Tag: #KashmirGovernance

Budgam Bypoll 2025: Litmus Test for Omar Abdullah’s Year-Old Government

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When Budgam votes again, it may deliver more than a single MLA—it could deliver a verdict. By: Javid Amin | 09 October 2025 As the autumn political calendar advances, all eyes are turning to Budgam. Once considered a relatively safe seat for the National Conference (NC), the upcoming by-election has been recast as a referendum on the performance of the Omar Abdullah government, which recently crossed its first anniversary in office. Scheduled for November 11, 2025 (with polling for Budgam and Nagrota announced jointly) the Budgam contest—or more surgically, how…

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High Court Directions Ignored: Ruhullah Criticizes Verification Practices

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High Court Directions Ignored: Ruhullah Criticizes Verification Practices

Ruhullah Mehdi Criticizes ‘Weaponized’ Verification in Kashmir Srinagar, April 3, 2025 – National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has strongly condemned what he termed a “verification regime” in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that it is being used as a tool of oppression against families of individuals accused of militancy. Speaking in Parliament, Ruhullah accused the authorities of systematically denying job verifications, passport clearances, government contracts, and business approvals to innocent people under the pretext of security clearances. Allegations of Collective Punishment Ruhullah highlighted the plight of families subjected to…

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Winter Ready: Omar Abdullah’s Strategic Plan for Kashmir’s Uninterrupted Trade and Supply Chain

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Winter Ready: Omar Abdullah's Strategic Plan for Kashmir's Uninterrupted Trade and Supply Chain

Omar Abdullah Reviews Winter Preparedness in Kashmir: Ensures Uninterrupted Trade and Essential Supplies Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the preparedness of various departments to address challenges posed by harsh winter conditions, particularly in the snow-bound zones of the Kashmir valley and Jammu division during a meeting on Tuesday. The CM emphasised the need for a robust mechanism to minimise inconvenience to public during severe weather conditions and directed various departments to ensure uninterrupted trade, transport and availability of essential supplies on priority, while addressing disruptions caused by snow, waterlogging and…

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

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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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