Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Hurriyat Conference JK condemns ousting of Kashmiri students

    ‘It portrays mental sickness of world’s largest democracy’ Shabir Shah
    Srinagar: Strongly condemning the ousting of Kashmiri students from university and slaying attack on them, Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) has termed the act as communal and “mental sickness” of so-called Indian democracy, said the spokesman.
    “It is very unfortunate that our students are made victims ofcommunalism in every nook and corner of India. Not only students, even Kashmiri business persons are also targetted which is extremely condemnable and a blot on the face of so-called world’s largest democracy,” senior Hurriyat leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah said on Friday.
    According to the statement issued to KNS, Shah was addressing a gathering at Hajin Chowk in North Kashmir’s Bandipora area. Other Hurriyat leaders accompanying Shah included Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Mushtaq ul Islam, Shabir Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Yusuf Naqash, and Muhammad Yasin Ataai.
    The leaders while while addressing the people called for complete boycott of upcoming assembly and parliamentary elections.
    Senior Hurriyat Conference leader Shabir Ahmad Shah while warning people against taking part in elections said that taking part in elections tantamount to bartering the sacred blood of our martyrs.
    “It is the responsibility of young generation of Kashmir to warn people about the negative impact of voting pro-India and anti-movement parties. People should bear in mind that by voting these parties, they are giving the democratic colour to India’s forcible occupation here,”Shah said.
    Shah while applauding the contibution of Hajin towards freedom movement said the people of this area have played a great role in fight for freedom which can never be overshadowed. He said the pro-India parties like National Conference, Congress and PDP have massacred our children and are now begging for votes only to empower the Indian illegal occupation here.
    He said Hurriyat Conference is determined to take the freedom movement to its logical conclusion. “Our freedom spirit will not perish by any suppressive tactics. Putting us behind bars will not deter us from pursuing our political activities. We will rise and rise till we achieve freedom from Indian forcible and illegal occupation,” he said.
    On the occasion, Nayeem Ahmad Khan said that Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir came into being to safeguard the invaluable sacrifices rendered by lakhs of martyrs for the right of self-determination of Jammu and Kashmir. “The world scenario with regards to Kashmir issue is exhibiting a drastic change and we are keeping a close watch over the elements (from New Delhi to Srinagar) that are hell bent upon spreading rumours and muzzling the voices of Kashmiris,” Khan said.
    Shabir Ahmad Dar in his speech said the freedom movement demands the uniqueness in resistance leadership so as to formulate a well-planned future course of action after deliberating on both positive and negative prospects of freedom movement.
    Mushtaq-ul-Islam while addressing the public gathering said: “While taking part in movement against India’s forcible occupation is the living example of Kashmiri nation, taking part in Indian elections will also portray the slave-mentality of the people of Kashmir. To get overwhelmed by the spirit of freedom and okay to subjugation are two opposite notions. Kashmiri youth are filled with the spirit of freedom and will not, at any cost, take part in so-called elections meant to mislead the world community but will completely boycott both assembly and parliamentary polls.” (KNS)

  • Suspension of Kashmiri Students issue mostly resolved: Matoo

    Students will soon resume their classes
    Srinagar: The authorities at Meerut including Police and university officials have expressed their desire for the early return of the suspended Kashmiri students, said Junaid Matoo, a youth leader of National Conference who was deputed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to Meerut on March 6.
    Matoo told KNS over phone from Meerut that he had series of meetings with the senior government officials at Meerut and that the matter has been amicably sorted out. “Now only the modalities are being discussed that when the students shall resume their classes in the university.”
    Matoo stated that he held a detailed meeting with the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University in presence of the resident commissioner Mr. Agarwal and that the response of VC over the issue of safe return of suspended students to varsity was ‘positive.’ “I also held meetings with the senior civil and police authorities overt the issue including Divisional Commissioner, DIG and SSP- the administration has also assured that it is hopeful that the students will resume their studies at the earliest.”  
    He added that during his meeting with the VC of the university, it was assured that all necessary arrangements shall be made for the security of the suspended students. ”In a very near future it can be stated that when will the students resume their duties.” (KNS)

  • Bhat assumes as DIG North Range

    Interacts with senior supervisory officers
    Baramulla: After assuming the charge of North Kashmir Range, DIG, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Bhat in his first interaction with the senior supervisory officers here today, stressed for better policing and public liaison.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, Bhat had a brief interaction with the police officers, including Superintendents of Police, Additional Superintendents of Police and Sub-Divisional Police Officers of North Kashmir Range.
    During the interaction, Bhat took stock of the overall situation in the Range including, law and order, security, crime and election preparedness. He stressed upon the officers to maintain good public relations in their respective areas adding that it would help them to provide better policing to the people.(KNS)

