Category: General News

General News

Deferred SC hearing on Article 35A gives Kashmir a breather, but State & Centre must find a political solution

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Hearing on the politically contentious constitutional provision, Article 35A was slated for Monday, but the Supreme Court deferred hearing by eight weeks. In Kashmir, people across ideological and political lines were keenly awaiting the outcome of the petition, which had called for striking down Article 35A of the constitution. There have been a total of four petitions filed in Supreme Court challenging the article. The main petition was filed in 2014 by then lesser-known NGO, “We the Citizens” on the grounds that Article 35A was illegally added to the Constitution…

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Resistance Leadership rejects engagement with centre’s interlocutor

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In a statement, issued by the Joint Resistance Leadership, leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, rejected any possibility of engaging in parleys with former Intelligence Bureau chief. Separatist Kashmiri leaders on Tuesday declared that they won’t entertain any talks with the Indian government’s interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, and called his appointment “a new tactic” by New Delhi. In a statement, issued by the Joint Resistance Leadership, leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, rejected any possibility of engaging in parleys with former…

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Akhtar’s participation in BJP meet as proof north, south poles have merged: NC

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Opposition National Conference Monday expressed shock over the participation of PDP spokesperson and Works Minister Naeem Akhtar’s participation in BJP’s executive meet in Srinagar and demanded that the party come out with an explanation. NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said participation of PDP leader in a high level BJP meet was a clear sign that PDP and BJP had the same agenda in Jammu and Kashmir. “Executive body meetings are not part of governance decision making. These are policy making occasions for the party. Akhtar being part of this…

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RSS is brainwashing groups of Kashmiri youth in Nagpur: Farooq Abdullah

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The National Conference parliamentarian Farooq Abdullah, who was reelected as party president accused RSS of taking groups of youngsters from far flung villages of Valley to Nagpur and brainwash and train them as their agents. Abdullah was addressing a delegate conference of the party here in Srinagar in which he was reelected as party president. “Youth are being taken to New Delhi from villages like Kupwara, and then sent to Nagpur and brainwashed and trained to become the agents of RSS. Beware of that and keep a check on any such…

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Will continue struggle for restoration of J&K’s autonomy: National Conference

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The opposition National Conference passed a resolution today, vowing to continue its struggle for restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in the Constitution of India. “We continue to strive for the restoration of autonomy and restoration of Article 370 to its original, pristine form, while condemning those divisive voices who are opposed to the sovereign constitutional guarantees extended to the people of the state,” the resolution passed at a delegates’ session of the National Conference here reads. NC president Farooq Abdullah and working president Omar Abdullah were present…

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When people of Kashmir ask for ‘Azadi’, most want Autonomy: P Chidambaram

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P Chidambaram said the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma to open talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir was a “diversionary move” to appease a section that was asking why the government was not holding talks in the troubled state. Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said the appointment of an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir was a “diversionary” tactic and felt the “azadi” demand meant people want autonomy which should be seriously examined. He said the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar…

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Farooq, Omar lash out at Centre

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Thousands of National Conference members converged at a stadium in Srinagar today to attend the party’s first state-level convention in 15 years as its top leadership reinvented its anti-Delhi rhetoric. Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, the two former Chief Ministers of the state and senior most leaders of the main opposition party, in their speeches lashed out at symbols of New Delhi: from Prime Ministers to the Army Chief to political parties. Addressing the Centre, Farooq said, “You snatched everything from us. You wonder why the people here don’t raise…

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Secretariat closes in Srinagar, to open in Jammu on Nov 6

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The Civil Secretariat closed here today to reopen in Jammu, the winter capital, on November 6 as part of the bi-annual ‘Durbar Move’. “The Civil Secretariat and other Durbar Move offices that observe five-day week closed in Srinagar today and will now reopen at Jammu on November 6,” an official spokesman said. The offices observing six-day week will close tomorrow, he said. The Civil Secretariat and other Durbar Move offices function in Srinagar for six months of summer and in Jammu, for the remaining six months of the year. The…

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Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti needs to stand taller

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Since Monday greater responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for making the dialogue on J&K a success. There is no scope for any misstep. This time around Mehbooba is facing the most crucial test of her political career, when she should not only act but should also be seen as Chief Minister of the entire Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh included. It is true that opening of talks with separatists was the core agenda of her party and the government for that holds a possible key…

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Syed Salahuddin UJC Chief attaches three conditions for talks with India

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Had India been sincere, it would have appointed politician as interlocutor Condemns arrest of son, raid on Budgam residence Rejecting the appointment of former IB director Dineshwar Sharma as interlocutor by Government of India, United Jehad Council (UJC) chairman and Supreme Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin Thursday attached three conditions for starting dialogue process with India. Let India accept our three conditions and we are ready for talks,” Salahuddin said while addressing a joint press conference with other militant commanders at Press Club, here. He said India should accept…

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