Kashmir.Watch

Tag: #Jammu and Kashmir

  • Shah Fayaz Receives Heartwarming Welcome from All India Leadership in Delhi

    Shah Fayaz, a prominent figure known for his advocacy for the welfare of employees, was greeted with warmth and appreciation by the All India Leadership during a recent event in Delhi.

    As the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Employees Coordination Committee (JKECC) and Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Association (JKTA), Shah Fayaz’s role as the National Secretary of the Indian Public Service Employees Federation (IPSEF) was highlighted and celebrated.

    Fayaz, hailing from Kashmir, has been a relentless advocate for various employee groups, particularly focusing on issues concerning the teaching fraternity and the restoration of the old pension scheme. His stance on the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) underscores the broader objective of ensuring fair policies for employees, especially those who have been deprived of benefits.

    A significant aspect of Fayaz’s advocacy is his concern for Contractual/Contingent Paid Workers (CPWs), whom he believes face exploitation and inadequate wage standards. His efforts extend to addressing the challenges faced by various employee groups, including Regularized Rehbar-e-Taleem (RRETs), Rehbar-e-Taleem (RETs), and general employees.

    Shah Fayaz Receives Heartwarming Welcome from All India Leadership in Delhi
    The gathering was attended by prominent leaders from across the country.

    The gathering, attended by influential leaders from across India, acknowledged Fayaz’s dedicated service and leadership in various capacities. His contributions to both regional and national employee welfare initiatives were lauded with admiration.

    The event not only celebrated Fayaz’s achievements but also highlighted the unity and collaboration among leaders representing diverse states and sectors. It served as a platform for fostering stronger ties and shared initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being of public service employees nationwide.

    Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, Shah Fayaz emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and coordination among leaders to address the challenges faced by public service employees. The All India leadership reiterated its commitment to working together for the welfare and advancement of public service sectors across the nation. Fayaz was accompanied by representatives from different states and Union Territories (UTs), further emphasizing the widespread support for his endeavors.

  • J&K BJP Condemns killing of Police Sub Inspector Arshid Ahmed at Khanyar

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Organization Ashok Koul Strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Police party at khanyar srinagar in which police sub inspector Arshid Ahmed
    got martyrdom and conveyed the deepest condolence to the bereaved family.

    Ashok Koul strongly condemned the terrorist attack and said’ such inhumane acts will never be tolerate & demanded that those behind these attacks be identified for stern punishment & conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family of slain Police officer and sympathized with them, and prayed for courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

  • Assembly election in J&K unlikely till May next year

    Srinagar, Sept 12: As mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir pitch for conduct of early assembly election, the top authorities concerned with the election process say that it is too early to predict about the timing of elections which according to them won’t be mostly decided before May end next year.

    Authoritative Sources told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir are unlikely to be held before May end next year for various reasons.

    They said that one of the reasons for election not to be held till April next year was that the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir is still under process and the delimitation commission is likely to submit its report till December end this year, which will mostly further delay election to April next year.

    Sources also said that one of the main reasons for election not to be held this year is the security situation developing in Jammu and Kashmir after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August this year.

    “The crisis in Afghanistan after taking over of the region by Taliban has thrown a major security challenge to security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, which would most likely further delay the conduct of assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir ,” they said.

    Sources also said that the security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir and in New Delhi have been closely monitoring the developments in Afghanistan after Taliban takeover there and it’s immediate impact on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir . (KNS)

  • Menime: The class 11 girl at the forefront of Kashmir’s hip-hop scene

    BY Auqib Javeed

    Decades of conflict notwithstanding, Kashmir has had a rich history of music and singing. Traditionally, Kashmiris have embraced Sufi music and songs. But with the time, singers have evolved both in terms of their style as well as content. The conflict has played its part too, with the new crop of singers deeply moved by what is happening around them, and moving towards new genres to convey their feelings.

    With gen-next at its heart, rap music – an alien concept in the Valley not too long ago – is one of the genres that has found a voice, both powerful and trendsetting. MC Kash (Roushan Illahi) introduced it way back in 2010, at a time when Kashmir was in the middle of unrest. His song, ‘I Protest’, became the unofficial anthem of those protests. He became a household name and inspired many others to become hip-hop artists.

