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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Darbar Move Returns: Omar Abdullah Revives 147-Year-Old Tradition in Jammu and Kashmir

Darbar Move Returns: Omar Abdullah Revives 147-Year-Old Tradition in Jammu and Kashmir

A 19th-Century Tradition Reborn — A Step Toward Restoring Identity and Balance By: Javid Amin | 16 October 2025 In a landmark decision that blends history, symbolism, and politics, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has officially announced the revival of the Darbar Move, the 147-year-old biannual tradition of shifting the seat of government between Jammu and Srinagar. The decision, approved by the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet in September 2025 and signed off by the Lieutenant Governor, restores one of the most distinctive administrative customs in India — one that was discontinued…

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Ladakh Protests Turn Deadly: Centre Blames Politics, Locals Demand Statehood & Sixth Schedule

Ladakh Protests Turn Deadly: Centre Blames Politics, Locals Demand Statehood & Sixth Schedule

Ladakh Protests Turn Deadly: Centre Calls Violence Politically Motivated, Locals Demand Statehood By: Javid Amin | 25 September 2025 A Himalayan Flashpoint On the crisp autumn morning of September 24, 2025, thousands of men, women, and youth converged in Leh’s Polo Ground. Wrapped in woolen shawls and waving placards painted with the words “Statehood Now” and “Sixth Schedule Is Our Right”, the protesters chanted slogans that echoed across the cold desert town. By afternoon, what began as a peaceful demonstration under the banner of the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) spiraled…

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CPM Calls for Unity Among Secular Forces for Restoration of Statehood in J&K

CPM Calls for Unity Among Secular Forces for Restoration of Statehood in J&K

All Secular Forces Must Unite to Press for Restoration of Statehood: CPM leader MY Tarigami Srinagar, February 17, 2025 – Senior CPM leader MY Tarigami has called for all secular forces to unite in pressing for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at the party’s state conference in Jammu, Tarigami criticized the BJP for allegedly misleading the country with false propaganda regarding Article 370, which granted special status to the region and was revoked in August 2019. Tarigami, who won the Assembly elections from Kulgam seat for…

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Political Groups, Individuals Renew Fight for Autonomy: Review Petitions Filed on Article 370

Political Groups, Individuals Renew Fight for Autonomy - Review Petitions Filed on Article 370

A month after a five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, several petitioners filed petitions in the Supreme Court seeking review of the December 11, 2023 historic verdict. In a unanimous verdict, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud had ruled that Article 370 of the Constitution was a temporary provision and the President had the power to abrogate the provision which…

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Don’t amend J&K Reorganisation Act while it’s under Supreme Court review: Omar Abdullah

Don't amend J&K Reorganisation Act while it's under Supreme Court review: Omar Abdullah

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah Thursday said the government should not make amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act as the law is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court. Abdullah’s remarks came after the Lok Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to nominate two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one representing the displaced persons from PoK to the legislative assembly. “Our objections to the bill are on two issues. The first is that the Supreme Court has not announced its…

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National Conference Slams BJP for Delaying Local Body Elections, Citing Fear of Defeat

National Conference Slams BJP for Delaying Local Body Elections, Citing Fear of Defeat

National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah accused the BJP of deliberately postponing Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in fear of an anticipated defeat. Addressing a workers convention in north Kashmir’s Pattan town, Omar said the delay in the ULB elections, considered a precursor to the upcoming Parliament elections, exposes the BJP’s apprehension about the prevailing sentiment against it. “The ULB elections, considered as a bellwether for forthcoming Parliament elections, will reveal that the sentiment on the ground is against the BJP and its A, B, C and D teams,” Omar…

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Enforcement Directorate arrests Ex-J&K Minister Lal Singh in Money Laundering Case

Enforcement Directorate arrests Ex-J&K Minister Lal Singh in Money Laundering Case

Former Jammu and Kashmir minister Lal Singh was arrested by probe agency ED hours after an anti-corruption court dismissed his anticipatory bail application in a money laundering case. Former Jammu and Kashmir minister Lal Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate here on Tuesday, hours after an anti-corruption court dismissed his anticipatory bail application in a money laundering case, officials said. Singh was under investigation by the federal agency as part of the case lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against an educational trust run by his…

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NC leader Omar Abdullah accuses BJP of trying to bury democracy in J&K with sham elections

NC leader Omar Abdullah accuses BJP of trying to bury democracy in J&K with sham elections

Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah dared the BJP to conduct polls in the Union Territory saying there was a growing anger amongst the public. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday on the issue of conducting polls in Union territory saying the people were suffering as they were being denied their right to an elected government, adding that there is a growing public anger. “Today, when we are told almost everyday that the situation is far improved.…

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Omar Abdullah alleges BJP weakened regional parties by Abrogating Article 370

Omar Abdullah alleges BJP weakened regional parties by Abrogating Article 370

National Conference (NC) vice-president and former J&K chief minister, Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the aim of Article 370 abrogation was to weaken regional political parties. He, however said that the NC is growing stronger day by day. Addressing a public rally in north Kashmir’s Handwara, Omar said the decision taken by the Centre was solely aimed at weakening the foothold of NC. “Whenever our party holds rally and programmes, a large number of people participate in it. The aim of abrogation of Article 370 was to weaken us.”…

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