Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Article 370 already eroded: Geelani

    ‘Final settlement of Kashmir still pending’

    Srinagar: While commenting upon the controversial statement of Dr. Jitender Singh MoS PMO over the Article 370 and reaction of National Conference and PDP thereafter, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said that even if Article 370 is only present in official papers and it has been eroded by New Delhi with the help of pro-Indian Kashmiri leaders but the presence of this article in the Indian constitution is a proof that the Jammu and Kashmir is not any UP or Punjab like state of India rather it is a disputed region and its final decision of settlement is still pending. He said that actually New Delhi want to finish it entirely so that they can make a large scale demographic change here and they want to change the Muslim majority of Jammu and Kashmir into the minorities and for implementing their dangerous plan of grabbing our land on Israel pattern, they want to eliminate this last hurdle of their way.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Geelani cautioned that any attempt made to abrogate this documentary proof of Kashmiri disputed nature will be opposed tooth and nail and if it happened then Inshallah our freedom struggle will enter a new era and whole nation will unanimously fight against the Indian occupation under a single banner and it will be a decisive phase of this movement. In Thursday’s press release, while terming the discussion over the article 370 as meaningless and wastage of time, Geelani  said that if Indian governments want any discussion then they should discuss the pros and cons of lingering of Kashmir dispute and they should analyze that what Indian people gained or lost in 67 years of military occupation over Kashmir? Geelani  said that the provision of Article 370 in Indian constitution has its own history and the room for the appointment of Prime Minister instead of Chief Minister and President instead of Governor and its own Supreme court and election commission was kept because the Indian army was here to maintain peace and India was bound by its promise to withdraw its army from Kashmir after situation improves and Kashmiris will be given a chance to decide their future independently. Article 370 was introduced to differentiate the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the other states of India till the final decision and it was promised that the Kashmir will be an autonomous state except defense, external affairs and finance and it will not be recognized as part of Indian federal government unlike other states. Geelani  said that India backtracked from her promise and is still holding Kashmir merely by its military might. He said that instead of discussing article 370, Indian government and its people should discuss that have they conquered Kashmir after the long and hard 67 years? Or have they been successful in winning the hearts of the people of Kashmiries? They should analyze that have they succeeded in changing the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people in their favour? Or have any single individual of Kashmir accepted the forced occupation of India by heart and who doesn’t have sentiments of freedom?

    The pro-freedom leader said that India and its poor people are paying a heavy price of holding Jammu and Kashmir under its forced occupation. This country is spending the major part of its budget on arms/weapon purchase and due to which millions of its people are miserably suffering. The majority of people of this country are forced to live below poverty line and every year thousands of people die of hunger. Geelani said that instead of discussing article 370 there is the immediate need of serious discussion over these major issues and it will be a beginning to the peace, prosperity and development of the South-Asian region.

    While terming the reaction of PDP and National Conference over article 370 as irrelevant and meaningless, the pro-freedom leader said that these parties are doing this to cash this situation for the assembly elections, otherwise they have always helped New Delhi in erosion of this article and they have become national criminals. He said that though the Article 370 is now only a skeleton but even then it is a live proof of the disputed nature of the Kashmir and the new government of India is not only trying to eliminate this article, but they want to start dangerous game of converting the majority of Jammu and Kashmir into the minorities and capture our land. Geelani said that any such attempt will be opposed tooth and nail and Kashmiri nation will start a decisive phase of freedom struggle which will last till a single solider of India remains in Kashmir

  • Farooq keeps pre-poll option open with Congress

    Said no decision to go alone in assembly polls so far;

    ‘Amnesty to stone throwers to be looked into’

    Srinagar: National Conference patron and former Member Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday while keeping option of pre-poll open with the state Congress stated that sofar no decision about going alone or forging any alliance has been taken by NC for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state.

    According to the KNS correspondent, Dr Farooq while talking to the reporters after attending a detailed meet with the youth leaders of his party remarked that a major reshuffle within the national conference can take place any time. “It is the routine process of the every party. I can only say that reshuffle within NC is possible,” Dr Farooq said wile replying to the query over the issue.

    The NC patron also advocated for the amnesty for the stone throwers, maintaining that the issue must be looked into. “These stone throwers should be given amnesty. I believe that the case of providing general amnesty to the stone throwing youth must be looked into.”

    When asked for his views over the recent statement made by Dr Jitender wherein he stated that the process of repealing JK’s special status has been started and BJP is taking to the stakeholders, Dr Farooq refused to comment over the issue- maintaining that his son chief minister Omar Abdullah has already stated party’s view over the vitality of Article 370 and the dangerous repercussions if the same is eroded.

