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  • Mirwaiz castigates Govt for curbing religious freedom

    ‘Lingering Kashmir issue a danger for peace in South Asia’

    Srinagar: While condemning the  restrictions laid on Jamia Masjid in a bid to stop people from offering their first Friday Ramzaan prayers, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been placed under house arrest since early morning, stated that when entire Muslim Ummah was busy in worship, the biggest religious centre of Kashmir was kept forcibly out of bound for the Kashmiris-a highly regrettable and unacceptable move in the sacred month.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, while terming the restrictions laid on peaceful activities of political leaders as extremely aggressive, Mirwaiz stated that policy of repression and coercion would not prove to be helpful for creating a favorable atmosphere towards solution of Kashmir issue. He stated Kashmir has been turned into a military garrison in the wake of the visit of Indian Prime Minister, adding, it should become an eye opener for the Indian leadership to gauge the ground realities existing in Kashmir.

    Reiterating that lingering Kashmir issue was a danger for peace in south Asia,  He stated that it is a  reality that economic progress and regional stability are connected to the solution of Kashmir issue. He stated that till the dispute is not solved in its proper historical perspective, political rights of Kashmiris are not recognized and till the meaningful steps are not take to take the talks forward, tension and instability would continue to rule the region.

    Mirwaiz stated that the complete shutdown in Kashmir on the arrival of Indian prime minister clearly reflects where the emotions and aspirations of people lie. He stated that instead of suppressing the prevalent sentiments, the government of India should show political courage to solve the issue. APHC Chairman thanked people for observing complete strike and said people once again showed their unwavering commitment and resolve towards freedom struggle.

    Meanwhile, hurriyat spokesman has condemned the house arrest of APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, other senior leaders including Moulana Abbas Ansari, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Syed Salim Geelani, Zaffar Akbar Bhat and Javaid Ahmad Mir. Spokesman also condemned the arrest of Mukhtar Ahmad Waza and Engineer Hilal Ahmad War.  Spokesman said the authorities have usurped the rights of hurriyat leaders by laying restrictions on their social, political and religious activities. 

  • Shah thanks people for observing shutdown on Modi’s visit

    Srinagar: Expressing thankfulness to the people of Kashmir for observing complete shutdown on the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said though the state government had made full arrangements for the PM’s visit, still the people observed shutdown with full determination.

    “The state government, by making full arrangements for Modi’s visit, tried to give an impression that PM’s visit will solve much of the issues of valley but Kashmiri nation, by rejecting the government propaganda observed complete shutdown across the length and breadth of the valley for which I am extremely thankful to them,” Shah in a statement issued to media on Friday said.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, he said that to observe shutdown against the tyranny of forcible rulers is a political step which is aimed at sending a clear message to the world that Kashmiris are struggling against the forcible occupation of India and that people of Kashmir are fully backing the ongoing freedom struggle against India. “To observe shutdown against Modi’s visit is part of our resistance movement,” he said.

    Meanwhile, HCJK spokesperson has severely condemned the house arrest and frequent raids of its leaders. He said the tyrant rulers have put the pro-freedom leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Ghulam Muhammad Ganai and Ayaz Akbar under house arrest and raided the residences of Muhammad Yusuf Naqash and Bilal Ahmad Shah. “This is a frustration of government,” the spokesperson added.

  • Turning valley into a military cantonment, can’t make Modi’s visit successful: SM

    Srinagar: Amid deployment of Lakhs of Indian army troops India Prime Minister’s Kashmir valley visit was nothing but to hide the fact that Kashmir is a conflict. From last three days Indian armed forces have caged the valley and changed it into military cantonment area, vehicles are being frisked and civilians searched. Innocent Youths and pro-freedom leadership including Zaffer Akbar Bhat have been detained and put under house arrest; oppressed Kashmiris expressed their anguish and observed a complete shutdown. So after these oppressive and suppressive measures can any term the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Kashmir visit successful, these views are expressed by Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement chairman, Zaffer Akbar Bhat who continues under house detention since yesterday evening, in an issued statement.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Zaffer said that first elected Prime Minister of India, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru promised with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar Lal Chowk that they will be allowed to decide their future, However the Indian political leadership including the Nehru used delayed tact’s but the issue of Kashmir can’t changed or resolved through economic packages. He said that India is signatory on United Kashmir resolutions which needs to be implemented for the final and peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue besides world community is olbliged to help Kashmiri people. Party spokesman condemned the house detention of Bhat and other pro-freedom leaders and youths.  he said that through these brutal tact’s India can’t crush the ongoing freedom struggle. He thanked people of Kashmir for observing a complete shutdown.

