Category: Union Territory

We have commitment not to name 2 emissaries: Rebuts news report about Saraf, Matoo

Srinagar: Rebutting a news report carried by a national English daily in which names of two Kashmiri Pandits were published who had reportedly met Geelani on behalf of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendera Modi, the Hurriyat Conference (G) on Sunday said it is committed under oath not to reveal the names of Modi’s emissaries who had met its chairman on March 22 in Delhi.

The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani had on Friday claimed that Modi had sent two emissaries to him making a “commitment” to seek a solution to Kashmir issue. The national English daily had today named Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) National Youth President Sanjay Saraf and ML Mattoo, a former legislator from old-city Habbakadal as the two emissaries of Modi who had met Geelani in Delhi.

Saraf has already dismissed the reports. Talking to KNS, Saraf said he has a personal relation with Geelani and meets him frequently but he has never met Geelani on behalf of Modi. Talking to KNS, Ayaz Akbar chief spokesman of the Hurriyat (G) said that the news report of the national English daily naming Saraf and Matoo as Modi’s emissaries who met Geelani is totally baseless and far from truth.

“We are under oath not to reveal their names. But surely they met Geelani sahib on behalf of Modi. If anybody is interested to know who the two gentlemen were, he should verify their names from Mr Modi whose party in a fit of frustration is now denying such a meeting. They are denying this meeting for political reasons,” Akbar said.

Akbar also commented on chief minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks in which Omar had questioned the secrecy behind the move and asked Geelani to identify Modi’s emissaries to establish who was “lying”. Akbar said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has an old relationship with BJP as he was a minister in BJP led NDA government and it is better for Omar to verify the facts from his old friends. “Why is Mr Omar Abdullah wasting his time  in posing questions on names of two gentlemen who had met Geelani Sahib. He should asks his old friend Mr Modi about the same and he will quickly get the answers,” Akbar added. (KNS)

Asks People to Vote for Their History and Identity, Not for Political Proxies. Holds road show in Saidapora, Sangam, Eidgah, Palpora, Bakshi Pora

Srinagar:  National Conference Party President and NC-Congress Coalition Candidate for the Srinagar Parliamentary Seat Dr. Farooq Abdullah addressed an impressive public meeting in Palpora, Edigah in Srinagar today.

According to a statement issued to KNS, speaking on the occasion Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that the people of Jammu & Kashmir have braved decades of hardships due to the same people who are brazenly pretending to be their sympathizers now. It is National Conference that has at every given juncture in history chosen to stand by the sentiments and issues of the people even when that meant staying away from compromised opportunities of power. Unlike PDP, National Conference has a history of sacrifices and public-service and is a political institution that has risen from the grassroots as a revolutionary ideology. This same revolutionary ideology will stand up to communal powers and their hidden proxies in the State in these and all elections to come.

Asking people to beware of hidden machinations of PDP to strengthen the communal hands of Narendra Modi, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has a history of aligning himself with forces inimical to the sentiments of Kashmiris right since his inception into politics. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is interested in one goal and one goal alone – power at any cost. The costs of Mufti Sayeed’s hunger for personal power has been borne by the people of J&K when Mufti Sayeed, an unknown political entity at the grassroots level bartered the safety of our people as the Home Minister of India. Despite opposition from the President of India, it was Mufti Sayeed who entered into a pact with L K Advani to send Jagmohan as a Governor to J&K. What Jagmohan did as the Governor and how Mufti Sayeed facilitated that phase of bloodshed and unimaginable massacres is a case in history for one and all to see and take lessons from.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah said the NC-Congress Coalition represent the secular ethos and traditions of not just this State but the entire country and that the alliance wasn’t in place to pander to power but to keep communal , divisive powers away from positions of authority and prestige. The choice was clear – should Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister of India or should Rahul Gandhi – a trusted friend of J&K take over the reigns of the country. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that every vote that is caste against the NC-Congress candidates would be a direct endorsement of Modi and would strengthen his nefarious plans. PDP is hand in glove with the BJP and is working tirelessly to make Modi India’s Prime Minister.

