Category: General News

General News

J&K among most corrupt states: Survey

Editor

People in Jammu and Kashmir are among the worst sufferers of corruption in accessing public services, a think-tank has revealed in its survey. The Centre for Media Studies (CMS) in its annual corruption study – CMS India Corruption Study 2017- has placed Jammu and Kashmir along with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh as most corrupt among 20 surveyed states. The study reveals that “Karnataka (77%) followed by Andhra Pradesh (74%), Tamil Nadu (68%), Maharashtra (57%), J&K (44%) and Punjab (42%) emerged as more corrupt states among 20 surveyed states as…

Read More

Dineshwar Sharma acting as ‘Super Chief Minister’: Omar Abdullah

Editor

Questioning the actions of the Centre’s special representative on Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, former chief minister Omar Abdullah today claimed he was acting as a “super chief minister”. Speaking in the Assembly, the opposition National Conference leader demanded that the government give a clarification on Sharma’s mandate. “What is the mission of the special representative? If he works like a super chief minister, as we hear, by meeting delegations to look into the problems with regard to power, water, non-availability of doctors at hospital, unemployment issues. (But) It is your job,”…

Read More

Center’s ‘Hard, Militaristic’ approach failed to restore peace in Kashmir: Chidambaram

Editor

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took aim at the Modi government for its failure to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Chidambaram slammed the Centre’s “hard, muscular, militaristic” approach in handling terrorism in the restive state, which far from yielding positive results has exacerbated the problem instead. Quoting data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), he pointed out that the number of civilians and terrorists killed in J&K had almost doubled from 28 to 57 and from 110 to 218 from 2014 to 2017 respectively.…

Read More

US suspends security aid to Pakistan, Alliance with US over: Pak FM

Editor

Won’t be delivering military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan: US State Deptt US action has nothing to do with Islamabad not acting against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed We fought war on terror on own resources: FO The US has suspended more than USD 1.15 billion security assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of harboring terror groups like the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network within its border and showing unwillingness to take “decisive actions” against them. The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes days after President Donald…

Read More

‘Made in China’ globes do not include Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh as part of India

Editor

Over the last few days, Indians living in Canada have been tweeting out to External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, MEA, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the same concern – A wrong a globe. Twitter users have been bringing the attention of Indian authorities to a globe which depicts Kashmir as an independent authority and Arunachal Pradesh as part of China. Tweeting out these pictures, social media users have claimed that these globes have been made in China and are being sold at Costco stores in Canada. One user even claimed that…

Read More

BJP red-faced as MLA walks out over ‘Forcible’ land acquisition in Jammu

Editor

The ruling BJP faced embarrassment in the Legislative Assembly today when party lawmaker Sukhnandan Choudhary created a ruckus over ‘forcible’ acquisition of farmers’ land for the proposed Ring Road project in the Jammu region. Choudhary trooped into the well of the House before staging a walkout over, what he alleged, the government’s inhuman attitude by snatching the livelihood of over 1,500 farmers of the Jammu plains. As Choudhary, a former minister and two-time MLA from the Marh constituency, was raising slogans against the forcible acquisition of land, NC lawmaker Devendra…

Read More

Cabinet nod for Rs 6809 crore Zojila tunnel project connecting Kashmir with Ladakh

Editor

Situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway, the pass remains closed during winters (December to April). Heavy snowfall and avalanches cut off Leh-Ladakh region from Kashmir. The cabinet on Thursday approved the construction of a 14.2 km tunnel in Zoji La, to provide all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and Kashmir, while also giving a strategic edge to the armed forces in the region. The project, said to be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel, is estimated to cost Rs 6,809-crore. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said…

Read More

Challenges in J&K will be met through dialogue: Mehbooba Mufti

Editor

Reiterating that dialogue is the only means to resolve all “disagreements” in Jammu and Kashmir, chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that she is working with the people of the state and center to help the state reach its full potential. In her tweet, Mufti said: “I wholeheartedly agree with Governor N. N. Vohra that the challenges in the state will be met through dialogue, which is the best means of resolving all disagreements. Working with the people of the state & center we remain committed to helping J&K achieve its…

Read More

With 124 Armed Forces, 217 Militants, 108 Civilians killings 2017 was deadlier than 2016

Editor

The year 2017 witnessed a surge in human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir as compared with last year; the year witnessed a total of 450 killings which included civilians, militants and armed forces, reads the annual human rights review prepared by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS). As many as 450 persons including 124 armed forces, 217 militants, 108 civilians and one pro-government gunman were killed in 2017. “This year witnessed a spike in the killings of local militants. At least 84 militants belonging to different parts…

Read More

Is govt now following soft approach on separatists in valley?

Editor

Signalling the soft approach on separatists, the government has recently released three separatist leaders including a woman Asiya Andrabi from jails and NIA reportedly withdrew summon to younger son of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani this week. On December 25, two women separatist leaders Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi and her close aide Sofi Fehmeeda were released from jail. Asiya and Fahmeeda were arrested on April 26 this year and booked under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). On December 22, a court had ordered their release but they were rearrested…

Read More