Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Omar highlights importance of railway in J&K

    Underlines need for upgradation of Jammu Railway Station

    Mentions Vajpayee, Singh role in realizing cherished dream of rail in Kashmir

    Katra: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday underlined the importance of railway in a State like Jammu and Kashmir and highlighted the need of early completion of unconnected stretches of Jammu-Baramulla Railway track adding that economic linkage of Jammu and Kashmir will get comprehensive boost by this initiative.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing the gathering on the occasion of inauguration of Katra Railway Station here by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister also underscored the need for linking Poonch-Rajouri, Doda-Kishtwar in Jammu Division with the railways and extension of railway tracks in Kashmir Valley to various places particularly Tangmarg, Pahalgam and other tourist resorts.

    The Chief Minister said that rail in Kashmir was a dream and referred the significant contribution made by Attal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh in realizing this cherished desire of the people. He said that economic linkage in Jammu and Kashmir and with the rest of Country is largely dependent on railway. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating the railway track from Udhampur to Katra and expressed the hope that the demand of the State for the extension of railway link to various areas would be accommodated for the larger economic and developmental interests of the State.

    Omar Abdullah also sought Prime Minister’s intervention in the upgradation and improvement of Jammu Railway Station besides the implementation of various tourist attraction and beautification projects formulated and conceived by the Jammu and Kashmir State to make Jammu and Srinagar cities model cities in the Country. Present on the occasion among others were Jammu and Kashmir Governor, N. N. Vohra, Union Railway Minister, D. V. Sadananda Gowda and Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr. Jatendra Singh.

  • NC poised for clear mandate in Assembly elections: Rana

    Jammu: Exuding confidence about National Conference emerging victorious in the ensuing Assembly elections, Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana on Friday said political stability is imperative for sustaining peace and maintaining developmental tempo, set in motion by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

    “We are confident to emerge as single largest party with comfortable majority in the Legislative Assembly”, Mr Rana said while addressing party functionaries of the Jammu region at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this morning.

    According to a statement issued to KNS., he lauded the enthusiasm among party cadre and said this is needed to be channelized in proper direction to steer the State to stability for achieving twin objectives of political empowerment and economic transformation of the people. “A significant headway has been made towards this direction during the past over five and half years and still more is required to be done”, he said, adding this could be achieved only when National Conference gets a clear mandate.

    The Provincial President described the upcoming elections as watershed, saying these will change the political discourse and engage people in decision making in a big way. Despite various bottlenecks, he said, Omar Abdullah succeeded in empowering people at the grass roots level by holding Panchayat elections and empowering them by introducing Public Services Guarantee and Right to Information Acts. “These are pivotal for good governance, accountable administration and combating corruption”, he said while referring to the initiatives taken in this regard in recent years.

    While urging party functionaries to get ready for the biggest democratic exercise in a big way, Mr Rana said that National Conference is the only party having its presence in every nook and corner of the State. This being the strength of the public movement, “there is no reason why National Conference will not bounce back in a big way”, he added. He said history stands testimony to the fact that NC has emerged stronger during challenges and, “we are confident to overcome all obstacles created by conspirators and serve the people with renewed vigour. The Provincial President spelled out achievements of Omar led government and said main among these have been restoring normalcy and undertaking development in all the three regions of the state and their sub region. “The report card of the Chief Minister is enviable, as Jammu and Kashmir has traversed from deprivation to empowerment in all spheres”, he added.

    Earlier, arrangements were finalized for observing the 14th death anniversary of Madr-e-Mehrban Begum Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah on 11th July. Prominent among those present in the meeting were State Vice President Th Kashmira Singh, Mr Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial Secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Mrs Bimla Luthra, MLA, Mrs Vijay Laxmi Dutta, Provincial President Women Wing, Mr Surinder Singh Provincial President YNC besides District President and senior leaders Mr Jugal Mahajan, Mr Dharmvir Singh Jamwal, Mr Mohammed Ayub Malik, Mr Rajesh Bakshi, Mr Pradeep Bali,S.T.S Tony,  Haji Mohd Hussian , Vijay Lochan , Nar Singh , Rajesh Gupta , Satya Jamwal , Manveer Kour , Agia Kour , Ch. Arshad , Ch. Rehmit ali, ,Rakesh Singh Raka, Ashok Dogra , Subash Bhagat , Ashok Singh ,Vinod Tak , Raksha, Kurna , Smt.Uma Jamwal , Smt. Leela Jamwal ,Shipra,  Mr M L Munshi, Mrs Dilshda Malik. 

