General News Archives | Page 4 of 359

‘Jammu Got IIT, IIM — No Discrimination Cry From Kashmir Then’: Omar Abdullah Pushes Back on NLU Row

January 13, 2026 Editor

Omar Abdullah Says Jammu Got IIT, IIM—No Discrimination Cry Then Amid NLU Debate By: Javid Amin | 13 January 2026 How a Proposed National Law University Has Reignited Old Regional Fault Lines in Jammu & Kashmir One University, A Familiar Political Storm In Jammu and Kashmir, even the proposal of an educational institution rarely remains confined to academia. It quickly becomes a mirror reflecting deep-seated regional anxieties, political histories, and unresolved questions of balance and fairness. The latest flashpoint is the proposed National Law University (NLU) for Jammu & Kashmir.…

Mehbooba Mufti Slams NSA Ajit Doval’s ‘Revenge for History’ Remark, Warns of Communal Fallout

January 12, 2026 Editor

Mehbooba Mufti Criticises NSA Ajit Doval’s ‘Revenge for History’ Remark, Warns of Communal Polarisation By: Javid Amin | 11 January 2026 Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday strongly criticised National Security Adviser Ajit Doval over his recent reference to “revenge for history,” warning that such rhetoric from a senior constitutional functionary could have dangerous consequences for India’s social cohesion. Mufti described the remark as a “dog whistle” that normalises communal hatred and risks inciting vulnerable sections of society against minorities.…

Vaishno Devi Medical College Row: An Education Row That Became a Political Flashpoint

January 11, 2026 Editor

Vaishno Devi Medical College Row: NC Blames BJP, Says Jammu Opposed Protests

Vaishno Devi Medical College Row Explained: Timeline, Politics, and What Jammu Really Thinks By: Javid Amin | 10 January 2026 An Education Row That Became a Political Flashpoint: NC blames BJP for student fallout, says Jammu opposed protests The controversy surrounding the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, has escalated into a major political flashpoint in Jammu and Kashmir, with the National Conference (NC) accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of jeopardising the future of aspiring doctors after the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrew permission for…

Jammu Vs Kashmir: Decoding 50 Years of Uneven Development, Jobs, and Reservations in J&K

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026 Editor

Jammu Vs Kashmir: Who Got What in 50 Years? A Comparative Audit of Development, Jobs, and Reservations By: Javid Amin : 09 January 2026 Unpacking the Divide in a Shared Land For more than half a century, Jammu and Kashmir—now a Union Territory—has been a tale of two regions bound by maps but divided by experiences. On one side, Jammu’s steady progress paints a picture of reliability and growth; on the other, Kashmir’s story is one of interruptions and unfulfilled potential. This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s…

Omar Abdullah Seeks Accountability in SMVDIME Failure as BJP Defends Closure, Rejects J&K Division Talk

January 9, 2026 Editor

Omar Abdullah Seeks Accountability for SMVDIME Failure as BJP Defends Closure and Rejects Division Rumours By: Javid Amin | 08 January 2026 The controversy surrounding the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) has taken a sharper political turn, with former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calling for clear accountability over the institute’s failure to meet mandatory regulatory standards, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defended the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) decision to withdraw MBBS recognition and firmly rejected speculation about any division of Jammu…

‘Sold Kashmir for Power?’ AIP Vs Mehbooba Mufti and the Long Shadow of the PDP-BJP Alliance

January 8, 2026 Editor

‘Sold Kashmir for Power?’ — AIP, Mehbooba Mufti, and the Unfinished Reckoning of the PDP-BJP Alliance By: Javid Amin | 08 January 2026 More than seven years after the fall of the PDP-BJP coalition government, the political aftershocks of that experiment continue to reverberate across Jammu and Kashmir. The latest trigger is a sharp and unusually personal attack by the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, accusing her of having “sold Kashmir for power” and now attempting to justify what they describe as a historic betrayal.…

Jammu Medical College Row Explained: How SMVDIME Lost MBBS Recognition and What Comes Next

January 8, 2026 Editor

Jammu Medical College Row Explained: Anatomy of a Controversy That Shook the Region By: Javid Amin | 07 January 2026 On January 6, 2026, the National Medical Commission (NMC) made an unprecedented regulatory move: it revoked the Letter of Permission (LoP) previously granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, effectively withdrawing its licence to offer MBBS education for the 2025–26 academic year. The decision instantly became the centre of a major socio-political storm across the Union Territory and national…

Over 1.3 Million People Affected by Drug Abuse in Jammu & Kashmir: A Deepening Crisis Threatening Youth, Security, and Social Stability

January 8, 2026 Editor

Drug Abuse Crisis in Jammu & Kashmir: Over 1.3 Million Affected as Heroin Use and Youth Addiction Surge By: Javid Amin | 07 January 2026 A Grim Milestone: Drug Abuse Reaches Alarming Levels in Jammu & Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir is confronting one of the most severe social and public health crises in its recent history, with over 1.3 million people now affected by drug abuse, according to official estimates. The figure represents a dramatic rise from approximately 600,000 cases just three years ago, underscoring the speed and scale at…

NMC Withdraws Recognition of Vaishno Devi Medical College MBBS Course: Regulation, Religion, and the Future of Medical Education in J&K

January 7, 2026 Editor

National Medical Commission Cancels MBBS Approval for Vaishno Devi Medical College After Admission Controversy in J&K By: Javid Amin | 06 January 2026 When Medical Admissions Turn Political Medical admissions in India are normally governed by marks, merit lists, and regulation. But sometimes, they become lightning-rods for political and social tension. That is precisely what happened in Jammu & Kashmir when Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence — a new medical college — admitted its first MBBS batch for 2025–26. Out of 50 seats, 42 candidates were Muslims,…

VPN Crackdown in Jammu & Kashmir: 800 Users Booked, Two-Month Ban Sparks Debate Over Security and Digital Freedom

January 6, 2026 Editor

VPN Crackdown in Jammu & Kashmir: 800 Users Identified, Blanket Ban Sparks Privacy Debate By: Javid Amin | 05 January 2025 A New Digital Flashpoint in Kashmir In a move that has reignited long-standing debates over internet regulation, digital rights, and state security, authorities in Jammu & Kashmir have intensified a crackdown on unauthorized Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage, identifying approximately 800 users across the Valley, registering FIRs, and imposing a two-month blanket ban under emergency prohibitory orders. The administration has justified the decision on grounds of cyber security, public…