General News Archives | Page 347 of 367

Govt suspends Geelani’s passport Ahead of US trip

September 23, 2015 Editor

Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani’s passport was today suspended for four weeks, scuttling his planned trip to the United States later this month. A senior official of the Regional Passport Office, Srinagar, Firdous Iqbal, said Geelani’s passport had been suspended for four weeks, but did not give any reason for it. The suspension comes three days after Geelani announced that he would travel to New York to participate in the meeting of foreign ministers of Muslim countries and the Kashmir contact group from September 27 to October 1. Geelani, who…

Mufti Sayeed has Handed over Control of J&K to Nirmal Singh: Tehreek-e-Hurriyat

September 22, 2015 Editor

Strongly condemning the mid night raids on the residence of separatist activist Syed Bashir Andrabi at Ratinipora Pulwama, continuous imprisonment of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Ameer Hamza Shah and Showkat Ahmad Dar and “government plans of restricting” all the Hurriyat leaders on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat led by octogenarian Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday said that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has converted the state into a “major prison” and “had handed its control into the hands of Nirmal Singh”. Demanding the release of all the political prisoners of Kashmir before the…

Beef ban issue creates divide between PDP & BJP

September 22, 2015 Editor

The issue of beef ban in Jammu and Kashmir has created a divide between the ruling coalition partners, with PDP saying the prohibition cannot be accepted while the BJP is pressing for strict implementation of the 150-year prohibitory rule. PDP said consumption of beef will continue to be allowed in the state notwithstanding the directive of the High Court for implementing a ban even as BJP said the sentiments of Hindus should be respected in the larger national interest without any provocation. “No one can suppress religious freedom. If something…

Committed to resettling Kashmiri Pandits in Valley: BJP

September 22, 2015 Editor

BJP leader Ram Madhav, who played a key role in forging his party’s alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday said that much more was needed to be done to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley but insisted that the coalition government was committed to it. In an interactive session on Facebook, the BJP general secretary called the alliance as well as the situation in the state “difficult”, but said there was greater understanding between the two parties now. Asked about BJP’s promise of bringing Pandits back in…

MLA submits bill in LA on liquor ban in JK

September 22, 2015 Editor

Amid row over ban on sale of beef in J&K, legislator from Khansahab constituency in Budgam district, Hakeem Muhammad Yasin, has submitted a bill in the Assembly seeking ban on sale of liquor in the state. “J&K being a Muslim majority State, the Government should ban sale of liquor to its residents,” reads the bill submitted in the Assembly Secretariat. The autumn session of Assembly starts on October 3 and is expected to be stormy in the wake of a row over Dogra-era law that criminalizes sale of beef and…

Modi govt plans to revive Kuka Parrey era in JK: Hizb

September 22, 2015 Editor

Stating that killers of Burhan and his father were not fit to be called humans, Hizbul Mujahideen Monday alleged that Modi-led government was planning to ‘revive the ‘Kuka Parrey’ era in Jammu and Kashmir.’ In a statement, Hizb spokesperson Salim Hashmi while quoting the chief of the outfit, Syed Salahuddin said “the strategy and planning of Modi was exposed in May 2015, when Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parikar said that it is not necessary that our soldiers will always fight the militants.” “Salahuddin while addressing Hizb Command Council said that…

Bajrang Dal seeks complete beef ban, death penalty for defying

September 22, 2015 Editor

Bajrang Dal activist today held a protest demanding a complete ban on the sale of beef and slaughter of bovine animals in Jammu and Kashmir, besides urging the government to impose death penalty for those who defy the ban. Addressing the workers of the organisation, religious Guru Dinesh Bharti demanded a prohibition on cow slaughter in the entire state and slammed those who have been justifying beef consumption on various grounds.” The cow slaughter should be banned in the state in letter and spirit,” he said. Asking that a large…

Will start movement against economic blockade: Geelani

September 21, 2015 Editor

Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani on Sunday cautioned that if the communal forces enforced any type of economic blockade to Kashmir, a public movement will be started against it. Geelani was reacting to the economic blockade threat by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). “Economic blockade of Kashmir will have very serious consequences and the situation will be out of control for everybody. I want to caution that if the communal forces enforce any type of economic blockade to Kashmir, a public movement will be started against that…

Now, Bhagavad Gita available in Kashmiri

September 21, 2015 Editor

Grappling with the question of losing their cultural identity in exile, some events still vividly bring displaced Kashmiri Pandits together out of nostalgia for Kashmir. A book release function in Jammu today turned into a platform for community members to pour their hearts out over the plight of their literature in exile. It was the occasion of the release of ‘Bhagwat’, a poetic translation of the Bhagavad Gita into Kashmiri language by late Kashi Nath Bagwan, a prominent Pandit writer. The first-of-its-kind Kashmiri translation of the Bhagavad Gita was released…

Three bodies recovered in J&K in last 24 hours

September 21, 2015 Editor

Police have recovered three bodies from three different places in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours. The body of Bushan Lal Raina (69), a resident of Durga Nagar, was on Sunday found in a canal at Belicharana area of Jammu district and taken to Government Medical College hospital for postmortem, police said. In Poonch district, the body Abdul Majid, a resident of Dharana area of Mendhar tehsil, was today found near GREF camp, they said, adding that it was later taken to a hospital. Police had yesterday recovered…