  • Mirwaiz castigates Govt for curbing religious freedom

    ‘Lingering Kashmir issue a danger for peace in South Asia’

    Srinagar: While condemning the  restrictions laid on Jamia Masjid in a bid to stop people from offering their first Friday Ramzaan prayers, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been placed under house arrest since early morning, stated that when entire Muslim Ummah was busy in worship, the biggest religious centre of Kashmir was kept forcibly out of bound for the Kashmiris-a highly regrettable and unacceptable move in the sacred month.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, while terming the restrictions laid on peaceful activities of political leaders as extremely aggressive, Mirwaiz stated that policy of repression and coercion would not prove to be helpful for creating a favorable atmosphere towards solution of Kashmir issue. He stated Kashmir has been turned into a military garrison in the wake of the visit of Indian Prime Minister, adding, it should become an eye opener for the Indian leadership to gauge the ground realities existing in Kashmir.

    Reiterating that lingering Kashmir issue was a danger for peace in south Asia,  He stated that it is a  reality that economic progress and regional stability are connected to the solution of Kashmir issue. He stated that till the dispute is not solved in its proper historical perspective, political rights of Kashmiris are not recognized and till the meaningful steps are not take to take the talks forward, tension and instability would continue to rule the region.

    Mirwaiz stated that the complete shutdown in Kashmir on the arrival of Indian prime minister clearly reflects where the emotions and aspirations of people lie. He stated that instead of suppressing the prevalent sentiments, the government of India should show political courage to solve the issue. APHC Chairman thanked people for observing complete strike and said people once again showed their unwavering commitment and resolve towards freedom struggle.

    Meanwhile, hurriyat spokesman has condemned the house arrest of APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, other senior leaders including Moulana Abbas Ansari, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Syed Salim Geelani, Zaffar Akbar Bhat and Javaid Ahmad Mir. Spokesman also condemned the arrest of Mukhtar Ahmad Waza and Engineer Hilal Ahmad War.  Spokesman said the authorities have usurped the rights of hurriyat leaders by laying restrictions on their social, political and religious activities. 

  • Shah thanks people for observing shutdown on Modi’s visit

    Srinagar: Expressing thankfulness to the people of Kashmir for observing complete shutdown on the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said though the state government had made full arrangements for the PM’s visit, still the people observed shutdown with full determination.

    “The state government, by making full arrangements for Modi’s visit, tried to give an impression that PM’s visit will solve much of the issues of valley but Kashmiri nation, by rejecting the government propaganda observed complete shutdown across the length and breadth of the valley for which I am extremely thankful to them,” Shah in a statement issued to media on Friday said.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, he said that to observe shutdown against the tyranny of forcible rulers is a political step which is aimed at sending a clear message to the world that Kashmiris are struggling against the forcible occupation of India and that people of Kashmir are fully backing the ongoing freedom struggle against India. “To observe shutdown against Modi’s visit is part of our resistance movement,” he said.

    Meanwhile, HCJK spokesperson has severely condemned the house arrest and frequent raids of its leaders. He said the tyrant rulers have put the pro-freedom leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Ghulam Muhammad Ganai and Ayaz Akbar under house arrest and raided the residences of Muhammad Yusuf Naqash and Bilal Ahmad Shah. “This is a frustration of government,” the spokesperson added.

  • Turning valley into a military cantonment, can’t make Modi’s visit successful: SM

    Srinagar: Amid deployment of Lakhs of Indian army troops India Prime Minister’s Kashmir valley visit was nothing but to hide the fact that Kashmir is a conflict. From last three days Indian armed forces have caged the valley and changed it into military cantonment area, vehicles are being frisked and civilians searched. Innocent Youths and pro-freedom leadership including Zaffer Akbar Bhat have been detained and put under house arrest; oppressed Kashmiris expressed their anguish and observed a complete shutdown. So after these oppressive and suppressive measures can any term the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Kashmir visit successful, these views are expressed by Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement chairman, Zaffer Akbar Bhat who continues under house detention since yesterday evening, in an issued statement.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Zaffer said that first elected Prime Minister of India, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru promised with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar Lal Chowk that they will be allowed to decide their future, However the Indian political leadership including the Nehru used delayed tact’s but the issue of Kashmir can’t changed or resolved through economic packages. He said that India is signatory on United Kashmir resolutions which needs to be implemented for the final and peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue besides world community is olbliged to help Kashmiri people. Party spokesman condemned the house detention of Bhat and other pro-freedom leaders and youths.  he said that through these brutal tact’s India can’t crush the ongoing freedom struggle. He thanked people of Kashmir for observing a complete shutdown.

