Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: With the announcement of winter vacation from December 21, students of Kashmir have attended schools for less than a month in 18 months.

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday announced winter vacations from December 21 in all schools up to Class 12 in the valley and in winter zone areas of the Jammu division.

As per an order issued by School Education Department Secretary B K Singh, winter vacation for all government educational institutions and recognised private schools up to the higher secondary level in the Kashmir division and in winter zone areas of Jammu division will be from December 21 to February 28.

In another order, the government modified its order regarding online classes, underling that the same will be voluntary in nature for both for teachers and students.

With the accouchement of winter vacation, the students in Kashmir have attended classes for less than a month in 18 months since August 5 last year.

“Students attended classes for less than a month since August 5, 2019. There has been huge loss to students community,” an official of education department told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

Last year 100 days of class work were lost due to the unprecedented situation post abrogation of article 370.

In 2020, the students witnessed less than a month of class work in schools.

Meanwhile, amid COVID-19, hundreds of youth in Kashmir have started open air schools or community schools to compensate the losses to the students.

Asked about the purpose of community school, a youth who has started community school in Baramulla replied, “Students have faced immense losses since last year in Kashmir. The purpose of setting up community school is to compensate for losses that students faced since last year.”

He believes a teacher student relationship can be best established when they interact face to face whether in class room or open air unlike online classes. “Education is not limited to syllabus but daily interactions improve the skills of students and equally help teachers to grow.”

The schools in Kashmir had opened after a gap of over six months in February this year when they were shut in August last year with the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

In March, the schools were again closed down as part of the lockdown announcement to thwart the spread of global pandemic Covid-19.

Teaching he said was a challenging task for teachers in Kashmir especially for the last 16 months.

“Educational institutions often remain shut in Kashmir due to turmoil or now pandemic. It becomes very difficult to recover losses and bring children back on track.”

Authorities have directed schools to start online classes for students. However, students are not able to study online in Kashmir due to 2G internet speed in Kashmir. (KINS)

Srinagar: Kashmiri Pandits living in Jammu and other parts of the country for the last 30 years have requested the Central Government to fulfill the promise made with them to return to the Valley.

In the meeting held in Jagati Nagrota, Jagati Tannit Committee head Shaadi Lal Pandita said that the dream of Kashmiri Pandits to return to the valley should be fulfilled.

The BJP’s manifesto mentions the return of Kashmiri Pandits but when will it be completed. He said that now the BJP is in power of the central government. All are wishing that Kashmiri Pandits should return to the valley, but there is no initiative from the Central Government.

Ravindra Kaul said that Kashmiri Pandit wants to connect his soul with his culture. We are alive in our region. Our lands are there. In such a situation, the central government should pay attention to our demands.

Ashok Pandita says that Kashmiri Pandits want to go back to Kashmiri Valley, this has been repeatedly told to the Central Government. Recently a memorandum was also sent to the Prime Minister. I do not understand that the Central Government took big decisions but no decision is being taken on the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.

Raj Kumar Tikku said that 30 years is a big time. If these years pass like this then our children will start forgetting the culture of Kashmir. The central government should fulfill its promises and bring back the valley of Kashmiri Pandits.

Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister J&K Mehbooba Mufti said that unity of regional mainstream political parties under the umbrella of PAGD is “begining” of the fight for the restoration of Article 370. She said J&K is not a political but a religious problem for BJP that can only be solved by changing the religious composition, by ensuring Muslims become a minority in the only Muslim-majority state.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS) monitoring, Mehbooba while speaking to national daily defended the particiation of PAGD into ongoing DDC polls, saying, “What was the other option? To leave the field open for the BJP and its proxies and be labelled as Pakistani agents? A boycott would have only helped them spread their tentacles deeper into the system here, already controlled by an administration subservient to Delhi’s whims and fancies.”

While accusing the administration of preventing her from moving out, she listed steps like the domicile law, eviction of Gujjars and the shifts in the government’s stand on the alleged Roshni land scam, saying, “For the BJP, J&K is not a political but a religious problem that can only be solved by changing the religious composition, by ensuring Muslims become a minority in the only Muslim-majority state.”

The PDP chief added, “Our fears of demographic changes have never been exaggerated or misplaced. All the disruptive policies and actions are in full swing — be it domicile law, eviction of Gujjars, cancellation of lease of local hoteliers or outsourcing of natural resources like sand and stone. All these substantiate their motives to disempower locals and gradually ensure that outsiders outnumber the locals.”

On the government filing a review petition on the Roshni Act, seeking to distinguish between landless cultivators and individuals residing in dwellings in small areas and rich and wealthy land grabbers, Mufti said it meant their “communal motive” and “fake and malicious propaganda” of projecting the scheme as a scam had failed. “Eventually, the fact that Jammu benefited more than the Valley (due to the Act) has become public. In Jammu 3,50,000 kanals (1 kanal is 0.125 acres) were transferred under the Roshni Act against 33,000 kanals in the Valley.”

