Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • Noted economist  Haseeb Drabu joined PDP

    Srinagar: Noted economist and well known intellectual, Dr. Haseeb A Drabu today joined People’s Democratic Party (PDP). According to a spokesman of the party he wrote a letter to party president Mehbooba Mufti about his desire for joining the PDP. Giving the context of his joining the political fray, Drabu wrote, “I want to leave the perch of punditry and slug it out in noise and chaos of politics. I have earlier had the occasion to work with and for the people of J&K. Not only was it professionally an absolute privilege but also personally it was by a long way most satisfying. I want to participate and, to the extent that I can, contribute, to this overall change by working within aegis of the PDP. I do hope you will provide me the opportunity to do so”.

    While welcoming the entry of Drabu into the PDP the party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said he had ably assisted the state in its post 2002 economic reconstruction and financial restructuring. He said Drabu had played an important role in all major economic initiatives like the PM’s reconstruction programme , ADB financing and establishment of ERA.

    He said the entry of professionals like Drabu into PDP indicates the positive impact this party has made among the intelligentia in the state. He said politics provides the best instrument to serve people and bring change in their lives, as established by the PDP in its brief tenure in power. Drabu has been associated with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed since 2003 when as the Chief Minister, Mufti appointed him as the Economic Adviser to the government of J&K with the rank of a minister of state.

    Starting his career with the planning commission of India, he has worked with Finance Commission. He has also been a part of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. Drabu was also a member of Prime Minister Committee on long term development of J&K. He also served as a member of the minorities Committee set up to look at the Sachar Committee report. Drabu was appointed a the Chairman of J&K Bank in June 2004 and continued to serve it with distinction till June 2010.

    After his stint with economic policy making at the national level, Drabu moved into journalism and was the National Editor of Business Standard, a premier financial daily. Interestingly, his first policy stint with the government of J&K was as member of the Godbole committee appointed by Dr Farooq Abdullah in 1997. Since 2009 , Drabu has been based in Mumbai and has been working as an advisor to leading corporate in Mumbai. He is on the Board of Directors of many companies and also chairs some of these companies.

  • Assembly elections 2014: BJP ministers visiting valley to boost morale of candidates

    Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to prepare a big stage in Kashmir valley as the part has initiated a thorough campaigning in the region for the forthcoming polls for the assembly.

    The details received by KNS informed that the top BJP leadership will arrive in valley in the month of August and the poll strategy with its state unit shall be threadbare discussed.

    Sources privy to this development told KNS that the BJP high command has this time decided to concentrate more on valley as the Jammu now is being considered as the bastion for the party.  It during the recently held LS polls swept all two seats of the region. Sources have stated further that BJP has directed his senior cadre that during the campaigning for the LA polls, a major chunk of the ministers, one by one must visit valley to support the party candidates in the region. Unconfirmed reports have also suggested that the party is eying at least two to three seats during the assembly elections in valley with the party thrusting more in the areas of North and central Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 30 met BJP general secretaries and discussed organisational matters as also measures to strengthen the party ahead of assembly elections in some key states.

    Modi spent over an hour with the ten party general secretaries seeking suggestions from them on improving governance and strengthening the party. This was Modi’s first meet of such nature after he took charge as Prime Minister. Reports maintained that Prime Minister also asked the party leaders to prepare for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Haryana Jharkhand and Bihar.

  • Mainstream parties finalizing election manifestos

    Kashmir issue, employment to youth given priority  

    Srinagar: With the elections for the state assembly scheduled to be held by the end of this year, the political parties in the state are busy in giving final touches to their respective manifestos.

    According to the KNS reports, almost all the mainstream political parties here have promised employment to youth with the pledge to resolve Kashmir issue ‘amicably’. Reports have also informed that the parties have talked about remedial measures for the electricity crises with the detailed deliberation upon NHPC and its future ties with the state.

    Revocation of AFSPA has also been talked in detail with some political parties promising to create an atmosphere wherein AFSPA is not needed by the security agencies in the state.

    The pledge for developing all the three regions of the state has also been deliberated upon with the equal share of funds distribution assured.

    Autonomy, Self Rule and Development are the three prime agendas in the manifestos of the political parties here.

    In the recent past, Election Commission of India (ECI) asked all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to submit their manifestoes so that they are examined and analyzed in light of Model Code of Conduct (MCC). According to KNS correspondent, in this regard, all political parties in the state confirmed that they received letters from deputy chief electoral officer Jammu and Kashmir requesting them to submit their manifestoes within two days positively so that these are examined and forwarded to ECI by June 20.

