Category: Kashmir

Kashmir

From Shastri to Sharma, how Central govts have tried to bring peace to Kashmir

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The People Next Door—The Curious History of India’s Relations with Pakistan narrates that the eruption of this agitation in Kashmir hurt Nehru’s self-esteem, much more than the defeat at the hands of China a year ago Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had believed that there was not much resistance and opposition in the streets to the dismissal of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah from the prime ministership of J&K in August 1953. Nehru had assumed that Kashmir had returned to normal and the general public had compromised with the status quo. But when…

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RSS has historically dreamed of making Kashmir a Hindu State: A G Noorani

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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is working on a “calculated campaign” with the aim of reversing the “march of history since 1947 and restore Hindu Raj” in Jammu and Kashmir, top Kashmir expert and constitutional lawyer A G Noorani believes. He sees the demand for a holiday on Hari Singh’s birthday and the subsequent resignation of Dr Karan Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh from ruling PDP, as part of the same campaign. “Gulab Singh was not the founder of the State of Jammu and Kashmir,” the acclaimed author and lawyer, who was…

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Subway on cards to unclog Jahangir Chowk Airport road

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The state government has decided to construct a subway to decongest the Jehangir Chowk-Airport road. “The city traffic authorities and superintending engineer of the Public Works Department have been asked to visit the Barzulla bridge and submit a report about the feasibility of an underpass for the movement of traffic,” reads a communication from the office of Baseer Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. Also, to avoid traffic jams due to wrong parking, the authorities have identified 28 parking slots in Srinagar. The Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, and the SSP (Traffic) have been…

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Kashmir Interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma’s visit fails to generate political heat

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The interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma’s three-day stay in Kashmir during his maiden five-day visit to the State did not generate much political heat and enthusiasm among the political circles. The mainstream politicians, former interlocutor and political analyst blamed non clarity on Sharma’s mandate, no Kashmir-specific Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and conflicting statements on his appointment by central ministers for the lukewarm response. Opposition National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Budgam, Aga Ruhullah told New Indian Express that lukewarm response to Sharma was due to confusion created by central government about the…

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Twin militant attacks in south Kashmir, Police officer wounded as MLA’s house stoned

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Suspected militants fired upon police party near general bus stand in main town Anantnag on Friday evening. According to locals, a loud bang was also heard as the firing was on. There was however no report of any injuries, they said. “Firing by militants was repulsed by police near bus stand Anantnag. No loss of life and property was reported. Area is under cordon,” said deputy inspector general of (DIG) South Kashmir range, S P Pani. Earlier, militants had fired upon a police vehicle in Bonigham area of Qazigund on…

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Despite no-show by Hurriyat, Dineshwar Sharma leaves Kashmir; calls visit ‘Very Satisfied as well Fruitful’

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The Centre’s newly appointed special representative to Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, said on Wednesday that he aims to talk to a younger generation of Kashmiris in order to understand their problems and find a way of resolving them. This apart, he said, he also aims to try and meet Hurriyat leaders. On the last day of his Kashmir visit, Sharma told  Kashmir Post that he was “very much satisfied” with his maiden visit to the Valley, and would try to make every effort to meet the Hurriyat leaders during…

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As mercury dips, power supply woes rise across Kashmir Valley

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Despite issuing a schedule of power cuts ahead of winter in Kashmir, residents say unscheduled cuts had increased their difficulties in the cold conditions. Kashmir is facing 20 one-hour power cuts in metered areas in a week and 40 two-hour cuts in non-metered areas, as per the curtailment schedule of the Power Development Department that was implemented last week. Chief Engineer, Power Development Department, Kashmir, Shahnaz Goni said the new power curtailment schedule had been put in place and there were no intentional unscheduled cuts. “Sometimes, there is a fault…

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Govt makes fresh overtures to Geelani for dialogue

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The government has made fresh overtures to reach out to Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, and engage him in a dialogue. After a government representative visited him Saturday, Geelani received a phone call on Sunday late evening asking him to meet Government of India (GoI) interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma. On Sunday Hurriyat Conference (G) said that a “state representative” came to the residence of Syed Ali Geelani Saturday night to “facilitate his meeting” with Dineshwar Sharma. In a statement issued by the Hurriyat (G) it said that the state representative…

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No magic wand, but serious effort for peace: Dineshwar Sharma

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Dineshwar Sharma will meet political leaders, traders and other delegations on November 6. Centre’s special representative for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma says he does not have a magic wand, but wants to be judged by his actions when he starts the process of talks in the Valley on November 6. “I do not have a magic wand but my efforts have to be judged with sincerity and not through the prism of the past,” Mr. Sharma said. The former Intelligence Bureau director said that no one should jump to conclusions before…

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115 Militants active in south Kashmir, 80 killed in 6 months: Army

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Around 80 militants have been killed in south Kashmir in the past six months and around 115 militants are still active in the region, a top Army official has said. “There are around 115 militants in south Kashmir and out of them, 99 are local and 15-16 are foreign militants. The actions that we have taken in past 6-7 months, we have killed nearly 80 militants including top leadership. As soon as the number of militant decreases, the situation will improve,” General Officer Commanding of the Army’s Victor Force, Major…

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