  • Modi’s ‘Insaniyat’ policy stands exposed: Waza

    Srinagar: Jammu Kashmir Peoples League Chairman, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza who continues to be under house detention since yesterday evening, castigated Indian authorities for imposing curfew and restrictions on the eve of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir.

    In a statement issued to KNS, Waza ridiculed Indian Prime Minister Narenrda Modi and said that by imposing curfew, restrictions, detaining youths, pro-freedom leadership and lashing a reign of terror among the civilian populations of Kashmir, he has conveyed the message that India and its military forces will continue to muzzle the genuine freedom struggle of Kashmiris through power and gun.

    “Is this the policy of ‘Insanayt’ which Narendra Modi claims to have fallowed of his colleague and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee? This is again a direct message to the oppressed population of Kashmir valley that they will continue to use oppressive tact’s to crush the freedom struggle.” Waza said.

    He said that Narendra Mod’s claims of resolving the dispute in the pyramids of ‘Insanayat’ policy stands exposed with the fact that on his very first visit Indian and its troops who are involved in heinous human rights violations lashed a reign of terror and continued its oppressive and suppressive policy.

    Thanking People of Kashmir for observing a complete shutdown, Waza said that yet again oppressed Kashmiris conveyed their peaceful political message to international community besides visiting Indian Prime Minister and both must take a strong note of it.

    “Complete shutdown on the eve of Indian Prime Minister’s visit is peaceful political message to the world community and to the India. Observing shutdown is clear cut message to India that they we have not accepted their illegal occupation, therefore wasting money, time and energy India must took bold steps for the early resolution of Kashmir issue besides international community too should take a strong note of the feelings and aspirations of oppressed Kashmiri people which they are expressing by observing shutdowns and sacrificing their lives,” he said. He requested international community to help in the final peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue for establishing peace and prosperity in whole south Asian region.

  • 39 injured in Sumbal road mishaps

    Srinagar: Thirty nine persons were injured in two separate road accidents at Sumbal in District Bandipora this afternoon.

    Thirty four persons were injured when a bus bearing registration number Jk02C-5491, they were travelling in, turned turtle at Dangerpora, in the jurisdiction of Police station Sumbal, Bandipora. All the injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment. Sumbal Police has registered a case in this regard.

    According to a police statement issued to KNS, an Accent car bearing registration number PB-BM-4441 on way from Srinagar to Baltal met with an accident at Wangipora, in the jurisdiction of Police station Sumbal, Bandipora, resulting in injuries to five persons. All the injured have been shifted to JVC Hospital, Srinagar for treatment. Sumbal police has registered a case in this regard.

  • First Friday of Ramadhan: No Azan, Prayers in Jamia Masjid

    Srinagar: Despite being the first Friday of the ongoing month of Ramadhan, no congregation prayers were offered at Kashmir’s historic Jamia Masjid in old city. According to the KNS correspondent, authorities since Thursday evening placed Kashmir’s chief religious cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest who was supposed to deliver Friday sermon in the grand mosque.

    Reports informed that in view of the Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s visit to valley and the strike call issued by the separatist leadership here, curfew and restrictions, on first Friday of Ramadhan, were imposed in old city with the roads wearing deserted look. No Friday congregation prayers were allowed in Jamia Masjid.

    Police also have placed Masjid’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention. Strict curfew has been imposed in various places in and outside the Srinagar in view of the Modi’s first visit to Kashmir. Meanwhile, various pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others have been placed under arrest.

  • Address Delhi- Srinagar trust deficit: Mirwaiz tells GOI

    ‘I requested Pak not to invite separatists during Nawaz’s India visit’

    Said Kashmir neither an integral part nor a jugular vein

    Srinagar: Days after the Al-Qaeda threat made headlines in Kashmir, Chairman Huriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday remarked that Kashmir problem is not about waging Jihad as the same is a political problem and not a religious one.

    “As a religious head, I will say the problem of Kashmir is not religious; it is not a problem of Hindus vs Muslims; or Muslim Kashmir vs a Hindu India. It is a political problem. It is not about waging jihad. The problem has religious undertones, but it’s a political problem,” said Mirwaiz during an interview with a National newspaper. Mirwaiz added, “Our position is that there must be an attempt to re-unify all five regions — not just the areas under Indian control but also those under Pakistani control,” he said.

