Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Security kept on high alert on PM’s visit to valley

    All necessary security measures in place: DGP

    Srinagar: A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, heavy security measures are in place to thwart any untoward incident. According to the KNS correspondent, heavy deployment of police and other security agencies was made in various areas of Srinagar with the frisking and checking being done in various areas here.

    Talking to KNS, DGP K Rajindera who is in Jammu, said: “All necessary security arrangement have been taken and a foolproof security grid is in place.”

    Reports reaching KNS said that the senior police officials were themselves monitoring the situation with the vehicles at check points being thoroughly monitored before being allowed to proceed. A senior police official while pleading anonymity stated that the clear directions have been given to them for the arrangement of the adequate security measures ahead of the scheduled visit of prime minister. Also the reports maintained that police has been directed to check vehicles in such a way that commoners don’t feel inconvenience. Security has also been beefed in view of the strike call extended by almost all major separatist outfits calling for a general strike on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit. On July 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a one-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir- his first after assuming office of the prime minister. The prime minister will arrive in Jammu and then proceed to nearby Katra town to inaugurate the Katra-Udhampur train that would cover a 25-km distance between the two places, 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 Jitendera Singh will accompany Mr 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. Gen. D.S. Hooda and the three corps commanders of the 14th, 15th and the 16th Corps. The governor will later host lunch for the prime minister at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar. Mr Modi is also scheduled to visit Uri town in Baramulla district to inaugurate the 240 MW Uri-II hydroelectric power projects. 

  • BJP implementing RSS agenda on Kashmir: Hurriyat (G)

    Reiterates call for complete shutdown on July 4

    Srinagar: While reiterating the appeal for complete shutdown on 4th July against the scheduled visit of Narinder Modi to Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (G) said that BJP is implementing the RSS agenda on Kashmir and during their initial phase of rule, they have started the dangerous game plan in the Valley.

    Hurriyat Conference (G) said that creation of three separate cities within the Valley for Kashmiri Pandits, issuing state subjects to the west Pakistani refugees and abrogation of article 370, are among the priorities of Narinder Modi government and the new government of India has formally started an aggressive policy of destroying the Muslim identity of the Kashmir and converting Muslim majority population into minorities in Jammu and Kashmir.

    While demanding the return of all the Power projects of Kashmir to the state, Hurriyat said that India with the help of its military might is looting our natural resources and Omer Abdullah, Mufti Sayeed and other pro-Indian politicians are equally responsible for this loot and plunder. While appealing the Traders, Shopkeepers, Transporters and government employees to co-operate in making the shutdown call a success, Hurriyat said that the Kashmir policy of Modi government has created the situation of ‘Do or Die’ for the Kashmiris and if the nation will not unite and rise on this crucial occasion then our existence is in danger and we will be left strangers in our own homeland by the communal minded people of India.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (G) repeated that not a single Muslim of Jammu & Kashmir is against the return of Kashmiri Pandits and Hurriyat Conference 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. Hurriyat said that the idea of three separate cities of Modi government is actually the brain child of Israel and its only purpose is to divide the people of Jammu & Kashmir on religious lines and projecting the freedom movement of Kashmir as communal clashes. The three cities are said to be settled for the Kashmiri Pandits but there is no guarantee that the non state subjects will not be settled in them. It has strong possibilities that the Hindu extremists will be settled in these cities and these protected cities will become the launch pad for the anti-movement and anti-people activities like it is done in the Jewish colonies in Palestine which were settled by Israeli government. While repeating its stand on the settlement of west Pakistani refugee in the Jammu & Kashmir, hurriyat said that there is no moral, legal and constitutional justification with the India to settle them in Jammu & Kashmir and it is the open violation of those international agreements and guidelines according to which the Kashmir is the disputed territory and its final solution is pending. While terming the article 370 as the living proof of disputed nature of Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference categorically said that any kind of fiddling with this article will be equal to setting the peace of the state on fire and it will have strong consequences. While reiterating the call for the complete shutdown, Hurriyat Conference said that strikes are the only option left with us to express our emotions and feelings and with the help of this shutdown we want to send a message to the Prime Minister of India that he should accept the reality of Kashmir issue instead of taking emotional decisions and he should give the democratic, basic and birth right to the people of Kashmir. 

  • Who made J&K No. 1 corrupt State, you or we? Omar asks PDP

    ‘PDP biggest hurdle in politico-developmental change’

    ‘This party was formulated to scuttle NC’s Autonomy demand’

    Srinagar: Chief Minister and Working President National Conference, Omar AbdullahThursday said that PDP leadership has been and is the biggest hurdle in bringing socio-economic and political transformation in the State.

