Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Jan 20: Waheed Jeelani, a celebrated Kashmiri artist, social and cultural activist, recently joined the National Conference Party, who also has been asked to handle party’s cultural and media affairs, is hopeful to work and contribute more towards the art & culture sector.

Jeelani, a household name, said he wants to give a strong voice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir in general and to those who are related to art and culture field in particular.The central government and previous state government have betrayed people related to art and culture, nobody listened to genuine demands and grievances of the people related to my community. This is the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that some party has given representation to performing artists and media professionals of the state.

Jeelani said he chose NC because it is “artist friendly and a moderate political party, NC chief and former chief minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah is the biggest art lover and promoter and I am highly impressed by the efforts and initiatives taken by Omar Abdullah sahib, in this sector, during his tenure as Chief Minister of the state.

Jeelani expressed that he is not power hungry but would like to serve his people in a dignified way. He could contest elections, if asked, yet to be decided by the NC leadership.

Meanwhile several individuals, literary and cultural organizations have expressed their contentment and gratitude towards the NC leadership, for incorporating Mr. Waheed Jeelani in the party. J&K’s Performing Artist community associated with the rich cultural landscape have extended a very hearty vote of thanks to Jinab Farooq Abdullah sahab President National Conference, Vice President Jinab Omar Abdullah and entire party leadership for taking this remarkable decision, with the hope and wish that under the dynamic leadership of these legends state’s Art & Culture would progress and flourish further.

Srinagar, January 20, 2019: All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani was shocked and grieved to know about the inhuman and gruesome incident in LD hospital, where a poor lady from far flung area was denied admission in the hospital, resulting in birth of a dead baby in chilling cold on road side.

He said that social evils and immoral incidents have eroded our society to such a hollow that no artificial developments, like sky touching mansions, wide roads and expensive automotives, can help to sustain and uphold such about to fall society.

Hurriyat chairman said that medical profession is such a noble and pious profession that it is a source of hope and courage to the sick and ailing masses, but incidents like LD hospital, has cast dark shadows on this profession.

He said that our doctors, paramedics and other related personnel render praiseworthy services to the ailing humanity in this strife torn land, irrespective of their personal stresses and people of valley in general hail their sincere efforts and are proud of them, but at the same time inhuman acts like this can in no way be tolerated and such black sheep should be brought to book as early as possible.

Hurriyat chairman said that media reports about these horrifying incidents are not only alarming, but should be driving us for introspection of our social system. He very humbly requested the people in general and youth in particular to strengthen the bond of faith, take guidance from Quran and Sunnah and help building a society on the principals of humanity, brotherhood and justice irrespective of any cast, creed, religion or region, and that is the only guarantee of any viable, sustainable and flourishing society.

Says the only contribution of main stream parties has been diluting Kashmir issue

Accuses Mehbooba Mufti of disempowering Jammu Muslims in her regime

Srinagar 20 January: Reacting to ongoing phenomenon of changing loyalties from one party to another, AIP President Er. Rasheed has said that regional main stream parties have disappointed people of J&K. In a statement issued today Er. Rasheed said it is horrible to see that those who have been partners in every crime, nepotism, corruption, diluting Kashmir cause are trying to prove each other guilty. He said “The entire main stream has nothing to celebrate except strengthening New Delhi’s view point on Kashmir. From 1996 till date whosoever has been in power has pushed people to the wall, given false hopes, acted as agent of New Delhi and stabbed the sentiments and sacrifices of people of J&K. Rather introspecting and trying to get closer to the genuine sentiments of masses unfortunately a huge section of so called main stream parties have been operating like underground Dons and are shamelessly engaged in hatching conspiracies against each other and everyone of them trying to be in good books of New Delhi. Time and again main stream politicians and parties have failed to convert opportunities into a goal on all fronts. Masses are fed-up and confused with the behavior of main stream leaders and do doubt their integrity, sincerity, designs and ambitions”. Er. Rasheed said that neither the main stream parties are up holding the principals of morality and ethics nor are interested in trying to gain the genuine support from masses and expect everything from their masters in New Delhi. He said “While New Delhi is engineering fragmentation in Kashmir politics, the political parties seem to have forgotten the days when Kashmiris would raise slogans in broad day light that the main stream leaders should not be allowed even to be buried in their ancestral graveyard when they die for acting like collaborators. Had main stream parties used their guts they could have played a big role in helping not only India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir dispute but would have earned huge respect in New Delhi and Islamabad but unfortunately most of them have compromised even their conscience and used miseries of masses to raise their fortunes”. Er. Rasheed appealed main stream politicians to have individual and collective introspection and realize that they are losing respect and trust within masses at an unimaginable rate and said that one should not be surprised if the concept of main stream politics dies its own death. In the mean while reacting to Mehbooba Mufti’s concerns about Jammu Muslims especially Gujars and Bakarwals Er. Rasheed reminded Mehboba Mufti not to forget the Himalayan fact that she and her government had a key role in dis-empowering and dislodging the said community, only to ensure the unholy marriage between PPDP and BJP doesn’t get effected.