  • Modi’s ‘Insaniyat’ policy stands exposed: Waza

    Srinagar: Jammu Kashmir Peoples League Chairman, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza who continues to be under house detention since yesterday evening, castigated Indian authorities for imposing curfew and restrictions on the eve of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir.

    In a statement issued to KNS, Waza ridiculed Indian Prime Minister Narenrda Modi and said that by imposing curfew, restrictions, detaining youths, pro-freedom leadership and lashing a reign of terror among the civilian populations of Kashmir, he has conveyed the message that India and its military forces will continue to muzzle the genuine freedom struggle of Kashmiris through power and gun.

    “Is this the policy of ‘Insanayt’ which Narendra Modi claims to have fallowed of his colleague and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee? This is again a direct message to the oppressed population of Kashmir valley that they will continue to use oppressive tact’s to crush the freedom struggle.” Waza said.

    He said that Narendra Mod’s claims of resolving the dispute in the pyramids of ‘Insanayat’ policy stands exposed with the fact that on his very first visit Indian and its troops who are involved in heinous human rights violations lashed a reign of terror and continued its oppressive and suppressive policy.

    Thanking People of Kashmir for observing a complete shutdown, Waza said that yet again oppressed Kashmiris conveyed their peaceful political message to international community besides visiting Indian Prime Minister and both must take a strong note of it.

    “Complete shutdown on the eve of Indian Prime Minister’s visit is peaceful political message to the world community and to the India. Observing shutdown is clear cut message to India that they we have not accepted their illegal occupation, therefore wasting money, time and energy India must took bold steps for the early resolution of Kashmir issue besides international community too should take a strong note of the feelings and aspirations of oppressed Kashmiri people which they are expressing by observing shutdowns and sacrificing their lives,” he said. He requested international community to help in the final peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue for establishing peace and prosperity in whole south Asian region.

  • 39 injured in Sumbal road mishaps

    Srinagar: Thirty nine persons were injured in two separate road accidents at Sumbal in District Bandipora this afternoon.

    Thirty four persons were injured when a bus bearing registration number Jk02C-5491, they were travelling in, turned turtle at Dangerpora, in the jurisdiction of Police station Sumbal, Bandipora. All the injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment. Sumbal Police has registered a case in this regard.

    According to a police statement issued to KNS, an Accent car bearing registration number PB-BM-4441 on way from Srinagar to Baltal met with an accident at Wangipora, in the jurisdiction of Police station Sumbal, Bandipora, resulting in injuries to five persons. All the injured have been shifted to JVC Hospital, Srinagar for treatment. Sumbal police has registered a case in this regard.

  • First Friday of Ramadhan: No Azan, Prayers in Jamia Masjid

    Srinagar: Despite being the first Friday of the ongoing month of Ramadhan, no congregation prayers were offered at Kashmir’s historic Jamia Masjid in old city. According to the KNS correspondent, authorities since Thursday evening placed Kashmir’s chief religious cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest who was supposed to deliver Friday sermon in the grand mosque.

    Reports informed that in view of the Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s visit to valley and the strike call issued by the separatist leadership here, curfew and restrictions, on first Friday of Ramadhan, were imposed in old city with the roads wearing deserted look. No Friday congregation prayers were allowed in Jamia Masjid.

    Police also have placed Masjid’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention. Strict curfew has been imposed in various places in and outside the Srinagar in view of the Modi’s first visit to Kashmir. Meanwhile, various pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others have been placed under arrest.

  • Address Delhi- Srinagar trust deficit: Mirwaiz tells GOI

    ‘I requested Pak not to invite separatists during Nawaz’s India visit’

    Said Kashmir neither an integral part nor a jugular vein

    Srinagar: Days after the Al-Qaeda threat made headlines in Kashmir, Chairman Huriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday remarked that Kashmir problem is not about waging Jihad as the same is a political problem and not a religious one.