    The ECI has decided that all manifestoes of political parties released during elections are to be examined and analyzed in the light of part VIII of Model Code of Conduct. This has been intimated by Jayasree M. G Director ECI New Delhi vide his letter number 590/Manifestoes/Trg./2014 dated June 5, 2014.

    The ECI has said that whenever manifestoes are released, the chief electoral officers shall be responsible to procure all such manifestoes and also send their authentic copies to ECI within maximum three days of their release.

    CEOs have been asked to send comments, analysis in the light of part VIII of MCC within maximum seven days of the release of a manifesto. The CEOs have been further asked to send the hard and soft copies of manifestoes released by all political parties in their states and their analysis and comments in light of Part VIII latest by June 20, sources said.

  • Cabinet to meet tomorrow

    Srinagar: The state cabinet is scheduled to meet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at civil secretariat here on Wednesday. The meeting will take place at 4: 30 PM.

    A minister in the cabinet confirmed to KNS that the agenda besides is likely to include some transfers in the police department. The minister said that there is directive form the election commission of India not to transfer deputy commissioners as they are busy with finalizing electoral rolls in their respective districts.

  • Prime Minister’s scheduled visit unites pro-freedom camp

    Geelani, Hurriyat (M), Malik issue strike call on July 4

    Srinagar: With the BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting valley on July 4, the pro-freedom camp here has raised antennae against Modi- asking people to observe strike during his visit.

    The Chairman Huriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani while appealing people to protest against Modi’s visit by observing complete strike has stated that Modi is arriving here as the Prime Minister of that country that has denied the right to self determination to the people of Kashmir and has ‘suppressed, subjugated’ them.  Pertinently, the amalgam earlier had asked people to stage protest sit in on July 4 after Friday prayers.

    Huriyat Conference (M) in a statement issued to KNS issued the strike call on July 4 against the visit of prime minister- maintaining that the strike shall highlight the vitality of the Kashmir cause.

    In a separate statement, the detained JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik also issued a strike call on July 4 maintaining that people will observe a complete shut down and protest against the ‘Indian oppressive behavior’ in Kashmir. Another amalgam Huriyat Conference (JK) in a separate statement while echoing Geelani- Tuesday issued the hartal call on the very same day. “Those who will welcome Narendra Modi on his arrival are the paid agents of India and the worst enemies of the ongoing freedom movement,” said HCJK in a press handout.

    Pertinently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to pay his first official visit as the prime minister of India to Kashmir on July 4. The prime minister will arrive in Jammu and then proceed to nearby Katra town to inaugurate the Katra-Udhampur rail line that would cover a 25-km distance between the two places, the sources said. Katra is the base town of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine that is visited by millions of devotees every year.

    After the commissioning of the Katra railway station, pilgrims would be able to reach the town directly without having to engage other modes of transport as they now do. Railways minister Sadananda Gowda and minister of state in the PMO Jitender Singh will accompany Modi during his visit.

    The prime minister will then leave for Srinagar where he will chair a security review meeting at the Badami Bagh headquarters of the army’s 15 Corps. The meeting will be attended by governor N N Vohra, chief minister Omar Abdullah, general officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command, Lt. Ge. D S Hooda and the three corps commanders of the 14th, 15th and the 16th Corps. Senior ‘security’ officials will brief Modi about the latest situation on the Line of Control and in the hinterland. The return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri migrants would also figure in the discussion in Srinagar sources said.

    The governor will later host lunch for the prime minister at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar. Modi is also scheduled to visit Uri town in Baramulla district to inaugurate the 240 MW Uri-II hydroelectric power project. Last year, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was expected to inaugurate the project, but the programme was cancelled following technical snag in the project during its trial run. Sources said foolproof security arrangements are being made to facilitate a smooth visit of Prime Minister Modi.

  • 3-day seminar on Kashmir handicrafts concludes

    Implement ban on machines, machine made products to save handicrafts: Soz  

    Assures artisans of full support  in addressing their problems

    Srinagar: The three day seminar cum workshop of Pashmina and Copper workers came to a close the other day. The seminar was held under the auspices of  Majestic Voluntary Organization Kashmir in collaboration with Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India.

