Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • Authorities Quell Fuel Shortage Rumours, Says Supply “Absolutely Normal”

    Amid Rumour Saudi Arabia has stopped crude oil supply to India, Petrol Pump’s go Dry

    Authorities had to issue a clarification on Wednesday evening that fuel availability in all its outlets is absolutely normal

    Concerned authorities had to issue a clarification on Wednesday evening that fuel availability in all its outlets is absolutely normal.

    Amid rumours of petrol and diesel shortage in valley, which led to long queues at petrol pumps, authorities had to issue a clarification on Wednesday evening that fuel availability in all its outlets is absolutely normal and there is no need to panic.

    According to reports, rumours of fuel shortage surfaced in valley which soon led to long queues at fuel outlets, forcing many dealers to even close them due to the crowds getting out of control.

    The local petrol pump associations also issued a clarification that there was no shortage of petrol and diesel.

    The panic forced Indian Oil to issue a clarification, with the retailer’s Director (Marketing) V Satish Kumar tweeting that supplies of fuel are absolutely normal.

    “This is to assure that product availability at our retail outlets is absolutely normal. There is adequate product availability & supplies to all markets. We request you not to panic. Indian Oil is fully committed to serve at all times,” Mr Kumar said in the tweet.

    Apparently the rumour was spread that Saudi Arabia has stopped crude oil supply to India, which led to the panic among people across many Indian States.

    With inputs from Agencies

  • Short movie Alamdar-e-Kashmir’ winning hearts at J&K International Film Festival in Pune

    Srinagar, June 15: Short film ‘Alamdar-e-Kashmir’ screened at J&K International Film Festival at Pune Maharashtra has won the hearts of viewers.

    The film focuses on Kashmiri Saint ‘Nund Reshi’ and Sufism.

    By the Directors, Anil Kumar Singh & Aneesa Ashraf Khan has come what can be described as brilliance in the form of a short film.

    Alamdar -e- Kashmir is an 11-minute short film that is a reflection of the life and journey of Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani. He propagated the love and faith in the form of couplets called ‘Shruks’.

    He strived for Hindu–Muslim unity. One of his famous couplets is ‘Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshi, which translates as “Food will thrive only till the woods survive”.

    The film features his background, the birth of Rishi Order in Kashmir, and its contemporary standing in Kashmir from the perspective of an explorer. The movie follows the plot where a character (woman) goes to Kashmir to explore its beauty, just to find out that there’s more to it, i.e., Sufism. A filmmaker who wishes to make a Reflexive Documentary on Sufism goes to meet the artists and other people to interview them and gather more information about Sufism and where it stands in Kashmir today. Through this, we uncover the untold stories about Nund Rishi and Sufism.

    “Through its wonderful storyline, it allows the audience to uncover the untold stories about Nund Rishi as well as Sufism at large. The goal of the film is to promote fraternity and secularism, which seem to be forgotten concepts in today’s world,” say the directors of the movie. (KNT)

  • Justin Bieber’s Face Partially Paralysed

    “It will go back to normal,” he said. “It’s just time, and we don’t know how much time that’s going to be.”

    Reuters

    Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber disclosed on Friday that he was diagnosed with a virus that left half of his face paralyzed and forced him to cancel some upcoming performances to focus on recovery.

    In a video posted on Instagram, Bieber said he had contracted Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which affected nerves in his ear and face. He noted that his right eye was not blinking, adding “I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move. So there’s full paralysis on this side of my face.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CeorE9OjqX9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again

    Bieber, 28, said he was physically unable to perform his upcoming shows but was doing facial exercises and expected to recover.

    “It will go back to normal,” he said. “It’s just time, and we don’t know how much time that’s going to be.”

    Bieber found fame as a 13-year-old and went on to become a global pop phenomenon with songs like “Baby” and “Believe.” He has two Grammy wins among 22 nominations, including a record and song of the year nods this year for “Peaches.”