    “As a religious head, I will say the problem of Kashmir is not religious; it is not a problem of Hindus vs Muslims; or Muslim Kashmir vs a Hindu India. It is a political problem. It is not about waging jihad. The problem has religious undertones, but it’s a political problem,” said Mirwaiz during an interview with a National newspaper. Mirwaiz added, “Our position is that there must be an attempt to re-unify all five regions — not just the areas under Indian control but also those under Pakistani control,” he said.

    About Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to India during the swearing in ceremony of Modi, Mirwaiz that he personally approached Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi and requested him not to arrange any meeting with the separatists at this juncture. “Let Pakistan and India take the (peace) process forward. We don’t want to play spoilsport, that everyone says Pakistan and India met for a special occasion and now Hurriyat has come and spoiled the occasion,” he said.

    Kashmir’s chief religious cleric stated that he doesn’t want people to die on the streets and that the ongoing resistnace movement has been graduated from violence to non-violence. “The fact is you might not see protests, but this movement has graduated to a level where it is defined in the psychology and soul of every Kashmiri.”

    Mirwaiz maintained further, “Kashmiris have to protest all the time and get killed just to convey the message that everything is not normal. By this mindset, New Delhi is pushing people to the wall. They are telling the pro-freedom parties that there should be militancy and protests again. But we don’t want people to die.”

    He stated that the UPA government has had the lot of opportunities to resolve Kashmir but all time at that time was wasted with the divide being strengthened further between Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.” They had many opportunities, with Pakistan, with leaders here to move forward. Cross-LoC initiatives could have been built up, but rather than that, it’s more a politics of division. Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh are at loggerheads with each other.” Mirwaiz stated that Huriyat can be a bridge vis-à-vis Delhi-Srinagar-Islamabad if India wants to reach out and that when a positive start has been made by the Pakistan, Delhi- Srinagar trust deficit must be addressed and holistic approach be taken. 

  • Kashmir shuts on PM’s visit Curfew like restrictions in old city

    First Friday of Ramadhan No Azan, Prayers in Jamia Masjid

    Situation remained normal: IGP Kashmir

    Srinagar: Curfew like restrictions were in place in Srinagar on Friday with the huge deployment of police and paramilitary forces made to thwart any protest demonstrations after Friday prayers.

    According to the KNS correspondent, curfew like restrictions was imposed in several areas of Srinagar including the old city wherein barricades and concertina were placed to   put curbs on pedestrian movement.

    Kashmir’s separatist leadership earlier had called for a strike on July 4 against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reports have maintained that a complete shutdown was observed in various parts of valley on Friday   – the first Friday in the ongoing month of Ramadhan. People preferred to stay indoors with the roads of the summer capital giving the deserted look. Shops and other business establishments remained closed and the educational institutions were shut due to the non- availability of the transport services. Government and private offices also marked the negligible attendance.

    In old city of Srinagar, huge deployment of forces was made and the barricades and concertina wires were placed on the middle of the various roads to keep a check on the pedestrian movement. In Hawal, Safa Kadal, Khaniyar, Nowhatta and adjoining areas the barbed wires were placed at the connecting routes and the people were denied the permission to travel towards Nowhatta.

    The Maisuma area of Srinagar remained under siege with no one being allowed to enter into the area. Troops were seen deployed at the check points to foil any protest demonstration. Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik was Friday morning arrested from his Maisuma residence.  Reports said police raided Malik’s residence and detained him at Kothi Bagh Police Station. In various other area of upper town, people complained of strict curfew like restrictions- maintaining that no one was allowed to leave their places with the deployment of forces in the area were much large in number.

    Also several employees of the Radio Kashmir Srinagar Friday stated that the forces didn’t allow them to proceed towards the station while as various people accused that they were   not allowed to visit GB Pant hospital to get their children treated. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown is being observed in the whole valley on the call of separatists. 

    IGP Kashmir A G Mir, told KNS: “The situation remained normal and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere today.” A senior spokesman in the civil administration told KNS, that the restrictions in the city have been lifted and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. “There will be no restriction tomorrow,” said the senior officer in the civil administration.

    Despite being the first Friday of the ongoing month of Ramadhan, no congregation prayers were offered at Kashmir’s historic Jamia Masjid in old city. According to the KNS correspondent, authorities since Thursday evening placed Kashmir’s chief religious cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest who was supposed to deliver Friday sermon in the grand mosque.