The PDP chief said it was important for the PAGD to fight for the right to campaign in the DDC polls. “The only way to deal with bullies is by standing up to them… Every excuse under the sun is used to curb my movements. Tonight, I received a letter from the J&K Police citing security issues once again to defer my trip to Budgam until elections are over. If security is such a hassle, how are the top tier of BJP leaders and their proxies allowed to move around freely within Kashmir?”

Mehbooba said PDP youth president Waheed ur Rehman Para had been arrested as he had refused “to join the BJP or their proxies”. “Despite being detained illegally for more than a year, he still placed his faith in democracy and decided to fight the DDC elections. His subsequent arrest reeks of political vendetta and is being used to strike fear in youth in the Valley,” she said.

She accused the Centre of using the NIA and Enforcement Directorate to “intimidate every section” of society in Kashmir. “Initially the GoI’s diabolical narrative was confined to pinning the blame on mainstream parties for every problem that ails J&K,” she said. “But now they are harassing and intimidating every section of the society, be it businessmen, journalists or social activists. The idea is to stifle and choke all outlets of dissent and render people economically and emotionally vulnerable.”

About her recent claim that the government wants to ban the PDP, Mufti said, “Despite the Centre engineering a split in the PDP and other pressure tactics, we are still resisting the illegal unconstitutional changes that took place on August 5, 2019.”

She said the formation of the PAGD was the start, and they would chalk out “a peaceful and non-violent strategy” for retrieving “what was unlawfully snatched from the people of J&K”. “Resistance is a matter of choice and I have made that choice. Having said that, I alone, or even the PAGD, cannot fight this battle successfully unless people join this movement. Unfortunately by reducing it to binaries of mainstream versus the government of India, the media is doing a great disservice to the larger cause.”

She said she was not surprised by the Congress distancing itself from the PAGD. “The Congress is a national party with its own constraints… But it is clear that mainstream local parties in Jammu and Kashmir will have to stand together for a larger cause… The aspirations of the people are what will serve as a glue to keep this alliance together.”

Mufti, who spent 14 months in jail after the scrapping of J&K’s special status and its split into two Union Territories, said, “If there is one lesson I have learnt and re-learnt in the past two years, it is that one must not take their rights and personal liberties for granted. We might be the world’s largest democracy on paper but the truth is that we are heading towards a dictatorship where the Constitution is mangled every day. The truth is distorted to such an extent that lines are blurred between facts and fiction.” (KNS)

Budgam: Former Union Minister and National spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Thursday lashes out at Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), saying that Jammu and Kashmir is no one’s estate, and it is people who will decide the future of the erstwhile state.

According to News Agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while talking with the media after the public meeting at Town hall Chadoora, Hussain also targeted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti accusing her of “doing a drama about her house arrest”.

“This Gupkar Gang only want to rule Kashmir, they don’t have any sympathy with the people of the valley,” Hussain said.

On Mehbooba Mufti’s house arrest, Hussain said the lack of people’s support has upset her, thus she is doing such theatrics.

“Nobody is stopping Mehbooba Mufti from going out of her home. Actually, due to security reasons, nobody is allowed to do road shows, including me,” he said.

Hussain said that BJP is always working for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Soon every household will get electricity, water and other basic facilities. Moreover, the 5g internet is also coming. All the facilities that are being provided to the entire country will also be available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar: Night temperatures improved further in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Thursday due to a cloud cover as the weather office forecast another spell of snow and rain starting Saturday.

“Weather is likely to improve from today afternoon, but we are expecting another spell of snow/rain on December 12. The system is likely to be less intense then though,” an official of the MET department said.

Srinagar recorded 3.3, Pahalgam 0.1 and Gulmarg minus 3.4 as the minimum temperatures while Leh town of Ladakh recorded minus 2.5 and Kargil minus 4.8 degrees Celsius. Jammu city recorded 10.4, Katra 8.7, Batote 4.5, Bannihal 3.0 and Bhaderwah 2.5 degrees Celsius. (KINS)

Srinagar: There is good news for tourism sector as tourism has started picking up in Kashmir and has raised high hopes among tourism players.

Tourism sector has been badly hit since August 5 last year due to restrictions imposed by the government after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 and then COVID-19 lockdown.

As per figures of Tourism Department, 43000 tourists visited Kashmir between August and December last year. While in 2020, only 16,000 tourists visited Kashmir till August. However, since the lockdown has been lifted there has been an increase in the number of tourists.
More than 6000 tourists visited the valley in September and October.

“On Christmas and New Year, all rooms have been booked either by tourists or by locals,” an official of Tourism Department told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The government in Kashmir is also organizing food festivals where dishes of various countries and local dishes of various states are available for tourists.

Director, Tourism Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani has kick started the winter sports activities at the world famous Ski Resort of Gulmarg.

“Early snow has come as a blessing and we are ready to host tourists and winter enthusiasts in Kashmir Valley in general and Gulmarg in particular,” Wani said as per news agency KINS.

He said this season a number of Ski courses for young boys and girls are slated to be organized for which large number of applications have already been received. He said initially, four groups from within J&K and two groups from outside will undergo Ski courses in coming weeks. Two groups are exclusive for girls. He said other departments like Youth Services and Sports Department are also organising Ski courses.

