‘Manifesto = Bundle of Lies’: Tarun Chugh’s Broadside at NC in Jammu & Kashmir

'Manifesto = Bundle of Lies': Tarun Chugh’s Broadside at NC in Jammu & Kashmir

Tarun Chugh blasts NC manifesto as “bundle of lies” | J&K politics 2025 By: Javid Amin | 23 October 2025 A Scathing Attack in the Midst of Political Jostling In a sharp political intervention, Tarun Chugh, national general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its in-charge for Jammu & Kashmir, accused the NC of failing to deliver a single promise from its manifesto. Chugh described the party’s electoral commitments as nothing but a “bundle of lies”. This accusation comes at a time of heightened tension in J&K’s political…

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NC Courts PDP to Secure Rajya Sabha Sweep in J&K — Land Rights at the Center of the Deal

NC Courts PDP to Secure Rajya Sabha Sweep in J&K — Land Rights at the Center of the Deal

A New Equation in Old Rivalries By: Javid Amin | 22 October 2025 The political chessboard of Jammu & Kashmir has once again shifted. The National Conference (NC), led by Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has reached out to its long-time rival, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for crucial support in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The goal is straightforward — to secure a clean sweep of all four Rajya Sabha seats from the Union Territory. But beneath the surface, the talks signal something more profound: the…

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Faith, Faction, and the Ballot: Three ‘Aga’ Candidates Lock Horns in Budgam Bypoll 2025

Faith, Faction, and the Ballot: Three ‘Aga’ Candidates Lock Horns in Budgam Bypoll 2025

With NC, PDP, and BJP fielding Aga candidates, the contest transcends party lines—testing loyalties, legacies, and the future of Shia representation. By: Javid Amin | 21 October 2025 An Unprecedented Political Triangle in Central Kashmir The upcoming Budgam Assembly by-election, scheduled for November 11, 2025, has taken an extraordinary turn — not because of its high-profile parties, but because of its unusually personal political dynamics. For the first time in Kashmir’s electoral history, three prominent candidates from the same Shia clerical lineage — all bearing the title “Aga” — are…

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Omar Abdullah Vows to Revoke Public Safety Act After J&K Statehood Restoration

Omar Abdullah Vows to Scrap PSA After J&K Statehood Restoration

Omar Abdullah Vows to Scrap PSA After J&K Statehood Restoration By: Javid Amin | 18 October 2025 A Defining Promise for Post-UT J&K In a politically charged statement, Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has vowed to revoke the Public Safety Act (PSA) immediately after the restoration of statehood. The announcement, made during a press conference in Srinagar on October 18, 2025, has sent ripples across political and civil society circles. It is one of the most direct commitments by any mainstream leader in J&K in recent years…

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Electrifying U-Turn: Omar Abdullah’s Prepaid Meter Push Sparks Public Outrage

Electrifying U-Turn: Omar Abdullah’s Prepaid Meter Push Sparks Public Outrage

Where Has the Free Electricity Promise Gone? By: Javid Amin | 17 October 2025 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government is under fire after announcing a full-scale rollout of prepaid smart electricity meters across Jammu & Kashmir — a move sharply contrasting with his 2024 election promise of providing 200 units of free electricity per month to poor households. The announcement has unleashed a wave of anger and disillusionment, with opposition parties branding it a “betrayal of the poor” and civil society groups accusing the administration of “digitalizing hardship under the…

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J&K’s Roads Claim More Lives Than Anywhere in the Country: A Deep Dive Into a Growing Public Safety Crisis

J&K’s Roads Claim More Lives Than Anywhere in the Country: A Deep Dive Into a Growing Public Safety Crisis

A Deadly Road Reality in Jammu & Kashmir By: Javid Amin | 16 October 2025 Every year, the picturesque valleys and rugged mountains of Jammu and Kashmir attract millions of tourists, yatris, and pilgrims. But beneath the scenic beauty lies a grim reality: J&K’s roads are among the deadliest in the country. A recent study has revealed that the Union Territory records nearly double the national average in road accident fatalities, outpacing many larger states with far denser populations. Between 2019 and October 2024, 4,899 lives were lost and 40,065…

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Omar Abdullah Urges PM Modi: ‘Restore Statehood to Solve J&K’s Challenges’

Omar Abdullah Urges PM Modi: 'Restore Statehood to Solve J&K’s Challenges'

On the first anniversary of the NC-led government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made a direct and passionate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. By: Javid Amin | 16 October 2025 A Direct Appeal to Delhi On the first anniversary of his government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made a pointed and emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Union Government to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at a town hall event in Srinagar, Omar declared: “We…

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Kishtwar Cloudburst Tragedy: 32 Still Missing, Families Wait for Closure in the Shadow of the Himalayas

Kishtwar Cloudburst Tragedy: 32 Still Missing, Families Wait for Closure in the Shadow of the Himalayas

A Himalayan Tragedy That Refuses to Fade Away By: Javid Amin | 14 October 2025 The narrow valley of Chosoti in Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, once echoed with the devotional chants of yatris making their way to Machail Mata Temple. Today, it echoes with silence. On August 24, 2025, a sudden cloudburst triggered catastrophic flash floods and landslides, washing away homes, pilgrimage shelters, bridges, and hundreds of lives in a matter of minutes. At least 66 people were confirmed dead, but 32 remain missing, swallowed by the unforgiving terrain of…

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Tangmarg–Poonch Road: A Strategic Alternative to the Srinagar–Jammu Highway

Tangmarg–Poonch Road: A Strategic Alternative to the Srinagar–Jammu Highway

Tangmarg–Poonch Road: A Lifeline Alternative for Kashmir’s Fragile Highway By: Javid Amin | 11 October 2025 For years, the Srinagar–Jammu national highway (NH-44) has borne the weight of connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India. But nature, terrain, and congestion often conspire against it: landslides, heavy snowfall, rockfalls, and accidents frequently force closures. In this fragile corridor, alternatives have been discussed, proposed, delayed — until recently. Enter the Tangmarg–Poonch Road — a long-awaited project, now sanctioned under the Union Defence Ministry and to be executed by the Border…

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MMU Demands Ban on Meat Imports to J&K Over Halal Concerns: A Deep Dive

MMU Demands Ban on Meat Imports to J&K Over Halal Concerns: A Deep Dive

MMU Calls for Ban on Meat Imports to J&K Over Halal Integrity; Government Pledges Stricter Rules By: Javid Amin | 11 October 2025 Religious bodies press for local sourcing amid outrage over “rotten imported meat”; government promises stricter rules, not a ban. In an assertive move, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a coalition of leading Islamic scholars and religious bodies in Jammu & Kashmir, has urged the J&K administration to ban the import of meat and poultry from outside the Union Territory. The MMU’s appeal hinges on concerns about halal compliance,…

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