Kapil Sibal’s Revelation: Kashmir’s Legal Framework Largely Unaltered After Article 370

Kapil Sibal’s Revelation: Kashmir’s Legal Framework Largely Unaltered After Article 370

Srinagar: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday said the abrogation of Article 370 was a “political decision” and there was no need for it as 99 per cent of the laws of India were already operational in Kashmir. Sibal also said that he does not see assembly elections being held in Kashmir unless the results on June 4 are different, an apparent reference to the possibility of the INDIA bloc emerging victorious. He also said Kashmir is not an India-Pakistan issue anymore but one that is between our government…

Read More

Abdullah’s Insight: Tourist Traffic Doesn’t Translate to Total Tranquility in Kashmir

Abdullah’s Insight: Tourist Traffic Doesn’t Translate to Total Tranquility in Kashmir

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday said tourism should not be linked to the security situation in Kashmir as tourist arrivals are not the right barometer of normalcy and this makes tourists a target. The situation in the Valley is “not normal”, Abdullah told reporters after visiting polling booths in Budgam. The NC leader is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Baramulla, where voting is under way. “We have been saying that the situation (in Kashmir) is not normal. The militants have proved repeatedly that they can attack…

Read More

Bridging Divides: Mirwaiz Ushers in New Era of Dialogue in Hurriyat

Bridging Divides: Mirwaiz Ushers in New Era of Dialogue in Hurriyat

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq warned against “belligerence and violence” as he remembered assassinated separatist leaders on their death anniversary Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat on May 20 remembered the assassinated separatist leaders, Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone, on their death anniversary and warned against “belligerence and violence” over the Kashmir issue. “The Hurriyat stands firm in its approach of dealing with the conflict, which has severely affected the people of J&K for decades. The way forward is dialogue among stakeholders. Peace, stability and security of the region will naturally…

Read More

Baramulla’s Game Changer: Wild Card Candidate Shakes Up Political Pitch

Baramulla’s Game Changer: Wild Card Candidate Shakes Up Political Pitch

Political journey of ‘Engineer Rashid’ In 2008, Rashid was first elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from the Langate assembly constituency in Kupwara district. He was re-elected in 2014 In 2019, he contested Lok Sabha polls from the Baramulla constituency but lost to NC’s Mohammad Akbar Lone by a margin of nearly 30,000 votes In the run-up to the abrogation of Article 370, Rashid was arrested and charged by the NIA under various sections of the UAPA With the media fascinated by the intensifying battle royale in the…

Read More

Altaf Bukhari Unveils: NC, PDP Pave Way for HM’s Kashmir Visit

Altaf Bukhari Unveils: NC, PDP Pave Way for HM’s Kashmir Visit

Srinagar: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Saturday claimed that NC and PDP facilitated Home Minister Amit Shah’s Kashmir visit. He added both political parties are responsible for breaking PAGD into pieces. Talking exclusively to Kashmir News Service on the sidelines of a public meeting held in Anantnag, Bukhari claimed that the recent visit of Home Minister Amit Shah was facilitated by NC and PDP who have been exposed in public badly. “NC and PDP speak over dignity of J&K when remain out of power, but when both parties…

Read More

Chugh’s Charge: Kashmir Seeks End to ‘Abdullah-Mufti Era’ of Exploitation

Chugh’s Charge: Kashmir Seeks End to ‘Abdullah-Mufti Era’ of Exploitation

BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh who is also party incharge for J&K today called upon people to push Abdullahs and Muftis to oblivion in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a series of public meetings in Poonch district Chugh said the politics of separation and pro-Pakistan played by them needed to be dumped decisively. All these years J&K has been a victim of vicious forces who kept the people in dark for their cheap and ant-national politics. Chugh said Abdullahs, Muftis Gandhis filled their coffers but kept people of Kashmir…

Read More

Sajad Lone: Embracing Article 370’s Legacy While Fostering National Unity

Sajad Lone: Embracing Article 370’s Legacy While Fostering National Unity

Baramulla: Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone Thursday said that though Article 370 was close to the hearts of the people of Kashmir, Kashmiris had to be equal Indians. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the public rally held in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Lone said, “Article 370 was always close to our heart and we will never accept its abrogation. But for the time being, we are talking about development with dignity. When we talk about dignity, we talk about the right to dignity of a Kashmiri…

Read More

BJP’s Absence in Key Kashmir Seats: Strategic Maneuver or Acknowledgment of Valley Realities?

BJP’s Absence in Key Kashmir Seats: Strategic Maneuver or Acknowledgment of Valley Realities? #Kashmir #BJP #ElectionStrategy #GroundRealities

The saffron party is allegedly relying on proxy candidates now, but analysts say even these would be rejected by the people. In the first major election to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not contesting from any of the three Valley seats—Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag—leaving the electoral battle to two major regional parties, the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP had six candidates in the fray in Jammu and…

Read More

Navigating the Chasm: Bridging Expectations with Realities in the Political Landscape

Broken Promises or Bridging the Gap? The New Government's Balancing Act

The Great Expectation Game: Bridging the Chasm Between Promises and Progress (#ElectionPromises, #BridgingTheGap) By: Javid Amin As the curtain rises on a new era of governance, the spotlight falls squarely on the shoulders of the elected representatives. With the promise of change hanging in the air, citizens harbor lofty expectations from their chosen leaders. From reliable power supply to robust employment opportunities, from improved infrastructure to accessible healthcare, the laundry list of demands is extensive. Yet, amidst these soaring hopes, lies a daunting question – can the elected few rise…

Read More

High Power Bills, Unemployment Fuel Women’s Turnout in Downtown Polls

High Power Bills, Unemployment Fuel Women's Turnout in Downtown Polls

Srinagar: From crippling unemployment to unaffordable electricity bills, a plethora of civic issues drove women voters in Srinagar’s downtown localities to turn out in large numbers to vote. In Rainawari, the lack of job opportunities for Kashmiri youth and the impending installation of smart power meters emerged as major poll planks. “We voted for candidates promising to tackle unemployment and the smart meter issue,” said Maqsooda, a resident of Jogilanker. “Government jobs are scarce, but if loans are provided, our youth can start their businesses and find work.” The smart…

Read More