    Prof. Saifuddin Soz MP Former Union Minister and President Pradesh Congress Committee who has evinced great interest in promotion of Kashmir handicrafts was the chief guest on the occasion. Addressing a largely attended gathering of Artisans drawn from Kashmir valley particularly down town Srinagar, Prof Soz assured them that he will take up their problems with the authorities at the helm of affairs in the government.

    The main topic under discussion in the seminar was Brand Building and Promotion of Copper Wear Craft in J&K State. The leaders of the Artisans representing various Crafts particularly Copper and Pashmina explained in detail their problems and difficulties which had reduced the Community of Artisans to extreme poverty.

    The main demand of Artisans has been that the use of Machines in this craft had promoted enormous difficulties for the Artisans who are facing great hardships. The Artisans of various  crafts,  in one voice,  demanded that Machines and Machine made craft products have to be banned in J&K State,  so that the world famous Handicrafts are revived  to the advantage of the Artisans.

    According to KNS correspondent, the Artisans also demanded the supply of Raw Materials of proper quality. They further demanded that that a permanent space be provided for production, display and sale of products and this should be done through the Government Department meant for development of Handicrafts in J&K State.

    Expressing serious concerns over the harm inflicted on world renowned Kashmiri handicrafts, Prof Soz demanded that the laws in place to safeguard the handicraft industry in the state must be implemented in letter and spirit. He advocate imposition of ban on import of machines and machine made products in Kashmir in order to eliminate the causes responsible for the gradual decline of Kashmir’s traditional arts and skills.

    Prof Soz assured the artisans that he will take up the issue issues and problems faced by the people in copper industry with the chief secretary, financial commissioner industry and commerce besides inviting Minister of Industries for appreciating the difficulties faced by the Artisans in Kashmir.

    On this occasion, the PCC president thanked ministry of textiles government of India for taking interest in promotion of arts and crafts of Kashmir. He also congratulated and thanked Ms Shameema Raina, president Majestic Voluntary Organization Kashmir who has always remained in the forefront for several years recently creating awareness among the artisans of Kashmir for their rights.

  • Kashmir not an economical, financial issue: Hurriyat (M)

    Calls for complete strike on July 4

    Srinagar: Appealing people to observe complete strike on July 4– the day Indian Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (M) Tuesday stated by observing shut down, Kashmiris will reiterate the pledge that the sublime cause for which people have sacrificed their lives and property can’t be compromised with economical and financial grants.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (M) spokesman has said that Indian Prime Minister Narednra Modi’s visit to Kashmir might have trade on his agenda, it was also a blatant fact that Kashmir was not an economical or financial issue, but a human and political one. The conglomerate stated that future of more than one hundred crore people is associated with the resolution of Kashmir issue, adding, the lasting peace, stability and economic prosperity in south Asia would only arrive once the Kashmir issue is solved according to the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

    The statement said that India might be considered as the biggest democracy on the planet, but its democratic credentials becomes questionable when it comes to the present Kashmir situation. In reality, the hurriyat stated that Kashmir has virtually become a police run state and its inhabitants have been left on the mercy of government forces.

    Tracing the ordeal of Kashmiri sufferings by the occupation, hurriyat stated that lakhs of people have been martyred, ten thousand have been subjected to enforced disappearances, around eight thousand unmarked graves have been found, army of orphans and widows  have been created and restrictions have been laid on the political and religious activities of resistance leadership. The statement further added that hundreds of Kashmiris are behind bars. The statement made it clear that even though hurriyat refrains from calling for strike on Fridays, but sometimes it becomes inevitable keeping in view the larger interest of the freedom struggle.

  • PM’s visit to J&K: Yasin Malik calls for a complete shut down on July 4

    ‘Shutdown, protest against Indian ‘oppressive behavior’ in Kashmir’

    Srinagar: “Indian prime minister represents the state of India and he is responsible for all tyrannical acts, oppressive behaviors and curbs on the freedom of Jammu Kashmir. Given this fact Kashmiris have been always protesting on the occasion of Indian prime minister’s visit to Jammu Kashmir. Today when Indian Prime Minister Nerendra Modi is visiting Jammu Kashmir on Friday, 4th July 2014, Kashmiris will repeat their Tradition of resistance and observe a complete shut down on 4th July 2014,” this was stated by the chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik in a statement issued today.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Malik who along with dozens of JKLF leaders and activists was arrested on 23rd June 2014 and remained in central jail Srinagar, was released last night on bail. Malik said that Indian prime minister represents Indian state and hence he is responsible for all what happens in Kashmir. He is responsible for all oppressive acts, tyrannical behaviors, curbs on political and democratic freedom struggle, and for denying Kashmiris their birth right of Azadi.

