Lavender plantation has officially begun along a 16-kilometre stretch of the Banihal–Qazigund National Highway, marking a major step toward beautification and aroma tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. By: Javid Amin | November 7, 2025 A Fragrant Beginning in the Himalayas The high-altitude air of Kashmir is about to smell sweeter. Along the 16-kilometre Banihal–Qazigund stretch of National Highway 44, rows of lavender plants have begun transforming the rocky slopes into a purple-hued landscape. This marks the start of a landmark Lavender Plantation Project, an initiative by the National Highways Authority…
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Omar Abdullah Slams PDP for Deceiving Public | NC Chief Accuses PDP of Political Opportunism in Budgam Rally
Omar Abdullah Slams PDP: “They Do Nothing But Deceive the Public” | NC Chief Hits Out at PDP’s Political Tactics in Budgam Rally By: Javid Amin | November 7, 2025 Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah has launched a blistering attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of “deceiving the public” and “misleading people through hollow promises.” Addressing a public gathering in Budgam as part of his campaign trail ahead of the upcoming by-elections, Omar Abdullah alleged that the PDP “has made…
Read MoreTuesday’s Twin Tests: Budgam & Nagrota Bypolls to Gauge J&K’s Political Pulse
Tuesday’s Twin Tests: Bypolls to Gauge J&K’s Power Pulse By: Javid Amin | 06 November 2025 Budgam and Nagrota brace for symbolic political battles in post-Article 370 Jammu & Kashmir Overview: Twin Bypolls, One Message The political temperature in Jammu and Kashmir is rising sharply as the region braces for two crucial by-elections on November 11, 2025—in Budgam and Nagrota. Far from being mere mid-term contests, these elections are shaping up as referendums on power, identity, and governance in a territory still finding its democratic rhythm after the abrogation of…
Read MoreJammu & Kashmir Defamation Suit: JKAS Officer Sues Journalist for ₹7 Crore — Freedom of Press or Professional Protection?
A Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service officer has filed a ₹7 crore defamation suit against journalist Tousif Kraipak, alleging reputational damage from social media posts. By: Javid Amin | 06 November 2025 A New Landmark in Digital Accountability In perhaps a telling moment for the evolving interplay between governance, journalism and social media in India, a senior officer of the Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) has launched a high-stakes legal battle against a journalist. The move lays bare the tensions emerging at the crossroads of public service integrity, free…
Read MoreKCC&I Urges J&K Bank to Extend Deadline for Rehabilitation Package | Fair Relief for Affected Borrowers
KCC&I Urges J&K Bank to Extend Deadline for Rehabilitation Package 2025 By: Javid Amin | 06 November 2025 In the aftermath of the disturbing events that hit the valley of Pahalgam earlier in 2025, one of the key institutions in the region — J&K Bank — stepped forward with a relief-oriented initiative: the Rehabilitation Package 2025. Designed to ease burdens on borrowers in tourism, handicrafts and services sectors impacted by the incident, the scheme was welcomed as timely and necessary. However, as the deadline looms, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce &…
Read MoreJammu & Kashmir’s 7,768 MW Hydropower Surge: 15 Projects Under Way to Transform the UT into an Energy Hub
Jammu & Kashmir is executing 15 major hydropower projects totaling 7,768 MW, aiming to transform the region into a power-surplus hub. By: Javid Amin | 05 November 2025 The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is on the cusp of a major energy transformation. With an estimated hydropower potential of around 18,000 MW, the region has so far harnessed only approximately 3,540 MW. But now, 15 major hydropower projects aggregating 7,768 MW are at various stages of execution — a move that signals a bold step toward making J&K…
Read MoreKashmir Back in Frame: Raj Babbar’s Heartfelt Words, Tollywood’s Return, and Snowfall Magic in Gulmarg & Sonamarg
Raj Babbar, during his visit to Gulmarg, reaffirmed that he has never felt unsafe in Kashmir, calling it a land of love, peace, and warmth. By: Javid Amin | 05 November 2025 Kashmir’s Cinematic Comeback: From Silence to Spotlight Six months after the Baisaran attack in Pahalgam (April 22, 2025), film cameras are rolling again in Kashmir. The picturesque Aru Valley near Pahalgam — framed by pine forests, crystal streams, and snow-dusted meadows — is hosting a Tollywood (South Indian) film crew, signaling the long-awaited revival of the Valley’s film…
Read MoreCongress Rules Out Joining J&K Cabinet: Demands Statehood and Population-Based Representation
Congress Rules Out Joining J&K Cabinet Until Statehood Restored Party Demands Proportional Representation and Calls for Inclusive Governance By: Javid Amin | 05 November 2025 Congress Stands Firm: No Cabinet Role Without Statehood In a significant political development amid talks of cabinet expansion in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress Party has categorically ruled out joining the council of ministers, asserting that its participation hinges on the restoration of full statehood. The statement, made by Tariq Hamid Karra, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), underscores the party’s…
Read MoreRising Divorce Rates in Kashmir: Understanding the Complex Reality
Divorce rates are rising in Kashmir, but framing this as a moral collapse misses the deeper truth: it’s a complex, multi-factor reality shaped by social, economic, and psychological transitions—not just infidelity or cultural decay. By: Javid Amin | 05 November 2025 More Than a Moral Panic In recent years, the picturesque landscapes of the Kashmir Valley have also become the backdrop for a quieter but significant transformation: rising divorce rates. Conventional wisdom in many quarters suggests that this signals a moral collapse—“Western values” infiltrating traditional societies, increasing infidelity, declining respect…
Read MoreBack to School, Back to Exploitation: Kashmir Parents Slam Private Schools Over Costly Book Mandates
Despite government orders, private institutions continue to prescribe overpriced supplementary textbooks—fueling parental outrage and exposing the unchecked commercialisation of education in Kashmir. By: Javid Amin | 03 November 2025 A Recurring Burden on Parents As the new academic session opens in the region of Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE)’s jurisdiction, a pressing concern is again dominating discussions among parents of school-going children: the practice by many private schools of prescribing additional textbooks from non-board publishers, often at high costs. This pattern, according to many parents and education…
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