General News Archives | Page 151 of 361

Kashmir internationally recognized dispute between India and Pakistan should be resolved through dialogue: Farooq Abdullah

July 12, 2019July 12, 2019 Editor

National Conference (NC) president and former chief minister, Farooq Abdullah, Thursday said Kashmir is internationally recognized dispute between India and Pakistan which needs to be resolved through dialogue. Talking to reporters after paying tribute to his mother Begum Akbar Abdullah on her 19th death anniversary, Abdullah said nothing can be achieved through “military might” as there is no alternative to dialogue to address the Kashmir issue. “Nothing will be achieved either by displaying military might or by using NIA as a pressure tactics. Kashmir issue is a reality between two…

Tourists, Passengers, Truckers facing brunt due to highway restrictions

July 12, 2019July 12, 2019 Editor

The restrictions on the Jammu-Srinagar highway is causing a lot of trouble to tourists and passengers alike besides hampering the movement of trucks laden with essential goods to a large extent. Tourist coming from various parts of India have complained that it takes hours to get permission while as the truckers remain stranded for days at many places with loaded ration and other essential commodities for Kashmir or Chenab Valley. Even as traffic department has been trying to clear the stranded trucks for smooth movement of traffic, passengers and tourists…

Metropolitan development authorities meet to roll out Srinagar, Jammu Metro projects

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 Editor

For a planned growth of twin capitals, the State Administrative Council has approved the areas to be included for the setting up of the Metropolitan Region Development Authorities for Jammu and Srinagar. The SAC, which met here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, also approved the Mass Rapid Transit Corporations for Jammu and Srinagar. The MRDA Act had been enacted in December 2018. “These Metropolitan Region Development Authorities are expected to serve the purpose of coordination, besides supervising proper, orderly and rapid development of the areas…

Winning People’s Trust, Isolating Militant and Separatist, Strengthening Panchayat System, Centre’s strategy to improve Kashmir Situation

July 4, 2019July 4, 2019 Editor

With Parliament approving a six-month extension of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union government has initiated a three-pronged strategy to improve political and economic environment in the state, say officials. The Centre’s priority areas in the state are: wining people’s trust in the administrative system, isolating militant and separatist outfits, and strengthening the panchayat system, they said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state on June 26-27. Top officials, who attended the meetings Shah held during his visit, said they are expecting radical changes at all levels…

Talks on Kashmir can be held only at highest level: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

July 4, 2019July 4, 2019 Editor

Even as the Narendra Modi government has articulated its intent to address the festering Kashmir issue — both houses of Parliament have seen a substantive debate on this — the Hurriyat Conference has indicated its willingness for a dialogue with the Centre but with the caveat that meaningful talks can only be held at the highest political level. “It is better to have a dialogue at the level of the home minister and prime minister, like we did during (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee’s time,” Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told Kashmir…

Jammu sizzling in heat wave, cold summer for Kashmir Valley

June 29, 2019June 29, 2019 Editor

As the Jammu division is facing a heat wave, the Valley is coping with a cold summer and storms. The mercury in the Jammu region has crossed 40°C and is expected to rise further. The heat wave is expected to intensify next week in parts of Jammu, Kathua, Samba and Udhampur districts, according to the Srinagar meteorological centre, which monitors the weather across the state. Director of the meteorological centre Sonam Lotus said dry and hot weather was likely to continue throughout the state for the next one week and…

GOI’s top priority is peace with zero tolerance for militancy: Amit Shah

June 28, 2019June 28, 2019 Editor

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that ensuring peace in the state was the top priority of the Centre and assured that results on ground would be seen in the next month. He has also said the Centre would act tough against terror funding and there would be more raids by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the state. “He (Shah) told us peace was his priority. He said he had passed strict instructions to the officers to ensure peace. You will see results in next one month……

Srinagar, Jammu likely to get ‘Light Metro’, work may begin by year-end

June 25, 2019June 25, 2019 Editor

Jammu and Srinagar will soon get Light Rail Transit System corridors – a sort of light metro and detail project reports (DPR) for both the places have been completed, officials said. The much-hyped project will be managed by Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MRDA) which was formed recently by the government to expedite various schemes. MRDA managing director Rajeev Ranjan said the project report will be submitted before the Union cabinet for final approval by the next month. “If everything goes according to plan, the work on these prestigious projects could…

Srinagar, Sonawari, Awantipora prone to fresh floods: Reports

June 20, 2019June 20, 2019 Editor

A disaster management report has revealed that the state has witnessed abrupt changes in the climate over the years and 13 districts here are among 100 districts in India which have been declared as multi-hazard districts.” “Majority areas of the valley, especially Sonawari, Awantipora and Srinagar, along with parts of Jammu are prone to floods. Upper catchments of all the tributaries of the Jhelum, Indus, Chenab and Tawi rivers are prone to flash floods,” the report said. All these areas were worst hit by September-2014 floods and are prone to…

BJP sets 35 seat target for J&K, foresees to form next govt on its own

June 17, 2019June 17, 2019 Editor

The BJP has set a target of winning at least 35 seats on its own in the forthcoming Assembly poll so as to have its own Chief Minister in this only Muslim-majority state of the country. Notably, the saffron party had taken lead in 27 Assembly segments in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. During its state executive committee, held first time after the Lok Sabha elections, the party leadership was confident about improving its performance in the Assembly elections as compared to the Lok Sabha poll. “We have devised a…