  • Expelled students to Govt Save our careers

    Srinagar: The expelled students of Subharti University Friday staged a peaceful sit-in in Press Enclave Srinagar.
    While talking to reporters, the students narrated the sad and sorry state of affairs that they had been facing for the last two years. The students further lamented that from the time they were labeled as terrorists.
    They further said that ever since they joined the University they face harassment and their only fault is that they belong to Kashmir.They appealed to the State Government to take measures for their safety and ensure that their career does not get affected. (CNS)

  • We cheer for all teams which play against India: Mirwaiz

    ‘New Delhi should slap sedition charges against whole Kashmir’
    Srinagar: Castigating the authorities over slapping charges against the Kashmiri students for supporting one particular team during the cricket match, Huriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday asked the authorities to file sedition charges against all the people of Kashmir as for expressing their sentiments since 1947.
    According to the reports received by KNS, Mirwaiz after delivering Friday sermon at Kashmir’s grand mosque stated that the fact has been established now that the people of Kashmir are not safe in any state in India. He also appealed OIC- an amalgam of 58 Muslim countries that they must reserve seats for the Kashmiri youth for the higher studies.
    Mirwaiz also appealed Kashmir’s business community to come forward for setting up of educational institutes here so that Kashmir’s young generation could pursue their higher studies here.
    Commenting over the suspension of 67 Kashmiri students from Meerut, Mirwaiz stated that the people of Kashmir have been expressing their feelings since 1947 and that during the Cricket Match, the people of Kashmir even support any cricket team of the world which plays against India. “These are our feelings and if sedition charges have been slapped against the students of Meerut- the same should be slapped against the whole Kashmiri nation.”
    Castigating the state authorities for deliberately denying permission of setting up of private universities and colleges in Kashmir, Mirwaiz stated that the state is hell-bent upon denying the basic right like education to the people of Kashmir. “We submitted the proposal of upgrading Islamia School into a college but our files are gathering dust in the government departments. See the plight with the trans-world Muslim university- the state government here has turned blind eye towards these issues and continues to work under the diktats of New Delhi. ” (KNS)

  • Omar blows election bigul terms LS polls a battle of ideologies

    Jammu: Describing ensuing elections as clash of ideologies and battle between secular and communal forces, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday exuded confidence about the victory at the strength of his party’s commitment to public service and time tested secular credentials.
    According to a statement issued by NC to KNS, Omar said: “This is an opportunity for people to make a discernible choice between communal and secular forces.” He was addressing the party functionaries including sitting and former legislators from the Jammu division at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon. Omar said that these will be also endorsement of the people to polices, programmes and performance of the government during over past five years”.
    Omar Abdullah said that National Conference rank and file has been pressed into election gear across the State, with workers stepping up their mass contact campaign”, he said, adding that the performance of his government has been inspiring and innovative, especially with respect to empowering people through Panchayat Raj Institutions, taking governance at grass roots level and making administration accountable and responsive by introducing Right to Information and Public Services Guarantee legislations. Therefore, he maintained that each vote would be endorsement of the people friendly and progressive programmes and initiatives undertaken by his government for the inclusive development and implementation of welfare schemes in all the three regions during more than five years.
    The NC Working President said that people of Jammu and Kashmir have all along fought the communal, deceptive and disruptive elements and will do so in future as well. He said his party is committed to strengthen secular forces by isolating divisive and communal elements, who were posing a big threat to peace and harmony across the country. “We won’t allow them to vitiate the atmosphere by generating ill-will between communities for furthering their nefarious political agenda”, he declared.
    Spelling out the crucial role played by National Conference during most testing times in the history, Mr Omar Abdullah recalled the sacrifices offered by its towering leaders and committed workers in upholding the special entity of the State and dignity of its people. He described workers as real strength of the party and hoped they will carry forward the mission chartered by Sher-e-Kashmir to make Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous, peaceful and forward looking State.  He made a mention of path breaking decisions taken in this regard by successive NC governments and the present dispensation and assured that this odyssey will continue with renewed vigour and confidence.
    Speaking on the occasion, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana assured the high command that party rank and file is fully prepared to take the ensuing democratic exercise to its logical conclusion.
    “While being confident about registering massive win in Jammu and Kashmir, the party is looking forward to ensure that the victory comes with a big margin”, he said while eulogizing the performance of the government under the towering stewardship of Mr Omar Abdullah.  He said the report card of Omar led coalition government has been enviable and the performance in various sectors of development appreciable. “This momentum has to be maintained to assuage the urges and aspirations of the people in all the three regions and their sub-regions”, he maintained.
    Various speakers assured the Chief Minister that they will go all out to ensure the victory of all the six candidates contesting the parliamentary elections. Those who addressed the meeting included senior party leaders, Minister for Planning and Development Mr Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, MLAs Mr Surjeet Singh Slathia, Kr Rachpal Singh and Mr Aijaz Jan besides Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Mr Abdul Gani Malik, Mr Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Mr Ajayshatru Singh, Choudhry Talib Hussain and Mirza Abdul Rasheed. The meeting discussed election related issues and took several decisions to gear up the party at all the levels.
    Present in the meeting were the legislators Dr. Shenaz Ganai and Bimla Luthra besides Rattan Lal Gupta, Th. Kashmira Singh, Babu Ram Pal, Brij Mohan Sharma, Mrs. Vijay Lakshmi Dutta, Jugal Mahajan, Gurdeep Singh Sassan, Surinder Singh Bunty, District Presidents, District Secretaries, contested candidates and senior functionaries of various wings of National Conference. (KNS)

