General News Archives | Page 173 of 363

Governor N N Vohra seeks deferment of Article 35A case

July 28, 2018 Editor

Sensing a growing unease in Kashmir about dangers of annulment of Article 35A of the constitution, Governor N N Vohra has requested New Delhi to have the hearing of a case about the provision in Supreme Court deferred until an elected government is in place in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir Post has learnt. Amid intensifying resolve across the political spectrum in Kashmir for protection of Article 35A, Vohra has discussed the matter with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and conveyed to him that the case should not be heard during…

BJP in a fix over taking action against Lal Singh for floating an apolitical outfit

July 28, 2018 Editor

The BJP is in a dilemma over taking a disciplinary action against party legislator and former Forest Minister Choudhary Lal Singh for floating an apolitical outfit ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. After floating the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan on July 22, Lal Singh has intensified political activities to make inroads into BJP’s citadels by raking up pro-Dogra sentiments. Sources said the BJP top leadership had discussed Lal Singh’s ongoing “apolitical” campaign to restore dignity of the ethnic Dogra minority but the leaders were divided over taking any action at this…

UN rights report on Kashmir raised in UK parliament

July 25, 2018 Editor

Lawmakers call on UK Govt to facilitate independent int’l inquiry into HR abuses in JK In a significant development, the United Nations human rights report on Kashmir, released last month, was raised in the House of Lords by British peers who called on the UK government to take steps to help implement the recommendations. Lord Qurban Hussain, whose origins are in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), raised the issue in the Upper House of Parliament yesterday, calling for the UK government to facilitate an independent international inquiry into rights abuses in…

Cloudburst triggers flash floods in Shopian, Flashflood hits Dachigam, man drowns

July 25, 2018 Editor

Cloudburst caused flash floods in Sedow and Hirpora villages of Shopian on Tuesday damaging at least two residential houses, devastating a few apple orchards while several domestic animals perished, officials and witnesses said. At least six animals were washed away by the fast currents as the flash flood struck the areas, a district official said, adding two residential houses also suffered partial damage in Dachoo village. District Development Commissioner, Owais Ahmad said a team of officials had been sent to both the areas to take stock of the situation. One…

Sartaj Madni among six office-bearers who quits PDP

July 24, 2018 Editor

Fearing a split in the Peoples Democratic Party, all six office-bearers of the party, including its vice-president and Mehbooba Mufti’s maternal uncle Sartaj Madni, have put in their papers in a bid to silence the rebels and save the organisation from falling apart. The resignations come almost three weeks after dissension erupted in the Kashmir-centric PDP after many party leaders, including a former minister, accused Mehbooba Mufti of promoting ‘family raj’. Many of these rebel MLAs had their reservations about the functioning of Madni. “Yes, I have submitted my resignation…

BJP seeks abrogation of Articles 370, 35-A, Dineshwar Sharma on mission

July 19, 2018 Editor

After snapping ties with the Peoples Democratic Party, the BJP has again started raking up the issue of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A of the Constitution. During a meeting on Wednesday with Centre’s special representative on J&K Dineshwar Sharma, a delegation of the BJP led by district president Prem Nath Dogra strongly advocated abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, which impart special status to the state. Dineshwar arrived in Kathua this morning and met over a dozen delegations from a cross-section of society, including members of political parties…

UN Human Rights Chief Hits Back on Claims of Bias on Kashmir Report

July 18, 2018 Editor

Over a month after UN human rights commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein released a report which was greeted by claims of personal “prejudice” from New Delhi, his office has denied any collusion with Pakistani activists. It also said that the Kashmir report had been sourced from Indian official reports. On June 14, UN’s high commissioner for human rights released a report which mainly focused on the “human rights situation” in India’s Jammu and Kashmir from July 2016 to April 2018 based on “allegations of widespread and serious human rights violations…

Government orders major reshuffle in administration

July 17, 2018 Editor

Owais is DC Shopian, Hashmat Special Secy to Governor, Zubair Chairman JKSSB Anayatullah is FC Revenue, Razdan CEO ERA, Jeelani Director Tourism, Sarwar Director R&D Kashmir The government Monday ordered massive reshuffle in the civil administration by ordering transfers and postings of senior officers. According to an order by General Administration Department (GAD), Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary to the Government, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, would also hold the charge of the post of Administrative Secretary, Transport department, in addition to his own duties, relieving Saugat Biswas, Transport Commissioner,…

Do not have numbers to form govt says BJP, Denies support to rebel PDP leaders

July 16, 2018 Editor

Priority to establish peace in state, says party’s in charge for Jammu & Kashmir In charge of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir Avinash Rai Khanna has said that since the party did not have the numbers to form the government, it was not in any kind of hurry. Though he did not deny looking for a suitable arrangement, he said the party’s priority was to establish peace in the state before any decision on the government formation could be taken. “It is also wrong that the BJP is in…

PDP rebels go all out against Mehbooba, says they are against Mehbooba not party

July 14, 2018July 14, 2018 Editor

For the first time, the rebel group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) jointly came out in public on Friday to counter the statement of party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who earlier in the day cautioned New Delhi that engineering a split in her party would prove dangerous. The rebel legislators said they were not acting at the behest of New Delhi to split the PDP or form a government with the BJP. “It is a serious allegation. We are elected people and if you brand us like…