    (Except for the headlines, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Nupur’s remarks BJP’s strategy to divert attention from KPs’ suffering: Mehbooba

    Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday claimed that suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s derogatory remark against Prophet Mohammad (SAW) was the BJP’s strategy to divert people’s attention from the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, incite Muslims and provoke a backlash against them.
    Several states witnessed violent protests on Friday against the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by two now-sacked BJP functionaries, with authorities in Uttar Pradesh razing “illegal” houses of those accused in violence.
    Sporadic incidents of violence and protests were reported on Sunday, including a group of people attacking and damaging a train at the Bethuadahari railway station in West Bengal’s Nadia district while prohibitory orders continued in parts of Howrah and Murshidabad districts.
    “The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma was done strategically to divert the attention from the sufferings of Kashmiri Pandits and their killings which they (the BJP government) failed to prevent,” Mehbooba told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
    The former chief minister said while violence occurred in several parts of the country due to Sharma’s controversial statements, no action has been taken against her so far.
    “This statement was made by Nupur Sharma to provoke the Muslims so that they (government) can get an excuse to demolish their homes, open fire and arrest them,” she alleged.
    The row over the alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad escalated on June 5 following protests from countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran, prompting the BJP to take action against its functionaries and assert that it respects all religions.
    As the row intensified domestically and abroad, the BJP suspended Nupur Sharma and expelled Naveen Kumar Jindal.

  • Kuwait government to deport expats who protested over remarks against Prophet (PBUH) at illegal demonstration

    Dubai: The Kuwaiti government has decided to arrest and deport an unspecified number of expats who participated in a protest against the controversial remarks by two former BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), as the Gulf nation’s laws do not allow such demonstrations, according to a media report.
    Instructions have been issued to arrest expats from the Fahaheel area who organised a demonstration after Friday prayers in support of Prophet Muhammad, Arab News, an English-language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia, quoted sources as saying.
    Kuwait said that the protestors will be deported to their respective countries as they violated the laws and regulations of the country which stipulates that sit-ins or demonstrations by expats are not to be organised in the Gulf nation, it said.
    “The detectives are in the process of arresting them and referring to the deportation center to be deported to their countries and will be banned from entering Kuwait again,” reported Al Rai, a Kuwaiti newspaper.
    The report did not mention the nationalities of those expatriates who took part in the demonstration.
    All expats in Kuwait must respect Kuwait laws and not take part in any type of demonstration.
    The Kuwait government was one of the few countries who had summoned the Indian envoy over the remarks of the former BJP functionaries.
    The Kuwait Foreign Ministry said that the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Sibi George was summoned and handed over an official protest note by the Assistant Secretary of State for Asia Affairs expressing Kuwait’s “categorical rejection and condemnation” of the statements issued by an official of the ruling party against the Prophet.
    The ministry welcomed the statement issued by the ruling party in India, in which it announced the suspension of the leader.
    The BJP suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal after their controversial remarks against the Prophet, as it sought to defuse a row over the issue.
    Amid protests by Muslim groups over the remarks, the party also issued a statement aimed at assuaging the concerns of minorities and distancing itself from these members, asserting that it respects all religions and strongly denounces the insult of any religious personality.
    Dozen Muslim countries condemned the controversial remarks.
    In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said the government has made it clear that the remarks do not reflect the views of the government.
    “We have made it pretty clear that tweets and comments do not reflect views of the government,” MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said at a recent media briefing.
    “This has been conveyed to our interlocutors as also the fact that action has been taken by the concerned quarters against those who made the comments and tweets. I do not think I have anything additional to say on this,” he had said.
    According to latest statistics, the number of Indian nationals legally residing in Kuwait has crossed the 10-lakh mark in 2019. The Indian community in Kuwait continues to grow at 5-6 per cent per annum. The Indian community remains the largest and the most preferred community in Kuwait, the second largest expatriate community being the Egyptians, according to the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
    PTI

  • Fate Of Hujjaj From Western Countries Will Be Decided Tomorrow

    MAKKAH: The authorized platform by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Motawif Platform will start conducting random draws starting from June 13th (Tomorrow) to select the Hujjaj from western countries (Americas, Europe and Australia)

    The online draw will be conducted for the first time to select Hujjaj from western countries due to the limited quotas allotted this year. The total number of Hujjaj participating in this year’s Hajj will be around 1 million.

    Applicants can check their application status on the Motawif Platform

    Meanwhile, the registration of Hajj for domestic pilgrims ended on Sunday, and a random draw will be select the Hujjaj from within the Kingdom on Sunday.

  • Prophet (PBUH) row: Maharashtra police summons to Nupur Sharma, Naveen Jindal

    Thane, Jun 12: Suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled BJP functionary Naveen Kumar Jindal have received summons from the Bhiwandi police in Maharashtra to record a statement in connection with her controversial comments against Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), an official told PTI News.

