Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Autonomy, Self Rule are weakening real issue of Kashmir: Er Rashid

    Srinagar: A Public rally was today conducted by Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) in Anantnag in connection with Parliamentary elections which was addressed by Party President and MLA Langate Er Rashid, Tanveer Hussain Khan candidate Anantnag Lok Sabha Seat, Advocate Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Dr. Bari Naik , Bashir Ahmad Tokal , Khursheed Malik and other party leaders.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, on the occasion, Er Rashid stated: “The manifesto of BJP and its position on Article 370 especially calling for its abrogation is an eye opener for entire Kashmiri Leadership and called on them to think above personal benefits or abdicate from the responsibility of leadership. The time is ripe for people of Kashmir to decide whether we have to surrender before “Delhi” on Kashmir issue or make it answerable to actual realities of Kashmir.”
    Er Rashid made it clear that BJP’s slogan to abrogate Article 370 is condemnable but urged for serious pondering as to how BJP dared to raise such slogan. “ The disunity among the people, pleasing and vested attitude of leadership has embolden Delhi to think of  taking away  even minor rights guaranteed to people of Kashmir by way of Constitution and on other hand the Indian government is paying no heed to genuine demands and aspirations of people of Kashmir,” stated Er Rashid.
     While launching an all-out attack against the National Conference Candidate Mehboob Beigh and PDP candidate Mehbooba Mufti, Er Rashid observed that they hail from those families who since 1947 have stabbed the genuine aspirations and sentiments of people. “People’s democratic Party (PDP) was given birth to strengthen the secret motives of Delhi as proven by time. Actually both NC and PDP by giving slogans of Autonomy and self Rule are weakening the real issue of Jammu & Kashmir and that too is done on the whims of Delhi. NC, PDP has gifted the state with corruption, nepotism and devastation and for ushering the real positive change people have no better option than Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP),” reaffirmed Er Rashid.
    Er Rashid appealed to people of Kashmir not to vote the traditional vested interest parties that have affronted the nation of Kashmir from Markets of Lal Chowk to Streets of Delhi and he alarmed that if people commit same mistake than they are themselves responsible for plight not the political merchants.(KNS)

  • People should not enslave themselves by participating in elections: HCJK

    Srinagar: In connection with taking forward the election boycott campaign, an emergency meeting was called by Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) at its Sanat Nagar headquarters. The meeting was presided over by Shabir Ahmad Shah and was also attended by freedom party activists across the state. The meeting deliberated on the various aspects of upcoming parliamentary elections.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, while lashing out at government, Shah said: “If government has courage to compete with pro-freedom leadership at political level, let them allow the leaders of Hurriyat Conference (G), Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir to meet the people and not restrict their activities of launching election boycott campaign.” 
    Terming the elections under the Indian Constitution as contrary to the ongoing freedom movement, Shah said the nation that has launched a resistance movement against occupational forces should not commit such blunder of participating in the elections organized by the latter. “Those parties who are participating in the elections are in fact giving the democratic color to the Indian illegal occupation. As we don’t acknowledge the Indian forcible rule on Jammu Kashmir and are struggling for the right to self determination, so we are calling for complete boycott of elections.”
    Shah said the pro-freedom leaders are endeavoring to free the nation from the clutches of Indian subjugation while as those participating in so-called elections are doing the opposite. “The majority of people consider the pro-freedom leadership as their representatives.”   
    In the meeting, it was decided that Hurriyat will continue its door to door election boycott program through lectures and pamphlets. Shah urged activists to reach out to people at any cost to meet the demands of movement. (KNS)

  • Issue passport to Imam Jamia Masjid within 3 weeks: HC

    Srinagar: The High court today directed the authorities to issue passport in favour of Syed Mohammad Saeed Naqashbandi, the prayer leader of Jamia Masjid Srinagar within three weeks.
    Naqashbandi had applied for his passport in 2009 but the same was not issued due to some unknown reasons.
    He later filed a petition before the High Court seeking directions to the passport issuing authorities to clear his pending application.
    As the matter came up for hearing today, Justice Bansi Lal Bhat issued the directions for issuance of his passport within three weeks. The Court also observed that Naqashbandi is a prominent citizen of the city and his credentials are clean in the police records so he canot be denied the vital travel documents. The petitioner was represented by Advocate Babur Jan Qadri. Advocate Riyaz Ahmad Khan represented the state government while as advocate Shahnawaz Ratanpuri appeared in the matter on behalf of Union of India. (KNS)

