Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday questioned New Delhi’s reluctance to initiate dialogue with separatists in J&K when Army Chief General Bipin Rawat could advocate holding talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said if the Army Chief could suggest talks with the Taliban “then why different standards when it comes to our own people?” “Accept peace offer from Pakistan, initiate dialogue with Hurriyat and other stakeholders to put an end to the vicious cycle of violence in J&K,” she said.

Earlier in the day, the Army Chief had said there should be negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan where the Islamist group is battling the US and government forces for nearly two decades.

The National Conference vice-president also voiced his concern and questioned the unwillingness of the Centre at launching political initiatives in the state. “We bat for talks with Taliban, autonomy for Tibet and Tamil areas of Sri Lanka, yet we are unwilling to look at engagement or political initiatives in J&K,” Omar said.

Omar said: “Why is our policy all about ‘do as we say, don’t do as we do’? Engagement for Taliban, Operation All-Out for Kashmir.” (TNS)

Srinagar, Jan 9: The night temperature dropped in most parts of Kashmir Valley as world famous ski-resort Gulmarg saw mercury plummeting to minus 10.0 Degree Celsius.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, down from previous night’s minus 2.0 degree Celsius.

The night temperature in Qazigund was minus 2.6 degrees Celsius while in Pahalgam, the famous hill resort in south Kashmir, it dropped from minus 4.9 Degrees Celsius on the previous night to settle at minus 5.0 degree Celsius last night, he said.

Kokernag in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 1.4 degree Celsius against minus 3.2 degrees Celsius on last night.

The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 10.0 degrees Celsius last night as against minus 9.0 degrees Celsius on the previous night.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 3.0 degree Celsius last night, up from the previous night’s 4.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The night temperature in Leh and Kargil dipped to minus 9.9 degrees Celsius and minus 15.3 degrees, respectively.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold). (GNS)

I hate BJP same as every Kashmiri hates them

Srinagar, Jan 09: Deputy Mayor Srinagar Shiekh Mohammad Imran on Wednesday said he is not part of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and hates them same as every Kashmiri.

Addressing a presser here Deputy Mayor said BJP workers should come out of their cozy rooms and work on the ground level. He said they are playing communal politics and targeting others in the valley.

He said, “people have given me mandate for development and duplicity of politics will not be tolerated anymore,” he said that Kashmiri’s have never sacrificed their aspirations.”

Imran said, “Kashmiri’s want development in keeping in mind sacrifices of our people. We have done strike for months together and we have survived.” He said he will not join hands with them for his vested interests.

“Come out of security zones and ask people what you want, he said adding that he will allow anyone to play double side politics with the people.

He said both SMC and other department played important role in the recent snowfall clearance operations. We should work together for the progress of the city, Imran said.

He said he received over 870 phones from people during two days of snow from people. They believe in action, not just hollow promises, he said.

While responding to Ramban rape, Deputy Mayor urged Governor to take action against the culprits involved in the gruesome act. On Tuesday, we protested in Banihal against the incident,” he said.

“We will always stand by these things in future and will not tolerate these acts by sponsored politics,” he said adding that he has no phobia of BJP.

“BJP has my phobia because I fought elections independently and fought it for cause, I will allow some will order from beyond walls as they are doing with their puppet politicians,” Imran said.

For development issue, you (BJP) cannot deny aspirations of Kashmiris and in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai these things are done saliently rather than exploiting Kashmiris.

“We are exploited for Bijli, Pani, Sadak, Beek, and Reshwat by these so-called Politicians,” he said adding that they are playing politics with the aspirants of the people.

“Dialogue is the process to the way forward, and I stand by my verdict always,” he said. Stop closed-door politics, now things have changed in Kashmir,” Imran said.

“I have come to serve people not to buy people like others,” he said adding that BJP, Congress, are part of SMC but not for lobbies. I want to give crystal clear message to that he is not part of BJP,” Imran said.

On Shah Faisal Joining politics, Imran said youth are our future and it is a welcome step.

“Although there are differences between Mayor and Deputy Mayor but we will suffer our people, he said he will available always on at every front.

Srinagar city will be soon become Smart City and drainage system will be repaired and restored. “We are the public representatives along Kashmiris sentiments,” he said.

“I am accountable and answerable to my people. I am a public servant,” Imran said.

Srinagar, January 09: The record maker who topped 2009 IAS examinations, Shah Faesal who served at top posts in the divisional administration has finally left bureaucracy and finds solace in politics.

Shah Faesal according to the reports has resigned from bureaucracy today and is likely to join the regional mainstream political party, National Conference (NC).

Confirming his joining, former chief minister and NC Vice President Omar Abdullah according to KNO correspondent in a tweet welcomed him in the politics.

“The bureaucracy’s loss if politics gain. Welcome to the fold @shahfaesal,” Omar tweeted this afternoon.

Sources told KNO that Shah Faesal will likely join NC before Jan 14 and will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on NC’s ticket from north Kashmir constituency.(KNO)

‘I gave my job as Secy. to Govt rather than working with you in 2009’

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and Former Minister Naeem Akhtar hassaid that Omar Abdullah has been singularly unable to inspire even a single young man to recruit in the mainstream politics throughout his 25-year-longpolitical career and it is irony that ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’s party is now poaching even 80 year-old retired leaders of the PDP.

