General News Archives | Page 88 of 362

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…

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…