Month: October 2024

In a historic turn of events during the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir elections, the National Conference (NC) and the Congress party have successfully formed a government, marking the first elections in the region in a decade. This alliance has secured a total of 49 out of the 90 elected legislative seats, defying predictions of a hung assembly and demonstrating a clear rejection of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Kashmir Valley. The NC emerged as the dominant partner, winning 42 seats, while the Congress claimed a mere six. The BJP, which has never held power in Jammu  Kashmir independently, faced a significant setback, failing to win a single seat in the Kashmir region, although it managed to secure 29 seats in the Jammu region—an increase from 2014 but below its expectations. ...

The results of assembly elections in the Kashmir Valley have culminated in a significant rejection of separatist candidates, including those from Engineer Rashid-led Awami Ittehad Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, who failed to make a meaningful impact in the polls. The standout performance came from Sayar Ahmed Reshi, a proxy candidate for Jamaat-e-Islami from Kulgam, and Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, brother of the Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, who contested from Langate. Despite their efforts, the majority of candidates associated with these groups lost their deposits, indicating a clear disapproval from the electorate. Notably, Aizaj Ahmed Guru, brother of Afzal Guru, suffered a crushing defeat in the Sopore assembly seat, receiving only 129 votes — significantly fewer than th...

The Gadda Brahmin community in Jammu Kashmir, recently granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status alongside Paharis, Kolis, and Paddri communities earlier this year, has expressed concerns over the misuse of this status by outsiders. According to The Tribune, the community fears that individuals from unrelated groups may fraudulently obtain ST certificates to access benefits meant for Gadda Brahmins. Since the community’s inclusion under the ST category in February 2024, making them eligible for reserved spots in education and government jobs, members have reported cases of non-community individuals applying for ST certificates under their name. Shiv Kumar, president of the Gadda Brahmin Sabha, pointed out that the ambiguity in revenue records is being exploited, as these records do not exp...

The Department of Wildlife Protection has confirmed that the wild boars spotted along Srinagar’s Boulevard and Foreshore Road have strayed from Dachigam National Park and nearby conservation reserves. This announcement follows a viral video that circulated online showing the animals roaming the popular tourist area, raising public concern. According to a wildlife officer quoted by the Kashmir News Trust (KNT), the boars often leave the park during fruit harvesting season in search of food. The department has dispatched rescue teams equipped with tranquilizing guns and trapping cages to safely guide the animals back to the forests. Authorities have urged the public to stay calm and avoid spreading misinformation, assuring that all necessary precautions are being taken to prevent an...

The BJP has announced that all five nominated MLAs in the Jammu Kashmir assembly will be from the party. Sofi Yusuf, BJP Vice-President for the region, confirmed the nominees as Ashok Kaul, Rajni Sethi, Sunil Sethi, Dr. Fareeda Khan, and Sanjita Dogra. The three-phase elections concluded on October 1, with the results expected on October 8. "We have a government at the centre, so we will decide who the nominated MLAs are and we already have decided it that we have 5 nominated members from the party," Sofi Yousuf said. The five individuals nominated by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to the Jammu Kashmir Assembly may play a decisive role in forming the next government in the union territory, sources revealed today. The Congress, National Conference, and PDP have strongly opposed...

Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader Engineer Rashid's call for a united demand for the restoration of statehood in Jammu Kashmir. Earlier on Monday, MP and former MLA Er. Rashid urged all regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir to come together and push for statehood restoration. Responding to a video of Rashid’s statement, Omar Abdullah claimed that such a move only serves the interests of the BJP. "The man goes to Delhi for 24 hours and returns, playing directly into the BJP’s hands," Omar stated on his social media account. He further argued that the BJP would prefer to extend central rule in the region if they cannot form a government. The remarks highlight the ongoing poli...

The Supreme Court has received an application seeking a directive for the Union Government to restore statehood to Jammu Kashmir within two months, Live Law reported. This plea, filed by college teacher Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and activist Khurshid Ahmad Malik, argues that the Union has not fulfilled its assurance to restore statehood, despite the Supreme Court’s judgment upholding the abrogation of Article 370. In August 2023, Zahoor was suspended from the Union Territory's education department by the administration in Srinagar, just four days after he argued against the Centre’s decision to revoke J-K’s constitutional safeguards. Zahoor was reinstated after the Supreme court order. The applicants contend that the failure to restore statehood violates the principle of federalism, a ...