  • AAP demands cancellation of Dr Farooq’s candidature

    Authorities dismiss complaint, found affidavit correct
    Srinagar: The Aam Admi Party (AAP) today filed a complaint against National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah stating that he had submitted “misleading” information about his age to the Election Commission.
    The complaint filed by chief election agent of AAP Kashmir accused that Dr Farooq declared his age as 66-years in his affidavit during the 2008 assembly elections. However, the affidavit submitted by him on April 7, 2014 for parliamentary polls declares his age 77 year- old.
    The complainant has demanded that the candidature of Dr Farooq may be cancelled on the grounds of providing ‘misleading’ information to the Election Commission of India. However, official sources have told KNS that the complaint has been disposed off by the returning officer Srinagar as the affidavit submitted by Dr Farooq was found correct.
    Sources stated further that the returning officer after investigating into the matter found that the age of National Conference patron Dr Farooq is 77 years- as mentioned in the electoral rolls. Pertinently, Dr Farooq, father of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is the candidate of the ruling National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. (KNS)

  • 68% polling in Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary Constituency: CEO

    JAMMU: Around 68% electorate cast their vote in today’s polling for Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary Constituency which concluded this evening. This is 18.29% more than the polling percentage of last Parliamentary election.
    Disclosing this at a press conference here today the Chief Electoral Officer, Umang Narula said 70% votes were cast in Jammu district, 75% in Samba district and figures of polling are being received from Rajouri and Poonch districts which would add up the final poll percentage tally subsequently. He said the polling was held in a peaceful atmosphere and so far no untoward incident was reported from any part of the constituency.
    According to GNS, Chief Electoral Officer said 10, 000 personnel were detailed for election duty and 800 vehicles were used to ferry them and poll material. He said the Election Commission had deployed five Observers including three General Observers, one Expenditure Observer and one Police and Security Observer. Besides, he said the Commission had deployed 201 Micro Observers and webcasting of 60 booths was also done.
    Narula said the Commission had set up 2274 polling booths at 1582 locations out of which 68 were declared as critical. He said 2274 electronic machines were used for the purpose. He said video recordings were also done to ensure free and fair polls.
    The CEO said 19 candidates were in the fray for the constituency which comprised 1848553 numbers of electors including 871212 female and 977328 male voters. (GNS)

  • Hurriyat (G) holds meet, reiterates poll boycott call

    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) executive body today held an important meeting, which was presided by Hurriyat Conference General Secretary Haji Ghulam Nabi Sumji.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, the meeting was attended by the heads and representatives of all the constituents of the amalgam. In the meeting the election drama, latest developments, and future strategies were thoroughly discussed.
    While repeating its stand of election boycott, the executive council in a press statement said that the promise of Jammu and Kashmir police chief Ashok Prasad some days back has been proven wrong and baseless in which he said that with regarding to the upcoming election drama, no one would be arrested from the pro-freedom camp but to its contrary they (police) and Army have formally started the series of raids, arrests and harassment in the southern and northern areas of Kashmir and till now about dozens of pro-freedom activists have been imprisoned in police stations and hundreds of residential houses have been raided so far.
    Hurriyat (G) activists from Sheeri Baramulla Ghulam Mohammad Bangi and Basher Ahmad Soliah were arrested by the police when they were distributing election boycott posters among the people while as the Regular Army in Narwah Baramulla raided the hose of Abdul Rasheed Rather and harassed his family members and children and seized the posters from his house.
    A team of Special Task Force of police also raided the house of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat District secretary Baramulla Abdul Subhan Wani to arrest him but he was not present at his home and in his absence the police team harassed his family and misbehaved with them.
    The Hurriyat said that the same situation has been created in South Kashmir areas where about 40 houses of Hurriyat activists have been raided to arrest them. Hurriyat General Secretary in his presidential address said that the government have practically banned the peaceful election boycott campaign of pro-freedom people and are not letting them to reach people.
    “This type of policy has proven this election drama as a military operation and a one sided game which has lost its importance and credibility.” Sumji expressed his deep concern over the harassment of pro-freedom people by the Indian Army and said that the Army has been called to make the election drama a success and they want to terrify and terrorize the common people like they were doing in the past, so that people will be forced to vote.
     Hurriyat (G) General Secretary said that the foremost priority of this time of the pro-freedom people is to peacefully run the election boycott campaign and they should jointly focus on this important issue. He further said that those people who are raising other issues are intentionally or unintentionally diverting the main and important issue of this time and they are also raising the doubts about the election boycott campaign among the people.
    Sumji Said that Hurriyat Conference is not against the democracy or the democratic process, but in presence of more than 7.5 lakh foreign forces, the election drama doesn’t hold any importance and credibility and it becomes a military operation rather than a democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir.
    While terming all the pro-Indian politicians as the low rung soldiers of New Delhi, the Hurriyat General Secretary said that Umar Abdullah, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Saif-ud-Din Soz are the big sinners of the nation and they all are equally enemies of Kashmiris. They only want power and chair and for this they can mortgage everything with the New Delhi, so how can anybody expect anything good from them.(KNS)