    Seven years after ‘I Protest’, the hip-hop scene in the Valley has evolved, and there’s an unlikely artist at the forefront of the scene. Mehak – an Urdu word for fragrance – is a student of class 11 in Srinagar, and she’s making waves as the Valley’s first female rapper. Going by the stage name of Menime, her songs about the pain and agony Kashmiris have suffered during the decades-long conflict have really resonated with a large audience.

    In this free-wheeling conversation, Mehak talks about how she began rapping, the influence of Kashmir’s crisis on her music, and how she wants to be a voice for oppressed. These are the edited excerpts:

    Auqib Javeed: You burst onto the scene with your rapping. Tell us more about you?

    Mehak: My name is Mehak, but I go by the stage name of Menime. It’s a reverse of Eminem’s name. I got into hip-hop at the age of 12. Currently, I’m studying in the eleventh grade at Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary School, Srinagar. I live in the outskirts of Srinagar which I’ve heard was not only a hotbed of militancy then but a centre stage of some violent protests.

    AJ: What is hip-hop to you and how did you choose it?

    M: Hip-hop is a movement, a culture, as well as a genre of music. It’s a medium through which we can express our feelings and thoughts. Hip-hop means reality. When I was 12-years old, I listened to Eminem’s songs and rapped on them. He is my inspiration – his rapping style, vocabulary, accent. Then I started writing my own stuff and started to rap.

    AJ: Tell us about your label?

    M: AHM Dexterity Records is the very first hip-hop record label of the Valley. It was started by my friends – Aamir Ame and Husteer – and I. Aamir and Husteer started their career in music when they were in the class 10. They are into this genre for the last eight years and have always been at the top of the hip-hop scene.

    The record label was created to promote and push hip-hop culture in the Valley. This record label has its own set up for recording audio and video. We have our team. The aim of the record label is to provide a platform to all local rappers in the Valley. Local studios charge them a huge amount which they are not able to afford. This record label provides them everything professional at affordable prices, plus tips to improve as well.

    AJ: How much has the Kashmir conflict affected you?

    M: Conflict does affect everybody in one way or the other. I am a victim of the conflict.

    AJ:  As you told us that you are a political rapper, what is your view on the Kashmir conflict?

    M: As you know, many people have been killed, tortured, blinded, and arrested in Kashmir. We have faced a lot of problems which make us unhappy with the administration. I think people’s voices need to be heard and resolved. We surely want a solution which is peaceful and brings normalcy back.

    When I have to write a political song, I read the stories about the conflict and then I decide to write my lyrics. I am doing it for my own people. I am a Kashmiri citizen. I am born here, we are politically oppressed, and I am doing my best to speak on behalf of our people through my rapping.

    AJ: Does singing help you to vent out your anger?

    M: Yes, obviously, when I experience anger I like to listen or song to extreme music that can match my anger. Rap helps me to explore what I feel and I freely express my anger and emotions through it. People resort to music as a form of protest in fearful and intimidating situations

    AJ: How difficult is it for you to rap in a society where it is unacceptable, especially for girls?

    M: It’s really difficult, but I have to do it, and I’ll do it regardless of what anybody has to say. This society is the mixture of various thoughts – some are supportive, some are not. People appreciate, but some even hate.

    What I have to do is to look at the positive things around me and not give a damn to haters and those who oppose me. They are to be ignored and I have to move forward, like they say, “Haters make me famous.”

    I don’t care whether society accepts me or not. I know what I’m doing and I’m sure they are going to support me too. However, these days more and more youngsters from our generation are breaking stereotypes to give it a try.

    AJ:  How did your parents react to your rapping?

    M: In the beginning, I didn’t have any support from my parents. They used to scold me, because they knew that if I chose rap it’ll be difficult for me to become a rapper in a conservative society like Kashmir, which prefers women in conventional professions.

    Still, I didn’t give up. I was very passionate towards my work and I made them understand that girls have every right to do when men could do. Now they’re supporting me and have no issues with what I’m doing.

    AJ: How have Kashmiris reacted to the message you put out with your rapping?

    M: I’m glad they are appreciating me. I really wasn’t expecting such a huge positive response from the people. I don’t only rap about one theme. As I told you, I am a political rapper as well as an entertainment rapper. So I rap about different themes like revolution, human rights violations, deception, gangs, love, motivation, life stories, etc.

    AJ: How do you see your future in rapping?