The public meeting was organized by Senior NC Leader and MLA Eidgah Mubarak Gul. Those who spoke on the occasion included Senior NC Leader and MLA Eidgah Mubarak Gul, NC Srinagar District President and MLA Zadibal Peer Afaq, Ex-MLA G M Bawan and NC Provincial Vice President Sheikh Abdul Rehman, NC Provincial Vice President Mushtaq Ahmed Guru and Senior Provincial Vice President of Youth National Conference Yunis Mubarak Gul. Various senior NC leaders were present on the occasion. (KNS)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Students Union organised a  student’s convention at Sheeri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday. A large number of students from different parts of Baramulla participated in the convention. While welcoming NSUI Student Leader Shakeeb Shah  into the NCSU with Hundreds Of NSUI Members who Resigned there and Joined J&K NCSU. General Secretary JKNCSU Rasik Bhat urged students to work for nation building and welfare of the entire society. “Students are the Torch bearer of the nation and must work for nation building,’ said Bhat.He further added, that JKNCSU was launched under the Dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the state has a mission to educate and safeguard rights and liberties as well as genuine interest of the student community . Addressing the Students Rasik Bhat General Secretary  JKNCSU suggested to initiate and work for suitable legislation effecting education policies with special reference to Rights and Responsibility of Students. District President JKNCSU Baramulla Faizan Maknoo stressed upon students to strengthen the JKNCSU for students are strength of every nation. On this Occasion District President JKNCSU Kupwara Abrar ul Qadir , District President JKNCSU Baramulla Faizan Maknoo, District Secretary Baramulla Khwaja Haseeb , District Organiser Umar Sofi ,District Publicity Secretary Tahir Amin , Abdullah Dar , Shamsdin Qureshi , Waseem Ahmad Bhat , Rayees Ahmad Ganai , Irshad Ahmad Wani , Irfan Bhat , Amir Ahmad and many Student Leaders were Present and Shakeeb Shah is Announced as Vice District President Baramulla JKNCSU He added.

I appeal to Hurriyat G and Hurriyat M leaders to show restraint and stop adverse statements and hostilities at this crucial time

Srinagar: Detained JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik has termed the state of disorder and exchange of hostile statements between some resistance parties as most unfortunate and said that at a time when resistance camp is engaged in a rigorous election boycott campaign this disorder and anarchy will benefit none but pro-India parties and politicians.

Yasin Malik who is in police custody from last 4 days while deliberating on the news of infighting between Hurriyat G and Hurriyat M as published in many news papers ,said that at a time when resistance camp is engaged in exposing the futility of Indian elections, at a time when many leaders and innocent youth are languishing in jails, police stations and torture cells, at a time when resistance camp is gaining a new momentum and people are regrouping around the resistance camp and are expressing their love, faith and devotion with the movement nourished by the sacred blood of martyrs, this disorder and making it public through hostile statements is extremely painful.
Yasin Malik said that at a time when election boycott moment is gaining momentum, these hostile statements can actually bring leniency in the determination of people and even the resolve of political workers and activists in resistance camp can get shattered because of this hostility. He said that Firstly these differences can be and should be resolved in closed rooms but if our worthy leaders still think of putting them in public domain they should at least keep the timings in consideration and at this important time our whole hearted efforts and energies should be spent on apprising people about the ill consequences of Indian elections and importance of boycotting them .
Yasin Malik said that people of Kashmir have shown a positive attitude towards the boycott campaign and at this crucial juncture of history our internal differences will only benefit India and its puppets in Kashmir. Therefore I appeal to worthy leaders to show restraint and stop adverse statements and hostilities.
Yasin Malik said that we all must also take a note of Indian media and channels which always black out the news of resistance and killings in Kashmir but today are giving long times and prime space for this news of differences between resistance leaders and are trying to widen the gap between us.
Yasin Malik while Expressing confidence that Hurriyat G, Hurriyat M and other resistance leadership will set aside their differences and work tirelessly for encouraging people of Kashmir to boycott Indian elections said that this will strengthen the determination and resolve of Kashmiris .

SRINAGAR —  The biggest and historic flood control channel of Kashmir that drains into river Jhelum has turned into a drainage canal due to government’s negligence and is now posing flood threat to the people of the valley.

Kashmir valley is known for its immense natural beauty and water bodies. However, for last two decades, maximum number of water bodies of valley has been shrinking due to encroachment and government’s apathy.

Residents feel that shrinking of flood channels will badly affect the future of Kashmir, because the flood channels absorb excess water from the river Jhelum during flood periods.

But unfortunately this historical flood channel is in shambles and dredging process of the channel has been stopped.

“This water channel is important for Kashmir. When rain was in excess here water used to flow through this channel, saving people from flood. The water was useful to the residents as well. Now the situation is that dredging is also not properly happening and people are also polluting it and I wish if government could do something about this so that common man would benefit out of it,” said Manzoor Ahmad.

