Month: September 2024

Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Monday claimed that Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president Er. Rashid is “New Delhi’s remote- controlled toy” out to “silence” Kashmiris. Addressing a news conference, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Lone said that Er. Rashid’s release is part of BJP’s plan. “I have never called anyone as an agent. He should tell where he was for the past two months. He was not in jail. We have never seen such a badly executed plan of New Delhi in Kashmir from 1947,” he said. Sajad Lone said that Rashid has no authority to criticize him. “Who is he to target me? He is himself in the dock,” Sajad replied to a question on his criticism by Rashid. Lone said that Rashid has been released to humiliate and browbeat Kashmiris. “He is behaving l...

More than 40 per cent of the 908 candidates contesting the assembly elections in Jammu  Kashmir are Independents, leading to claims that a large number of them have been propped up by the BJP to divide votes. These are the first assembly elections in Jammu Kashmir since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and its reorganization into two Union territories. The number of assembly seats has also risen from the earlier 87 to 90 — 47 in the Kashmir Valley and 43 in Jammu — following a delimitation exercise in 2022. The high number of Independent candidates in the fray have led to the National Conference, Congress and the People’s Democratic Party to allege that they were being supported by “Delhi”. A total 365 candidates have filed their nominations as Independent candidates to contest...

The Jammu Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) has raised concerns over the government's handling of religious holidays, highlighting issues with the recognition of lunar calendar dates. In a statement issued on Monday, JKCSF Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani criticized the government for its failure to adjust the official calendar and attendance systems to reflect the correct dates of Islamic holidays. He explained that the Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning dates can vary based on the moon's appearance, necessitating adjustments to scheduled holidays and festivals. Wani pointed out that this issue was evident during Eid ul-Fitr 2024, when government attendance systems did not accommodate the holiday’s variable date, leading to confusion and employee absences. A similar problem has arisen ...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing a large rally in Kishtwar’s Paddar-Nagseni Assembly constituency on Monday, assured the crowd that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, terrorism in the Jammu region would never return to the levels seen in the 1990s. Shah, as per news agency KNO, stated, "As long as the Modi government is at the Centre, no power can revive terrorism. We will bury it so deep that it never erupts again." In a sharp criticism of National Conference (NC) leader Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Shah questioned Abdullah's absence during the height of violence in Kishtwar. "He should be asked where he was when bloodshed was rampant. But I know—he was enjoying himself on London’s beaches," Shah remarked. Shah accused the NC-Congress alliance of fostering an envir...

Danishwar Hameed A 20-year-old was critically wounded after he fell down from a load carrier during an elections rally in the Kulgam district of south Kashmir. Hospital sources told The Kashmiriyat that on Monday, a youth identified as Suhail Ahmad Naik son of Abdul Majeed Naik, who is a resident of Badija Halan Kulgam was critically wounded after falling from a load carrier during a National Conference election rally in Ahrabal Kulgam. The incident occurred during a road show of the National conference in the area. Suhail was immediately rushed to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) D. H. Pora for initial treatment from where he was referred to District Hospital Kulgam. At Kulgam district hospital, they said, he has been referred to SKIMS Soura in Srinagar for advanced treatment.

Meer Irfan A harrowing video emerged on social media last week, capturing Mohammad Ashraf, a 36-year-old government employee, violently attacking his elderly parents and sister in Srinagar. The footage has ignited widespread outrage, depicting Ashraf brutally beating and kicking his old aged parents in broad daylight. In the disturbing video, Ashraf is seen using his footwear to strike his parents and prevent them from entering their own home. His mother, Taja Begum, revealed the torment they have endured, stating, “He tortures us to pressure us into transferring the property to his wife’s name. I have told him he will inherit his share after we pass away, but he will not listen. He beats us mercilessly.” The violent attack took place after Wani and his wife had visited a decea...

In preparation for the upcoming Jammu  Kashmir Assembly elections, a comprehensive multi-tier security grid has been established to ensure a smooth and peaceful polling process. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V.K. Birdi, addressed reporters today, stating, “We have put in place elaborate security arrangements to guarantee incident-free elections. The deployment of Central forces and J-K Police teams has been finalized, covering security for polling booths, staff, and materials.” Birdi further elaborated on the measures, saying, “Inter-State naka and inter-district check-points have been set up to closely monitor suspects and ensure the safety of the electoral process.” The IGP emphasized the high level of vigilance maintained, remarking, “The security grid is operating...