    “The lust for power makes PDP to cross all limits in selling the interests of the State and its people”, he said and referred to the visionary document of Internal Autonomy formulated by Dr. Farooq led National Conference Government and tabled and passed in the State legislature by the three-fourth majority. He said the document of Autonomy was sought to address aspirations of people and address long pending political issue of Kashmir and restore the powers and authority to the people which were eroded during the period of people in power like Mufti Mohammad Sayed.

    “The aim of restoration of Autonomy to the State was to empower Jammu and Kashmir to take all major decisions for inclusive development and economic welfare of the State and restore its dignity and self-governance”, he said and reiterated that PDP was created to manoeuvre scuttling of the demand and keeping the State in the stand still situation. According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing the party workers at Chadoora today, the Working President National Conference said that those who pretend to be Avtars of change are basically spent force of Agencies grouped in a new amalgam.

    “You can easily identify the turncoats converging in PDP to heap up with the known old faces who sold the honour of the State for power and are in pursuit for the same by raising baseless propaganda against National Conference which symbolizes ‘Kashmiriyat’ and whose credentials are living and glaring proof of the long struggle, sacrifice and service to the people of the Jammu and Kashmir irrespective of any consideration”, he said adding that this is the reason that National Conference flag is hoisting in all regions, sub-regions and villages of the State.

    The Working President National Conference said that by making false allegations against National Conference, PDP wants to hide its real face of being source of misgovernance, misconduct, misappropriation, embezzlement, nepotism and lust for power. He said that mud-slugging and spiting towards sky will not exonerate the PDP leadership from their anti-people and anti-State activities.

    Omar Abdullah said that people are best judges and they read between the lines. “They are fully aware of the trait and characteristics of the people converging in a blend to brewer ill-designs and conspiracy against the people’s aspirations represented by National Conference”, he said and maintained that the aim and objective of PDP is to put hurdles in the process of political stability and socio-economic development being carried forward and spearheaded by National Conference with commitment and with full public support.

    Omar Abdullah said that it was the most unfortunate on the part of such elements (PDP leadership) who are bent upon selling the interests of the society and blocking the road at the time when light appears at the end of the long tunnel. He said National Conference’s struggle for resolution of Kashmir imbroglio by facilitating internal and external dialogues will continue. Omar Abdullah asked PDP leadership to tell the people who made Jammu and Kashmir No. 1 corrupt State in just three years, you or we. “Whether you tell them or hide they know it very well that it were you who brought this stigma of No. 1 corrupt State to Jammu and Kashmir in your tenure”, he told the PDP.

    The Working President National Conference asked the workers of the party to gear up and make the people aware of the conspiracy being hatched by disgruntled elements against the National Conference and the State. General Secretary National Conference, Ali Mohammad Sagar and Provincial President Kashmir National Conference, Nasir Aslam Wani also addressed the meetings.

  • Two more Amarnath Yatra pilgrims died

    Srinagar: Police on Thursday said two Amarnath Yatra Piligrims died on their way to Holy Cave due to cardiac arrest.

    A police official told GNS that two piligrims identified as 59 year old Sadhu Marathi Giri son of Gusu Prem Giri resident of Tamil Nadu and 42 year old  Balwant Singh son of Jaga Ram resident of Gurgaon fell unconscious enroute to holy cave via Baltal route.

    “Both fell down and were rushed to hospital where doctors declared them brought dead,” the official said, adding the duo died due to cardiac arrest.

    Pertinently, on June 28 and 29, three pilgrims lost their lives enroute to the Holy Cave.

    The 31-year-old man identified as Sunil Dharmani died due to cardiac arrest on his way to holy cave on Saturday afternoon while Suresh Yadav son of Kharpallu Yadav from Bedi Borhagaon, Varanasi, and Dara Singh son of Gian Singh from Bhatinda, were crushed to death when two large boulders rolled down the snow mountain near the Holy Cave. (

  • JKLF Diplomatic Bureau Chief Prof. Zaffar Khan led a protest sit in at Indian high commission in London

    Prof Zaffar was accompanied by JKLF leaders Mahmud Hussain. Prof Liaqat Khan, Javid Rashid and Mahmood Faiz. The sit in was organized as a show of solidarity with JKLF Quit Kashmir movement. Late Zaffar khan and others presented a memorandum to the Indian high commission.

    The text of memorandum is as follows  

    His Excellency Mr Ranjan Mathai:

    The High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom

    India House Aldwych London WC2B 4NA

    2 July 2014

    Dear High Commissioner,

    Re: The Quit Kashmir Campaign led by Mr Yasin Malik

    Excellency, the vigil by members of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF- at India’s London High Commission today, is being held in solidarity with the Quit Kashmir Campaign,which the JKLF Chairman Mr Yasin Malik initiated on 23 June 2014. This vigil is a manifestation of our deep distress and anguish at the harsh and undemocratic treatment meted out to Mr Malik and other leaders of the JKLF in Indian held Kashmir at the launch of the Quit Kashmir Campaign.