    About Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to India during the swearing in ceremony of Modi, Mirwaiz that he personally approached Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi and requested him not to arrange any meeting with the separatists at this juncture. “Let Pakistan and India take the (peace) process forward. We don’t want to play spoilsport, that everyone says Pakistan and India met for a special occasion and now Hurriyat has come and spoiled the occasion,” he said.

    Kashmir’s chief religious cleric stated that he doesn’t want people to die on the streets and that the ongoing resistnace movement has been graduated from violence to non-violence. “The fact is you might not see protests, but this movement has graduated to a level where it is defined in the psychology and soul of every Kashmiri.”

    Mirwaiz maintained further, “Kashmiris have to protest all the time and get killed just to convey the message that everything is not normal. By this mindset, New Delhi is pushing people to the wall. They are telling the pro-freedom parties that there should be militancy and protests again. But we don’t want people to die.”

    He stated that the UPA government has had the lot of opportunities to resolve Kashmir but all time at that time was wasted with the divide being strengthened further between Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.” They had many opportunities, with Pakistan, with leaders here to move forward. Cross-LoC initiatives could have been built up, but rather than that, it’s more a politics of division. Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh are at loggerheads with each other.” Mirwaiz stated that Huriyat can be a bridge vis-à-vis Delhi-Srinagar-Islamabad if India wants to reach out and that when a positive start has been made by the Pakistan, Delhi- Srinagar trust deficit must be addressed and holistic approach be taken. 

  • Kashmir shuts on PM’s visit Curfew like restrictions in old city

    First Friday of Ramadhan No Azan, Prayers in Jamia Masjid

    Situation remained normal: IGP Kashmir

    Srinagar: Curfew like restrictions were in place in Srinagar on Friday with the huge deployment of police and paramilitary forces made to thwart any protest demonstrations after Friday prayers.

    According to the KNS correspondent, curfew like restrictions was imposed in several areas of Srinagar including the old city wherein barricades and concertina were placed to   put curbs on pedestrian movement.

    Kashmir’s separatist leadership earlier had called for a strike on July 4 against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reports have maintained that a complete shutdown was observed in various parts of valley on Friday   – the first Friday in the ongoing month of Ramadhan. People preferred to stay indoors with the roads of the summer capital giving the deserted look. Shops and other business establishments remained closed and the educational institutions were shut due to the non- availability of the transport services. Government and private offices also marked the negligible attendance.

    In old city of Srinagar, huge deployment of forces was made and the barricades and concertina wires were placed on the middle of the various roads to keep a check on the pedestrian movement. In Hawal, Safa Kadal, Khaniyar, Nowhatta and adjoining areas the barbed wires were placed at the connecting routes and the people were denied the permission to travel towards Nowhatta.

    The Maisuma area of Srinagar remained under siege with no one being allowed to enter into the area. Troops were seen deployed at the check points to foil any protest demonstration. Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik was Friday morning arrested from his Maisuma residence.  Reports said police raided Malik’s residence and detained him at Kothi Bagh Police Station. In various other area of upper town, people complained of strict curfew like restrictions- maintaining that no one was allowed to leave their places with the deployment of forces in the area were much large in number.

    Also several employees of the Radio Kashmir Srinagar Friday stated that the forces didn’t allow them to proceed towards the station while as various people accused that they were   not allowed to visit GB Pant hospital to get their children treated. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown is being observed in the whole valley on the call of separatists. 

    IGP Kashmir A G Mir, told KNS: “The situation remained normal and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere today.” A senior spokesman in the civil administration told KNS, that the restrictions in the city have been lifted and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. “There will be no restriction tomorrow,” said the senior officer in the civil administration.

    Despite being the first Friday of the ongoing month of Ramadhan, no congregation prayers were offered at Kashmir’s historic Jamia Masjid in old city. According to the KNS correspondent, authorities since Thursday evening placed Kashmir’s chief religious cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest who was supposed to deliver Friday sermon in the grand mosque.

    Reports informed that in view of the Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s visit to valley and the strike call issued by the separatist leadership here, curfew and restrictions, on first Friday of Ramadhan, were imposed in old city with the roads wearing deserted look. No Friday congregation prayers were allowed in Jamia Masjid.

    Police also have placed Masjid’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention. Strict curfew has been imposed in various places in and outside the Srinagar in view of the Modi’s first visit to Kashmir. Meanwhile, various pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others have been placed under arrest.