    Reports informed that in view of the Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s visit to valley and the strike call issued by the separatist leadership here, curfew and restrictions, on first Friday of Ramadhan, were imposed in old city with the roads wearing deserted look. No Friday congregation prayers were allowed in Jamia Masjid.

    Police also have placed Masjid’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention. Strict curfew has been imposed in various places in and outside the Srinagar in view of the Modi’s first visit to Kashmir. Meanwhile, various pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others have been placed under arrest.

  • Taj drops bombshell: ‘Power Project inaugurated by Modi has no license to operate’

    ‘NHPC has long history of deceits in J&K’

    ‘State Govt can close the project; Locals will file PIL against NHPC’

    Srinagar: In a shocking revelation, Minister for Health and Medical education and senior Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin on Friday said that the 240 MW Uri-II Hydro Electric Project inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no license to operate.  

    Talking to KNS, Taj accused National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) of having a ‘long history of deceits’ in Jammu and Kashmir. “The NHPC had applied for license for this projects which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi today but the license has not been issued because NHPC has not completed any formalities sofar,” the minister for health and medical education informed.

    Taj said that NHPC has started the project without any license. “NHPC was supposed to obtain the license under Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Act but they have not completed the modalities required for the same. NHPC authorities have no respect for the local laws.”

    Taj alleged that NHPC has always deceived the state of Jammu and Kashmir. “There is an agreement between the state government and the central government wherein NHPC was supposed to construct a bridge, set up a stadium, construct a bus stand besides providing employment to the local youth. But the NHPC authorities have failed to implement this agreement. They have not done anything,” Taj who as minister for PHE and irrigation had taken a tough stand against NHPC last year.

    Taj said that he as the minister for PHE and Irrigation had written to Prime Minister’s during Dr Manmohan Singh’s period informing the PMO that the NHPC has not obtained any license for the project so Dr Singh should not give his consent to inaugurate the same. “I had conveyed the PMO that inauguration of this project will create a new controversy,” the minister for health and medical   revealed.

    When asked that what action the state government will take if the NHPC has violated the state laws, Taj said: “The government can close the project.” He added that people of Uri will now approach the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the NHPC very soon

  • PM dedicates 240 MW Uri-II Hydro Electric Project to the nation

    Dedicates Katra rail link to Nation

    Winning hearts of people of J&K my priority

    Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated 240 MW Uri-II Hydro Electric Project here.  Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the government has laid stress on environment-friendly energy of which hydro power is an important constituent. He said J&K has a potential of production of 13-14 thousand MW clean and environment-friendly energy for which he said all the efforts would be channelized.

    Narendra Modi said J&K is on the path of development and progress and visualized many big mile stones in coming days. Prime Minister also announced upgradation of Local Kendraya Vidalya from High School to Higher Secondary School for which admission would be started from the coming session.

    Governor, N. N. Vohra, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Union Minister of State for Power, Piyush Goyal, MLC, G.N. Monga, Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khanday, DGP, K Rajendra, Principal Secretary Power, A. K. Mehta, Divisional Commissioner, Shalendra Kumar, IGP, A. G. Mir, Chief Engineer Power, Deputy Commissioner, Barmaulla, officers of NHPC, HCC and district administration were present on the occasion.

    Meanwhile, dedicating the Udhampur –Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway line to the people of the nation by flagging off the train from Katra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that chugging of train to Katra will accelerate and give a new momentum to the development of the state. Modi also flagged off first train–a DMU– from newly constructed Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Katra Railway Station, “Today Jammu and Kashmir will get both speed and energy. I am inaugurating this and a power project later today,” the Prime Minister said adding that “On one side Amarnath Yatra is on, on the other there is Ramdhan being observed and at the same time this  new facility comes up for devotees to connect to Mata Vaishnoo Devi ,” Modi said, suggesting that the train be called ‘Shri Shakti Express’. He congratulated the people of the nation and said the vital rail link will fulfill the aspirations of the people across the nation.

    N. N. Vohra, Governor of J&K and Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of J&K, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda Union Minister of Railways, Shri Manoj  Sinha, Minister of State for Railways, Government of India and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Earth Science & Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Government of India.  Chairman Railway Board, Shri Arunendra Kumar, Member Engineering Railway Board Shri V. K. Gupta, General Manager, Northern Railway & North Central Railway Shri Pradeep Kumar, Senior officials of Railways and J&K State Government were among those present on the occasion.