    Along with Mr Malik, over a hundred leaders of the organisation throughout Indian held Kashmir were arrested and held in custody for over a week. These arrests were madeboth at the launch of   the QuitKashmir Campaign on 23 June as well as through pre-emptive raids carried out by the police and other forces on the homes of JKLF functionaries on 22 June.

    Excellency Mr Malik and his comrades were only exercising their basic and fundamental democratic right of free expression and right to peaceful assembly. And it ill behoves a democracy to throttle a peaceful activity such as the Quit Kashmir Campaign.

    Excellency as you are aware that the question of Kashmir’s future status is yet to be determined by millions of Kashmiris through an unfettered exercise of their democratic will. And as the custodian of popular Kashmiri sentiment, the JKLF and its leadership will not be deterred by any amount of harsh and undemocratic treatment at the hands of your government, and will continue to lead the valiant struggle of our people through the Quit Kashmir Campaign, and will assert their inherent and inalienableright fora solution of the Kashmir issue consistent with their democratic choice.

    Excellencyat a time when Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi is to visit Indian held Jammu Kashmir on 4 July 2014, we on this occasionreiterate our strong resolve: that any attemptby the Modigovernment to further dilute the social, cultural and political character of   Jammu Kashmir will be met with full popular resistance through theQuit Kashmir Campaign both inside and outside Kashmir.

    Excellency through you weurge the newly elected Modi government to use its popular mandateand initiate in earnest an early process for a just, equitable and lasting solution of the Kashmir issue for peace, prosperity and progress for all in the region.

    For and on Behalf of the JKLF’s

    UK and Europe Zone:

    The Diplomatic Bureau.

     

  • If BJP gets majority I will retire from politics: Omar

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Omar Abdullah has said “The day BJP gets majority in Jammu and Kashmir (Assembly elections), I will take retirement from active politics and go into hibernation.”

    Omar was responding to reporters in Doda district on BJP’s mission of getting 44+ seats in the state Assembly elections which is expected to be held by year end.

    “I do not want to see that day nor will that day come in the future, “Omar said.

    In reply to a question on fighting the polls without ally Congress, he said, “No such decision has been taken as yet. But the truth is that in both the parties, voices are raising the pitch that elections should be fought separately.”

    “In my party, there are most of the people who do not want that elections should be fought in alliance with Congress. But the final decision would be taken by Dr Farooq Abdullah (president of the party). But I do not feel that he will be able to reject the demand of the party workers,” he said.

    On the meeting between Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Srinagar, Omar said, “Ask this question to Azad or Mufti. But my take is that if there is meeting to be held, why to go for secret meeting? Just go and hold an open meeting.”

    “The day I will have to hold meeting with Mufti I will go and meet him in his residence publicly. Secret meeting does not give a good signal (within the coalition government),” he said.

    The NC leader also hit out at Congress for breaking the ‘coalition dharma’ by holding meetings in his party’s areas.

     

  • Wolf killed after it mauled a youth in south Kashmir

    Srinagar: A wolf was killed after it mauled a youth in an apple orchard at Qazigund area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday.

    Eyewitness told GNS that a youth Farooq Ahmad Deava son of Abdul Hamid Deava resident of Panzath village of Qazigund who was returning to home from his apple orchard when the beast attacked him.

    The cries of the youth got attention to the nearby locals who rushed to the spot and saved him from the clutches of wolf, they said.

    The injured youth was immediately shifted to nearby hospital where from he was referred to district hospital Anantnag, they said.

    The locals attacked the wolf with sticks and stones, leading to the death of the animal.

    Soon after the incident, the sleuths of wild life department and police reached the spot who took the unconscious wolf to the concerned department. However the animal was found to be dead.

    While confirming the incident, an official of the wild life department, Qazigund, Parvaiz Ayoub Mugal told GNS that animal is very rare.

    “In fact ever since my transfer to area, I have come across the animal first time. Locals have told us that a group of such animals have been roaming in the area from past few days,” he said.

  • Upliftment of needy a focused area: Omar

    Distributes relief cheques under SRO 43

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah  Wednesday listed measures taken by the coalition government for the welfare of poor, needy, destitute, orphan and physically challenged and death in harness cases. He also mentioned special attention paid by the government for the education and welfare of girls and empowerment of women under various schemes implemented by the Social Welfare Department.