    M: Umm, well it’s a pretty tough question. I don’t know what’s gonna happen next, but I will work hard, and I hope I can, one day, see myself as a successful rapper.

    The interview was first published in the CatchNews

  • “Joining BJP is an act of jihad for me”

    Calling National Conference (NC) led government as a “den of dacoits” and the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, as a “party of brokers,” Dr Hina Bhat, daughter of former NC leader, Muhammad Shafi Bhat, who is contesting from Amira Kadal constituency on a BJP ticket, in a freewheeling interview with Authint Mail, says joining BJP is an act of ‘jihad’ for her.

    BY NAZIR GANAIE (Authintmail)

    AM) Why did you join politics?

    HB) After being closely associated with the National Conference and seeing the way they have been doing things for people, nothing really could attract me. Same was the case with Congress and PDP. Since BJP formed government at the centre, they have done what they promised. They want to handle Kashmir issue with Kashmiriyat and in a democratic way. Everybody is working very strongly for BJP and so am I. I believe the flags of BJP will rise in Kashmir soon. We are trying to build up the party in other regions too. When I am with BJP, it means I have devoted myself to strengthen the party.

    AM) For a good number of Kashmiris, BJP is synonymous with ‘anti -Muslim riots’, ‘massacres’ and ‘mayhem’. Did you ever consider that before joining the party?

    HB) There is no party in Kashmir that is owned by people. At least BJP has won through a majority vote in centre and I know they have respect for women with determination and confidence. I knew joining the party was going to be a very tough decision, keeping the Kashmir context in mind, but it is the job of any leader to convince his people through good governance and development.

    AM) Do you face any tough words from people, being a BJP leader, or land in situations where you have to justify your association with the party?

    HB) Yes, sometimes, but I have my own way to convince them. That’s the reason I believe joining BJP from Kashmir is a jihad for me.

    AM) Can you elaborate what kind of ‘jihad’ is this?

    HB) See, I have joined politics to clean the system. I am a Kashmiri first, then a Muslim first and then a BJP leader. We know what our state has been going though from last three decades. The corruption has gone up. There is no governance, no development and minimal prosperity. Innocent people are being killed for no sin or crime of theirs. Working in this system, giving people their share of benefits, to become their voice here, and in New Delhi, that is jihad for me.

    AM) India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has a tainted past. Would he be able to woo voters in Kashmir valley?

    HB) Look, I think he is charming and a versatile prime minister. He touches a chord with people. We have seen how people voted for BJP in the recent Maharashtra and Haryana assembly polls. In Kashmir also, things are going to change. Achay din zaroor aayen gay (Good days will surely come).

    AM) BJP’s is on Mission 44 plus to form its own government in J&K. How is your party trying to achieve this uphill task?

    HB) No task is worth achieving unless and until there is hard work and commitment involved in it. With all this hard work, struggle and determination, people will see the change ahead. There is a speculation that there is BJP wave in Jammu and PDP wave in Kashmir. I must tell you that there is no PDP wave. Earlier, people in Kashmir had only two options, but now people will vote for us. I am sure about it. There is no comparison between BJP and PDP. I think there is only BJP wave across Jammu and Kashmir.

    AM) The abrogation of Article 370 is high on the agenda of BJP? Your comments?

    HB) Unfortunately, some political parties are misleading the people that BJP is after Article 370. Show me on record where anyone from BJP has said they will dissolve Article 370. It was only Dr Jitendra (MoS PMO) who gave his point of view, not the verdict. I am going to say goodbye to BJP if the party abrogates Article 370. I will pick up the gun against people who think of abrogating it.

    No matter how powerful and how absolute majority the BJP government enjoys at the centre, it can’t abrogate Article 370. The only way they can abrogate Article 370 is by dissolving the present J&K assembly and create a new constituent assembly, as it existed in 1951, which is not possible.

    AM) So you mean to say that BJP is not for abrogating Article 370?

    HB) Yes. And if it still does, I told you my views. More than anything else, Kashmir is dear to me, but as far as I know, BJP has a focus on restoring the lost Kashmiriyat.

    AM) You talka lot about ‘Kashmiriyat‘. What does it means to you?

    HB) (Laughs) Kashmiriyat to me means when our Kashmir inhales a pollution free air, an air clean of all the turbulences, when Kashmir will have its autonomy, its own prime minister and a special status.