    “Katra will see massive growth and emerge as the centre stage of major economic and developmental activities in the coming 10 years and its impact will percolate to all the facets and dimensions of development of the state” Prime Minister said adding that better infrastructure and developmental projects have their positive spillover effects in terms of employment generation and overall growth. Prime Minister assured that the start made by former Prime Minister Atalji for connecting Jammu and Kashmir through Railways will be taken ahead.

    Assuring holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister said that J&K has faced lot of hardships and it is collective responsibility of all to work for the growth of the state. ”Carrying forward the ideology of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and winning the hearts of the people of J&K is my priority and it will be strengthened by development and growth for progress and prosperity of people of state”, Prime Minister added.

    Mr. Modi said that development should aim at bringing about a qualitative change in the life of all stakeholders and all developmental activities should be conceptualized by setting benchmarks for sustainable growth. He said that the Himalayan states have their unique set of problems and developmental aspirations and government is ensuring all efforts to meet these needs and aspirations. He maintained that development should keep focus on promotion and protection of ecology of these regions. He maintained that unique environment friendly infrastructural development will be promoted in the Himalayan states.

    The 25.6 km long track came up at an estimated cost of Rs.1132.75 cr and has 10.9 km of tunneling, one important, seven major and 29 minor bridges. The station on this section is Chakrakhwal in addition to Udhampur & Katra. The construction of the rail line necessitated building of 11 Road-Over-Bridges & 1Road-Under-Bridge besides one pipe-line crossing in addition to 3 Foot-over-Bridges and 38.86 lakh cum earthwork. The bridge on River Jhajjar is the longest Steel Girder Bridge in India with a height of 85 m and with two spans of 154m each. Prime Minister said that State of Art facilities at Katra Railway Station will attract a huge influx of tourists and expressed hope that the impact will reinforce the developmental activities in Jammu too.

    He said that in a unique initiative and centre-state partnership to improve the facilities for the tourists. Tourism infrastructure will be developed in state and also a single ticket facility will be provided to travel to Katra and further to Banihal by bus and to proceed to Kashmir via train.

    He said that it is also the time to introspect as how much the benefits of developmental initiatives have actually reached the grass root. He maintained that growth is achieved only when the person living in the farthest and remotest parts of the nation enjoys the benefits of development. Mr Modi said that development initiatives should have a spillover effect to bring vital changes in the socio-economic status of the people.

    Speaking on the improvement of railways, Prime Minister said that new guidelines have been forwarded for developing ultra modern railway stations to facilitate the travelers adding that such developmental initiatives will turn into economically viable projects and will attract private participation in the field. He stressed that it is important that the railway stations should be revamped to provide services and ambience at par with airports .We should also make better use of SOLAR ENERGY and all railway stations should draw Solar Power” said Mr Modi.

    Mr Modi said that in order to give impetus to rail connectivity in the state, Northern Railway plans to extend the 3 pairs of DEMU train services currently servicing from Jammu Tawi to Udhampur to Katra. The Railway also proposes to run 3 pairs of Express trains from New Delhi, Kalka and Ahmedabad to Katra besides the proposal to run 3 pairs of Premium trains from Bandra (T), Howrah and Yeshwantpur to Katra in the year ahead

    Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station is provided with modern passenger conveniences. It is a four line crossing station. Platform No. 1, 2 & 3 the main passenger train dealing platforms are 550m long high level Platform each with 400 m long platform shelter.

    One escalator connecting station building and PF-1 is also provided here. Sufficient water booths are provided on all platforms. Public conveniences, water taps, benches, etc. are also provided on all the platforms. One through FOB has been provided for the local people of the town.

    Earlier the Union Railway Minster, D.V. Sadananda gave a resume of the project and other important aspects and said that Permanent job in Railways has been provided to one of the family members, whose more than 75% of land has been acquired and job to 700 persons has been given so far in this project. The completion of this project will provide an all weather and reliable connectivity to the J&K State with rest of the country by the railway network and also provide connectivity by rail to far flung areas of J&K which will result in overall development of the state. Construction of Access Roads – More than 235 Km approach road to work sites is being constructed; these roads will provide connectivity to far-flung villages and will connect them to the main stream. Later, the Prime Minister flew back to Delhi.