Srinagar, Dec 11: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that the results in five states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chatisgarh, Tilangana and Manipur is outright rejection of Mandir-Masjid politics and shows that political awakening among the people in India is on rise.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Mehbooba said, “Results show people have voted for the betterment of their lives and economic development, and have refused to be lead by Mandir-Masjid politics. The results show the people of India truly believe in religious brotherhood and don’t like politics of intolerance and hate. Some leaders who tried to divide people on religious lines spreading discord and hate red among masses have been shown the door. The brotherhood among people in these states has triumphed over divisive forces as shown by the trends set by the election results in five states of the country.”
Blog
-
People rejected Mandir-Masjid politics, results show political awakening on rise in India: Mehbooba
-
Three cops killed, another injured as militants attack police post in Shopian
Srinagar: Three policemen were killed and another injured after militants attacked a police post, guarding the minority community at Zainapora area of Shopian district of south Kashmir on Tuesday.
Official sources told GNS that a group of militants opened fire upon the police post, resulting into the on spot death of three security guards and injuries to another at Zainapora.The injured cop has been taken to hospital for treatment, however, his condition is stated to be critical.The militants after carrying out the deadly attack decamped with four service rifles from the guard the cops, they said.A senior police officer also confirmed the death of three policemen and injuries to another.He said that the cops were guarding the minority community in the area.Soon after the attack, a joint team of army and SOG launched a massive hunt to nab the assailants. (GNS) -
Govt ready to deal with any weather eventuality
Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan on Monday said that Divisional Administration is fully prepared and ready to deal any kind of weather eventuality.
The Divisional Commissioner made these remarks while addressing the media persons here today at a function organized by JKSHRC.
He said that after receiving weather advisory from Indian Meteorological Centre, Rambagh keeping in mind the inclement weather conditions, Government had prepared a zone and location wise action and management plan across the Valley to prevent any kind of interruption in services due to the bad weather. Zonal teams from concerned departments have been constituted to meet any exigency during the inclement weather period. Joint control rooms have been set up in every zone that will be monitored by the main control room established at every Deputy Commissioner’s office to review daily operations. