General News Archives | Page 101 of 362

Katra-Banihal Rail Link Project on Track to be Completed This Year: GM Northern Railway

August 17, 2023 Editor

Northern Railway General Manager Shobhan Chaudhuri has stated that the work on the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla-Rail Link (USBRL) project is likely to be completed in the current year. “The work on the Katra-Banihal Section of the USBRL project to connect the Jammu region to Kashmir is ongoing, at a fast pace and is proposed to be completed in the current year. After completion of the deck of the iconic Chenab bridge, ballastless track-laying has also been accomplished. Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the Chenab bridge to inspect…

Article 370 Hearing: Petitioner Questions CJI’s Remark on Absolute Transfer of Sovereignty

August 17, 2023 Editor

Six days after CJI DY Chandrachud observed that the integration of J&K with India was “absolute” and transfer of sovereignty was “complete” on signing of the Instrument of Accession (IoA), senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan on Wednesday contested it, saying internal sovereignty of the erstwhile state was never lost. “There is some misunderstanding on the status of the merger agreement. The court had observed that after the Instrument of Accession, the surrender of sovereignty was absolute. Our submission is that as far as the Instrument of Accession is concerned, it deals…

Mehbooba Mufti calls abrogation of Article 370 an Emotional Issue for Kashmiris

August 17, 2023 Editor

As the hearing against revocation of Article 370 continued in the Supreme Court, prominent Jammu and Kashmir leaders, who have opposed the Centre’s move, reached the apex court on Wednesday to listen to the arguments in the case. While talking to reporters outside the SC, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said that it was the “Idea of India” which was on trial. People’s Conference president Sajjad Gani Lone said that the trial was more about the sanctity of the promises made by Parliament than about Article 370 or J&K.…

CPI(M) slams Admin for obliterating Sheikh Abdullah’s Legacy, Says removal of his name from SKICC is ‘Unacceptable’

August 15, 2023 Editor

CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami on Monday said that removing the Jammu Kashmir admin was obliterating the history of Jammu Kashmir. In a statement, MY Tarigami said removal of title ‘Sher’ from the name of Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) reflects that the government is more serious about obliterating the history of Jammu Kashmir than addressing the pressing issues like unemployment, health care, price rise and other such problems. Pertinently, the LG-led administration in Jammu Kashmir on August 13, in its official communique referred to ‘Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre’…

Mehbooba Mufti on “Tiranga” Rally: Nehru’s actions were among people, LG Sinha needs security

August 14, 2023 Editor

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday hit back at Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha, saying the administration today needed a posse of security personnel to carry the National Flag while first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru did it amidst ordinary people in 1949. The PDP president’s tweet came after Sinha participated in a ‘tiranga’ rally in the City and reminding her that there were enough people carrying the National Flag. Participating in the rally organised as part of Independence Day celebrations, Sinha, in an apparent reference to the PDP…

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…