#Governance Archives | Page 2 of 2

Budgam Bypoll 2025: A Litmus Test for Omar Abdullah’s First Year in Power

October 12, 2025 Editor

A Battle Beyond the Ballot Box By: Javid Amin | 11 October 2025 The upcoming Budgam Assembly bypoll on November 11, 2025, is no ordinary electoral exercise. It carries the weight of public judgment on one year of governance under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his party. Vacated by Omar himself after retaining the Ganderbal seat, Budgam has now become the symbolic battleground for assessing the government’s political credibility, its governance model, and its connection with the people. Political observers are calling this by-election a referendum—a midterm evaluation of sorts.…

Restrictions Under Review, To Be Eased Soon: LG Ladakh Assures Relief Amid Public Concerns

October 6, 2025 Editor

LG Ladakh Announces Review of Restrictions, Promises Easing Soon By: Javid Amin | 05 October 2025 In a bid to address mounting public unease, Lieutenant Governor Brig. (Retd.) B.D. Mishra on Sunday announced that the Ladakh administration is reviewing several existing restrictions and will ease them “soon,” aligning with “evolving ground realities and public sentiment.” Speaking during a public outreach event in Leh, the LG emphasized that Ladakh’s governance model would remain transparent, accountable, and people-centric, reiterating that “the future of the Union Territory depends on collective effort between the…

The Plant That Drowned: Overcare, Silent Suffocation, and the Emotional Cost of Good Intentions

September 14, 2025 Editor

The Weight of Water: When Care Becomes Control By: Javid Amin | 14 September 2025 The Plant That Drowned I once killed a plant—not because I ignored it, but because I cared too much.Every morning, I watered it, sometimes twice, thinking I was giving it the love it needed. I hovered over it, checked its leaves, adjusted its position under the sun, and worried over the slightest change in color. But instead of thriving, it began to droop. Its soil stayed wet, its roots gasped for air, and slowly it…

Kashmir Extremely Vulnerable to Catastrophic Floods: A Decade After 2014, Has Anything Changed?

September 8, 2025 Editor

A Valley on Edge: The Seventh Flood Scare Since 2014 By: Javid Amin | 07 September 2025 In early September 2025, the city of Srinagar was once again gripped by fear. The Jhelum River, Kashmir’s lifeline but also its greatest threat, surged past danger marks at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh. Sirens echoed across low-lying neighborhoods. Mosque loudspeakers urged people to move to safety. Families hurriedly shifted valuables to higher floors, while shopkeepers raised goods above the ground. For many, the scenes were eerily familiar. This was not the first…

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Reaffirms Commitment to Fulfilling Promises

March 2, 2025 Editor

Will Fulfil Promises Made to People: Omar Abdullah Srinagar 02 March 2025: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling the promises made to the people of the region. Amid discussions about the upcoming budget session and preparations for the holy month of Ramadan, Abdullah addressed various issues, including the BJP’s proposal for a shadow cabinet. No Need for a Shadow Cabinet: A day after the BJP announced its intention to form a shadow cabinet, Omar Abdullah stated that there is no need for such…

Omar Abdullah: Sealing Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Baraat Shows Lack of Confidence

February 14, 2025 Editor

Decision to lock Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Baraat ‘very unfortunate’: CM Omar Abdullah Srinagar, Feb 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the decision to lock the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Shab-e-Baraat is ‘very unfortunate’. He said the decision betrays a lack of confidence in the people and in the law & order machinery. Taking to micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) he said: “It is very unfortunate that the security establishment has taken the decision to seal the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar on one of the holiest nights…

Waqf Bill Controversy: Censored Dissent Notes Ignite Parliamentary Clash

February 14, 2025 Editor

Censored dissent notes in Waqf Bill create parliamentary storm; The corrigendum to Appendix 5 of the report was tabled in the post-lunch sitting in the Rajya Sabha by Kulkarni. She had tabled the report in the House in the morning New Delhi, Feb 13: Amid uproar over the alleged redaction of certain portions of the dissent notes in the joint parliamentary committee report on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni tabled a corrigendum in the Upper House on Thursday afternoon. The corrigendum to Appendix 5 of the…

Centre Should Restore Statehood Before Court Intervention : Omar Abdullah

January 3, 2025 Editor

Hope UT status temporary, dual power centres of no good; Says before moving court, Centre must be given chance to restore statehood Hoping that Jammu and Kashmir’s status as a Union Territory is a “temporary phase”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Centre should be given the first opportunity to restore statehood rather than immediately approaching the court. In his first detailed media interaction in Srinagar since assuming office two months ago, Omar emphasised that dual centres of power were “not to anyone’s advantage”. Responding to a question…

Quota Policy Controversy: Mufti and Mirwaiz Call for Action from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

December 25, 2024 Editor

Mufti and Mirwaiz Oppose Quota Policy, Urge Omar Abdullah to Find Solution Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday described the ongoing reservation issue in the region as a “serious matter” and urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take immediate action to resolve the situation. “This is a very serious issue. From a young age, we tell our children to work hard and succeed in life. But today, merit has become the biggest casualty,” Mufti told reporters. She expressed concern that…

Omar Abdullah’s Bold Statement: Rectifying BJP’s Wrongs in Jammu and Kashmir

December 14, 2024December 14, 2024 Editor

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Vows to Rectify Wrongs Done by BJP Government Srinagar, December 13, 2024 – In a bold statement, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has vowed to rectify the wrongs done by the previous BJP government. Addressing the media outside the Chamber House following a meeting, Abdullah emphasized his commitment to addressing the issues and challenges faced by the region under the BJP’s rule. Key Points from CM Omar Abdullah’s Statement: Restoration of Statehood: Abdullah reiterated his government’s dedication to restoring the full statehood of Jammu…