Director Tourism urged the young boys and girls to come forward, actively participate and enjoy the winter games at Gulmarg.

Tariq Ahmad Ganie, who is General Secretary J&K Hotels, said the tourism sector was shut since August 5 last year.

“But there is an good response from tourists for the last few weeks. There is 100 percent booking of hotels at Gulmarg on Christmas and New Year. At present, there is 50 percent booking to hotels,” Ganie said.

He also appealed the government to extend the lease period of hoteliers so they can run their hotels smoothly.

There are 70 hotels at Gulmarg and 110 hotels at Pahalgam.

A hotelier at Gulmarg said there is 100 percent booking of hotels on Christmas and New Year.
“We have suffered heavy losses since August last year. A lot of domestic tourists have shown willingness to visit Kashmir.

A tour operator said for the first time since August last year, they are receiving good number of bookings.

“Tourists have shown willingness to visit here, because of ban on international travel due to COVID-19 and weather as Kashmir received snowfall,” he said. (KINS)

Says abrogation of special status coincided with steep rise in curtailment of people’s basic human rights

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah Wednesday said the unilateral and unconstitutional abrogation of J&K’s special status has coincided with a steep rise in the infringement of fundamental and human rights in J&K.

“The honour of the people has been compromised and downgraded on every account since the spiteful measures of August 5th were undertaken by the ruling BJP at center by giving a ditch to all established constitutional norms and parliamentary propriety,” Party President said in his message on the international human rights day.

As per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), he said the months that followed the August 5th 2019 measures saw a steep rise in the human rights violations of people in face of disallowing people to pray, blocking communication channels, snatching exclusive jobs rights of local youth.

“BJP climbed the political ladder nationally by employing a narrative that Articles 370, 35-A were impeding the job prospects of the youth. Far from providing jobs to the youth, the incumbent ruling dispensation at center which is in direct control of J&K’s affairs showed door to thousands of employed youth. 17 months have passed since, the much touted promise of ruling BJP on the creation of Job extravaganza is yet to see light of the day,” he said.

The government grinding of fundamental rights of the people of J&k didn’t stop there; the right to freedom of religion has also been in jeopardy since. “I wasn’t allowed to take part in congregational prayers at Hazratbal following Eid e Milad observance,” he said.

“Putting restrictions on mainstream political leaders has sadly become the order of the day. Mehbooba Mufti has been locked up inside her home once again. Such blatant violations of freedom to move, assemble and speak are a badge that the incumbent government wears proudly,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar: 211 militants have been killed in 11 months this year in Jammu and Kashmir. It includes two operational commanders of Hizbul as well as Jaish Chief and AGH Chief.

According to the data collected by news Agency Press Trust of Kashmir (PTK) this year, 211 militants have been killed by the security forces in 11 months. This includes 50 Pakistanis and the rest of the local militants. Among these militants two chiefs of Hizbul Rayaz Naikoo and Dr. Saifullah. Similarly, Jaish Chief Mohammad Qari Yasir and AGH Chief Burhan Koka are included. Lashkar commanders were similarly killed. This year, the security forces have arrested 47 terrorists alive.

Apart from this, around 150 underground workers were arrested, who used to run a full network of militants in Kashmir.

More operations have been done in four districts of Kashmir this year, this includes Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama and Anantnag, there have been 90 encounters this year. (PTK)

Srinagar: The government on Tuesday said that it has not decided anything about the announcement of winter vacations in Kashmir Valley.

Top officials at the School Education Department said that the announcement of winter vacations in Kashmir is false.

The official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that, “DSEK has not decided anything yet and the announcements being circulated on social media are fake and baseless.”

“DSEK is keeping an eye on the weather situation and as of now, it is not the right time to announce the vacations,” the officials said, adding, “In the coming weeks we will announce the vacations by taking the higher authorities on board.”

Meanwhile, the fake orders and announcements of winter vacations in Kashmir valley were being circulated on social media—(KNO)

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said she was locked up inside her Srinagar residence and disallowed to visit the “evicted families” in central Kashmir’s Budgam.

“Illegal detention has become the GOI’s (Government of India) favourite go to method for muzzling any form of opposition. I’ve been detained once again because I wanted to visit Budgam where hundreds of families were evicted from their homes”, she tweeted.

In a video posted online, she pointed at the locked gates of her residence.

“Why am I not being allowed to go out? Later, the Lt. Governor will say ‘she is not under house arrest’. What is this? Why am I being detained illegally? Where are the papers under which I am stopped?”, she said.

She accused the government of continuing with the “inflicting oppression on the people of J&K without any questions asked”.

A PDP spokesman said Ms. Mufti was scheduled to visit Budgam area “to meet people who are being illegally evicted from their lands and homes”.

Ms. Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti also questioned the administration’s move. “On one hand, BJP politicians are given full security cover and other facilities to undertake journey of their choice and on the other, Mehboobaji has been caged at her home,” she said.

With inputs from The Hindu

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