  • PDP broke all promises made in 2002 after it came to power: NC

    Srinagar: Speaking to a group of youth workers and activists from Anantnag at NC Head Office in Srinagar, NC Spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s “healing touch” policy was nothing beyond a marketing smokescreen to hide Mufti Sayeed’s questionable human-rights record in Kashmir.
    Accusing Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP of misrepresenting history and misleading people, Junaid Mattu said that Mufti Sayeed’s gamesmanship created innumerable new wounds rather than healing one single wound in this State. After making tall promises, Mufti Sayeed left no stone unturned to hound and harass Kashmiris and had even advocated the creation of a “Voluntary Force”, taking after the “Peace Brigade” of 1950s which was used to harass and target people in the Valley. It was Mufti Sayeed who advocated the commissioning of the “J&K Voluntary Force” and empowered Village Defence Committees by issuing thousands of semi-automatic weapons to them in bulk.
    Stating that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s PDP government picked up from where he had left as the Home Minister of India, Junaid Mattu said that the PDP coalition government slapped 2276 cases of Public Safety Acts and allowed gross human rights violations despite their marketing hype to the contrary. Stating that only 205 cases of PSA were invoked in 2012 including cases of Timber Smugglers, Junaid Mattu said that comparatively Mufti Sayeed slapped 378, 516, 372 cases of PSA in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively. The Omar Abdullah led government, despite the turmoil of 2010 worked on a systemic and passionate level to extend amnesty in such cases.
    Speaking to the youth activists from Anantnag, Junaid Mattu said that besides dismantling the concrete bunkers created during PDP rule, the Omar Abdullah led coalition government got 1,555 schools, hospitals, hotels and private buildings vacated by security forces. 54 bunkers have been dismantled in Srinagar City alone since 2009 followed by hundreds of concrete bunkers being removed from various towns across the Valley. There has also been a considerable and visible reduction in the deployment of para-military forces in urban areas since 2009 besides a whopping 71% decline in overall militancy related incidents.
    Stating that the Omar Abdullah led government had simplified and liberalized the procedures for issuance of clearance for passports, Junaid Mattu said that more than 3 lakh passport verifications were cleared between 2010 and 2013 alone and Omar Abdullah has reiterated this government’s intention to further liberalize the procedure for security clearance for issuance of passports. It was Omar Abdullah who announced the Amnesty Scheme for individuals involved in incidents of stone-pelting – the success of which can be measured by the fact that more than 1800 individuals involved in 230 cases have been granted amnesty by the State Government.
    Junaid Mattu said that while PDP government opposed the Rehabilitation Proposal mooted by an MLA during their tenure, it was the Omar Abdullah led government that ensured the return and rehabilitation of hundreds of youth who have returned from across the LOC thus far.
    The NC Spokesman said that it was Omar Abdullah led government that brought in the much-needed amendment in the Public Safety Act of 1978 in April 2012 by making the law more humane and less vulnerable for misuse and abuse. While Mufti Mohammad Sayeed only spoke about healing the wounds of the people, Omar Abdullah left no stone unturned to usher J&K into an era of reconciliation, peace, reprieve and development. It is Omar Abdullah who went above and beyond the beaten track to give relief and peace to the people of J&K. (GNS)