Some years back, with a grant of millions of rupees sanctioned by federal government, the irrigation and flood control authorities began dredging drive and other restoration related activities.

Unfortunately this historical flood channel is now useless and people of Srinagar, who are living in surroundings of river Jhelum and flood channel, feel unsafe.

However, authorities claimed the work is in progress regarding the restoration and repair of flood control drains.

“We are expecting flood which would occur after completion of cycle after every 60 years. Since the 60 years is completed now, we are expecting flood anytime. We have done lot of work regarding the flood channels. For example, I had made not less than 70 projects to drain the catchment areas and we have also submitted those projects to government of India, out of which two-three were approved last year,” said Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Javed Jaffer.

Jaffer added that the irrigation department has almost completed the dredging process of the channel although some work is pending due the climatic conditions.

Dredging has been stopped recently as Kashmir was receiving high amount of snowfall and rain in the past two months.

Srinagar: Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig has said Dr Farooq Abdullah wants to eliminate PDP with bullets. But we believe in democratic means and would defeat the NC through ballot.

Addressing well attended public meetings in Drugmulla and Dardpora in Kupwara of Baramulla parliamentary constituency today he said Dr Abdullah has turned this Lok Sabha election into a fight between fascism and democracy. Baig said, “Farooq Abdullah’s threat to use bombs and bullets to teach PDP a lesson” betray his fascist mind which has always guided NC politics.

The NC from the very beginning has been intolerant of opposition and has always used foul methods to dominate their opponents but PDP is proving a hard nut for them to crack, said Baig. He said having been unable to fight the PDP politically Dr Farooq has come down to real level of his party to browbeat our party which again is an impossible mission for him.

Baid said NC has throughout its history misled Kashmir on every crucial occasion and stabbed the people who followed them in their back. That is why while entire South Asia has resolved its problems after independence Kashmir continues to face instability, death and destruction.

He said the Lok Sabha election provide an opportunities to people to elect  such representatives as would sincerely present their case to the parliament and neutralize to some extent the damage caused by NC.

Baig said in spite of having voted continuously for the National Conference, over last 40 years, backward areas like Karnah, Kupwara and Gurez are languishing in almost in Stone Age, because of lack of infrastructure. He said the interests of residents of border areas are crucial to his party’s vision of making Jammu and Kashmir a bridge between India and Pakistan and lifting the post-independence siege laid around the state.

He said the development agenda for Kupwara, has remained unchanged for the last half century or more, because of failure of the NC to deliver. He said huge money allocated for the projects in Kupwara have clearly been misappropriated. “This money has straight away into the pockets of the ruling party leaders and their agents.

Baig said the cease-fire agreement between India and Pakistan in 2003, had brought peace into the lives of people living in the border areas, and it was not restricted to cessation of hostility alone, but was perceived as the essential first step in building peace and reconciliation, so that these artificial borders could ultimately be opened for travel and trade.

“That is why the PDP demonstrated against the recent ceasefire violations, at a time when even the Chief Minister had also tried recommending ‘other options’. As any escalation would not only mean threat to lives and property along the LoC, but it could have shattered the entire progress achieved in the LoC travel and trade and other Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), which we see as part of a grand vision, for virtual reunification of the state without changing the borders,” said Baig.

Baig said PDP during its brief tenure in the government played a pivotal role in getting India and Pakistan close to each other and solid progress was visible on making Kashmir a bridge between the two neighbors. But that whole process was reversed with the arrival of the present government.

Baig said time has now come that the process of reconciliation is taken to its next level, by implementing the decisions to extend the travel facility to groups beyond the divided families. He said procedures need to be relaxed and to increase more people-to-people contacts, more routes need to be opened. Once that is done, places like  Kupwara, Karnah, Tangdhar and other border areas would become hubs of trade and tourism activity.

Baig said Omar Abdullah has declared war with every section of the society especially the youth, and it is now up to the people to think and make sure that the insensitive and inept rulers are shown the door.

Participating in elections is legitimizing Indian oppression: Adv Bhat

Lal Chowk: Senior leader of Jammu Kashmir liberation front (JKLF) advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt along with Mohammad Azam Zargar and others were arrested today when they were leading a candle march at Lal Chowk today evening.