    Malik said that in view of this fact, people of Jammu Kashmir have always protested on the occasion of Indian prime minister’s visit to Jammu Kashmir peacefully and democratically. Malik said that now Indian Prime Minister Nerendra Modi is visiting Jammu Kashmir on 4th July 2014. He in capacity of prime minister of India represents all its inimical acts against Kashmiris.

    Malik said that with this fact Mr Modi also represents RSS and BJP which from the day 1st have been advocating to repeal Muslim personal law, oppression against Kashmiris, finishing our peaceful freedom movement through military might and also repealing or finishing the Muslim character of Jammu Kashmir and special status of Jammu Kashmir visa vise political, social and environment Matters.

    Malik said that from the 1st day of this government, its ministers have started their anti Kashmir rhetoric. Recently one of its cabinet minister’s Subramanian Swami while crossing all the limits of brazenness and Shamelessness claimed on TV that his party succeeded in election because it divided Indian Muslim in several sects and encouraged infighting between them and kept fueling this fire.

    “This very minister has issued another statement today against Kashmir. In this atmosphere it is much more imperative for Kashmiris to protest against these anti Kashmir and anti Muslim acts and observe a complete shut down on the arrival of Mr Nerandra Modi.” Malik said that India and its Kashmiri puppets have choked all the means and ways of political and peaceful protest and observing shut downs is the only peaceful means of protest left with us. He appealed the people of Jammu Kashmir to observe a complete and Comprehensive strike (Hartal) on Friday, 4th July 2014 and mark their protest against inimical policies of India against the people of Jammu Kashmir. Malik said that people of Kashmir will stay indoors, suspend their business, transport and other activities on the day as a mark of protest.

    Meanwhile JKLF chairman has expressed his heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of maternal uncle of JKLF chief spokesman Rafiq Ahmad Dar. Yasin sahib along with a high level delegation visited the residence of departed Soul, Showkat Ahmad Dar of Mandir Bagh and expressed his condolences with his bereaved family. JKLF chairman also visited Soibugh and met with the bereaved family of deceased wife of Syed Salah ud Din and expressed his heartfelt condolences with her bereaved family.

  • PDP to focus on improving quality of life of people: Mehbooba

    Says bad governance has pushed respectable citizens into destitution

    Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday said bad governance has pushed respectable citizens into virtual destitution as is evident from demonstrations all over the state to press demands even for basic amenities.  According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing various meetings in Devsar constituency of Kulgam district she said apart from its political agenda PDP will focus on improving the quality of life for the citizens of the state. She was accompanied by the deputy speaker of the legislative assembly, Mohammad Sartaj Madni on her tour which took her to Larmgangi pora, Palpora, Akran,Kailam,Zangalpora,Deevsar,Sopat,Bragam,Gundipora,Choogam,Khargund, Churat, Kund,Y k pora,Chakibadwani,Panzat,Wanpora,Drayan,Bonigam,Vessu, Nipora, Furrah, and Bumthan villages.

    Mehbooba said she is pained by the frequent sight of the people mostly ladies holding dharnas and demonstrations for even drinking water in many places. She said if this could be the case in a state so much rich in the water resources nobody other than the National Conference and Congress, who have been in power ever since independence can be blamed for such dehumanizing conditions.

    The PDP chief said in spite of huge investment in the development schemes very little seems to be changing for the people who have to face immense difficulties in getting power, water, rations, healthcare and education. Women still have to fetch water from distant sources and virtually fight for survival. She said the state has been deliberately projected as a begging bowl because the parties in power have time and gain sold out its interests for their own political survival. PDP, she said, would reverse this impression and try to establish a model welfare state where people would get what they deserve as a matter of right like members of a dignified society.

    Mehbooba said J&K is rich in water resources, minerals, horticulture, agriculture and tourism but there has been a complete absence of a policy to harness these resources for the benefit of the people. She said PDP’s agenda is to develop the right kind of human resource that does not have to hanker after seasonal or daily rated employment, for which they are being politically exploited and then not being able to even receive their wages.  She said establishment of a knowledge society and skilled workforce alone can help the state in tapping its resource base and create jobs for its highly talented young population who are otherwise mired in frustration and hopelessness.

