Category: Latest News

Latest News

PDP, BJP brass may soon meet for govt formation

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Suspense over the government formation in J&K may soon be over as the Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party are likely to make contact at the highest level to break the impasse. Sources in the PDP said channels of communication between the two parties were already open and they expected a decision on government formation soon. “With the eight-day mourning period over, there is all possibility that a contact at the highest level will be made in the coming days,” said a senior PDP leader and former minister in…

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11 killed, 20 injured as bus falls into gorge in Udhampur

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Eleven people were killed and over 20 others injured today when the bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir The vehicle bearing 32 to 35 passengers was on its way to Basantgarh in Ramnagar tehsil when the mishap occurred in the Kiya area, said Udhampur Deputy Commissioner, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary. Eleven persons were killed in the accident, including one woman and a child, he said, adding that 20 others were injured and are being hospitalised. Choudhary…

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Centre reaches out to Mehbooba, promises economic package soon

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PDP to hold first party meeting this weekend after death of Mufti Sayeed With the Peoples Democratic Party toughening its stand and seeking a guarantee from the BJP over the implementation of the Agenda of Alliance, the Central government has reached out to Mehbooba Mufti. Top sources said Expenditure Secretary, Union Finance Ministry, RP Watal today called on Mehbooba Mufti at her Lakeview residence here and informed her that they were expediting the release of the economic package for the state. “The Union Expenditure Secretary offered condolences to Mehbooba Mufti…

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Mehbooba keeps BJP waiting, Ram Madhav returns to Delhi

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BJP leader extended Jammu stay by a day hoping for breakthrough Suspense over the formation of government in Jammu and Kashmir continued on Wednesday as BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav returned to Delhi this afternoon after holding discussions with constituents of the Sangh Parivar over the political developments in the state following the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Ram Madhav along with Avinash Rai Khanna, in charge of J&K BJP, had reached Jammu on Tuesday evening to brief the local leadership about the progress related to forming the new…

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BJP to open cards after first move by PDP for Govt formation

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Ram Madhav, Avinash Khanna hold meet with state leaders in Jammu Although the alliance partners have denied differences, the BJP is awaiting a word from the PDP on government formation in the state. “We are waiting for a response from the PDP in this regard. Let the PDP take an initiative in government formation,” said Avinash Rai Khanna, BJP national vice-president and in charge of J&K affairs, after coming out of a three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting with party leaders. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who was the architect of PDP-BJP government…

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All eyes on Mehbooba as PDP pushes against truck with BJP

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Suspense stays: Sources say 80% of leaders want to snap ties with right-wing party Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti is facing pressure from within the party to snap ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party and form the government with the support of the Congress and a few Independent MLAs. Most of the PDP leaders expressed this desire during the last night meeting, which was chaired by Mehbooba. Sources in the PDP said around 80 per cent of the leaders wanted to snap ties with the right-wing BJP and come…

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Political guessing game on in J&K

Editor

With Mehbooba Mufti firmly refusing to take oath as chief minister before the four day mourning period is over for her father’s death, Jammu & Kashmir is a state in a political limbo. With governor’s rule imposed, rumours are flying thick and fast in Srinagar about possible new political configurations. Mehbooba Mufti is refusing to take oath until “chahurram” — the four day mourning period for most Kashmiri Muslims — a time when no ceremonial functions can take place is over. “By refusing to take oath, Mehbooba is giving a…

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Sonia’s 20 minutes with PDP chief fuel ‘alliance’ rumours

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Cong says party president arrived to share Mehbooba’s grief, visit personal At a time when suspense over the formation of the J&K Government continues, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday visited the residence of Mehbooba Mufti here to offer her condolences on the death of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. While the Congress has described Sonia’s visit as “personal”, the visit is being interpreted as a “big gesture” by the Congress and a “possible warming up” by the grand old party to its former ally Peoples…

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Mourning Mehbooba refuses to take oath

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Madhav meets PDP chief, discusses Govt formation  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President, Mehbooba Mufti Friday refused to take oath as the new chief minister of the State stating that even her religion allows her three days of mourning after her father’s death. Amid speculations and hectic consultations among the PDP and BJP leaders, Mehbooba was persuaded by her party leaders including her maternal uncle Sartaj Madani and the rightwing Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders to take oath as the new CM but she categorically refused saying that she was still…

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Mehbooba set to be first woman CM of J&K

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The selection of Ms. Mehbooba, a Lok Sabha member, as the leader of 28-member PDP Legislature party was a unanimous decision. Ruling PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is set to be the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, succeeding her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who passed away on Thursday, with party MLAs unanimously electing her as their leader and writing to Governor N N Vohra in this regard. A party delegation met the Governor at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar and handed over the letter which says that the PDP…

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