    AM) Do you believe, with these views, you can sustain in BJP for long?

    HB) Of course. Why not? When I first met Modi ji and his team, I shared same views there also. I believe when you are sincere, it takes no time to achieve your goals.

    AM) Did you get any offer from any other political party from Kashmir?

    HB) Congress approached me and then National Conference also approached me. One of its sitting MLAs came with an offer, but after many deliberations with my father, I chose not to join it. They had been promising a lot to me, but delivering nothing.

    AM) What are your views and BJP’s views about Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)?

    HB) My views are crystal clear that BJP will not remove AFSPA till things get normal here. Everyday, something happens. Militant activity is so much here that they cannot lift it.

    AM) There is a strong voice of chief minister Omar Abdullah and also by people of Kashmir that the draconian law should be revoked? Your take!

    HB) Well, this isn’t something in my hand. There is a consensus that if the Army leaves, it will not take Pakistan even half an hour to occupy us. It will not take 10 minutes for China to occupy us. This force is Indian. You do not have threat from India, but you definitely have one from Pakistan.

    AM) How are you going to fare in this election?

    HB) I will win.

    AM) What preparations have you made in run up to your debut election?

    HB) I am not a new entrant to politics. My father has been a great inspiration and mentor for me. I believe things will improve and Kashmir will witness a change soon. I have seen the number of orphanages growing, and the plight of women and their suffering increasing. I want to change that. I want to bring happiness to their lives.

    AM) How will you do that?

    HB) (Laughs) I will work with utmost dedication.

    AM) How much work needs to be done in your constituency?

    HB) Not even five percent work has been taken up. The sitting MLA has been a complete failure. It feels I am walking through a village, a far-flung village. In Natipora village, I saw one house. I saw it completely covered with wires and rubber sheets. This is a shame on Omar and his cabinet.

    AM) How would you rate Omar Abdullah as a chief minister?

    HB) There are only dacoits and incompetent people in his cabinet. He has been a complete failure

    AM) Do you see any hope in PDP’s president Mehbooba Mufti?

    HB) Honestly speaking, she has lost it. During floods, I was expecting a lot from her, but she was nowhere. PDP is worse than NC.

     

  • Kashmir has no expectation from Narendra Modi; Congress hanged innocent Afzal Guru – SAS Geelani

    Samiya Latief

    In an exclusive interaction with I am in DNA reporter Samiya Latief, senior separatist leader SAS Geelani talks about BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the way forward for Jammu and Kashmir

    Here are edited excerpts:

    You have given a boycott call again for elections? Do you think simply boycotting the elections would yield anything?

    A place that has been enslaved does not get anything by voting. When we don’t have basic freedom to live peacefully, what does a vote mean to us? Elections mean something wherein rights are respected but the rights of Kashmiris have been violated again and again, so the voting process is futile for us. We have to first get freedom from the occupation. It is our responsibility to guide people but ultimately it is their decision.

    You chose the democratic way of elections in 1971, what has changed since then?

    I decided to fight elections to counter Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and his government, their ideas and plans. I had two main objectives while fighting elections. One that all the political parties were selling lofty ideas and development to the people but in the Assembly they used to make laws against the social and moral fabric of the society like lease of the land by the National Conference at that time and other things. The second objective was the most important issue of Kashmir and whenever I voted it was anti-India and pro-Kashmir.

    The major concern of people while boycotting elections is where will they go for their basic needs like bijli and paani?

    The Hurriyat leader responded that things won’t change even if we vote. Whether we vote or not, whoever forms the government has the duty to fulfill these basic needs and requirements of the people. Kashmiris do pay taxes. The first and foremost responsibility of any government is to take care of human lives, property, religion but they have always failed to protect us. Instead of protecting us, they are misusing us and our resources including water and land. They are using our water resources to build power projects and then give electricity to India while we remain in darkness. They are exploiting our land by giving it to the Army like in Gulmarg 28 lakh kanals are under the control of the Army, similarly 5200 kanals of forest land in Shopian is now an army cantonment. And yes, we are fighting for our rights of Azaadi where development is not the first priority.

    Have you at any point felt that youth of Kashmir are a little disconnected from you and their priorities are changing?

