General News Archives | Page 73 of 351

Gupkar Alliance at Crossroads: Towards Cooperation or Dissolution?

January 6, 2024 Editor

On August 4, 2019, a day before the abrogation of Article 370, regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir met at the residence of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Gupkar Road in Srinagar, forming the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), also known as the Gupkar Alliance. They vowed to defend Article 370 and warned the BJP against proceeding with the move. But, the BJP went ahead and abrogated Article 370 the next day, dividing Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Many political leaders, including…

Tribute and Reflection: PDP To Host Public Event in Srinagar to Mark Party Founder’s Anniversary

January 4, 2024 Editor

Sources within the PDP claim that over a dozen big leaders could join the party in coming weeks; district president Baramulla Peer Jaluludin said this year, the party is organising big show at Bijbhera To mark the eight death anniversary of J&K chief minister and People’s Democratic Party founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the party will be holding a power show in south Kashmir’s Bijbhera town, where Mufti is buried at the historical Dara Shoka Park, on January 7. The party workers and leaders from across J&K will be attending the…

J&K, Ladakh Face Fuel Shortage as Tanker Operators Strike Against Hit-and-Run Law

January 2, 2024 Editor

All J&K Transporters’ Welfare Association has, however, not joined the strike and has called a meeting on Tuesday to ponder over the issue Opposing the Centre’s new provisions regarding hit-and-run cases under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, around 1,500 oil tankers that ferry fuel to Jammu and Kashmir besides Ladakh, went on a strike on Monday. In Himachal, the nationwide protest led to a shortage of fuel and many petrol pumps in major cities were seen rationing fuel. Rush was reported at petrol pumps across Hiamchal. All J&K Transporters’ Welfare Association has,…

Kashmir Braces for Double Blow: Freezing Temperatures and Public Reprimands Amid Power Woes

December 31, 2023December 31, 2023 Editor

Residents, who claim they have this winter been battling the worst power crisis in decades, accuse the government-run Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited of adding insult to their injury The Valley is shivering in the cold amid frequent power outages. But what has left many chilled to the bone is the under-fire electricity department’s attempt to hit back by publicly shaming alleged pilferers, mostly poor people whom previous administrations tended to indulge. Residents, who claim they have this winter been battling the worst power crisis in decades, accuse the government-run…

Access Barred: Mehbooba Mufti’s Planned Meeting with Poonch Families Halted

December 31, 2023 Editor

People’s Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti chief was stopped by the police when she was en route to meet the families of victims near the location of an anti-terrorist operation in Poonch. Mehbooba Mufti, the chief of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was stopped by the police on DKG road in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir due to security concerns on Saturday. She was en route to meet the families of victims near the location of an anti-terrorist operation in the Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. Mehbooba Mufti and her…

Hopes Flicker in Kashmir: Multi-Party Alliance Mulls Reinstating Article 370

December 30, 2023 Editor

The multi-party coalition People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has declared its intention to explore the possibility of lodging a review petition in the Supreme Court, the PAGD spokesman MY Tarigami said. The move is in response to the recent verdict that upheld the Central government’s decision to revoke Article 370 provisions. Tarigami addressed the media in Jammu, expressing discontent with the Supreme Court’s ruling, stating, “What the government of India did on August 5 (2019) is not an ordinary mistake; it was an assault on our basic constitutional rights,…

J&K Grapples with a Hidden Epidemic: 14 Lakh Individuals Impacted by Substance Abuse

December 29, 2023 Editor

In a deeply troubling revelation, Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with a severe drug addiction crisis and as per the recent government data approximately 14 lakh individuals are ensnared by substance abuse, posing a significant threat to public health and societal well-being. National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi raised the concern during the Parliament session, inquiring whether there were nearly 10 lakh drug addicts in J&K. In response, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, cited the…

Abdullah downplays expectations ahead of Rajnath Singh’s J&K visit

December 28, 2023 Editor

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah voiced scepticism on Wednesday regarding the visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to J&K, stating that he harboured no expectations from the visit but hoped it would prevent incidents similar to the recent civilian deaths in Poonch. “I have no expectation from his visit. Can he bring back the dead? But he can do this much that such injustice is not repeated,” Farooq told reporters in Kulgam, 80 km south of Srinagar. Expressing his concerns over the civilian deaths in Poonch, the NC leader…

GoI outlaws Masarat Alam’s Muslim League faction for alleged secessionist activities

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023 Editor

Declared unlawful under UAPA provisions for anti-national activities There have been indications of the Masarat Alam faction having linkages with banned terrorist organisations. Alam has been in jail since 2010 for “involvement” in violent protests in Kashmir. He was released by the then CM, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, in 2015, but was re-arrested under BJP’s pressure for sedition. The Centre on Wednesday declared the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) or MLJK-MA as an unlawful association under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967. Home Minister Amit…

Bullet will be answered with bomb : Ashok Koul

December 25, 2023 Editor

J&K BJP, General Secretary ( Org) Ashok Koul on Sunday said that Pakistan wanted to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir by launching attacks on security forces and civilians. “Our neighbour does not want to see peace here and that is why it is resorting to cowardly attacks, ” Koul told reporters in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town. He said that the government had always wanted friendly relations with Pakistan, but “each time it had betrayed us.” “Ata Bihari Vajpaye had started a bus service and Modi ji broke his protocol to visit…