Politics

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who ended his more than five-decade-long association with the Congress in August, has launched his own new political party named Democratic Azad party. The senior politician and former chief minister while speaking to media persons here at Jammu region announces the name of his new party – ‘Democratic Azad Party’. He said that around 1,500 names for his new party were sent to him in different languages including in Urdu, Sanskrit. “The mix of Hindi and Urdu is ‘Hindustani’. We wanted the name to be democratic, peaceful and independent,” he said. Earlier, Azad, in his first public meeting in Jammu after quitting Congress, had announced to launch his own political outfit that will focus on the restoration of full statehood. He had said that the ...

On Sunday, former Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, while addressing a rally at Dak Bunglow, Baramulla said that the Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted semi-autonomous status to the Jammu and Kashmir region, cannot be restored. Azad also said that he will announce the formation of his new political party within 10 days. “For votes, I will not mislead and exploit you. Please don't rake up issues which can't be achieved. Article 370 can't restored. It needs two-thirds majority in parliament," Azad said. Azad, who quit the INC on August 26, said the agenda of his new political outfit would be to struggle for the restoration of J&K's statehood and to fight for the job and land rights of people. "I thank my colleagues who stand with me and are the base of my new par...

People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) held a threadbare meeting in Jammu on Saturday decided to constitute a joint committee to take its fight against “inclusion of non-local voters in the voter list to its logical conclusion.” As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the meeting was attended by all the five constituents of the PAGD – National Conference (NC), People Democratic Party (PDP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Awami National Conference - besides the Congress and several Jammu-based parties, including Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party (DSSP) and Dogra Sadar Sabha-led by former minister Gulchain Singh Charak, Mission StateHood led by Sunil Dimple, Shiv Sena and Akali Dal For about two and a half hours, the representatives of various political parties ...

Body of the MBBS student from Bijbehera area of southern Kashmir’s Anantnag district is being brought back home from Bangladesh “as quickly as possible,” officials said here on Wednesday. The student, Khushboo Manzoor daughter of Manzoor Ahmad of Katoo Bijbehera, died after falling off from terrace of hostel College where she was studying in Bangladesh. “After great persuasions, parents of the girl have allowed medico-legal formalities after initially being reluctant and they agreed around 4 p.m.,” Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Dr Basharat Qayoom told GNS. “High Commission of India in Bangladesh is pursuing it. As soon as formalities are complete, further process will be carried out. They are on it and it would be done as quickly as possible,” he added. Earlier in the morning, t...

In an attempt to garner the support of more political and social parties against the inclusion of “non-locals” in Jammu Kashmir’s electoral roll, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is holding an all-party meeting here next month. Senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami on Monday said the meeting will take place under the leadership of PAGD president Farooq Abdullah at his Jammu residence and is scheduled for 2 pm on September 10. “The all-party meeting is part of the ongoing consultations to come out with a joint strategy to stand united against any move to include outsiders in the electoral rolls in a bid to influence election results,” Tarigami, who is also PAGD’s convener and spokesperson, said. The alliance had convened a similar meeting in Srinagar on August 22, wh...