Srinagar, Jan 20: Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani and Muhammad Yasin Malik held a meeting at the aged leader Geelani’s residence. At the meeting leadership expressed satisfaction over the verdict announced by the seven judge-bench of Pakistan Supreme Court that upheld the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and directed the Pakistan government to provide more citizenship, legal and social rights to the people of Gilgit and Baltistan besides stating that the lingering dispute of J&K be resolved by means of plebiscite.
The Leadership said that Pakistan Supreme Court in its fresh verdict has laid stress on the fact that till the issue of Kashmir stands unresolved, Pakistan and India must ensure that the people of this region enjoy maximum rights for areas within each country’s control.
In the meeting, Leadership urged the UNHRC to implement its report on the human rights situation in Kashmir that UN Secretary-General keeps referring to. Leadership said it is incumbent upon the Secretary-General not only to urgently take steps to mitigate the grave human right abuse perpetuated by the Indian state in J&K which the UN report elaborates , but ensure that the commitment made by the August body to the people of entire J&K of resolving the Kashmir dispute is upheld by implementing the UN resolutions on it . The dispute continues to remain hanging since past over 70 years and it is long overdue that UN play its role in resolving one of world’s oldest disputes.
At the meeting Leadership expressed serious concern over the perpetual incarceration of many political prisoners languishing in Indian jails and the ill plight and inhuman treatment meted out to Kashmiri political prisoners lodged in various jails including Tihar Jail ,Kathua, Udhampur, Kotbalwal, Samba, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jodhpur and other prisons stating that world organizations should take strong note of the condition of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in these prisons and how legal processes and procedures are misused to detain them and prolong their detentions.leadership said most Kashmiri inmates lodged in these prisons are serving detention for no offence other than their political ideology and their commitment towards the Kashmir dispute. Leadership said that false cases and charges are put up and under are draconian laws like public safety act youth and activists and even students are arrested arbitrarily just to break their resolve and punish them for their association with the peoples movement. The leadership said that prolonging the detention of Kashmiri prisoners even after they have served sentences and delaying bringing of charges and proper trial to prolong detention is a well planned conspiracy to harass Kashmiri’s and sheer vendetta.
The leadership said that though Kashmiri leadership have time and again knocked the doors of world community and apprised them about the plight of Kashmiri detainees, but to date, no concrete steps have been taken to ensure the release of these prisoners or improvement in their prison conditions. Leadership said that in total violation of Geneva conventions majority of the Kashmiri prisoners have been put in jails thousands of miles far from their homes.
The leadership strongly condemning the arrest and shifting of three South Kashmir youth Amir Shafi Bhat, Mohammad Shafi Mir and Suhail Ahmad Wagay to Kotbalwal Jail Jammu under PSA demanded unconditional release of all the Kashmiri political prisoners.

Srinagar, Jan 20: While the official count of swine flu deaths so far this season in Kashmir valley is 12, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said the toll is an underestimate as many flu deaths go unreported.
“The actual number of flu deaths is higher than reported,” said DAK President and flu expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a communiqué.
He said many people who die from flu are not tested for flu or seek medical care later in their illness when flu can no longer be detected.
Dr Nisar said sensitive tests only detect flu if performed within a week after the onset of illness.
“Some commonly used rapid diagnostic tests to diagnose flu are not sensitive and provide false negative tests,” he said.

Dr Nisar said many flu deaths are hidden among other diseases.

For example, if a person with diabetes dies of flu, he or she will be counted as having died of diabetes.

Many patients with heart or lung disease die of flu, but their death is wrongly attributed to their underlying condition.

“While elderly people have the highest rates for hospitalization and death, they don’t develop typical flu symptoms. In them feeling weak or confused may be the only sign of having the flu,” he informed.

Dr Nisar said when patients lack classic signs, health professionals don’t think of the diagnosis. This means many patients go undiagnosed and untreated.

He said prompt recognition of flu and prompt treatment with anti-flu medication is the key to reduce the chances of serious illness and death.

“More education is needed among health care providers about the variability in symptoms of flu in different populations so that during flu season, they think of the illness more frequently, even when a patient doesn’t have classic signs,” he added.

