General News Archives | Page 105 of 362

J&K’s Unemployment rate reaches Alarming 18.3%, More then Double the National Average

July 27, 2023July 27, 2023 Editor

The unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir, on a steady rise, stands at a staggering 18.3 per cent, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed Rajya Sabha today. The national average, interestingly, stands at around eight per cent now. The estimates for the unemployment rate specifically among the educated are not available for the period between April and June 2021. “However, according to a survey conducted between July 2020 and June 2021, the estimate of the unemployment rate among the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the age group of…

Hasnain Masoodi Opposes Centre’s J&K Bills, Says Reorganization Act Sub Judice, New Laws Illegal

July 26, 2023 Editor

Hasnain Masoodi, Member Parliament from south Kashmir’s Anantnag has opposed the bills regarding Jammu Kashmir scheduled to be tabled in the lower house on Wednesday. The Central Government has introduced three bills namely The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order, 1956, will also be introduced today in the Lower House. The first aims to reserve three seats in the assembly of Jammu Kashmir, dissolved since 2018 while the Scheduled…

Criticism mounts as GoI’s Decision to allow LG to Nominate J&K Assembly Members faces opposition from NC and PDP

July 26, 2023 Editor

The National Conference and the PDP said they have no problem in giving representation in the legislative assembly to Kashmiri migrants and displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) but disagree with the way reservations are being made for them. They said the power to nominate members for the reserved seats in the assembly should rest with the elected government, not the Lieutenant Governor. The Centre is planning to introduce a Bill in Parliament to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act to reserve two seats for Kashmiri migrants and one seat…

July witnesses 15 Cloudburst Incidents in Jammu and Kashmir: Officials

July 25, 2023 Editor

Amid frequent wet spells in the ongoing month, Jammu and Kashmir has reported 15 cloudburst incidents in the month of July while the Meteorological department (MeT) is preparing data to see whether the incidents have witnessed an upward trend. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Jammu and Kashmir has received excess rainfall of 27 per cent since June 01, 2023 to July 19, 2023 as the frequent rainfall has been reported in the Union Territory from last month. Deputy Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told KNO that although…

Reservation of seats for Kashmiri Migrants and Refugees in J&K Assembly sparks debate over nomination process

July 25, 2023 Editor

The proposed Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 specifies that the Lieutenant Governor of J&K – who is appointed by the Union government – would nominate these MLAs. By: Umer Maqbool The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government is planning to introduce a Bill in parliament to reserve three seats in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir for Kashmiri migrants and refugees from the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This will take the number of nominated seats in the unicameral House to five as two seats were already reserved…

Resistance Literature: University of Kashmir removes works of acclaimed Kashmiri writers from English literature courses

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023 Editor

Works of globally acclaimed Kashmiri-American poet Agha Shahid Ali and prominent journalist and writer Basharat Peer have been removed from the curriculum of the University of Kashmir ostensibly as a result of the New Education Policy (NEP). The University of Kashmir used to teach three of Shahid Ali’s poems—‘Postcard from Kashmir’, ‘In Arabic’, and ‘The Last Saffron’ to MA students. Peer’s Curfewed Night was also part of the same course. Two poems of Shahid Ali—‘Postcard from Kashmir’ and the ‘Wolf’s Postscript’— were also taught in the BA course at the…

Heavy rain lashes Jammu and Kashmir, weather to improve gradually

July 24, 2023July 24, 2023 Editor

Srinagar Jammu National Highway open for traffic J&K received moderate rain showers on Sunday while the Meteorological Department (MeT) predicted gradual improvement in weather from Monday. Many districts received early morning showers. Since the weather improved from the afternoon, the sky was cloudy all day with some sunshine. They said that early morning showers did not lead to disruption in Amarnath Yatra as the yatra went on smoothly. The MeT officials forecasted gradual improvement in weather from Sunday. They said that the weather would be cloudy, but there is no major…

Highway Blues: Improved Gradients, Yet Landslides Pose Problems

July 22, 2023 Editor

The gradients of road at different vulnerable stretches between Ramban and Banihal on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) have been improved but the landslides continue to hinder smooth traffic movement. This is a shared opinion of agencies entrusted with the responsibility to maintain this crucial surface-link between Kashmir and the rest of the country. Broader perceptions may vary yet even the experts don’t deny that landslides do pose problems in one among the youngest and fragile mountains of the world. And when the landslides occur, generally an impact of vagaries of weather, they…

Yasin Malik’s appearance in Supreme Court raises Alarm Bells; Court concerned about Escape or Harm

July 22, 2023 Editor

The Supreme Court was on Friday shocked to see Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Yasin Malik appear before it as there was no order passed by it seeking his appearance in person. A Jammu Special Court had in September last year sought Malik’s appearance for cross-examination of witnesses in the 1989 abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed. The Supreme Court had in April stayed the orders requiring his physical presence. He is also accused of killing four IAF personnel. Serving a life term in Tihar Jail following his conviction in…

Jammu-Srinagar Highway closed for Nine Hours due to Landslides

July 21, 2023 Editor

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was brought to a standstill for nine hours after heavy morning rains triggered multiple landslides in Ramban district. The reopening of the highway (NH 44), the only all-weather surface link that connects Kashmir with the rest of the country, in the afternoon paved the way for the Baltal-bound Amarnath pilgrims to proceed to the cave shrine from Chanderkote, officials said. Sharing details, Ramban senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mohita Sharma said, “NH 44 has been partially restored and traffic movement resumed this afternoon. Nearly…