    Mehbooba said the government has been holidaying while the people are left to their fate. She said the farming community has suffered immense losses due to inclement weather conditions which have resulted in heavy damage to apple and other fruits. Similarly, the hailstorm in many areas has left crops devastated but the government agencies have been unable to intervene either in disease control or loss assessment.

    Mehbooba said the people are facing immense problems due to lack of ration at many places and the landless families both in rural and urban areas have to suffer more because of the government’s callousness. She said her party has brought this problem to the notice of Central government recently, and told the concerned minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, that due to scaling down of ration quota to consumers in J&K numerous families have been pushed to starvation in many areas. Senior Party leader and deputy speaker of legislative assembly, Mohammad Sartaj Madni was also present on the occasion.

     

  • Prime Minister’s visit to J&K: Geelani calls for shutdown on July 4

    ‘Shun creation of separate cities within Kashmir on Israeli pattern’

    Srinagar: While calling for complete and state wide shutdown on 4th July 2014 Fridayagainst the planned visit of Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narinder Modi to Kashmir, chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference Sayeed Ali Geelani said that we do not have any personal enmity against him but he is visiting here as the Prime Minister of such a country which have forcibly enslaved us and whose army are mercilessly killing the innocent people of Kashmir in day in and day out.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, while advising Narinder Modi to shun the policies of creating three separate cities within the Valley for Kashmiri Pandits on Israeli Pattern, issuing state subjects to the west Pakistani refugees and abrogation of article 370, Geelani sahib cautioned that it is a dangerous game plan which can have further destructive consequences over the peace and harmony of the state and it will drastically increase the political uncertain and instable situation of the Kashmir. While demanding the return of all the Power Projects of the state, the pro-freedom leader said that India not only snatch electricity from us but it also forcibly loots our other natural resources and Omer Abdullah, Mufti Sayeed and other pro-Indian politicians are not only maintaining silence over it but they are also acting as the helping hand in this loot and plunder.

    The pro-freedom leader of Kashmir said that Mr. Narinder Modi should be aware of that neither are we against the Indian integrity and nor are we in favour of separating any legal state from it. Kashmir is a different issue and India is occupying it only with the help of its military might. People of this region are struggling against this forced occupation from last 6 decades and to silence the oppressed voice of Kashmiri people, India have deployed its 7.5 lakh army and one lakh paramilitary forces in this troubled state, who are unlashing every kind of atrocities over the innocent Kashmiris. While addressing Narinder Modi, Geelani sahib said that the demand of Kashmiri people is clear and straight and we want that India should respect her promises which she has made with us on national as well as international levels and it is his moral and constitutional responsibility to full fill those promises.

    Hurriyat chairman said that to the contrary the Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP has started acting on the same policy which is actually the fundamental policy of RSS on Kashmir and according to which with the continuous genocides of Kashmiri people they want to change the population figures of the state by settling non state subjects here on different names.

    He said that we not only welcome the return of Kashmiri Pandits but we also want to assure them that they don’t have any kind of threat on the part of their Muslim brothers and they will find us kind and sympathetic like in the past. In a statement issued to the press, Geelani said that the idea of creating three separate cities for Pandits is actually the brain child of Israeli government and it is such a dangerous game plan which can further alienate the troubled situation of the disputed region.

    “It will be the ‘do or die’ situation for the Kashmiris and they will be left as strangers in their own homeland. While terming the silence of the pro-Indian politicians like Omer Abdullah, Mufti Sayeed and Saifuddin Soz over the creation of three separate cities for the Pandits in Kashmir Valley as meaningful silence, the pro-freedom leader said that it proves that they only want to protect their Employment and they don’t want to do any such activity which will anger their masters in New Delhi.

    He said that the pro-Indian politicians want to obey every order of the authorities in New Delhi whether it is the issue of plundering of natural resources of Kashmir, issue of grabbing power projects or the issue of demographic changes, so that their increments and salaries may get enhancement. While appealing for the complete shutdown on 4th July Friday against the scheduled visit of Indian Prime Minister Narinder Modi to the Kashmir, the pro-freedom leader of Kashmir said that we have left with no other option to register our protest other than strikes because whenever we held any peaceful protest demonstration, we are showered with bullets and tear gas shells and by this shutdown we want to send a message to the Narinder Modi that Kashmiris will react the dangerous designs of India and we will oppose every such move which will harm our sacred struggle for which we have sacrificed half a million precious lives so far.