“Swine flu virus in circulation this year is of Michigan strain that has replaced earlier California strain which was circulating since 2009 pandemic. The changed virus has become more virulent causing deaths,” said Dr Nisar.

Due to some issues, plan couldn’t materialize, says Altaf Bukhari was pitched as CM candidate of combined alliance, don’t know why he has been ousted’

Jammu, January 20 : Bhartiya Janata Party General Secretary Ram Madhav said that to settle Kashmiri Pandits at least six separate townships were selected in Kashmir for the return of Kashmiri Pandits but due to some reasons, the plan couldn’t materialize.

“There is a road map for Kashmiri Pandits with the BJP. As I said that we had a plan to settle KPs in six separate townships and the sites were already identified.

But due to some reasons, that plan couldn’t materialize and if we are voted to power, we will ensure KPs return back to the sites we have already identified,” Madhav told reporters in Jammu, according to a KNO correspondent.

On Altaf Bukhari’s ouster from the PDP, he said that just a few months ago same person was pitched as the Chief Ministerial candidate of combined alliance. “I don’t know why he has been ousted. It’s the PDP’s internal matter, we have nothing to do with it,” he said.

He also said that if voted back to power, BJP will frame a strong policy for the return of Pandits to Kashmir valley. “We will frame a strong policy for them and give them a political reservation, ” Ram Madhav said in Jammu.

According to KNO correspondent he added that the issue of Pandits is in their manifesto as well. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Rs 35,000 cr projects in Jammu and Rs 9000 cr projects in Kashmir, Madhav said on Sunday while raising demand that Ladakh be declared a separate division.

“We reiterate demand of declaring Ladakh a separate division that will give impetus to development in region,” He said. Ram Madhav was speaking to reporters in Jammu. Madhav said that on PM Narendra Modi’s visit to state various projects will be launched.

“He will address a public rally in which 2 lack people will listen to him,” Madhav said. He said that BJP is all set to be part of poll process in the state. “We are ready for parliament elections and assembly polls, whenever they are notified by Election Commission, we are ready,” he said.

According to Madhav BJP will win with more than what it has achieved in 2014.”Let people make alliances, 2nd front or third front., it will not create any problems for BJP’s win,” he said. He claimed that IIM, IIT, Jmu Akhnoor road, will be inaugurated, Sundarbani college foundation will be laid. (KNO)

Yusuf Shah Chak ruled Kashmir from 1579 to 1586 and was one of the last native rulers of independent Kashmir. Yusuf Shah, who succeeded his father Ali Shah, was imprisoned by the Mughal emperor Akbar and later exiled to Bihar.

The resting place of last independent king of Kashmir, Yusuf Shah Chak, in Bihar lies in ruins and faces a threat from local land grabbers, a media report said today.
According to a report in The Hindu, the cemetery’s caretaker in Biswak village of Nalanda district has written over 200 letters to the state government, seeking protection for the monument. “But the encroachment has continued, with villagers building homes on the graveyard land,” the report said.

Yusuf Shah Chak ruled Kashmir from 1579 to 1586 and was one of the last native rulers of independent Kashmir. Yusuf Shah, who succeeded his father Ali Shah, was imprisoned by the Mughal emperor Akbar and later exiled to Bihar.
He was given land in the Islampur block of Nalanda district and permitted to maintain a cavalry of 500 soldiers. The place where the Kashmiri king settled was known as Kashmir Chak.
He died in 1592 in Odisha and his body was brought back to Bihar to be buried in Biswak, adjacent to Kashmir Chak.
The report said the cemetery, where Kashmiri king, lies is spread over nearly five acres in a corner of Biswak.
“A discoloured boundary wall encircles around 10 unattended graves of Yusuf Shah Chak, his wife Habba Khatoon, and other family members. The wall was erected in 2016 by the mutawalli Khalid S. Chak, and rebuilt by his son Yasir Khan Chak, who claims to be a descendent of the royal family. Inside, the graves are covered with torn, faded green chadars as goats, buffaloes and dogs bask in the winter sun,” the report said about the condition of the graveyard.
Quoting Yasir Khan Chak, who claims to be descendent of Yusuf Shah, the report said a primary health centre and a public road have been constructed on the cemetery land.v“We want the government to protect the area and remove these encroachments,” it quoted Yasir Khan Chak as having said.
“This cemetery is not about religion. It is a historical place and we should preserve its history. I’ve written more than 200 letters to the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, District Magistrates, and other officials of the State, the Centre and even the Jammu & Kashmir government, asking them to intervene, but no one has responded so far,” he said.
Yasir Khan confirmed that the eight bigha land of the graveyard was even registered with the Bihar Rajya Sunni Wakf Board in 1963 but the “encroachment continued”.
Every year, on December 28, people assemble in large numbers at the grave of Yusuf Shah Chak to celebrate Urs and honour him on his death anniversary, the report said. “Interestingly, in the year 2016-17, the State government spent ₹47 lakh to strengthen a crumbling mud fort of King Mann Singh, located a stone’s throw from the Yusuf Shah Chak cemetery,” it said.
The report said that Bihar’s Tourism Minister Pramod Kumar was not aware about the cemetery and Yusuf Shah Chak. “Where it is located? I’m not aware of any such place. You may get some information on this from the Art and Culture department.”

