Month: September 2024

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said the BJP has succeeded in reducing the resolution of the Kashmir issue to the conduct of Assembly polls. “The BJP has succeeded in reducing the Kashmir issue — for which thousands have died, thousands were orphaned and we suffered losses of billions — to Article 370 and reduced Article 370 to the restoration of statehood and statehood has been reduced to polls,” Mufti told reporters at the PDP office here. The former chief minister was commenting on the growing chorus of political parties for the restoration of statehood to Jammu Kashmir after the Assembly elections are over. “Some parties are rejoicing that elections are taking place and talk about restoration of statehood. It is akin to looking for shoes after amputating the feet. Kashmir i...

A total of 14 Kashmiri Pandits have filed nominations for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, aiming to champion the return and rehabilitation of their community, which numbers around 300,000. Habba Kadal, a constituency in Srinagar, has become a focal point, with six Kashmiri Pandits entering the fray. Of these, five are running under recognized political parties, while two are contesting as independents. Ashok Kumar Bhat (BJP), Sanjay Saraf (Lok Jan Shakti Party), and Santosh Labroo (All Alliance Democratic Party) are among the notable candidates. Saraf, a seasoned candidate, aims to foster communal harmony and facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits with respect and security. The community is relying heavily on the 25,000-strong migrant vote bank in Habba...

Prominent Kashmiri separatist and religious cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest on Friday ahead of his scheduled sermon at the Srinagar's Jamia Masjid. According to the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, which oversees the mosque's affairs, the authorities informed Mirwaiz Umar that he would not be allowed to attend the congregational prayers. The Anjuman claimed that no official reason was provided for his detention. Mirwaiz has been frequently placed under house arrest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has faced a wave of resignations from its Chanapora constituency team after the party's decision to field Hilal Ahmad Wani, a Congress defector, as its candidate. This move has sparked significant discontent among long-serving BJP workers in the region. Altaf Ahmad Pandit, the BJP’s constituency president for Channapora, along with 40 team members, including constituency secretary Mir Mehraj, youth president Suhail Ahmad Bhat, and vice-president Parvaiz Ahmad, submitted their resignations in protest. In a letter to BJP state president Ravinder Raina, Pandit expressed his frustration, stating, “For the last six years, we gave everything to the party, building a strong team and receiving leadership's appreciation. Now, we’ve been sidelined, and the t...

A man died and another was injured after the vehicle they were traveling in collided with a truck in the Qazigund area of Kulgam, an official said Friday. An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the accident occurred in the Chaimulla area of Qazigund, along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, when a Tata Mobile vehicle collided with a truck. He said that both persons sustained critical injuries in the accident. "One person died at Qazigund Hospital, while the other has been shifted to GMC Anantnag for special treatment," the official said. The deceased has been identified as Hemraj, son of Mukhtyar Singh, while the injured is Rajendra Singh, son of Noori Khan, both residents of Patlauni, Mathura. Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the accident—...

Sheikh Nadeem Teachers' Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Scholars Scientific Institute, Mominabad in Anantnag, led by Principal Masrat Jan. Students participated in cultural programs, poetry readings, speeches, and skits, all highlighting the crucial role of teachers in guiding them toward success. The event was attended by teaching and non-teaching staff, along with students. Principal Masrat Jan emphasized the role of teachers as nation-builders and their contributions in shaping students' careers and recognizing their hidden talents. Scouts from higher classes worked alongside teachers to maintain discipline throughout the event.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute to teachers on Thursday in honor of Teachers' Day, describing them as the "true architects of the nation" who shape the country's future. In a statement commemorating Dr. S. Radhakrishnan's Janm-Jayanti, Sinha highlighted the former president's enduring influence on education and his inspirational legacy. The LG's office posted on X, "Warm greetings and heartfelt thanks to all teachers for their commitment to human development. We also honor the great educationist and former President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Ji on his birth anniversary. His life and work continue to inspire generations." The post further emphasized, "Teachers are instrumental in shaping our nation, fostering creativity, curiosity, teamwork, leadership, and essential values...

The Peoples Conference reaffirmed its commitment to restoring Article 370, Article 35A, and statehood for Jammu Kashmir in their election manifesto released by party president Sajad Gani Lone and senior leaders. The manifesto also promises to establish a judicial commission to investigate the rigging of the 1987 elections. The manifesto outlines the party’s dedication to reinstating Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-2019 constitutional status. “The party will support all efforts within and outside legislative forums to restore the pre-2019 constitutional position of J&K,” it states. The PC, which had challenged the abrogation of Article 370 in the Supreme Court, affirmed its commitment to pursue the restoration of Article 370 and statehood. The party vowed to set up a judicial commis...