Category: General News

General News

National Conference, Congress say no to GST in State

Editor

The opposition political parties today derailed the ruling PDP-BJP government’s race towards the extension of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to J&K, which is shielded from Central laws by its special constitutional status within the Indian Union. Both principal opposition parties National Conference (NC) and Congress opposed the extension of the GST to J&K, saying it would be a compromise on the financial and political autonomy of the state. “We will not allow anything that jeopardises our constitutional position. We told the government that we won’t allow extension of…

Read More

What is BJP and Rajnath’s ‘Permanent Resolution’ for the Kashmir issue?

Editor

Over the past two weeks, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has made several curious statements about the government’s plans for a “permanent resolution” of the Kashmir issue. In one of the earlier statements, he cryptically remarked that the government has indeed “come up with a permanent solution to solve Kashmir”. He continued that “the initiative has begun” and the government is “moving forward”. Subsequently, he repeated the statement again and added that the government will “take people into confidence” about the solution. Vague Words Although Singh has given no details about…

Read More

Agenda of Anxiety: third year, little progress

Editor

The PDP-BJP rule in Jammu and Kashmir might have entered its third year, but the Agenda of Alliance (AoA)—the governance document of the coalition partners—has seen little progress on ground, especially with regard to the key political component of holding talks with the Valley’s resistance leadership. While some PDP leaders blame the “hostile situation” for delay in implementation of the AoA, many clearly appear anxious in the wake of fears that the party might “lose the ground” if steps are not taken urgently to “address the gaps.” On May 31…

Read More

Panun Kashmir seeks decisive action against terror funding

Editor

Calling upon the government to take a decisive action against terror funding and financial support structure of separatists in the Kashmir valley, Panun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced Hindus, today urged the Central government to deal firmly with militancy. The organisation has also demanded CBI investigation into the murder case of constable Sameer Bhat who was killed by his colleague in Srinagar recently. Addressing a press conference, Panun Kashmir chairman Ajay Chrungoo welcomed the step taken by the NIA to investigate the financial dealings of separatists in J&K. “Panun Kashmir…

Read More

Militants escape 13 times in four month with Stone pelters help

Editor

Notwithstanding the Army chief Bipin Rawat’s warning to people who disrupt anti-militancy operations, stone pelting protesters have helped ultras to escape security cordon on 13 occasions during the last almost four months. An official report reveals that since General Rawat’s stern warning on February 16 that those trying to disrupt anti-militancy operations in Kashmir will be treated as “overground workers of terrorists” and can be fired on, security forces carried out 43 anti-militancy operations across the Valley. Most of these operations have been carried out in south Kashmir districts of…

Read More

Military solutions can’t fix political issue: Omar Abdullah

Editor

The Centre’s decision not to resolve the “political issue” in Kashmir has worsened the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said, stressing that military solutions cannot be used to fix a “political” problem. Abdullah, the working president of opposition National Conference (NC), alleged the Centre has also distanced itself from all promises of the state government’s common minimum programme — Agenda of the Alliance — formally and publicly. The BJP, the leading party at the Centre, is a partner in the ruling coalition government…

Read More

What cheek! TV news coverage angers many Kashmiris

Editor

Kashmiris are unhappy with how news from their is being covered by national television networks that often hold panel discussions resulting in a raucous arguments that they feel are “insensitive”. Kashmir’s politicians, separatist leaders and civil society members pursue different agendas and are normally deeply divided. But currently, they agree on one thing: that most national television channels are harming the strife-torn Valley irreparably by their raucous news coverage and panel discussions. Almost all of them were aghast when a retired army Major wondered aloud incredulously last week on a…

Read More

Mehbooba Mufti succumbs to BJP pressure; Kashmir Police officers ineligible for DIG, IG posts without Centre’s nod

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has given in to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pressure, issuing a directive that residents of the state would not be eligible to become police officers, with deputy inspector general (DIG) ranks and above, unless their names were cleared by the Centre. Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Mehbooba, an order was issued by the state home department that renamed Kashmir Police Services as Jammu and Kashmir Police Service (JKPS) and spelled out new eligibility criteria for Inspector General (IG) and Deputy…

Read More

SC says Aadhaar not mandatory, but those who have it must link to PAN card for IT returns

Editor

The Supreme Court said the government must formulate a scheme to prevent the leakage of personal details. It also said the stay would hold till the Constitutional Bench decides on the privacy matter of Aadhaar. The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the government’s decision to link Aadhaar to one’s PAN card but refused to make it compulsory for those who don’t have an Aadhaar card or who have not yet applied for one, till a Constitutional Bench decides on the privacy question pending before it. In effect, those who possess…

Read More

Ready for talks with everyone to solve Kashmir Issue: Rajnath Singh

Editor

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that he was “ready for talks with everyone” to resolve the Kashmir issue, and will not put any conditions for the purpose. “Those who are instigating the Kashmiri youth should look upon them as their own child,” Singh said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai about the Modi government’s achievements in three years. “In a healthy democracy, every solution can be achieved through dialogue. I have said many times that I am ready for talks with everyone. We will not put any conditions and…

Read More