  • BJP always bartered peoples’ interest: Azad

    Defeat communal forces, vote Congress to power
    Doda: Exhorting the people to elect credible and tested representatives for the Lok Sabha, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad today reminded that BJP leadership in Jammu and Kashmir has always bartered peoples’ interests to accomplish their own personal agenda.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing series of public gatherings at various hilly belts in Doda and Kishtwar districts, Congress heavyweight, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad who is contesting Doda-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency, today stated that except exploiting sentiments of the people to reap political benefits BJP leaders have never fulfilled aspirations of the common masses.
    Accompanied by Minister for Roads and Buildings, Abdul Majid Wani, former Minister and Congress MLA, G M Saroori, MLC, Sham Lal Bhagat, Congress stalwart, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad made a dig at BJP leadership and sought to know their contribution for the country. Challenging BJP to present a single example where it had contributed for nation building, Mr Azad highlighted that “after sacrificing thousands of its leaders and workers in freedom struggle, only Congress party has been able to tap natural resources, raising hundreds of hydro power dams in the country, laying down numerous irrigations canals, highways and national highways, encouraging industrial growth, bringing revolution in agriculture sector and generating employment for the educated un-employed youths of the country”.
    “It is Congress party under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi that had ensured equitable development of the people irrespective of their caste, religion or region. The space programmes, headway in Science and Technology, largest network of railways, better health care systems, massive industrialization and schemes for upliftment of poor and downtrodden have been the contribution of none other than Congress party,” highlighted Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad further questioning, “What is the role of BJP since Independence and till date? Can BJP leadership explain instead of criticizing Congress that too for wrong reasons, What role BJP has played for the development of nation and upliftment of poor masses? Who has made massive and record development in each and every field? Is it BJP? No, it is only and only Congress and it secular allies which has made India a strong nation”.
    Lashing out at BJP for its untrue propaganda against Congress, Mr Azad said that “these divisive forces have just communal agenda in their manifesto and are out there to divide people in the name of religion. Ever since its existence, it had only been working towards dividing people just to come in power. And the people of the country will never allow such divisive forces to come in power.” 
    Seeking mandate of the people to accelerate developmental activities in remotest and far-flung areas, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that Congress was committed for the betterment and upliftment of the backward and under-developed areas.
    Mr Azad reminded the people about various developmental projects which were started during his tenure as Chief Minister for the development of this region. “Many projects are still incomplete”, he said and sought support of the people to finish that incomplete projects to improve their socio-economic conditions.
    Highlighting the contribution of Congress party at Centre in the development of Doda, Kishtwar  and Ramban districts, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad listed down numerous projects executed through various centrally sponsored schemes in these districts. The sanctioning of five Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, that included three from Jammu region and two for Kashmir valley, Congress stalwart highlighted that “Sanctioning of a Medical College for erstwhile Doda district is a pointer to the fact that Congress led UPA is aware of the problems of this hilly and remote belt. Had Congress not concerned about your problems, the Medical College would not have been sanction for you”.
    “It is Congress party which, keeping in view the problems and plight of the people have initiated people oriented projects. There has been record development in the past 10 years’ rule of Congress led UPA-I and UPA-II. Shockingly, there are some political parties that are misleading the people by launching false propaganda against Congress party. They must visit in the field area and see the pace of development and then comment on the working of Congress”, pointed out Mr Azad further adding “In the past ten years of 70 percent of the villages of the country have been connected with roads, 70 lakhs schools have been established to provide education at door step”. He said that the opening of schools have increased the literacy rate of the country vis-à-vis appointment of teachers and further the salaries of these teachers are being paid by Government of India.
    Mr Azad also said that under Congress led UPA regime there has been a three-fold increase in food subsidy during UPA tenure. The Food Security Act will entitle 35 kg of food-grains per month and other families for 5 kg per person at subsidized rates have been passed during UPA regime”. (KNS)

  • Mufti’s cavalcade attacked in Shopian

    No aerial firing, was a minor incident: Police
    Srinagar: The cavalcade of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, patron Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today came under attack from stone throwers at Neemander village in Shopian district.
    Official sources revealed that the former chief minister Mufti was leading a road show and after reaching Meemander, some angry youth came out and raised anti-India and pro-freedom slogans besides pelting stones on some security vehicles in Mufti’s cavalcade. Locals informed KNS that half a dozen vehicles including the jammer comprising Muftis cavalcade were damaged during the stone pelting incident at Neemander.
    Sources revealed that the district administration had permitted the PDP patron to lead his rallies at six identified places in the district but on the insistence of the party activists, Mufti led the rally at 11 locations. “It was the 11th location (Neemander) where some youth came out and started pelting stones on security vehicles. The cavalcade had also adopted a different route other than the permitted one,” official sources added.
    Meanwhile, according to KNS Shopian correspondent, police had to fire tear smoke shells to disperse the mob at Neemander and Bon Bazar till the security vehicles adopted another route via main town to take the PDP patron out from place of occurrence.
    Locals informed KNS that yesterday evening some unknown men had used mosque loud speakers appealing people to observe a complete strike in the town on Thursday. The strike affected the normal life in the morning. “The entire market was open after few hours of strike,” a local informed KNS on phone.  
    When contacted SP Shopian, Shoket Ahmad told KNS, “It was a minor incident. Few stones were pelted on some security vehicles at Neemander. Jammer was not damaged. There was no aerial firing. But the situation is under control.”  When asked about the strike, the SP Shopian said that the town observed strike but only for few hours in the morning. (KNS)

