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Seeks early hearing of Petitions challenging scrapping of special status, reorganisation of JK

Srinagar: J&K Peoples Conference has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking early hearing of a batch of petitions, challenging Centre’s last year’s August 5 decisions.

According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the application has stated that the petitioners have made out a very strong prima facie case and the issues raised are being considered by a Constitution Bench of this Hon’ble Court. 

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, pending the final hearing of these petitions challenging the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and the abrogation of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, and notwithstanding the prevailing pandemic conditions, sweeping changes are being brought about by the Centre that impact the rights of a large number of people, including dilution of the safeguards earlier available to the permanent residents of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir,” the application reads.

It states that these changes will have an irreparable impact on the rights of the citizens of J&K, including creation of domicile rights and third-party rights in land ownership. “The very purpose of the present proceedings will be severely undermined if the present petitions are not heard and disposed of urgently.

Suffice to say sufferance of the people continues as if under conquest without a full-fledged responsible government. In view of the foregoing, the present petition and the petitions tagged thereto ought to be heard and disposed of urgently as significant changes to the rights of the residents of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir have already been brought about by the Centre,” the application further reads—(KNO)

Jammu: An army Major died with bullet injury in his head in Rajouri district of Jammu, officials said on Monday. Police says that the death of the officer identified as Major Vineet Gullia , company commander of army’s 38RR post at Dhera ki Gali (DKG) is mysterious.

SDPO Thanamandi Sajid Khan told GNS that proceedings under 174 CrPC have been launched in connection with the death.
SSP Rajouri Chandan Kohli told GNS that a police team has reached the spot and is investigating the matter.

A police official told GNS that suicide was a possibility and the police proceedings encompass all angles. (GNS)

New Delhi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said abrogation of Article 370 provisions and changes in land laws allowing people from across India to purchase property in Jammu and Kashmir do not take away from the people of the Union Territory their right to decide whether or not to sell their property.

He claimed that the Kashmir-centric “so-called mainstream leaders” were feeling rattled because they would not be able to purchase properties in Jammu region so easily at low prices.

The people of Jammu will now have the advantage of choosing their buyers from a larger pan-India pool and also seek higher price, the minister said.

The newly enacted land laws nowhere allow forcible occupation or taking over of anybody’s property or even purchasing property without the owner’s consent, said Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel.

“If that was so, the Gupkar bungalows would have been the first to be taken over,” he told reporters here.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah lives in a bungalow on Gupkar Road in Srinagar.

“It is a matter of common sense that abrogation of Article-370 grants people across India the right to purchase property in Jammu and Kashmir, but it does not take away from the people their right to decide whether to sell the property or not and whom to sell,” Singh said.

He said Gupkar Road is the most preferred site, and, therefore, before warning the people of Jammu to protect their land from being taken away by outsiders, the “so-called mainstream Kashmir-centric leaders” should guard their own bunglows.

“The so-called mainstream Kashmir-centric leaders should first make sure to guard their own palatial bungalows constructed at one of India’s most picturesque locations by the side of Dal Lake on such a majestic scale that they could give a complex to the royal palaces of erstwhile princess,” the minister added.

In a gazette notification, the Centre has omitted the phrase “permanent resident of the state” from Section 17 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act that deals with disposal of the land in the union territory, paving the way for people from outside Jammu and Kashmir to buy land in JK and Ladakh, over a year after the nullification of provisions under Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution.

Before the repeal of Article 370 and Article 35-A in August last year, non-residents could not buy any immovable property in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the fresh changes have paved the way for non-residents to buy land in the union territory.

Four Indian army soldiers and three militants were killed in Kashmir, an Indian defence ministry spokesperson said, in the bloodiest gun battle in the disputed region since April.

An army patrol noticed suspicious movement along the Line of Control (LOC), the de facto border between India and Pakistan, in the early hours of Sunday, Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

“Army troops were rushed to the area and militant movement was tracked by surveillance devices. A heavy gun battle followed in which three militants were killed,” he said.

Four army soldiers were killed in the gun battle, he said.

This is the highest number of army casualties along the LOC in Kashmir since April.

Five Indian troops and an equal number of rebels were killed in April when armed individuals were confronted by Indian troops in the area.

With inputs from Al-Jazeera

(Except for the headlines, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported five more covid-19 related deaths in last 24 hours, taking the fatality count to 1536.

Those who succumbed to the virus include one each from Srinagar and Kupwara while three others belong to Jammu division, the officials told GNS.

