Godse a patriot, is Mahatma Gandhi anti-national asks Omar Abdullah

Editor

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Thursday attacked Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal, for terming Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, a “patriot”. “If the killer of the father of the nation is a patriot does that make Mahatma Gandhi anti-national?” Abdullah said in a tweet, though he did not name Thakur. Earlier in the day, Thakur said, “Nathuram Godse was a desh bhakt (patriot) and will remain so. People calling him a terrorist should introspect. They will be given a befitting reply in these elections.”…

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City roads in shambles, administration unmoved

Editor

Though the Governor Satya Pal Malik on the eve of opening of bi-annual Darbar Move here had expressed his concern over the dilapidated roads and had directed the concerned to ensure immediate repair work of roads, but there seems to be no progress on the ground as commuters continue to suffer on the Srinagar roads that have developed cracks and potholes and are in shambles. R&B Chief Engineer in March had also maintained that all the roads that have developed cracks, or potholes will be repaired on fast track basis…

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‘Let the nomads return to plains’, BJP batting for J&K assembly polls in November

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The BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit on Tuesday said assembly elections should be held in November after over 30 lakh nomads return from the state’s high-altitude areas to the plains. “We want that elections should be held in Jammu and Kashmir in November this year. It should be held after the return of Gujjars and Bakerwals back to the plains from the upper reaches of the state. It is the period of November,” state BJP general secretary Ashok Koul told reporters in Jammu. He said the party does not favour…

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To woo Hindu voters, Modi flexing muscles in Kashmir

Editor

Shortly before India’s mammoth elections began in April, New Delhi did something unprecedented: It banned civilian traffic on the only major highway connecting the heart of disputed Kashmir with the rest of the country. The government cited unspecified security threats for the twice weekly ban, but the move is indicative of the approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist party have taken to the disputed Himalayan region since taking power in 2014. Gone are the carrot-and-stick methods of previous governments that saw at least attempting to win hearts…

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JKPM chairman Shah Faseal announces ‘War’ against BJP-RSS

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‘Won’t allow any assault, dilution of JK’s special status’ Democracy another name of exploitative politics in JK NIA, CBI used to muzzle our voice, jail leaders Former IAS officer and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM) chairman Shah Faseal Sunday announced start of war against Bhartiyia Janta Party and Rashtiryia Swayamsevak Sang (RSS) who according to him have launched assault on special status of the State. While addressing a workers rally at Block complex at Bandipora, Faesal said people in Kashmir are caught in different types of wars and “we…

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Hizb threats, Midnight arrests cast shadow over the last leg of polling in Valley

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On the night of 30 April, government forces showed up as part of what appeared as a normal midnight showdown to hunt for militants in the Sheikhpora area of Muran village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. But the raid and subsequent detention ended up dragging a howling minor, Shahid Reyaz Thoker, 12, out of his bed. The masked government forces, armed with automatic weapons, didn’t explain much to his pleading parents and swiftly whisked away the wailing juvenile in an armoured vehicle. By daybreak, it was known that Thoker was…

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172 booths record zero polling in fourth phases of LS elections

Editor

Despite banning the largest socio-politico-religious party of Jammu and Kashmir — Jamaat-e-Islami — and the pro-independence party — Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) — the present political dispensation in New Delhi has failed to woo the voters in Jammu and Kashmir to come out in large numbers to vote in the Lok Sabha polls. In the first four phases of the parliamentary election, the Kashmir valley has seen from low to moderate voting. The most votes polled in the Valley were from north Kashmir, having polled 34 percent only.…

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Kashmiri Pandit returns home after 29 years, Gets rousing welcome

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On Wednesday 65 year old Roshan Lal a Kashmiri Pandit received a rousing welcome from locals in Srinagar’s downtown. Locals of the area as a mark of respect wore him a turban, as others expressed their joy by distributing sweets. Lal a trader was returning to Kashmir after a span of 29 years, he had left the valley after being attacked by suspected gunmen when the armed insurgency in valley erupted. “Four bullets penetrated my belly and then I woke up in the army hospital,” recalled Lal whose grey hair…

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No one can separate Kashmir from India irrespective of who comes to power: Amit Shah

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While addressing a public meeting in Bihar’s Sitamarhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah said, “Omar Abdullah of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ says that there should be another Prime Minster in Kashmir. They want Kashmir to be separated from India. Even if BJP is not in power then also as long as the BJP workers live, no one can separate Kashmir from India.” BJP president Amit Shah asserted that Kashmir can never be separated from India irrespective of whether Narendra Modi will be Prime Minister or whether BJP is in power…

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Kashmir’s Empty Voting Machines

Editor

Masses stayed away from the polling booths Turnout in the first phase of voting in Anantnag LS seat was 12 percent. It was 39 percent in 2014. Mehbooba Mufti won the seat in 2014, but the meager turnout in PDP bastions might dent her prospects. It is the only constituency in the country that is going to polls in three phases. And yet, Anantnag, which comprises south Kashmir’s four districts, shows no signs that elections are on. In the first phase, on April 23, a few people cast votes at…

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