Ajmer Dargah Dispute Sparks Outrage Among J&K Politicians

Ajmer Dargah Dispute Sparks Outrage Among J&K Politicians

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti attacks “dangerous trajectory of communal polarisation sparked by a controversial judgment delivered by a former CJI”. Political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir reacted sharply on Thursday after a Rajasthan court issued notices in a lawsuit filed by Hindu groups alleging that a temple existed below the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. The court on Wednesday issued notices to various parties in the lawsuit filed by Hindu groups claiming that a temple existed under the Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti shrine at Ajmer and sought worshipping rights. Former J&K chief minister and…

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New Directive: J&K Officials Barred from Using WhatsApp, Gmail for Official Docs

New Directive: J&K Officials Barred from Using WhatsApp, Gmail for Official Docs

J&K govt bans use of third party tools for transmitting official documents; However, there will be no such restriction on sharing “confidential” and “restricted” information over the internet, provided they were shared via networks that have deployed commercial AES 256-bit encryption The J&K government has embargoed its officials from using third party tools like Whatsapp and Gmail to transmit “top secret” and “secret” documents via these platforms as they risk data breach and leaks. However, there will be no such restriction on sharing “confidential” and “restricted” information over the internet,…

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Srinagar Crackdown: Over 1000 Two-Wheelers Seized to Curb Reckless Driving

Srinagar Crackdown: Over 1000 Two-Wheelers Seized to Curb Reckless Driving

Action against reckless driving: Over 1000 two-wheelers seized in Srinagar in past 3 days; SSP Traffic City seeks active participation from parents to curb reckless driving Srinagar, Nov 18: Days after the two young students died in a tragic road accident in Srinagar’s Tengpora, the traffic police has upped its ante to reign in on the minors riding two wheelers and four wheelers in a bid to save precious lives. In the past three days, over 1000 vehicles, the majority of them two-wheelers—bikes and scooties—have been seized by the traffic…

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Kashmir Reeling Under Winter’s Grip: Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Travel; Highway closed, flights grounded

Kashmir Reeling Under Winter's Grip: Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Travel; Highway closed, flights grounded

Kashmir Battles Winter’s Fury: Snowfall Cripples Valley, Community Spirit Soars Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: Kashmiris are weathering the brunt of a harsh winter as heavy snowfall blankets the valley, causing widespread disruptions and highlighting the community’s remarkable resilience. Paralyzed Transportation: The vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, nicknamed the “lifeline” of the valley, lies choked under treacherous snowdrifts, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded and disrupting the flow of essential supplies. As reported, the closure comes after nearly 31 cm of snowfall in Qazigund, leaving authorities scrambling to clear the route. Grounded Flights:…

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Kashmir’s Last Elected Local Officials Depart, Leaving Power Vacuum

Kashmir's Last Elected Local Officials Depart, Leaving Power Vacuum

In the absence of an elected government in the erstwhile state for more than five years, Panchayats-elected local bodies were the only democratic institutions functional in the region. The curtain falls on the last vestige of elected representatives in Jammu and Kashmir as the term of over 28,000 panchayat members ended today with no fresh elections in sight. In the absence of an elected government in the erstwhile state for more than five years, Panchayats-elected local bodies were the only democratic institutions functional in the region. The administration of the…

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Srinagar Shivers at -5.6°C as Cold Wave Grips Kashmir, Marking Season’s Lowest Temperature

Srinagar Shivers at -5.6°C as Cold Wave Grips Kashmir, Marking Season's Lowest Temperature

Srinagar city records coldest night of season thus far. A thin layer of ice formed on the surface of the Dal Lake here and other water bodies in Kashmir due to the intense cold wave that is gripping the region, the officials said. Kashmir is currently under the grip of “Chilla-i-Kalan”, a 40-day harsh winter period, when a cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably, leading to the freezing of water bodies as well as water in pipes. The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period…

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Biting Cold Continues in Kashmir: Dal Lake Skims with Ice, Residents Bundle Up

Biting Cold Continues in Kashmir: Dal Lake Skims with Ice, Residents Bundle Up

The southern Konibal and Pahalgam tourist resort were the coldest at minus 5 degrees Celsius and minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, respectively Cold condition continued in Valley as all the weather stations in Kashmir recorded sub-zero temperatures on Friday night. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 3 degrees Celsius, some 0.9 notches below normal. The southern Konibal and Pahalgam tourist resort were the coldest at minus 5 degrees Celsius and minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. The ski resort of Gulmarg saw a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, the only with temperature…

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Gupkar Alliance at Crossroads: Towards Cooperation or Dissolution?

Gupkar Alliance at Crossroads: Towards Cooperation or Dissolution?

On August 4, 2019, a day before the abrogation of Article 370, regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir met at the residence of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Gupkar Road in Srinagar, forming the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), also known as the Gupkar Alliance. They vowed to defend Article 370 and warned the BJP against proceeding with the move. But, the BJP went ahead and abrogated Article 370 the next day, dividing Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Many political leaders, including…

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Visibility Zero: Blind Fog Engulfs Kashmir Amidst Bone-Chilling Cold Snap

Visibility Zero: Blind Fog Engulfs Kashmir Amidst Bone-Chilling Cold Snap

Dense fog shrouded many parts of Kashmir where the minimum temperature dropped several degrees below the freezing point, officials said on Friday. Kashmir is currently in the grip of “Chilla-i-Kalan”, a 40-day harsh winter period, when temperatures drop considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the Dal Lake, as well as water in supply lines. The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, especially the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. “Chilla-i-Kalan” will end on January 31 and will be followed by the 20-day…

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Article 370 Verdict: Unpacking the Supreme Court Judgment and its Implications for Jammu and Kashmir

Article 370 Verdict: Unpacking the Supreme Court Judgment and its Implications for Jammu and Kashmir

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the validity of the Centre’s 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution from Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court Verdict on Article 370: In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the 2019 decision of the Centre to abrogate special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and set a deadline of September 30 next year for the assembly elections to be held. The unanimous order by a bench of five judges, headed by Chief Justice of…

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