The victim from Srinagar was a 70-year-old man from Habbak Naseembagh Srinagar who died five days after he was admitted to SKIMS Soura. Those who died in Jammu region belonged to J&K’s winter capital.

With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 1536 in J&K—1017 in Valley and 519 in the Jammu region.

Srinagar district with 375 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (269), Baramulla (148), Budgam (94), Pulwama (83), Kupwara (74), Anantnag (76), Rajouri (48), Kulgam (48), Bandipora(47), Doda (48), Shopian (35), Ganderbal (35), Udhampur (32), Kathua (33), Samba (25), Poonch (23), Ramban (18), Kishtwar(15), and Reasi (8). (GNS)

Tomorrow ‘Gang leaders, workers will take oath under same flag, constitution they are opposing at present, People have rejected dynasty politics in JK’

Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K General Secretary and Kashmir affair’s incharge Vibodh Gupta today lashed out at the Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) terming it as a “Gupkar Gang” stating that if the alliance is against the constitution of India how come the “Gang” is fighting District Development Council (DDC) election under the same constitution. He said when the results of the DDC polls will be held and those who would emerge winners have to take oath under the very constitution to which “Gupkar Gang” is opposing.

According to a statement to KNS, Gupta, stated this while addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Srinagar, said that decision of PAGD to contest DDC polls reflects the dual politics being played by the who are out to fight against Indian constitution. “This is how Gupkar Gang is playing cheap politics and trying to befool people. On one hand they want to remain in the system and gain power and on the other, they are opposing the same constitution of which they are supposed to take oath,” said Gupta, who was flanked by BJP JK spokesman Altaf Thakur.

He said key leaders of PAGD like Mehbooba Mufti have stated that she won’t touch the tri-colour but tomorrow her party workers will take oath under the same flag when the DDC poll result is announced.

The BJP General Secretary said that “Gupkar Gang” is so afraid of BJP and its growing popularity in J&K that “it decided to stay united against us in the DDC polls.”

Gupta said that BJP will contest under its own symbol on all the DDC seats across J&K and show the “Gupkar Gang”, the real strength of the party. He said that people of J&K have rejected the dynasty politics and will not trust those who have looted state coffers for the past over seven decades.

Earlier, Gupta chaired a party level meet in Srinagar and received the feedback from party leaders on DDC polls. He directed party men to stay united and to strengthen the party on all fronts in all the districts of Kashmir.(KNS)

Srinagar: BJP spokesperson for Kashmir Ghulam Mohammed Mir Sunday assrted the party has good intent towards people of J&K while parties other than BJP have always decieved people through various tactics.

Talking to reporters in north Kashmir’s Handwara, Mir said BJP has clear vision and good intent towards its people in J&K and resembled People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) with Ali Baba Chalis Chor.

Criticizing the decision of PAGD to contest upcoming DDC polls in J&K, BJP leader said earlier the group cheated people in the name of restoration of Article 370 and when they understood the decision can’t be undo, they decided to take part in polls.

He said PAGD has nothing to say in public during election campaigning, however they are trying to dupe people of the Union Territory over restoration of Article 370.

The BJP leader said that Article 370 was just in paper and Kashmir based political parties were using it to make their political career and added “things have become normal in J&K after abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A)”. (KNS)

Jammu: People’s Alliance for Gupkar Decleration Dr Farooq Abdullah today clarified that Congress party is fighting elections together with PAGD parties.

“I met Mir (JK Congress Chief) and it was decided that Congress and PAGD affiliate parties will fight DDC elections together,” he told reporters during his visit to Raghunath Temple.
According to KNS, Regarding the Bihar election verdict, he said, “There is difference between exit poll and real poll. When the result will come, I will comment on it.”

It is important to mention PAGD affiliated parties have decided to fight upcoming DDC elections together.

J&K Congress President Ghulam Ahmed Mir confirmed meeting with Dr Abdullah in Jammu to KNS.

“It was a courtesy call regarding his health and well being. He is a respectable leader. The meeting lasted for ten minutes.”(KNS)

Srinagar: MeT predicts snow/ Rain in plains in Kashmir Valley next week.

An offcial told GNS that an active Western Disturbance is most likely to affect J&K and Ladakh during 13-15th November with main activity on 14th.

As a result of this, moderate rain /snow (1-2inches snow)is likely in plains of Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu and Ladakh, especially Drass, Zanskar and some area of Leh Disrict, whereas good snowfall is expected at places like Gulmarg, Gurez etc. (GNS)