West Pak refugees bear brunt of BJP infighting

West Pakistani refugees have been bearing the brunt of the infighting in the state unit of the BJP as a group within the party is apathetic towards the problems of the ‘state-less’ lot. As nearly 1.5 lakh West Pakistani refugees, living in different parts of the Jammu region, are being deprived of participating in the panchayat, local urban bodies and Assembly elections, a group within the BJP was of the opinion that there was no reason to take a tough stand for these ‘non-voters’. Highly placed sources said during the…

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In exile, Kashmiri Pandits making efforts to save Kashmiri Language

1,000 children attending workshops to learn language since 2016 In exile, the mother tongue of Kashmiri Pandits is facing a threat of extinction, but efforts by some social activists are bearing fruit as Pandit children born in Jammu are coming forward to learn Kashmiri. In the last one year, workshops teaching Kashmiri culture and traditions have seen an increased participation from Pandit children. The workshops have been focusing on children between the age group of 4 and 14. Nearly 1,000 children have taken part in the programme since 2016 when…

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Farooq Abdullah hungry for publicity: Jammu West Assembly Movement

Terming former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah as ‘TRP hungry’, the Jammu West Assembly Movement (JWAM) on Tuesday said the Abdullahs only wanted to remain inthe limelight. Addressing a press conference, Jammu West Assembly Movement president Sunil Dimple said the statements issued by Farooq Abdullah were irrelevant in the present situation and people across the state knew that National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah were hungry for publicity. “J&K is an integral part of India and it will remain a part of this great country. Unfortunately, those who are…

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JK integral part of India, challengers will have to take refuge in Pak: BJP

The BJP in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday said the State is an integral part of India and those who do not accept it will have to take refuge in Pakistan. Party spokesperson Virender Gupta made the remarks after National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah yesterday dared GoI to hoist the tri-colour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar before unfurling it in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Gupta also asked Abdullah not to make “anti-national and unrealistic statements”. “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and those who challenge it will have to…

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Bananas successfully cultivated for first time in Jammu Division

It is for the first time that the experiment of growing bananas in Jammu and Kashmir has succeeded with precision. Scientists have achieved a rare feat after they successfully cultivated bananas in Jammu and Kashmir. It is for the first time that the experiment of growing bananas in Jammu and Kashmir has succeeded with precision. “Experimental works involved growing the banana by tissue culture technique at Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Jammu. The samplings of this high quality tissue culture variety known as Bhim Grand Naine (G-9) banana were…

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Pakistan violates ceasefire in Rajouri Sector: Police

Prior to this, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire for three consecutive days between November 15 and November 17 in Jammu and Poonch districts. Pakistani troops opened fire at Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district last night in violation of the ceasefire, police said. “Pakistani troops resorted to firing in Jhangar forward area from 1845 hours to 1900 hours,” a senior police officer said, adding that further details were awaited. Prior to this, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire for three consecutive days between…

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GoI’s U-turn on rehab plan leaves displaced Kashmiri Pandits disappointed

The U-turn by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) over setting up of transit camps for displaced Kashmiri Hindus in the Valley has raised a major question: Has the BJP abandoned Pandits to make way for separatist and radical elements in the dialogue process? There is general perception among the minority community that the BJP-led Central government and the PDP-BJP coalition in J&K have for the first time delinked the Pandit issue from the peace process initiated in 1996 when Inder Kumar Gujral was the Prime Minister. The plan to…

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PHE Dept presses for more tube wells for water needs

Rising pollution and decline in water discharge during dry months in the Tawi is forcing the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to rely on costly tube wells to meet the supply of 15 lakh residents of the city. There are already 262 heavy tube wells operating in the temple city and over a dozen more are being planned in the coming months. Sources said with the fate of the Chenab water diversion project hanging in air and the Tawi being exploited to hilt, the PHE officials were seeking greater investment…

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Dineshwar Sharma arriving in Jammu today to visit migrant camps

The Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma will be in Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow for his second visit to the state during which he will visit migrant camps in Jammu as well as epicentres of unrest in the Valley. Sharma, who visited Srinagar and Jammu earlier this month, will be in the state for four days, spending two days in Jammu before going to Kashmir, officials said. In Jammu, he will visit camps of migrants from Kashmir as well as those displaced from border villages following shelling from Pakistan. In Kashmir,…

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Students refuse to stand, click selfie during National Anthem at BGSB University Rajouri

In yet another shocking incident from Jammu and Kashmir, some of the students at the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGBSU) in Rajouri refused to stand during the National Anthem. National anthem debate: Can wait outside a restaurant but not stand for 52 secs? Asks Gautam Gambhir The incident took place during a valedictory function of the Silver Rolling Trophy. Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, SSP Rajouri and Vice-Chancellor of the University were among dignitaries present on the occasion. People don’t need to stand up in…

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