    When asked over the claims he made during the campaign of recently held polls for the parliament wherein he had stated that Jammu and Kashmir will cease to be the part of Union territory if India becomes communal, Dr Farooq said that he has never stated anything like that. Pertinently, Dr Farooq who was candidate for Srinagar’s Lok Sabha parliamentary seat for Srinagar while addressing a rally at old city’s Khaniyar area on April 28 was reported to have stated that the people of Kashmir have never nourished communalism and have always rejected the fight on the bases of religion, cast and creed.“State of Jammu and Kashmir will cease to be the part of Union territory if India becomes communal,” Dr Farooq at that time had also stirred a fresh controversy when he stated that ‘those who support Modi should jump into the sea’.

    “Don’t try to put words in my mouth. Kashmir is an integral part of India and we are living here,” a visibly angry Dr Farooq told reporters on Thursday outside party office here. Over the recent India and Pakistan thaw and the participation of Pakistan’s premier Mian Nawaz Sherief in the swearing in ceremony of newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NC patron and president Dr Farooq stated that it is hoped that better relations between the two countries would prevail and the same is in the interests of both the countries. He remarked further that the cordial relations between India and Pakistan are being seen with the optimistic approach. “I hope that the two countries will reach to the agreement so that the pending issues could be resolved.”

    However, Dr Farooq refused to comment over the fresh controversy triggered after Congress leveled allegations against newly elevated HRD minister Siiti Irani wherein Congress accused Irani to have mentioned wrong information about her qualification. NC patron stated that he hopes that the ministers appointed by Modi will deliver goods and will work for the people of the country.  “It is within the ambit of the Prime Minister who he chooses as his minister. We hope that Modi’s ministers will work for the people.” Over the meeting with the NC youth leaders, Dr Farooq started that the young leadership here is much passionate and the same must be respected and regarded. “Today’s meeting was with the youth leaders. It took place in a cordial manner. We will in future try to connect them with the senior leadership of the party.” 

  • Act like’ Gul Shah in coming months: NC minister advised

    Srinagar: A video clip has appeared on social networking sites which purportedly shows party workers accusing a  senior Jammu and Kashmir minister of ignoring them in the time of need.

    The video clip shows senior National Conference leader and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather cornered by angry party workers sitting on a chair at his government Tulsi bagh residence.

    Behind the Minister, an old man can be seen delivering a lecture, complaining to the Minister that he ignored the party workers after winning the Assembly elections.

    “What can I tell you when my own village population cast their votes in favor of People’s Democratic Party. But I am telling you that I have my own 400 votes and you must not get them waste by your anti-worker approach. Take care of your workers. I don’t care if you feel angry but it is true that you ignored your party workers,” the old NC party worker tells Rather adding that neither, “you (Minister) nor your Bashir Ahmed bothers to pick up our phone when we require you the most.”

    The old party worker advises silent Finance Minister to act like former Chief Minister G. M. Shah and open the lid of your treasure. “Be like Gul Shah in the coming four months (till Assembly elections) and shower your magnanimity on your workers,” he says.

    The old man tells the Minister that he felt sick after the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. “Mufti Sahab intervened on part of his workers when they had scuffle with our party workers at Dadwounpur in 2004. Our workers were arrested but you cared a fig for them. When we sought your help, you did not do anything. We went to Sagar (Ali Muhammad Sagar) who told us to ask Rather and he will accompany him to police station, still you didn’t help us,” the old man is shown saying to the Minister in the video clip while rest of the workers sitting there have been shown agreeing with his words.

    At last, the old man has been shown advising the Minister Abdul Rahim Rather to be strong and pro-party workers. “We will support you. We will give blood for you,” the old man swears.

  • 1300 gas cylinders, 3 trucks stolen in Shopian

    Srinagar: The unknown persons in south Kashmir’s Shopian have stolen 1300 filled and unfilled gas cylinders along with three trucks, sources told GNS on Wednesday.

    Sources told GNS that three trucks (JKO1C – 4625, JK03A – 4482, JK03C – 3077 ) were parked in the premises of Mir Gas Agency at Sheemal Shopian were loaded with 1300 cylinders out of which 460 were filled, while 840 were unfilled.

    “However, some unknown persons stole all the cylinders along with three trucks,” sources said, adding the Gas Agency belongs to Lateef Mir, resident of Rajpora Pulwama.

    Meanwhile, police have registered a case in this regard in Shopian police station and have started searches. “We have registered an FIR 118/2014 under sections 148, 147, 149, 342, 395 and452 RPC,” a police official said.