  • Elections in J&K blood ridden, sugar coated poison for Kashmiris: Malik

    Addresses gathering in Bandipora
    Bandipora: “The history of Jammu Kashmir bears a witness to the fact

    that pro- India politicians and parties here have always asked for votes in the name of development and progress but have always used to justify Indian claim over Kashmir. Elections that are contested under the supervision of Indian election commission, under Indian constitution and under the shadow of Indian gun is like sugar coated poison for Kashmiris and these have always been used to snatch our freedom, strengthening the clutches of tyranny and oppression on us and for legislating and Enactment of black laws here. Therefore taking part in these elections in any name and slogan cannot be termed but as worst enmity with Kashmir and Kashmiris,” this was stated by the chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik while addressing a public gathering at Bandipora today.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Malik thanked people for their valor, passion and affection for the freedom movement and resistance camp. Terming the history of these elections held time to time in Kashmir as blood ridden, Malik said that from 1930’s people of Jammu Kashmir have been striving and sacrificing for the freedom of their nation but time and again leaders turned oppressors betrayed this nation and helped foreign powers to oppress and suppress us and snatch our freedom.
    Elaborating the history of elections in Jammu Kashmir, Malik said that although these elections for assembly or parliament are fought in the name of electricity, roads, employments and water, good governance, change, corruption free society ,peace ,progress and other decorative slogans and time and again people contesting election tell us that these elections have nothing to do with Kashmir issue  but the fact of matter is that people after being elected have always used this vote to undermine the freedom movement of Jammu Kashmir and safeguarded the interests of India in Jammu Kashmir.
    Giving a detailed account of the history of these elections and people who were elected, Malik said   that the elections held on 15th October 1951 and the assembly that came into existence after these elections served this interest of India as sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who was heading the government through infamous Delhi agreement not only compromised the freedom of Kashmiris, changed their Nationality from Kashmiri to Indian but also directed the assembly of that time to rectify the accession of Jammu Kashmir with India.
    “This assembly also legislated for the influence of Indian presidents’ office on Kashmir too. Sheikh Sahib was succeeded by Bakhshi Ghuiam Mohammad. Bakshi and his assembly took no time in removing the permit system that necessitated every Indian to take a special permission before entering into Jammu Kashmir. It was the assembly of that time that legislated for the merger of Jammu Kashmir with Indian union and hence pushing the people of Jammu Kashmir more and more into the darkness of slavery.”
    Malik said In 1975 Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah signed the humiliating Indra-Abdullah accord for getting a fractured government; he declared the struggle of 22 years as Meandering.
    “It was he who in 1978 slapped the black law PSA on Kashmiris under which hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris have been sentenced to imprisonments till date. His son in law Ghulam Mohammad shah complimented this by implementing another black law TADA in Kashmir. It was sheikh Abdullah’s son Farooq Abdullah  and his assembly who in 1984 paved the way for hanging the leader of kashmiri masses father of nation Mohammad Maqbool Butt  and  1n 1996  Farooq Abdullah constituted Police task force and provided them a license to kill Kashmiris at will.”
    Malik said that in 2002, Mufti Mohammad Syeed came with a slogan of heeling touch and self rule. “In his healing touch policy he ordered custodial killings of many commanders and eventually the era of Farooq Abdullah’s catch and kill policy was repeated. It was Mufti who in 1990 as India’s home minister sent Jag Mohan to Kashmir with a license to kill any one and it was during that period the massacres of Kashmiris started. It was he who implemented black laws like AFSPA, Armed act etc in Kashmir that till date are haunting the people of Jammu Kashmir. Another “feather in his cap” is that he and his assembly handed over the screening committee for release of detunes to Indian state, this committee used to be headed over by deputy commissioner before that.”
    Malik said that after Mufti Sayeed it was the turn of Ghulam Nabi Azad. From 1947, every Kashmiri knows the credentials of his party congress that is responsible for every hardship that Kashmiris have and are facing. Azad declared a bullet for bullet policy. He preached “ democracy and Ghandi Jees philosophy” to betray the youth of Jammu Kashmir  but actually acted as a dictator who banned pro freedom camp from entering Jammu region and that ban is still on.
    Malik appealed the people of Jammu Kashmir to show resilience and wisdom and not to get deceived by beautiful slogans. “We as a living nation will have to safeguard the sacrifices rendered by us and our beloved martyrs and for that we all will have to keep away from these Indian elections and voting’s and safeguard our national interests,” added Malik.  (KNS)