General News Archives | Page 77 of 351

Mehbooba Mufti cries foul: BJP’s victory a testament to misuse of power

December 6, 2023 Editor

The BJP’s victory in the Assembly polls in three states is not the party’s win, but due to the Centre’s money power, agencies, “its Election Commission and media”, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said here on Tuesday. She claimed that had the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) come to the contest alone, “it would not have won even a single seat”. “This is not the BJP’s victory, this is the win of the country’s government, its agencies, its money power, its Election Commission, its media,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister…

Yasin Malik’s Fate Hangs in the Balance as Death Penalty Plea Gets Hearing Date

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023 Editor

A Delhi trial court had awarded life sentence to Yasin Malik for terror funding on May 24, 2022 after pronouncing him guilty of various offences under the UAPA and the IPC. Malik had pleaded guilty to the charges, including those under the UAPA. Seeking death sentence, the NIA emphasises that a terrorist can’t be given life term just because he pleads guilty. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday listed for hearing on February 14 a plea by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin…

One in Three UAPA Cases in 2022 Linked to Jammu and Kashmir

December 5, 2023 Editor

Over one-third of the 1,005 cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were logged in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the NCRB data. The Union Territory accounted for 371 cases, followed by Manipur with 167. Along with Assam and Uttar Pradesh, these four regions accounted for 75% of the UAPA cases. In 2022, 20 cases of sedition were lodged across India, while 1,005 cases were registered under UAPA. Sedition cases have decreased since 2020, while UAPA cases have increased. Of the 1,005 registered under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention)…

J&K’s Natural Riches: Omar Abdullah Claims First Dibs for Locals

December 4, 2023 Editor

Omar Abdullah, the National Conference Vice President, has ignited a debate by boldly declaring that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have the first and foremost claim over their natural resources. He made this statement during a recent address to party workers, emphasizing that locals deserve the lion’s share of benefits from their land’s natural wealth. Abdullah’s statement packs a punch, especially considering the ongoing controversy surrounding resource utilization in J&K. Critics argue that outsiders often reap the rewards, leaving locals with little to show for their land’s bounty. Here’s…

Mehbooba Mufti: Opposition Crushed by ‘Authoritarian Govt’ Using Agencies as Weapons

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 Editor

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday expressed hope that the result of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be better for the opposition parties after the BJP won in three out of the four states that went to polls recently. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party convention in Kupwara, around 100 km from here, Mufti said the opposition parties faced the might of the government, including its probe agencies, money power, and the Election Commission, in the Assembly elections. “I hope that the results are better (for…

Abdullah’s stark assessment: ‘Democracy ends where J&K begins’

December 4, 2023 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah asserted on Sunday that the people of J&K should have the primary claim over their natural resources, particularly highlighting the issue of mining contracts being awarded to outsiders. Abdullah emphasised that this practice is depriving locals of job opportunities and putting them at a significant disadvantage. Speaking at a workers’ convention in Udhampur organised by senior party leader Abdul Ghani Malik, Abdullah stated, “Democracy ends where J&K begins.” He expressed disappointment over the absence of elections in the region and criticised…

CBI Searches 6 Locations in Connection with Allegations of Corruption in J&K’s Rs 2,200 Crore Power Project

December 3, 2023 Editor

Satya Pal Malik, who served as J&K Governor from August 2018 to October 2019, alleged he was offered Rs 300 crore as bribe for clearing two files, including one related to the Kiru Hydro Power Project. The CBI had booked Patel Engineering Limited, Navin Chaudhary of Chenab Valley Power Projects (Private) Limited, and others. The search covered premises of Kanwaljeet Singh Duggal of Mainstream IT Solutions Private Limited and DP Singh. Three premises of the company and Duggal are in Delhi and one each in Shimla, Noida and Chandigarh. The…

Power Pirates Beware: Consumers Found Engaging in Power Theft to Face Criminal Charges

December 3, 2023 Editor

KPDCL talks tough, warns it could make list of defaulters public 11,238 connections snapped on account of pending dues 10,465 inspections carried out across Kashmir Division Rs 85.24 cr revenue realised by power distribution corporation Rs 1.03 crore penAlty imposed on consumers engaged in power theft In a concerted effort to curb extensive power theft and address outstanding payments from defaulting consumers, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) executed an impressive 10,465 inspections and disconnected the power supply of more than 11,000 consumers in the last 10 days of…

Omar Abdullah Criticises BJP and Election Commission for Stalling Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections

December 3, 2023 Editor

Fielding media questions after addressing a public rally in Rajouri’s Nowshera, Omar said that being on a sticky wicket, BJP doesn’t want to hold elections in the UT National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday blamed the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the delay in holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Fielding media questions after addressing a public rally in Rajouri’s Nowshera, Omar said that being on a sticky wicket, BJP doesn’t want to hold elections in the UT. “Leave aside 50 plus seats, the…

UAPA Charges Withdrawn: 7 SKUAST Students Released on Interim Bail

December 3, 2023 Editor

The students, all hailing from Kashmir, were booked under the UAPA for allegedly celebrating India’s loss in the ICC Cricket World Cup final against Australia. After police dropped the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges against the seven students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), the court of judicial magistrate in Ganderbal granted interim bail to all the accused students. The students, all hailing from Kashmir, were booked under the UAPA for allegedly celebrating India’s loss in the ICC Cricket World Cup final against Australia and raising…