The report further said but the State’s Art and Culture Minister Krishna Kumar Rishi was equally clueless. “You mean the King of Kashmir was buried here in Bihar? In a village of Nalanda district? No, I’m not aware of it. But since you’ve brought this to my notice, I’ll get the details and do the needful,” he said.
The report said there have also been some interesting visitors to the Yusuf Shah Chak tomb. In 1977, the then J&K chief minister Sheikh Abdullah, along with the writer and historian M.Y. Taing, had visited this grave. He had also assured support for development and preservation of the place.
Following his visit, one of the roads connecting the cemetery to Biswak village 2.5 km away was named Sheikh Abdullah Road. But little else has changed on the ground. The J&K government in 2015 was said to be considering a move to reclaim the mortal remains of the king, but nothing has moved at the government level, and land-grabbers continue to have a field day.
“If the government does not take care of this encroachment,” Yasir Khan Chak said, “the day is not far off when all the graveyard land will have turned into a hamlet.”

Removing Hijab and providing Pork meat is inhumane act, appealed Kashmir nation to raise their voices for her release.

QOM: Kashmir`s Noted Islamic Seminary Student of Al-Mustafa (Pbuh) Howza Elmia Qom, Waseem Reza Kashmiri condemned the illegal arrest of Marziah Hashemi by FBI, removing of Hijab and feeding pork meat in custody.

In a Statement, Kashmir`s Noted Islamic Seminary Student of Al-Mustafa (Pbuh) Howza Elmia Qom, Director and Editor in Chief of Wilayat Times Media Groups, Waseem Reza Kashmiri denounced the illegal detention of Marziyeh Hashemi nu FBI and said that she tremendously performed his role as a honest journalist and always raised the voice in support of oppressed people. No power will extinguish the fire which Marziyeh is carrying in her heart against evil forces. She has been arrested for no faults but only for exposing the cruel faces/actions of imperialistic powers which they are carrying in many parts of the world.

As per the media reports removing Marziyeh`s Hijab and denying access to Halal food is an inhumane act and disrespect to the laws of Islam and humanitarian values.

Reza demanded her immediate release with respect and dignity. He also appealed United Nation, Human Rights Organizations and Journalist fraternity across globe to raise their voices in support of Marziyeh Hashemi. It is here to mention that As a TV Anchor at Press TV and Documentary maker Marziyeh honestly raised the human rights violation of Kashmir as well and now It is the responsibility of people of Kashmir, religious and political leadership to support Marzieh Hashemi.

Melinia Franklin (Marziye Hashemi) who was born in New Orleans and was converted to Islam has been living in Iran for 25 years travelled to US to meet her brother who was ill, adding that no reason was given for her detention.

Srinagar, Jan 19: Peoples Democratic Party is likely to expel a couple of senior leaders from party, insiders informed News Agency CNS this evening.

A leader from PDP said that Syed Altaf Bukhari was expelled as he didn’t clear the air. He added that there are some more senior leaders who are on the radar of the party. “If these leaders will not clear their position either before party or through media, they will be shown door,” he said.

Another party leader confirmed that there are few more leaders inside the party which are virtually disloyal and are resorting to anti-party activities. He said these leaders will either be expelled or will leave the party.

Insiders revealed that members loyal to the party welcomed the decision of party president Mehbooba Mufti for expelling Syed Altaf Bukhari. Party loyals from every district including Srinagar, Pulwama and Budgam called on Mehbooba Mufti and extended their support to her.

Insiders informed that a senior leader from Srinagar and another from Pulwama are likely to quit the party in coming days.

Meanwhile, Syed Altaf Bukhari while reacting over PDP decision said that he is thankful to party for freeing them from prison. He said he will inform everyone about his future course of action.

For anti party activities , Altaf Bukhari expelled from PDP Party has been watching with concern the activities of one of its leaders Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari for quite some time. Ever since the passing away of our founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed he has been perusing his personal political ambition at the cost of the Party and state interest. (CNS)