    Distributing cheques of relief under SRO 43 to various beneficiaries, the Chief Minister said that his government underlined holistic development of these categories of population as an important policy programme. He said efforts were made to reach out to all sections of the society particularly belonging to weaker sections in the development process during the last over five years.

    The Chief Minister appreciated the role of Social Welfare Department in providing assistance and relief to the poor and deserving categories of the society mentioning the scheme ‘Anmol Beti’ under which financial assistance is being extended to the girls. Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar and Legislator Nasir Aslam Wani was present on the occasion.

  • Naqash supports July 4 strike call

    Srinagar: Senior member Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir (HCJK) and Chairman Islamic Political Party Jammu and Kashmir Mohammad Yousuf Naqash while supporting the strike call given by founding senior leader of Hurriyat conference Jammu Kashmir Shabir Ahmad Shah and Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has appealed people of Jammu Kashmir to observe complete shutdown  strike on 4th July proposed arrival  date of Narendra Modi, as he  is coming here as  the prime minister of that country which has subjugated us  and continues to oppress and suppress us for demanding our inalienable  Right of Self-Determination.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, it is the baby of Indian agents and puppets who are serving its colonial interests for the lust of power and material benefits at the cost of the lives dignity and future of the people here. People here should on that day also however black banners and wear black strips as a mark of protest against his visit to convey to the world that any one from the Indian establishment is not welcome here.

    Naqash further said  that people of Jammu Kashmir can neither forget the continued  subjugation and oppression by India, nor will allow betrayal with the blood of the martyrs and sacred movement for freedom from the illegal and forced occupation of India. Our mission is freedom from India and will continue the ongoing struggle till it reaches the logical conclusion.

    Naqash while castigating and out rightly rejecting the statement of B J P  leader Mukhtar Abas Naqvi said that Jammu Kashmir is a recognized International Dispute and has the historical, international and legal back ground . India will never succeed in diluting and confusing it by rhetorical, false and misleading statements and the only solution of this long pending dispute is freedom of Jammu Kashmir from the illegal and forced  of India.

  • Zaffer, Javid visited the family of martyred Sopore Youth

    Srinagar: Senior APHC leader and Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement chairman Zaffer Akbar Bhat along with Liberation Front (H)Chairman Javid Ahmad Mir today visited the family of recently martyred Youth Arsheed Ahamd Shah in Sopore today. Javed Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mehraj-u-din, Aijaz Ahmed, and Farooq Ahmed accompanied them.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (M) leaders at martyrs grave yard kranksho colony sopore paid glowing tributes to the martyred youth and expressed sympathy and solidarity with the bereaved family. They said that Indian Centre leadership claims ‘O’ Zero Tolerance towards human rights in the valley stands exposed with the continuous violations of basic human rights like right to live peacefully.

    “Before the international community India stands exposed as its military forces in this illegally occupied valley continue to commit grave human rights violations by killing innocent youths besides imprisoning and resorting inhuman tact’s for sabotaging the genuine ongoing freedom struggle.” They said.

    Zaffar and Javed also paid glowing tributes to Shaheed-e-Kashmir Ashfaq Majeed Wani, who was martyted by Indian troops on 3rd of Ramzan in 1990. They said that martyr’s mission will be accomplished at any cost

    Reminding visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fullfil the promise which its party leadership has done with the people of Jammu and Kashmir is Srinagar and Pakistan respectively, APHC leaders said that  people of the state haven’t offered sacrifices for economic packages and macadamized roads.

    “Then the Indian Prime minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpyee promised with the people of state that he will resolve the Kashmir dispute within the pyramids of Insaniyat(humanitarian) besides Indian stalwarts like Pandit  Jawahr Lal Nehru, So Mr Modi must come with a proposal for the early peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue other than economic packages.” APHC leaders said

    They said BJP’s top leaders like L K Adavi too had promised peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue at Minar Pakistan In  Islamabad, so it high time for Modi to fulfil the promise of his colleagues and Indian political stalwarts for ensuring peaceful south Aisan region.

    They said that instead of through nuclear wars and bloodshed, Kashmir conflict must be resolved peacefully as in case any nuclear war; it will not only destroy Indian, Pakistan but the whole south Asian region.

    APHC leaders urged international community to come forward and help the oppressed Kashmiri. “International community must play its assigned role. It is apathetic that they maintained double standards over the dispute by not interfering into this dangerous problem.” They maintained.

    Meanwhile Zaffar and Javed with delegation visited Wani Yar safakadal where they express solidarity with the famous Prof. Dr. Saleem Wani on the demise of his elder brother Jamsheed Wani. On the occasion Zaffar address condolence meeting and pray for departed soul.