General News Archives | Page 102 of 361

Kashmir leader’s call for restoration of special status highlights region’s lack of democracy

August 4, 2023 Editor

Kashmir’s top pro-India politician had a stark message Friday — the eve of the fourth anniversary since India revoked the disputed region’s special status, throwing the Himalayan territory into political chaos: Democracy stops where the boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir begin. In an interview with The Associated Press, Omar Abdullah said India’s 2019 decision to strip the region’s statehood, its separate constitution and inherited protections on land and jobs have pushed the territory into a “democratic void” and led to a clampdown on civil liberties. “It’s a very abnormal calm…

Kulgam Soldier, Reported Missing, Found Safe; Joint Interrogation to Follow After Medical Checkup: J&K Police

August 4, 2023 Editor

The Army jawan from Kulgam who recently went missing has been recovered by Kulgam Police. Joint interrogation will start shortly after the medical checkup, Vijay Kumar, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir informed on Thursday. Last week, an Indian Army soldier identified as Javaid Ahmad Wani went missing from Kashmir’s Kulgam district when he came to visit his family during his leave. Wani went missing on Saturday evening while his car was found in Paranhall, prompting fears that he could have been abducted by terrorists. “Missing Army jawan…

Supreme Court hears challenges to Kashmir’s special status removal, govt told there was no reason to revoke it

August 3, 2023 Editor

India’s top court takes up case four years after unprecedented decision to scrap region’s autonomy India’s Supreme Court was told that the integration of Jammu and Kashmir was and always has been “unquestionable” but “there was no reason” for the Narendra Modi government to revoke its special status. On Wednesday, India’s apex court began hearing petitions challenging the constitutionality the government’s decision to scrap Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that provided semi-autonomous status to the region and stripped its statehood, demoting it to a federal territory. The five-judge constitutional…

Citing security threats GoI suspends passports of Kashmiri Journalists, Political Activist

August 2, 2023August 2, 2023 Editor

GoI suspends passports of Kashmiri Journalists Political Activist citing security threats

Authorities have suspended the passports some journalists and at least one Kashmiri political activist, The Wire reported. As per the report, they were termed as “security threats to India.” The Regional Passport Office in Srinagar has emailed at least two journalists and a political activist, among others, alerting them that their passports have been suspended under Section 10(3) of The Passports Act, 1967, the report said. The passport authority is given the authority to seize or revoke an Indian citizen’s passport under Section 10(3) if it “deems it necessary to do…

Supreme Court to Commence Hearing on Batch of Pleas Challenging Abrogation of Article 370 Today

August 2, 2023August 2, 2023 Editor

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear from August 2 a batch of petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud will conduct day-to-day hearing from Wednesday. The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant, had on July 11 fixed July 27 as the deadline for filing written submissions and convenience compilations by different parties. The five-judge bench had said…

Fundamentalist Muslim cannot be equated with Extremist or Separatist: J&K High Court

August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 Editor

Muslim who is a fundamentalist is merely someone who believes in the fundamentals of Islam and steadfastly pursues the same. It cannot have a negative bearing on his personality,” the Court said. The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recently observed that a fundamentalist Muslim should not be equated with an extremist or a separatist [Shahbaz Ahmad Palla Vs Union Territory of J&K and Ors.]. Justice Atul Sreedharan made the observation while ordering the release of a 22-year-old man, who was detained last year under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act for…

Mehbooba Mufti slams BJP’s Kashmir approach, says it’s alienating people

August 1, 2023 Editor

During the 24th foundation day celebration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Srinagar, party President Mehbooba Mufti made strong statements, asserting that the PDP will not surrender before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She accused the BJP of seeking their surrender and raising a white flag, a demand that the PDP firmly rejects. Mehbooba Mufti called for unity among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that if different communities such as Shia, Sunni, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christians, Bodh, Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari stand together, the BJP would be…

PDP, NC Leaders trade barbs, Raise questions about Gupkar Alliance’s future

August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 Editor

As panchayat and Urban Local Bodies polls near, cracks appeared in the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) after leaders of two big constituents of alliance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference traded barbs against each other, especially on the 24th foundation day of the PDP. During programmes on its foundation day, some PDP leaders targeted NC leadership and even blamed the party of being in league with the BJP. PDP youth president Waheed Parra, who is a close associate of former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti,…

J&K can’t be run via Remote Control; Opposition slam BJP Govt for delaying Assembly Elections

July 30, 2023July 30, 2023 Editor

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for “inordinate delay” in holding assembly elections in the region. “The region cannot be run through a remote control from Delhi,” the parties said. Speaking at a discussion on “Jammu and Kashmir – The way forward” organised by Centre for Peace and Progress, former legislator of the CPI (M), MY Tarigami said, “Once a historic state, J&K is fighting for its survival today. In 1927 Dogra rulers had given us nine rights. They were the ones…