#StandWithKashmir Archives

Panun Kashmir Disputes Government Claims of Normalcy in Kashmir

February 12, 2024 Editor

After the targeted killing of two labourers from Punjab in downtown Srinagar, the Kashmiri Pandit organisation, Panun Kashmir, today accused the government of secularising terrorism in J&K. The organisation said danger of targeting Hindus in Jammu and minorities in Kashmir are increasing. Panun Kashmir said the government should wake up to the reality and move past its self-imposed delusion of normalcy. “The government’s response after the killings is typical. It fails to grasp or acknowledge the underlying message of these acts. After each such incident, we hear promises of increased…

121-Year Legacy at Risk: Kashmir School Faces Closure over Land Lease Dispute

February 3, 2024 Editor

A Legacy In Limbo: The Heartbreaking Saga of St. Joseph’s School, Baramulla Amidst the snow-capped peaks of Kashmir, in the heart of Baramulla district, stands a sentinel of education – St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School. Its weathered walls whisper tales of 121 years, echoing with the laughter of countless students who crossed its threshold seeking knowledge and hope. But today, this beacon of learning flickers precariously, threatened by a bureaucratic impasse that could plunge its future into darkness. The school’s predicament stems from a seemingly innocuous piece of paper –…

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

January 11, 2024January 11, 2024 Editor

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…

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

January 10, 2024January 10, 2024 Editor

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…

Mercury Dips, Hopes Fizzle: Kashmir Endures Harsh Cold Wave, Daily Life Disrupted

January 4, 2024 Editor

A thin layer of ice had formed over the surface of the Dal Lake as Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius for the second consecutive night, officials said. There was no relief from the intense dry and cold wave conditions in Kashmir on Wednesday as the minimum temperatures stayed several degrees below the freezing point, officials said. Anantnag town was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night as the mercury plunged more than seven degrees below the freezing point, they said. A…

Hopes Flicker in Kashmir: Multi-Party Alliance Mulls Reinstating Article 370

December 30, 2023 Editor

The multi-party coalition People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has declared its intention to explore the possibility of lodging a review petition in the Supreme Court, the PAGD spokesman MY Tarigami said. The move is in response to the recent verdict that upheld the Central government’s decision to revoke Article 370 provisions. Tarigami addressed the media in Jammu, expressing discontent with the Supreme Court’s ruling, stating, “What the government of India did on August 5 (2019) is not an ordinary mistake; it was an assault on our basic constitutional rights,…

J&K Plunged into Darkness: Power Deficit Cripples Kashmir

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023 Editor

J&K’s Power Woes Deepen as Hydropower Projects Falter: A Closer Look The lights are dimming in Kashmir, and the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) is sounding the alarm. While the J&K government boasts impressive hydropower capacity through its Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), recent observations paint a troubling picture of declining generation, adding a layer of complexity to the region’s already strained electricity supply. The Numbers Tell a Story: JKPDC manages a total of 1211.96 megawatts (MW) of hydropower capacity, spread across projects like Baghilar-1, Baghilar-2, and USHP-11 Kangan. Yet, JERC’s…

Article 370: India disputes criticism from Muslim nations

December 13, 2023December 13, 2023 Editor

India rejects the statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, MEA said in a statement. New Delhi: India’s Ministry of External Affairs, in strongly worded remarks, slammed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an international grouping of Muslim nations, for criticising the Supreme Court’s recent verdict upholding the Central government’s decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in an oblique reference to Pakistan, said the grouping released the statement at the behest of an “unrepentant promoter of cross-border terrorism”,…

Beyond the Silence: A Deep Disappointment Grips Kashmir After SC Upholds Article 370 Abrogation

December 12, 2023 Editor

After the Supreme Court judgement upholding the abrogation of Article 370 as “valid”, a sense of “hushed disappointment” swept through the streets of Kashmir. Be it shop fronts, taxis or auto stands, the people discussed their hurt and sadness, albeit in muted voices. The people say that it was because of the “aggressive posture of the authorities to any form of protests or dissent since the abrogation of Article in August 2019.” “The Supreme Court has put the final nail in the coffin of J&K’s special status. It was what…

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

December 11, 2023 Editor

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…