  • Congress reaches seat sharing agreement with NC

    To field its candidates from 3 Lok Sabha constituencies including Ladakh
    Srinagar: The Congress high command has decided to field its candidates from only three out of six parliamentary constituencies—Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh, while as rest of the three Lok Sabha seats in valley have been apportioned to National Conference.
    Well placed sources revealed to KNS, that a high level meeting in Delhi chaired by AICC president Sonia Gandhi reached to a seat sharing agreement with its coalition partner in the state wherein the Congress has decided to contest from only three seats and has dropped its claim on one of the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir valley.  Earlier the Pradesh Congress Committee was adamant on contesting from one of the three Lok Sabha seats of the valley besides retaining the three seats of Jammu including Ladakh.
    Prof Saif-u-Din Soz, president Pradesh Congress Committee confirmed to KNS on phone from Delhi that the Congress high command has accepted a seat sharing agreement with the National Conference on equal terms. “Our High Command has agreed to this in a high level meeting that was chaired by Madam Sonia Ji. We will announce our candidates for the three Lok Sabha seats including Ladakh very soon,” Prof Soz told KNS from Delhi.
    Meanwhile, the Congress has almost decided to nominate Madan Lal Sharma from Jammu and Choudhry Lal Singh from Udhampur.
    Pertinently, National Conference has already announced its candidates for the three parliamentary constituencies of Kashmir valley—Dr Farooq Abdulla from Srinagar, Mehbooba Beig from Anantnag and Sahreef-u-Din Shariq from Baramulla. Presently, these three party leaders represent these constituencies in parliament.  (KNS)

  • Geelani Unwell Hurriyat has appealed people to pray for his recovery.

    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani has fallen ill and Hurriyat has appealed people to pray for his recovery.
    “Geelani Sahab is facing with a number of ailments and we are planning to shift him to Hospital,” Hurriyat (G) spokesman, Ayaz Akbar told Kashmir Life adding “We appeal people to pray for his recovery.”
    85 years old Geelani, returned from New Delhi only two days before and was arrested and put under house arrest.
    Geelani’s family sources said that he is suffering from severe chest infection and they are planning to shift him to hospital.

  • Protest Rally Show of Solidarity With Kashmiri Students Studying in Indian States: Yasin Malik

    Indian Freedom Struggle Leaders Also Studied In UK And Openly Participated In Freedom Struggle Of India but Were Never Harassed