    While Sharma has been asked to appear before cops on Monday, Jindal will have to appear on June 14 over his alleged controversial tweets against Prophet Mohammad, senior police inspector Chetan Kakade told reporters.

    A case was filed against Nupur Sharma on May 30 while registering a case against Jindal following a complaint by a representative of the Raza Academy on May 30.

    The Mumbai Police have also summoned her to record a statement on June 25 in connection with her remarks about the Prophet (PBUH) during a TV debate which triggered a huge controversy. The police had asked for a video of the debate from the news channel concerned.

    Last Sunday, the BJP suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet (PBUH) led to an outrage in India and Gulf countries.

    While many Arab countries condemned the insensitive remark, there have been protests in many parts of the country over the issue.

  • 99 militants killed so far this year: IGP Kashmir

    Says 3 local LeT militants killed in Pulwama gunfight, one among them was involved in killing of a police constable, non-local labour

    Srinagar, Jun 12 : Ninety- nine militants have been killed in different encounters so far in Jammu and Kashmir, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar said on Sunday.

    Talking to reporters here in Srinagar, IGP as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that three militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in a gunfight today at Drabgam area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

    He said that a cordon was laid jointly by Army, police and CRPF in the village after Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pulwama received information about the presence of three local LeT militants there.

    “The encounter started yesterday evening in which 3 local LeT militants were killed while two AK47 rifles and a pistol were recovered from the encounter site,” he said, adding that one among the slain was involved in the killing of a police constable Riyaz Naikoo on May 13 and also in the attack on labourers at brick kiln in Budgam in which one non-local labour was killed and two others sustained injuries on June 02.

    Asked about the number of militants killed, IGP said that 99 militants have been killed this year so far—(KNO)

  • Mobile Internet Service Suspended across in many Districts of Kashmir Valley

    Amid tensions erupted due to social media post as precautionary measure Mobile Internet Service Suspended across many Districts of Kashmir Valley and curfew imposed in Baderwah Town of Doda District.

    Further details awaited.

  • Mamata condemns BJP leaders’ remarks on Prophet (SAW), demands their arrest

    Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condemned the remarks by two BJP functionaries on Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), terming them “hate speech”, and demanded that the accused leaders be immediately arrested so that the country’s unity is not disturbed.

    Noting that such remarks not only cause violence but also lead to societal division, she called upon people from all religions, castes and communities to maintain peace despite provocation.

    She also asked demonstrators who have put up road blockades in several places of West Bengal’s Howrah district to protest against the controversial speech of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal to call off their stir and go protest in New Delhi and BJP ruled states instead.

    “I condemn the recent heinous and atrocious hate speech remarks by a few disastrous BJP leaders, resulting in not only spread of violence, but also division of the fabric of the country, leading to disturbance of peace and amity,” Banerjee said in a series of tweets.

    The speech of the BJP leaders has tarnished the image of India across the globe, she asserted.

    “I strongly seek that the accused leaders of BJP be arrested immediately so that the unity of the country is not disturbed and people at large do not face mental agony,” she said.

    Banerjee also appealed to people to maintain calm in the larger interest of the nation.

    “At the same time, I appeal to all my brothers and sisters from all castes, creeds, religions, and communities to maintain peace in the larger interest of the common people, despite the provocation which we so strongly condemn,” she said in a Twitter post.

    Later in the day, Banerjee who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo, asked demonstrators to protest in BJP ruled states and not in West Bengal.

    “Road blockades are going on since morning in some places and people are suffering. I will request you (protestors) on behalf of the common people to call off the blockades as nothing has happened in West Bengal. Go to New Delhi and protest, where there is a BJP government. Go to Gujarat and UP, Banerjee said at the state secretariat.

    Bengal Imams Association, an organisation of clerics, on Thursday announced agitational programmes in various mosques across the state on June 10 in protest against the speech of the two BJP leaders.

    “While protests are already taking place in some parts of the state, we call upon mosque committees to hold agitational programmes on Friday in their mosques demanding arrest of the two leaders under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, the Association’s President Md Yahia said in a video message.

    Yahia also urged people not to go for disruptive protests like putting up road blockades and requested the administration to take “strong action” in such cases.

    “Bengal Imam’s Association does not approve of such unruly activities,” he said in a statement later.

    PTI