    Tha jo na khoob, batadreej wohi ‘khoob’ hua – ke ghulami main badal jata hai qaumun ka zameer. That there is a small section of youth who get disillusioned with things like jobs and development offered to them. The youth is an asset in every nation and the pro-occupation forces are after them everywhere. They try to woo them with different policies but majority of the youngsters of Kashmiris I assure you are with the freedom movement. And plus, this is all propaganda of the Indian media creating wrong conceptions that youth of Kashmir do not want Azaadi. Why doesn’t the media show the killings and rapes? Why is it silent when there are human rights violations in Kashmir every single day? The youth of Kashmir is much more conscious today and they very well know the importance of azaadi from India.

    What are your expectations from the new government which will be formed in May?

    As far as dispute of Kashmir is concerned, it does not matter which party is at the Centre. Congress has ruled for more than 40 years, but it didn’t help in any way to solve the issue of Kashmir. There were more than 40,000 riots during the Congress rule, Congress hanged our Afzal Guru who was an innocent.

    Are you in any way worried about Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister? Do you think Modi will try to take forward the talk Vajpayee had started during the NDA rule?

    If people think Vajpayee had a soft stand on Kashmir, it is all untrue. Whatever Atal Bihari Vajpayee said was in air and nothing was done on the ground. Even in the NDA rule, same things happened in Kashmir. Pro-freedom movement was heavily curbed. And about Modi, I have no hesitation in calling him a murderer. It was his responsibility being the Chief Minister of Gujarat to protect and safeguard the minority but he did not do so. He is a RSS follower. Hurriyat and the people of Kashmir have no expectations from them at all. There have been many talks during these years but they start this only to buy time. India is not sincere to resolve the dispute of J&K at all, all they want to do is to occupy people of Kashmir by force.

    When we talk about Kashmir, you have always maintained that Pakistan is the alternative for Kashmiris. But with Pakistan itself so weak and unstable do you still pin your hopes on it?

    Pakistan since its inception has been a victim of propaganda by the US, Russia, India and others. Pakistan is the only country among 57 others with nuclear power, so it comes under attack very often. Pakistan is surely a stake-holder in the J&K dispute. When the accession of princely states of India was in process, the three major points kept in consideration were: geographical position of a place, the religious inclination and most of all the cultural similarities between the people. All these reference points prove that we should have been part of Pakistan and not India.

    Tehreek-e-Taliban in Pakistan and their policy about anti-girl education has been termed dangerous worldwide, what do you have to say about it?

    I despise the idea vehemently as there is very harmful. Everything in this world can be achieved by education and persuasion and the women form an important part of our society. Even Islam has emphasized about the importance of girl education. Nothing can be achieved by killing or by force. Killings anywhere by anyone is condemnable.

    US withdraws its forces from Afghanistan, is there is any chance of Taliban and Al-qaeda turning towards Kashmir?

    It is a propaganda of different countries and media. Even if NATO forces leave Afghanistan, there is a lot for Taliban and others to take care of in Afghanistan. The internal conflict of Afghanistan between various parties like Communists and different ideologies won’t give the Taliban the time to think about Kashmir. Otherwise when Soviet Union had left Afghanistan, it could have formed a normal government but it could not.

    Do you feel that the increasing tensions of Pakistan and Iran have a harmful impact to both countries?

    These two nations need to shun their differences, proceed with a dialogue and should be unified for peace. It is my humble request to both the countries and my wish also that they should come together in the interest of the whole Ummah.

    Coming back to Kashmir, does anything chane if PDP or BJP comes to power?

    No matter who comes to power at the Centre or the state, for the people of Kashmir only the faces change, rest remains the same. They are all ‘one’ when it comes to the dispute of Kashmir – be it Congress and BJP or NC and PDP. Even the emergence of AAP is the same and nothing changes.

    BJP manifesto talks about abrogation of Article 370, what is your view about it?

    The only issue right now is occupation. Article 370 is empty, it doesn’t matter whether it is abrogated or not. Our sole issue is that the guidelines of the UN resolution should be passed. Everything other than that is a non-issue.

    The latest speculation is that you nominated your son as your successor.

    Nothing like that has even happened or been discussed. It was only a rumour created by media.

    What after Geelani then? Who will be the face of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat after you? Is there any leadership crisis within this separatist faction?

    Tehreek-e-Hurriyat has a plan of its own. The Constitution of the party will surely produce some alternative as and when required and that decision would be in the interest of the people of Kashmir.