Category: Today

BJP to alter Article 35A on permanent residents in J&K?

Editor

Away from the attention that Article 370 usually invites, a section of BJP sympathisers are steadily pushing the party’s less-noticed promise of altering Article 35A of the Constitution, which empowers the J&K government to define “permanent residents” of the state. The article enables the state to provide special rights and privileges that permanent residents can enjoy but has been criticised by BJP as a provision that encourages alienation, deepens the concept of a separate identity and creates a political gap between J&K and the rest of India. Under the Article,…

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14 Properties of Geelani, kin worth Rs 150 crore under NIA lens

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing seven top Hurriyat separatists+ over accusations of terror financing in Jammu & Kashmir, has shortlisted as many as 14 properties allegedly owned by the head of the hardline faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his family members. The shortlisted properties are estimated to be between Rs 100 crore and Rs 150 crore, officials have said. TOI has accessed the list of properties under NIA’s scanner for hawala and benami transactions. This includes educational institutions, residences and agricultural lands in Kashmir and flats in Delhi…

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Abu Dujana (LeT chief), who carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh, killed in Pulwama encounter

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As the encounter ended, heavy stone-pelting by locals on security forces began. Top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Abu Dujana was killed on Tuesday in an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir`s Pulwama district. A local militant identified as Arif Lalihaari was also killed in the gunfight that took place in Hakripora village. In a statement, the Army confirmed that wanted Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Abu Dujana was among two militants killed in the encounter in Pulwama. The operation has concluded. As the encounter ended, heavy stone-pelting by locals on security…

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Central extended three laws to J&K in PDP-BJP rule

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After PDP-BJP government came to power in J&K, the government of India has extended three central laws to the state in less than two years amid a continuous push, both at political and legal level, by different right wing groups to get Article 370 scrapped. In December 2015 when the state cabinet led by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed cleared adoption of National Food Security Act (NFSA) to J&K, the decision snowballed into major controversy. The central Act was however implemented from February 2016 despite opposition from opposition parties…

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Another Assault on Article 370, RS extends statistical data bill to J&K

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RS passes bill empowering GoI to collect statistical data from JK Opposition says move overrides JK’s special status Further eroding Article 370, which accords a special status to Jammu Kashmir, Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed amendments in the Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017, in the Parliament for applying it to the Jammu Kashmir. The decision comes within three weeks of the passage of the controversial Goods and Services Tax regime in the State despite protests by opposition and traders who over fears of compromise of State’s fiscal autonomy. Before the…

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NIA says it has got solid evidence: Terror funding

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Gets 10-day custody of seven arrested Hurriyat leaders As seven Kashmiri separatists, including son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, were sent to 10-day NIA custody by a Delhi court in a terror funding case, the probe agency claimed that it could zero in on them after one and a half months of painstaking investigation which gave it electronic evidence to prove their complicity. Sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) confirmed that the agency managed to track the details of telephonic conversations of as many as 48 local youths,…

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Kashmir would become Syria if America intervenes: Mehbooba Mufti on third party intervention

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday criticized National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah for his remarks on Kashmir issue and said that the situation in Kashmir Valley would be same as Syria and Afghanistan if America intervenes on the matter. “China, America should mind their own business. We all know what is the situation of the countries wherever they intervened be it Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq,” Mehbooba said. “Only bilateral talks between India and Pakistan can help resolve the Kashmir issue,” she added. “As Vajpayeeji said in…

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Ramban-Banihal stretch a deathtrap for Amarnth pilgrims

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Road sinking at several places, landslides make it worse Amarnath pilgrims, who come from all parts of the country and abroad, have been witnessing bad roads in the Jammu region. A 36-km-long accident-prone crucial stretch between Ramban and Banihal has virtually turned into a death trap for pilgrims due to the poor condition of the track. A casual approach being adopted by policemen in managing the traffic has further added to the woes of pilgrims. Although the state of the road has been bad for a long time, after the…

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UN Chief calls for ‘Peaceful’ Kashmir resolution

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UN chief Antonio Guterres has reiterated the need for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue through engagement and dialogue, his spokesperson said. Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric’s remarks came when he was asked if the Secretary-General is paying attention to the situation in the region or “we are just waiting for some sort of big tragedy to occur for the Secretary-General to take attention.” “…We reiterate the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue,” Dujarric said at a daily…

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July 1931 Martyrs remembered amid Siege

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Mirwaiz detained after trying to take out rally Pulwama boy receives pellet injury in leg during clashes Troops conduct CASO in Dadasara, Tral Situation remained peaceful: Police Kashmir observed complete shutdown on Thursday to remember the martyrs of July 13, 1931 and authorities imposed restrictions in parts of the Valley to foil protests. All shops and business establishments in Srinagar and others parts of the Valley remained closed while public transport was off the roads in response to the strike called by the united separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz…

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