    Srinagar: Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Yasin Malik was today arrested along dozen others when he was leading a protest rally towards Lal Chowk against  expulsion ,torture and harassment of Kashmiri students in Indian states.
    Besides Yasin Malik many other leaders of JKLF including Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi, Javed Ahmad Zargar, Mushtaq Ajmal, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri, Prof. Javed, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Mohammad Azeem  Zargar and Shahid Makaya etc were also arrested by police. Prior to this, Yasin Malik led an Impressive protest rally from Maqbool Manzil .the rally was attended by students, lawyers, traders and people from all walks of life in large numbers. Those who participated in the protest included advocate Mohammad Amin Malla, Adv. Babar Qadri, Adv.Sheikh Sabah, and Adv. Gayoor and advocate Bashir Ahmad Khan. Parents of many jailed Kashmir’s including father of lifer Javed Ahmad khan.
    Chanting slogans in favor of freedom and harassed student’s, this rally started its march towards Lal chowk Srinagar. Police and other forces had laid a siege around the area and sealed all roads going towards Lal Chowk with police vehicles. On reaching near Budshah Chowk the protest march was stopped by the police. The participants offered a heavy resistance and this stiff resistance continued for a long time. Police used Sticks and Lathes to disperse the protest and this police action injured many including JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik. On the occasion Yasin Sahib and other leaders were arrested by police. Despite police Excess, the peaceful attitude and resistance of the participants of protest march especially the youth was commendable.
    Prior to these arrests, Yasin sahib while addressing media said that Kashmiris will not accept any Toying with the future of their youngsters. He said this protest rally and sit in was a show of solidarity with thousands of those Kashmiri students who are studying in Indian states and feel harassed after the expulsion of many from Meerut university. Yasin Malik said that it was the duty of Indian state to provide protection to these students and that no Kashmiri will tolerate any harm or Injury of any kind to them.
    Condemning the oppressive measures taken against Kashmiri students in Meerut, beating them, lodging a FIR of treason against them, Yasin Malik said that this all is a reflection of India’s animosity against people of Jammu Kashmir. This is not the first time when Kashmiri students are being targeted. We saw these inhuman measures in 2013 also when Kashmiri students protested against human rights abuses in Jammu Kashmir.
    He said that the leaders of India freedom struggle Ghandi Jee and Nehru also studied in universities of United Kingdom and openly participated in freedom struggle of India but were never harassed by Britisher’s against whom they fought the war of freedom but Indian in contrast is torturing and toying with the future of Kashmiri students who only chose to cheer for a team that was playing a cricket match against Indian team. Yasin said that this has exposed all tall claims of Indian democracy and openness.
    Yasin Malik said that in the whole world people rising above the politics, nationhood and other things like or dislikes games and teams playing those games. They cheer and share joy or sorrow as per their will and desire and there is no discrimination shown on this in the whole world. In fact this is reckoned as a civil liberty and freedom of expression, but ironically Kashmiri students are being targeted just because Indian cricket team lost a match and these boys chose to cheer for the winning team.
    Yasin malik said that that the people of Jammu Kashmir cannot remain silent spectators on this issue. We cannot watch our young ones, their careers and future ruined, added Yasin Malik. He said that it was the duty of Indian state to provide security to those students who are studying in Indian states and are constantly being harassed.
    Yasin said that if Indian government and civil society thinks that these kinds of barbaric measures can deter Kashmir’s from pursuing their freedom struggle they are living in fool’s paradise. He said that no freedom struggle has ever been defeated by oppressive measures and even Indian freedom struggle bears a witness to this fact.

  • ‘Kashmiri students safe in India’: Radha Kumar

    India is a vast country and people of Kashmir should understand that Meerut is not whole India.
    Srinagar: Describing expulsion of Kashmiri students from Subharti University as unfortunate, former interlocutor Professor Radha Kumar Friday said that it was ridiculous that instead of embrassing and consoling these students, Vice Chancellor of the said University over reacted and forced them to leave the campus. “The issue could have been resolved amicably but the ‘inexperienced’ VC mishandled the situation while Uttar Pradesh government acted in haste and charged the students with sedition,” Radha Kumar told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS adding that Constitution of India has guaranteed Freedom of Speech to its citizens and everyone has right to express himself in his own way.
    Radha Kumar said that it is a wrong notion that Kashmiri students are not safe in India. “Of course they are safe and secure everywhere in India. Thousands of Kashmiri students are pursuing their studies all across India and they are enjoying a good life,” she said adding that Kashmiri students should also behave properly and not hurt the sentiments of majority community.
    Responding to a query, Radha Kumar said that there is no place for hate-mongers in Indian democracy. “There are certain examples before us when police acted promptly to maintain communal harmony in the society and arrested initiated action against Praveen Togadia and Varun Gandhi,” she said adding that Kashmiri students who were expelled for cheering Pakistan are still young and they lack maturity.
    She said that India is a vast country and people of Kashmir should understand that Meerut is not whole India. “Everywhere people receive different kind of treatment. Kashmiri students should feel secure in India and they should realize that India is a unity in diversity and there are people of different temperaments in every part of the country,” she said. (CNS)