General News Archives | Page 344 of 363

Pakistan to highlight Kashmir, Indian interference at UN: Sartaz

September 18, 2015 Editor

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will raise the Kashmir issue and alleged Indian interference in the country at the UN General Assembly’s upcoming session later this month, a top official said today. “Pakistan will highlight the Kashmir issue at the UN and other fora as bilateralism envisaged in Shimla Agreement failed to achieve any progress,” Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said today. He briefed the Senate about the issues to be raised during Sharif’s visit to New York to attend the annual session of…

Mehbooba first Indian woman to head Haj team

September 18, 2015 Editor

PDP president and Member of Parliament Mehbooba Mufti will head a two-member delegation representing the country at Haj. Mehbooba Mufti, whose Kashmir-centric party shares power in J&K with the right-wing BJP, is the first woman to lead the Haj delegation of the country. The other member of the delegation is a senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh, Anwar Mohammad Khan. The two-member delegation left New Delhi for Jeddah today. “Mehbooba left Srinagar yesterday. She is heading the delegation,” said Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, political adviser to Mehbooba. A official in the…

Mirwaiz to launch agitation against liquor sale

September 18, 2015 Editor

Liquor should be completely banned in the Muslim majority state of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said after a resolution demanding ban on liquor was passed in the MMU session here. Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) and head of Muttaheda Majlis-e-Ulema Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday said he would launch an agitation against sale of liquor in Kashmir. “We will ensure that sale of liquor is banned in Kashmir. It is our religious duty to disallow any activity which is against Islam. Liquor should be completely banned in the Muslim majority state…

J&K to get additional power from Baglihar-II project

September 18, 2015 Editor

The energy-deficient state will be generating additional 300 MW power as the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) is commissioning two turbines of the Baglihar-II hydroelectric project with power generation capacity of 150 MW each,. Senior officials of the JKPDC said they had begun the generation of 150-MW additional power by commissioning the first turbine of Phase-II of the Baglihar hydroelectric project in the Chanderkote area of Ramban district, while the second turbine of Phase-II would be commissioned by the end of this month. They, however, remained tightlipped over…

‘CM’s Grievance Cell disposes off 80% complaints’

September 17, 2015 Editor

New SOP to suggest 10-day deadline for addressing grievance Nearly 80 percent of the pending grievances with the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell were resolved in the fourth review meeting at the CM’s private office on Wednesday. The grievances were pending with 18 government departments including Relief and Rehabilitation, Srinagar Development Authority, Divisional Commissioner’s office, district headquarters and Srinagar Municipal Corporation. During the meeting, cases pending since 2013 were discussed and forwarded to the concerned departments. Project Director, Grievance Cell, Saadut Hussain chaired the review meeting in which 18 nodal officers…

BJP losing face on chopper tax issue

September 17, 2015 Editor

2 weeks on, tax on commercial helicopter services not withdrawn Although the ongoing beef controversy has overshadowed the decision of the Finance Ministry to impose service tax on devotees going by helicopter to Vaishno Devi, the issue has given sleepless nights to BJP leaders as the Finance Minister appears adamant on not rolling back his decision. The BJP is losing people’s faith because it has failed to fulfil its commitment to get the controversial service tax order, which has been dubbed as “jazia” by saffron organisations, withdrawn so far. On…

PDP in a tight spot as ally BJP sounds ‘caution’ post Beef Ban

September 16, 2015 Editor

Amid brewing anger in Kashmir over ban on sale of beef in the state, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could find itself in a precarious situation in coming days as its ally Bhartiya Janta Party, Tuesday cautioned against any interference in the existing law. The BJP’s stand comes at a time when opposition has asked the PDP-led Government to decriminalize cow slaughter and sale of beef by amending the 1932-law. Divulging party stand on the issue, BJP’s Vice-President Ramesh Arora said there was no need to repeal or change…

Exercise maximum restraint: Mufti tells Police

September 16, 2015 Editor

‘Visible changes on ground in last seven months’ Terming J&K police as “the most professional force” in India, Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Tuesday asked police to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with law and order situation. “Despite facing difficult situation, JKP has always remained in the forefront to maintain peace and order to safeguard the lives and fundamental rights of the people,” Mufti said while addressing the 12th BRTC passing out parade held at PTS Manigam here. About 385 recruits passed out from the police training school Manigam today…

Will oppose move to revoke beef ban: BJP

September 16, 2015 Editor

NC plans to seek amendment to the law banning bovine slaughter in the state Amid differences between the two coalition partners — PDP and BJP— on beef ban verdict of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the saffron party has toughened its stand on the issue and asserted that it would not allow passage of any Bill in the Assembly which aims at revoking the ban. “Our stand is clear on the issue. We are of the strong opinion that the decision taken by the High Court to ban beef…

‘Unholy’ coalition of PDP, BJP is alliance of surrender: Panun Kashmir

September 15, 2015 Editor

Panun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, today said the “unholy” coalition between the “separatist” PDP and nationalist BJP is an “alliance of surrender”. “The unholy alliance between the separatist PDP and nationalist BJP is an alliance of surrender and is responsible for the present emboldening of anti-national elements in Jammu and Kashmir”, Chairman of Panun Kashmir Ajay Chrungoo said here. He was speaking at a Balidaan divas function in which rich tributes were paid to the martyrs who laid down their lives for maintaining the security and integrity…