Category: General News

General News

Opposition parties unite against move to ‘Abrogate’ Special Status

Editor

Clamour is growing against the move to abrogate the State subject law with a united Opposition threatening to launch a statewide agitation against the central and the state government, if the Article 35A, a provision of Article 370, is fiddled with. Charu Wali Khan, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, who is settled outside the state, has challenged legality of Article 35-A claiming in her petition to Supreme Court that the said law takes away her “succession rights” away and “disenfranchises her.” This is the second time this provision has…

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Why it’s dangerous for the Centre to tamper with Article 35A?

Editor

The latest trigger for trouble in Jammu & Kashmir involves the Centre’s questioning of a special privilege, accorded to the state by the Indian Constitution. Any misstep with regard to it has the potential to cause an explosion in the valley, already fraught after months of unrest. Recently, a Kashmiri woman called Charu Wali Khan, settled outside the state, challenged the legality of Article 35A of the Indian Constitution that allows J&K to define its “permanent residents”. She claimed in her petition to the Supreme Court that such a law…

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Article 35A abrogation will threaten JK’s existence: Farooq Abdullah

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Opposition National Conference (NC) President and former chief minister, Farooq Abdullah Monday said the existence of Jammu Kashmir would be under threat if Article 35-A was abrogated. Addressing a news conference after chairing a joint meeting of opposition parties at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar, Abdullah said if Article 35-A was abrogated, it would have dangerous consequences for all three regions of the State – Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu. “Besides, it will also have its ramifications on entire country,” he said a day after returning from New Delhi. The meeting…

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Supreme Court to hear plea today on Muslim minority status in J&K

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Top court to hear a plea questioning the minority status of the Jammu and Kashmir`s Muslims The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a plea filed by Ankur Sharma, questioning the minority status of the Jammu and Kashmir`s Muslims. Earlier, the top court asked the Centre and State Government to sit together and deal with the issue jointly. In February, the court had imposed a cost of Rs 30,000 on the Centre for not filing its reply to a PIL alleging that minority benefits are being enjoyed by majority Muslims in the…

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Farooq Abdullah to chair opposition meet on Article 35A

Editor

The fresh clamour over abrogation of Article 35-A which confers special rights and privileges on J&K’s permanent residents has sent the alarm bells ringing in the state, with National Conference calling a meeting of Opposition parties here on Monday to discuss the sensitive issue. The meeting comes in wake of a petition filed by a non-governmental organisation seeking abrogation of the constitutional provision that defines special privileges enjoyed by permanent residents of the state in matters related to employment, acquisition of immovable property, settlements and scholarships. A source said National…

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Need to check money flowing into Kashmir to foment trouble: RK Kaushal

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There is a need to analyse how much foreign money is pouring into Kashmir to foment trouble, said Major General (Retd) RK Kaushal during a talk on Violence Free Kashmir organised in the city on Saturday. Kaushal was in the city to be part of this event organised by the discussion group Vichar Vedh at Patrakar Bhavan. Also present on the occasion were Professor Vijay Naik from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai and members of Vichar Vedh, a forum which encourages discussion on humanitarian, secular and democratic values.…

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Mehbooba’s bizarre statements must not be allowed to hold nation hostage: Terror funding case

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Jammu and Kashmir may have a separate constitution but it is, unquestionably, part of India. Of late, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has been making bizarre statements which indicate some sort of desperation on her part towards the scenario unfolding in the Valley. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) crackdown on the leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), their arrest, allegations of terrorist links, illegal wealth, inciting youth and instigating violence have shaken the state. In addition to Pakistan, these separatists were also reportedly receiving funds from outfits in London and…

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Kashmir witnesses political furore over Article 35A and GST

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Article 35(A) and the Goods and Services Tax Act have created a political furore in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Opposition alleging that they are aimed at diluting the state’s special status and fiscal autonomy. Article 35(A) allows only state subjects of J&K to settle down and buy property here. An NGO, allegedly close to the RSS, recently filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court requesting Article 35(A)’s abrogation. The Centre has so far not filed a counter affidavit to it. Commenting on the development, the Congress said in…

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Going all out against militants in Kashmir paying dividends: Govt

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The government feels giving free hand to forces is paying dividends and the situation would improve significantly by winters. The government feels that its hardline policy in Kashmir against talking to the separatists and giving free hands to the security forces is paying dividends and the situation would improve significantly by the coming winters. Senior government sources said the strategy of blocking infiltration and going all out against terrorists in Kashmir has also started paying dividends as a large number of terrorists have been killed and there is fear in…

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Kashmir’s full integration with India impossible: Hurriyat (G)

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“Integration of disputed state with rest of India is never possible. These measures are unacceptable and we will fight tooth and nail.” Rejecting the claims of J&K’s integration with Indian Union Hurriyat Conference (G) Thursday said the remarks of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, that implementation of GST in JK marks economic integration were false. “Integration of disputed state with rest of India is never possible. These measures are unacceptable and we will fight tooth and nail”, Hurriyat (G) said in a statement. Hurriyat alleged that Indian authorities on one hand…

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