Responding to Omar’s statement in which he sardonically had asked him put an application to join NC, Akhtar in a statement said: I did not want to work with Mr. Omar Abdullah when I was the secretary to the government and he became the Chief Minister. I gave up my job as Secretary to the Government rather than working with him when he became the chief minister of the state in 2009 and the destruction he brought to Jammu and Kashmir in the six years only confirms my impression about his leadership qualities,” Akhtar said.

He added that Omar Abdullah while making the bizarre remarks in Jammu has not replied to his original observation that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s contribution to the state is creation of an alternative which is more robust than NC. “And the irony is thatSher-e-Kashmir’s party is now poaching even 80 year-old retired leaders of the PDP. This is because Omar Abdullah has been singularly unable to inspire even asingle young man to recruit in the mainstream politics throughout his 25-year-long political career,” Akhtar said.

New Delhi: As many as 838 militants and 183 civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014, the Lok Sabha was informed Tuesday.
Government of India’s Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said since 2014 till December 31 last year there were 1,213 incidents involving militants in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In these incidents, 183 civilians lost their lives and 838 militants were neutralised,” he said replying a written question.
Ahir said during this period, six incidents involving militants were reported from other parts of India in which 11 civilians lost their lives and seven militants were neutralised.
—PTI

Srinagar: Paying rich tributes to the martyr of Kakpora Pulwama encounter Irfan Ahmad Rather, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani reiterated that the youth of Kashmir have opted gun as a reaction to the Indian military and forcible occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement , terming Kashmir as a bone of contention between the two nuclear powers of the sub-continent, Hurriyat chairman regretted that the stubborn attitude of India regarding this globally accepted political dispute and dealing with it only militarily has created death and destruction in whole state and peace and harmony of whole region is threatened. He said that with the resolution of this issue a new era of peace, stability and development will prevail not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in whole South Asia.

Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday hit out at National conference leader Omar Abdullah after he had pitched for a single party government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mufti took to her Twitter handle to lash out at Omar Abdullah accusing the National conference of being sell out and bringing the notorious Ikhwan, Task force and POTA to the state,“Brute majority has had a history of sell outs in JK. With 60 members NC sold out power houses, brought Ikhwan, task force, POTA. Even earlier when NC had absolute majority and unqualified political mandate it only yielded powers, resources of state to centre.” She tweeted.

In a series of tweets the former chief minister of the state talked about the coalition governments and how they had benefited the state.

She said that her father’s coalition had established a high bar of achievements crediting him with opening of cross LOC roads,“To the contrary what Mufti saheb’s coalition established a high bar of achievements, opening of cross LOC roads the singular political achievement post independence.” She wrote.

Mehbooba further cited example of coalition governments at the centre crediting them with better deliverance,“Even at national level it seems post Indira Gandhi coalition governments have delivered better than majority party rule e.g. Vajpayee coalition, UPA 1 compared to present bjp single party rule.” The first female chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir wrote.

Adding that it was Narsima Rao’s government that brought India out of its worst economic crisis,“Recall Narisimarao minoritygovernment which brought the country out of it’s worst economic crisis and introduced economic liberalization.’

Earlier, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday strongly pitched for single-party government in Jammu and Kashmir as “coalition culture has failed in the state” (CNS)

Srinagar: A Pakistani militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit was killed in a brief shootout at Litter area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday, police said.
A police official said that the militants attacked an army patrolling party of 55 RR in Chowduribagh. The army retaliated the fire, he said, triggering an encounter which lasted for a brief time, leading to the killing of the militant.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant. “Notably no collateral damage took place during the incident amidst reports of some firing on the security forces for a nearby area was received when the encounter was in progress”.
Police has registered a case in the matter and investigation is being initiated, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, sources identified the slain militant as Nasir Bhai of Pakistan. Nasir was affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit and was active in Pulwama district since last several years.
“The slain was involved in a number of militant attacks, grenade throwing incidents on forces,” a police source told GNS.
Following the killing of the militant, protests broke out as youth took to streets and pelted stones on government forces who in turn lobbed tear smoke shells and pellets triggering off clashes. The protesters also torched a Tata Mobile load carrier near the site of a shootout. (GNS)

Srinagar: The weatherman on Monday forecast widespread rain and snow on Friday and Saturday in Kashmir Valley even as night temperatures appreciated due to overnight cloud cover with Srinagar recording a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius.

“There is the possibility of widespread rain and snow on January 11 and 12,” a meteorological department official told GNS.

Meanwhile, he said the minimum temperature in this summer capital of the state appreciated from minus 4.0 degree Celsius on the previous night.

The night temperature in Pahalgam rose considerably from minus 12.5 degree Celsius on the previous night to settle at minus 4.9 Degrees Celsius last night, he said.

Qazigund, the gate-town of Kashmir, saw a low of minus 3.4 degree Celsius as against minus 5.3 degree Celsius on previous night while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 3.2 degree Celsius against minus 4.7 degrees Celsius on last night.

The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 9.0 degrees Celsius last night as against minus 11.0 degrees Celsius on the previous night.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 4.6 degree Celsius last night, up from the previous night’s 5.9 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The night temperature in Leh town settled at minus 8.9 degrees Celsius, up from minus 11.8 degrees Celsius on the previous night.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold). (GNS)