     

  • Geelani reiterates shutdown call for Shopian on Friday

    Srinagar: The chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani while reiterating his complete shutdown call on 30th May, Friday in District Shopian and appealed people to held prayer meeting in Masjids for peace to their souls on that day and said that the incident was a ‘serious attack against the collective conscience’ of people of Jammu and Kashmir and great nations never forget their precious sacrifices.

    According to statement issued to GNS, Geelani said that the Shopian tragedy have shaken the conscience of the people of the valley and which can’t be neglected in anyway.

    “Five years back in Shopian two women Asiya and Nelofar were kidnapped, raped and then brutally murdered but the culprits are still roaming free and under government protection,” he said, adding: “the murderers of Asiya and Neelofar were not unknown persons but they being influential and prominent figures of security forces were shielded by the investigation agencies and in order to save the culprits, all the evidences were destroyed on the directions of New Delhi.”

    Geelani alleged: “Omar Abdullah also played a very dirty role in this game to save the accused and on just 2nd day of the Shopian carnage, when even primary investigation were not started, he declared that the victims had drowned into the stream. When investigation was started on public pressure, it was very late then and the culprits were successful in destroying the evidence.”

    “The people of Kashmir are not satisfied with the investigations of that case and we are still waiting for fair trail and demanding that the persons involved in that heinous crime should be dealt with firm hands and they should be brought to books for their wrong doings,” he said, adding: “it is the reason for remembering this day every year and this day is celebrated as a mark of protest against all these tragedies which were meted out to the female section of this region from last 65 years.”

    The Hurriyat chairman demanded re-open and re-investigation into the ‘double murder and rape’ case of Asiya and Neelofar and said: “the past investigations neither consulted justice nor took the collective conscious of the people into consideration.”

    While reiterating his complete shutdown call on 30th May Friday in District Shopian and appealed people to held prayer meeting in Masjids for peace to their souls on that day, Geelani said that unless and until the culprits are punished for their heinous crime, the resistance and protests would continue and added the day has a remarkable importance and a symbolic day to register protest against the crime perpetrated by occupant forces against the women folk in Kashmir and nation striving for noble cause never forget these type of sacrifices.

     

  • Sharif’s no mention of Kashmir not to be taken seriously: Asiya

    ‘Pak Army, intellectuals support Kashmir cause’

    Srinagar: Reacting sharply to what she termed the exclusion of ‘K’ word during Modi- Sharief meet at Delhi, Dukhtaran-e-Milat (DeM) chief Wednesday stated that Nawaz Sharif’s address to press not mentioning anything about Kashmir must not be taken seriously.

    “The big brains in Pakistan were even against Sharif’s participation in Modi’s swearing in ceremony but he undermined all and participated despite knowing the fact that Modi’s hands are soaked in the blood of Gujarat Muslims,” Asiya told KNS over phone.

    She claimed that even the army was against Sharif’s decision of travelling to Delhi and that he even sidelined Pakistan’s people’s voice over the issue. “I can say with certainty that Army is the strongest power in Pakistan. These politicians have just ruined the sacred land but I want to assure the people here that whole Army of Pakistan supports Kashmir’s struggle.” Asiya maintained that Sharif’s no mention of Kashmir after meeting Modi must not be taken seriously as he is not that much important figure who could change the dynamics of Kashmir ‘dispute’.

  • Azad takes strong exception to Dr Singh’s statement on Article 370

    ‘Such statements in future will open Pandora box’

    Srinagar: Taking string exception to the remarks made by Dr Jatinder Singh on Article 370, senior Congress leader and former union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday cautioned him and his other cabinet colleagues that any such statements in future will have dire consequences for BJP government.

    Talking to KNS from Delhi, Azad said: “The statement regarding abrogation of Article  370 made by Dr Jatinder Singh is most irresponsible. Since this is his maiden statement after taking over as a minister in Centre for which he can be forgiven. However, should he or his cabinet colleagues repeat any such statements in future, it will have dire consequences which can open a Pandora box.”

    Azad said that the consequences of any such statements made in future an have dire consequences for the BJP led government in the centre. “It will be then difficult for the BJP led government to withstand. Therefore the Prime Minister of India should impress upon his colleagues that this the parliament elections are now over and they are in governance mode and they should not repeat these statements which they used in Parliament election campaign   by misleading people,” the former union health minister added.

  • Bar Association condemns suspension of Dr Nisar

    Srinagar: In a meeting held today under the Chairmanship of Mian Abdul Qayoom, the members stated that first, the doctor was booked in a fictitious case by police station Karan Nagar and when he was granted bail by the court of law, he was placed under suspension at the behest of Principal Govt. Medical College Srinagar who interms of letter dated 21.05.2014 seems to have informed the Govt. about the matter.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, it was also stated that Dr. Nissar-ul-Hassan is working as an Assistant Professor in Medicine at SMHS Hospital Srinagar and firstly by his arrest and unlawful detention, the patient care in the hospital suffered a lot and now by his suspension the patients who are under his treatment are bound to face tremendous hardship because of his non-availability in the hospital, as under law he is no more required to perform his duties, while under suspension. It was stated that the order of suspension of Dr. Nissar-ul-Hassan is not only against public interest and patient care but is a naked act of victimization to muzzle the doctor from raising issues concerning the public.

