General News Archives | Page 100 of 361

Smart meter project in J&K sparks protest, leaders say it will hurt poor people

August 13, 2023 Editor

Amid ongoing protests, Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd has dispelled fears of overcharging. It has sought cooperation of people. Chief Engineer (Distribution) Sandeep Seth says the smart meters are for the benefit of the public as these are highly accurate for billing. The project to install smart meters in Jammu and Kashmir is being opposed not only by opposition parties but also from BJP leaders. The administration plans to cover nearly 20 lakh consumers in J&K under the smart meter programme. At present, the installation of two lakh smart meters…

Kashmir Issue: Farooq Abdullah says India, Pakistan must hold talks with ‘Open Mind’

August 13, 2023August 13, 2023 Editor

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said promoting border tourism or holding rallies in Jammu and Kashmir is only a tamasha which will go on until India and Pakistan hold talks with honesty on the Kashmir issue. “The hearts of both the countries should be pure. There has been enough show-off,” the Srinagar MP told reporters here when asked whether the situation in Kashmir had changed as border tourism is being promoted and Tiranga rallies are being organised across the valley. India and Pakistan should talk with pure…

J&K BJP sacks 3 office bearers after discontentment in party ranks

August 13, 2023 Editor

On Friday night BJP J&K president Ravinder Raina issued a communication wherein social media head Abhijeet Jasrotia has been relieved from his charge After a disquiet in Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kashmir unit, the party has replaced three prominent office bearers who were “calling shots” in Kashmir. On Friday night BJP J&K president Ravinder Raina issued a communication wherein social media head Abhijeet Jasrotia has been relieved from his charge. “He hasn’t been assigned any of responsibility for Kashmir,” reads the communication. Jasrotia was previously affiliated with Peoples Democratic Party. As…

Kashmir to celebrate Independence Day without Restrictions, Internet Ban: Official

August 13, 2023 Editor

Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Saturday said that there will be no restrictions or internet ban in Kashmir on Independence Day. “There will be no restrictions on August 15 across Kashmir valley and also internet service will be on. People show a lot of interest in the ‘Mere Maati Mera Desh’ campaign, it’s a good sign”, he said. Earlier today, the ‘Meri Maati, Mera Desh’ campaign bore witness to a diverse array of activities across 26 Panchayats in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal District. District Youth Services and Sports Office (DYSSO)…

Retired IPS Officer Basant Rath appeals to J&K LG for Security Restoration, Expresses concerns about personal safety

August 12, 2023 Editor

In a series of Facebook posts and two videos, prematurely retired IPS officer Basant Rath on Friday urged Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha to restore his security, citing fear to his life from “Pakistan and police”. In a five-minute long video, while drawing the attention of the LG, he said, “My name is Basant and I have been forcibly terminated from IPS because I was not deserving and that’s a right decision. Within 24 hours of my termination, my security and vehicle have been withdrawn by the police…

J&K BJP President claims all Issues resolved, Disgruntled leader to meet Chugh to Discuss

August 11, 2023 Editor

A day after disgruntled leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party met at a hotel in the Valley, state unit president Ravinder Raina said all that issues stand resolved with these leaders. However, the disgruntled leaders said issues haven’t been addressed and are waiting for the BJP central leadership to reach Kashmir. On Wednesday, dozens of BJP leaders met in Srinagar hotel to convey their displeasure with the party leadership and even refused to meet Raina. However, late in the night, some of these leaders met Raina. “All the…

Supreme Court rules that J&K cannot claim Sovereignty after accession to India

August 11, 2023August 11, 2023 Editor

Jammu & Kashmir cannot claim sovereignty independent of the Union of India after the erstwhile princely state acceded to the country, the Supreme Court observed on Thursday, adding it is a “very, very difficult proposition to accept” that Article 370 was a permanent feature wresting a vestige of sovereignty with the J&K legislative assembly. According to a Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, the integration of J&K with the country was “absolutely complete” as soon as Article 1 of the Indian Constitution came into…

Tarun Chugh accuses Abdullahs, Muftis of collaborating with ISI to torture Kashmiri Pandits

August 11, 2023 Editor

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh today blamed the Abdullah and Mufti families for the atrocities on the Kahmiri Pandits since 1989. Chugh said both the families, Abdullah and Mufti, have been hand-in-glove with the Pakistan ISI to allow large scale killings of the Pandits and make them leave the state in 90s. Taking strong exception to Farooq Abdullah’s contention in the Parliament that his government in 1989 tried to protect the Kashmirir Pandits, Chugh said it was a bundle of lies that Abdullah was saying. The fact, he said,…

SC Cites Differences Between J&K Constitution and Indian Constitution During Article 370 Hearing

August 10, 2023 Editor

Article 370, which bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was not a repository of untrammelled power but a medium through which the Constitution would apply to the state, the Supreme Court was told on Wednesday. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was told by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, appearing for petitioner Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, that the Jammu and Kashmir constituent assembly did not want to abrogate Article 370 and instead permitted its continuance. Mr Khan has challenged the two constitutional orders…

SC Questions Whether Instrument of Accession Cease to Exist After J&K Accedes to India

August 10, 2023August 10, 2023 Editor

Maharaja unconditionally recognises the sovereignty of India but he retains certain exceptions. He says I’m surrendering powers for three areas (defence, communication, foreign affairs). But what accession means is that J & K becomes an intrinsic part of India.” The Supreme Court on Wednesday said once the Instrument of Accession (IoA) signed by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1948 got subsumed in a post-Constitution document indicating transfer of power, the IoA can’t act as a fetter on Parliament’s powers. On the fourth day of hearing on petitions challenging nullification of Article…