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Divide Valley to resettle minorities: Panun Kashmir

April 15, 2017 Editor

Expressing concern over the rising radicalisation in Kashmir and deterioration in security situation, the Panun Kashmir (PK) today said the division of the Valley had become imperative to create a peaceful zone for minorities. Reiterating their demand for a separate homeland for the Pandits in the Valley, the PK has said it is the only way to resettle the displaced community in their ancient homeland. Addressing a press conference, PK chairman Ajay Chrangoo and convener Agnishekhar alleged that they had been warning that radicalisation was turning the Valley into “ungovernable…

Had warned Election Commission of India against holding byelections : Mehboba Mufti

April 15, 2017 Editor

Says commission was cautioned about violence, low voter turnout Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the state government had warned the Election Commission of India that the situation in the Valley was not conducive to holding by elections to the Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary seats. The CM said she had warned the ECI of possible violence and low turnout in the elections. “We had informed the ECI that situation in Kashmir was not conducive to holding by elections as wounds of the deaths occurred last were still fresh and people…

The Modi government has a new model for managing Kashmir

April 14, 2017 Editor

The Narendra Modi government wants a new approach and has settled on a policy that combines harsh crackdowns on agitating youth and initiatives that undermine mainstream parties, notwithstanding the PDP-BJP alliance. Kashmir has been on the boil since last July when security forces shot protesting civilians heading to the funeral of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant – setting off a cycle of violence during which, according to one account, “96 people were killed, more than 12,000 injured, 1,000 lost their vision in one eye after being hit by pellets…

BRO hands over Jammu-Srinagar Highway to NHAI

April 13, 2017 Editor

The Border Roads Organisation has handed over the maintenance of the arterial Jammu-Srinagar road to the National Highways Authority of India, a senior official of the organisation said here today. “Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) has been handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI),” Brigadier A K Dass, Chief Engineer of Project Beacon, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) said. He said the organisation was now only entrusted with the responsibility of a small portion of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and not the entire stretch of road. “BRO only looks…

India and Pakistan should find a peaceful solution to Kashmir issue through dialogue: UN Secretary

April 12, 2017 Editor

“It is obviously an issue that he (Secretary General) is following…If we are able to say more, we shall be able to say more…I am not sure what coming to grip means. He is well aware of the issue.” Days after the United States offered mediation between India-Pakistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has underscored the need for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue, his spokesperson said on Tuesday. As per the reports of PTI, Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric dismissed claims that the…

Wake up India, talk to Pakistan or lose Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

April 11, 2017 Editor

National Conference chief and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Farooq Abdullah today said the violence and loss of lives during the Srinagar bypoll “are a tragedy and a failure of the government of the day.” National Conference chief and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting the state by-elections from Srinagar, said that the violence and loss of lives during the bypolls in the state “are a tragedy and a failure of the government of the day. They could not provide…

Srinagar bypolls reflect failure of Kashmir Policy: Rahul Gandhi

April 11, 2017 Editor

Decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir has been reversed by the BJP government, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said today after a poor voter turnout and violence in the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls. He also attacked the PDP-BJP government in the state over its “total failure”. “The elections in Kashmir reflect the total failure of the BJP/PDP alliance and the governments Kashmir policy. “Decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir reversed in less than 3 years by the…

To wrest Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah toes Soft-Separatist line

April 8, 2017 Editor

At 79, Farooq Abdullah is a familiar face of the contest for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, which will go to the polls for the second time in four years on Sunday. In the last poll in 2014, the NC president had suffered a rout. This is his chance to make a comeback. The Srinagar parliamentary constituency is formed of the 15 Assembly segments: eight located in Srinagar district, five in Budgam and two in Ganderbal. Srinagar, home to 1.2 million people, is a bustling district and the urban heartland of…

Rains, Avalanches claim 8 lives in J&K, but floods recede

April 8, 2017 Editor

Eight persons were killed in three days of recent heavy rains and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, but with weather clearing, the water levels in all swollen rivers, streams and lakes in the valley have started receding, officials said on Friday. “With gradual improvement in weather, the water level in the Jhelum river and its tributaries has started receding, both at Sangam (in Anantnag district) and at Ram Munshi bagh in Srinagar city,” the Irrigation and Flood Control Department said in Srinagar. Eight people have been killed in torrential rain…