    The members also remembered the children of Handwara, who were drowned in Wullar Lake a few years back and who despite the orders of the Commission of Enquiry, appointed by the Govt. to probe the death, have been denied justice, as no action has been taken against the perpetrators of crime till date.

    The members also condemned the act of CRPF personnel posted at Central Jail Srinagar, who unauthorisedly entered the jail barracks where the prisoners are lodged and bet more than two dozen prisoners without any rhyme or reason.

    The members also condemned the sad demise of sister of Mir Muzaffar Advocate and the father of Arif Mohammad Parray, who passed away at England and Srinagar respectively and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest their souls in peace and give forbearance to the bereaved families to bear the loss. 

  • Shah, Dar, Naqash, ors arrested at Pampore on way to Shopian: HCJK

    Srinagar: A high-level delegation of Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir led by Shabir Ahmad Shah, which included Muslim Conference chairman Shabir Ahmad Dar and Islamic Political party chairman Muhammad Yusuf Naqash, JKLF –R’s Ajaz Ahmad Mir and Muhamamd Yasin Ataai were arrested at Pampore while they were on way to Shopian and Kulgam to express solidarity with the martyrs Shaheed Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat and Shaheed Zubair Ahmad Bhat. However, Bilal Ahmad and other Hurriyat activists gave slip to police and succeeded in reaching Shopian and Kulgam.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, the delegation while expressing solidarity with the bereaved families also addressed the people there. They said the freedom movement got a new spirit and dimension due to the invaluable sacrifices rendered by the martyrs Shaheed Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat and Shaheed Zubair Ahmad Bhat. They said the sacrifices will bear fruit and will eventually free the nation from the clutches of tyrant oppressors.

    Applauding the courage and valor of the said martyrs, the delegation said the way they fought with occupational Indian forces is commendable and an example for pro-Hurriyat people, for which we are proud.

    They said that India is trying to strengthen its occupation through military might but our brave youth, by rendering their precious lives for the cause, give clear message to Indian forces that they will continue to fight till Kashmir issue is nt resolved.

    Condemning the arrest of Shabir Ahmad Shah, Shabir Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Yusuf Naqash, JKLF –R’s Ajaz Ahmad Mir and Muhamamd Yasin Ataai, the spokesperson warned of serious repercussion if government prevents Hurriyat leadership from meeting people and expressing solidarity with them.

    “The delegation had to go to Shopian to fulfil its religious obligation but the arrests were totally unjustified. Such acts on part of government are detrimental to the peaceful atmosphere of the region. Kashmir is a political issue which needs a political solution,” the spokesperson said, adding, “to suppress the political opponents by using force is extremely condemnable.”

  • BJP should make abrogation of Article 370 agenda in assembly election:  Chaman Lal Gupta

    Srinagar: Though other senior leaders at state BJP on Wednesday remained tight over the recent statement of Dr Jitendra Singh over Article- 370, Professor Chaman Lal Gupta stated that BJP must contest the forthcoming assembly elections with the agenda of scarping state’s special status.

    Gupta told KNS over phone that it is the need of the hour that BJP should go to people for votes with the promise that it will work for scraping of Article 370. “I believe that it should be the policy of the BJp to contest the forthcoming assembly polls in the state with the agenda of scarping Article 370. It is of no use now.”

    Gupta while backing the statement of Dr Jitendra stated that when Jammu and Kashmir is like the other sates of India then why the special status is needed as the same has no relevance at present. “It the time of its formation, the Article was needed for the accession and when the state is an integral part of Indian Union, its vitality stands nowhere.”

    Echoing the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made at Jammu during the election rally that BJP is ready to debate Article 370; Gupta stated that all concerned parties will be taken into confidence and will be made understand that Article 370 is doing more harm top to the state than delivering goods.

    Commenting over remarks of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other parties that scraping Article 370 will infringe upon the instrument of accession, the senior BJP leader told KNS that the parties are using the decades old rhetoric. “Let them say what they are saying. I believe that Article 370 must go for the greater common good.”

    Meanwhile, other senior BJP leadership remained tight lipped when asked to comment upon the issue of Article 370 and the demand of its revocation. The BJP leadership stated that it will first discuss and then will issue any statement over the issue.