According to a statement issued to KNS, the candle march was organized in connection with the election boycott campaign and starting from Maisuma its destination was Rajouri Kadal in Sher-I-Khaas. Hundreds of JKLF leaders and activists holding burning candles (MASHAAL) in their hands raised slogans in favor of freedom, martyrs, struggle and leaders and marched towards the destination.

This procession after passing through Madina Chowk, Basant Bagh and other areas reached Nai Sadak Chowk where it was stopped by a large contingent of police and forces. On the occasion participants especially the youth provided stiff resistance and slogans of “boycott boycott election boycott” filled the atmosphere.  Police used excessive force and disrupted the procession and arrested JKLF leader advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt along with Mohammad Azeem Zargar and some others on the occasion…police also arrested some passerby youth namely Mohammad Aaqib also

Before the rally advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt while talking to media person and participants of the rally termed Indian elections as a stage managed drama and said that India has been repeating this drama to hoodwink international opinion .butt sahib while asking the people  to keep away from Indian elections said that we kashmiris will have to keep in mind the ill effects and bad consequences of participating in Indian elections and that that boycotting these elections is our moral and political right as well as duty because these elections are meant to weaken our freedom struggle and voice. Bhat sahib said that participating in these elections cannot be termed but as betrayal as this is against the national interests of Kashmiris.

Bhat sahib said that  the main aim and objective of elections organized by India and held under Indian constitution is to prolong the slavery of Kashmiris, to legislate new tyrannical and oppressive laws against people of Jammu Kashmir and to subject Kashmiris to torture and repression .Therefore participation in these election In any name is enmity with Kashmir and Kashmiris.

Bhat sahib said that Kashmiris cannot and should not forget the atrocities committed on our innocents. Who is not aware that these elections, assemblies and parliaments that are responsible for every misery we are facing asked butt sahib. He said that today we have been informed that our innocents languishing in Tihar jail have been shifted from their barracks, their clothes have been snatched and they are compelled to spend their days and nights in one Kurta Pajama from last many days. These inmates including lifer Javed Ahmad khan are suffering because of this tyrannical act of Indian authorities. Butt sahib asked whose Conscience will allow him to go and vote for this kind of oppression.

Bhat sahib said that participating in Indian elections is like legitimizing Indian oppression in Jammu Kashmir and Kashmiris will have to keep their eyes and hearts open and keep away from this sugar coated poison that is used to weaken and finish our resistance and struggle for freedom.

While condemning the arrest of JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, JKLF leader Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri and other resistance leaders and activists, police raids, restrictions and other oppressive measures by police and forces, JKLF leader said that these arrests and other oppressive measures have once again proved the fact that Indian elections in Jammu Kashmir are a mere eye wash and a stage managed drama aimed at hoodwinking the international opinion and befooling their own people in India.

He said that these arrests and restrictions on peaceful political activities have proved that these elections are an institutionalized manipulation and India through these measures is only trying to befool international community. Butt sahib urged Kashmiris to keep away from these farce elections and defeat those elements and powers who are hell bent upon oppressing Kashmiris.

Meanwhile besides this program JKLF leaders today visited Beerwah Budgam area and met people in  Sanoor Kalipora, Kenth Bagh, Kumhaar Mohala,,Razwen etc. leaders asked people to boycott Indian elections election boycott related material was also distributed among the people on the occasion. Another JKLF delegation today visited Naboorah Sopore and expressed condolences with Mohammad Shafi Dar Jagroo on the sad demise of his mother. JKLF leaders Farooq Ahmad Dar and Nisar Jeelani etc expressed solidarity with the bereaved family. (KNS)

Baramullah: Aaga Syed Abdulhussain Mosavi Kashmiri filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate from Baramullah Constituency for Parliament Elections. Hujatul Islam Aaga Syed Abdulhussain Kashmiri today filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate from Baramullah Constituency at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Baramullah. A large cavalcade of his supporters while chanting Islamic slogans accompanied him to the D.C. Office Baramullah. After filing nomination papers he talked to the media persons present outside the office. “My objective is to strive on legal lines to withstand to the best of my capability against the ongoing cultural aggression in Kashmir”, he said. While answering to a question with regard to his election manifesto Abdulhussain said, my election manifesto is based on the fact that all Kashmiris must wakeup from the slumber and stand to regain our lost glory and prestige. As it is a matter of fact that Kashmir was known as an abode of saints across the world, but momently, the situation is totally otherwise. If voted to power I pledge and promise to make those at the helm accountable before every Kashmiri for their political follies committed at the cost of silly sally people, he further added.