General News Archives | Page 76 of 351

A Chill in the Digital Air: Kashmiris Face Legal Action for Social Media Posts as Supreme Court Prepares to Rule on Article 370

December 10, 2023 Editor

A recent police order under the CrPC suggested that the posting of content could potentially trigger a communal frenzy, promote terrorism and separatism, and ‘will be a legal offence’ in J&K The Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a crackdown on netizens and booked scores in Kashmir ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on Article 370. A police spokesperson said one person from north Kashmir’s Baramulla faced legal proceedings for his social media posts. “The [legal] action is in response to his uploading hateful videos containing inflammatory and seditious statements on social…

Jammu Kashmir Bill: Omar Abdullah Raises Concerns, Alleging Political Motivations

December 8, 2023 Editor

Srinagar, December 8, 2023: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ignited a political firestorm by alleging that the recently passed Jammu Kashmir Reservation Bill is solely intended to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming elections. Abdullah, a prominent leader of the National Conference party, expressed strong reservations against the bill, claiming it grants backdoor entry to the Legislative Assembly for members of the Kashmiri migrant community and displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He views this move as a calculated attempt to bolster the BJP’s…

Mehbooba sounds alarm: Only unity can save us from losing our dignity!

December 8, 2023 Editor

In a fervent address to a workers’ convention in Ganderbal, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti emphasised on unity being the only safeguard in face of the onslaught on rights and dignity of the people of J&K. A statement of PDP issued here quoted the PDP President as saying that those against unity see elections and electoral victory as the ultimate goal. “In present times, our very survival is being questioned. It is incumbent that we unite at all levels and think beyond elections and electoral victories. Those against…

Don’t amend J&K Reorganisation Act while it’s under Supreme Court review: Omar Abdullah

December 7, 2023 Editor

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah Thursday said the government should not make amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act as the law is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court. Abdullah’s remarks came after the Lok Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to nominate two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one representing the displaced persons from PoK to the legislative assembly. “Our objections to the bill are on two issues. The first is that the Supreme Court has not announced its…

J&K Grapples with Economic Crime Wave: Economic Offence Cases Jump by 48 in Two Years, NCRB Report

December 7, 2023 Editor

J&K has witnessed a significant rise in the economic offence cases in 2022 as compared to previous years, the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has suggested. The Union Territory (UT) witnessed registration of 976 cases under such crimes in 2022. The number was 669 in 2021 and 611 in 2020. The UT in 2019 had witnessed 621 cases under the category. As per the data, while 62 cases were registered under criminal breach of trust under Sections 406 to 409 of the IPC, at least two cases…

Lok Sabha Passes Two Bills Granting Reservation Benefits in Jammu and Kashmir

December 7, 2023 Editor

Lok Sabha Wednesday passed Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023 following an extensive, feisty reply by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to a stimulating political debate, spanning two days. Animated debate and subsequent reply saw the Union Home Minister explaining how two crucial Bills would undo injustice with the sections deprived for 70 years by giving them OBC status; give rights and representation to displaced Kashmiris, reservation to Kashmiri Pandits and expand and restructure J&K Legislative Assembly with the addition…

Congress Credits Nehru for Saving Srinagar in 1947, Counters Amit Shah’s Claims

December 6, 2023 Editor

The Congress also claimed that the decision to cease fire had been taken based on the advice of the then army chief. The Congress on Wednesday described as “erroneous” union minister Amit Shah’s remark that it was due to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s “blunder” that Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) came into existence. Responding to Shah’s claim that Nehru decided to announce a ceasefire when the Indian army was winning, the Congress said the two armies had struck a stalemate, necessitating the ceasefire. The Congress also claimed that the decision to…

Revoking Special Status Strained Kashmir’s Relationship with India: Omar Abdullah

December 6, 2023 Editor

“The truth is that people in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are not happy with the steps taken on August 5, 2019,” the National Conference Vice-President said. National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the BJP government has harmed the bond between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country with the abrogation of Article 370 provisions. Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Parliament, Mr Abdullah said the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were not happy with the decision to revoke special status of the…

Jitendra Singh Blames Nehruvian Policies for Delay in Jammu and Kashmir’s Integration

December 6, 2023 Editor

Taking jibe at the Congress, Citing Mirza Ghalib’s poetry “ki mire qatl ke baad us ne jafa se tauba” (After she had slain me then from torture she forswore) Union Minister Jitendra Singh Said, “For 60-70 years, those who did not implement the Constitution of India in Jammu and Kashmir, today they are teaching those who sacrificed 3 generations so that the Constitution of India should be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.” Amid a chorus from the opposition benches that the Centre restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and set…

Frozen Symphony: Pir Panjal Sings in Snow, Pahalgam a Chilling Chorus

December 6, 2023 Editor

A thick blanket of snow has covered the upper reaches of Pir Panjal region, thus leading to dip in temperature affecting normal life. Meanwhile, unscheduled power curtailments are further adding to the woes of people amid inclement weather conditions, including snowfall, which resulted in the closure of Mughal Road. Upper reaches experienced snowfall for two days last week while plain and low-lying areas received rainfall. Presently, upper reaches of Pir Panjal region, including Mandi, Saujiyan, Loran, Surankote, Mughal Road, Thanamandi, DKG, Darhal, Kandi, Budhal were under snow cover. Some parts…