Lok Sabha Wednesday passed Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023 following an extensive, feisty reply by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to a stimulating political debate, spanning two days. Animated debate and subsequent reply saw the Union Home Minister explaining how two crucial Bills would undo injustice with the sections deprived for 70 years by giving them OBC status; give rights and representation to displaced Kashmiris, reservation to Kashmiri Pandits and expand and restructure J&K Legislative Assembly with the addition…
Read MoreTag: #Article370
Congress Credits Nehru for Saving Srinagar in 1947, Counters Amit Shah’s Claims
The Congress also claimed that the decision to cease fire had been taken based on the advice of the then army chief. The Congress on Wednesday described as “erroneous” union minister Amit Shah’s remark that it was due to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s “blunder” that Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) came into existence. Responding to Shah’s claim that Nehru decided to announce a ceasefire when the Indian army was winning, the Congress said the two armies had struck a stalemate, necessitating the ceasefire. The Congress also claimed that the decision to…
Read MoreRevoking Special Status Strained Kashmir’s Relationship with India: Omar Abdullah
“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…
Read MoreJitendra Singh Blames Nehruvian Policies for Delay in Jammu and Kashmir’s Integration
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…
Read MoreSupreme Court to Deliver Judgment on Jammu & Kashmir Special Status in Article 370 Case This Month
India Holds Its Breath: Supreme Court Poised to Deliver Article 370 Verdict on Jammu & Kashmir For months, anticipation has crackled in the air, thick as the Himalayan fog that cloaks the contested valleys of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The Supreme Court of India, the highest arbiter of the land, stands poised to deliver its judgment on Article 370, a provision that granted the region a unique and controversial special status within the Indian union. The Stakes: A Region’s Identity on Trial Article 370, a temporary clause enshrined in the…
Read MoreEx-Minister Choudhary Lal Singh Calls for Separate Jammu State
Choudhary Lal Singh, the chairman of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party, on Monday called for the establishment of a separate Jammu state, emphasising the significant distinctions in tradition, language and culture between Jammu and the Kashmir valley. During a rally in Samba district, Singh underscored the fundamental differences that set Jammu apart from Kashmir, stating, “Neither our language resembles theirs, nor our culture, nor do we dress alike. No water flows from Jammu into Kashmir or vice versa.” Singh, a former minister, paid homage to the invaluable contributions of the…
Read MoreNC leader Omar Abdullah accuses BJP of trying to bury democracy in J&K with sham elections
Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah dared the BJP to conduct polls in the Union Territory saying there was a growing anger amongst the public. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday on the issue of conducting polls in Union territory saying the people were suffering as they were being denied their right to an elected government, adding that there is a growing public anger. “Today, when we are told almost everyday that the situation is far improved.…
Read MoreGupkar parties planning to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir, alleges BJP
Slamming the opposition alliance for calling a dharna on October 10, J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina on Wednesday questioned why they did not protest against the bloodshed in J&K when it was reeling under terrorism. He alleged that leaders of the National Conference, the Congress and the PDP, under the Gupkar alliance, were hatching conspiracies against peace and development in J&K and the call for protest was an attempt to vitiate the atmosphere. “When the whole of J&K was in deep turmoil and there was uncertainty and bloodshed (due to…
Read MoreLAHDC Election: Kargil sees record turnout of 77.61%
Kargil witnessed a turnout of 77.61% in the election to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) on Wednesday, indicating residents’ desire for democratic representation. It is the first election since the abrogation of Article 370 in the erstwhile state. These polls are seen as a barometer of public sentiment regarding the BJP-led Centre’s decision to grant Union Territory (UT) status to Ladakh, which includes Leh and Kargil districts. Currently, Ladakh is a UT without an Assembly. The voters were mostly concerned about preserving the unique identity of the region,…
Read MoreFreed after four years, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reaffirms Hurriyat’s commitment to peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue
The Mirwaiz criticised the reading down of Article 370 saying it was an assault on Kashmiri identity, adding harsh and unilateral decisions of disempowerment were taken by the administration. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, made his first public appearance following his release and reiterated the separatist amalgam’s stance on the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. He emphasized the necessity for dialogue and peaceful means to resolve the long-standing conflict. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also highlighted the people of Kashmir’s commitment to peaceful coexistence among different…
Read More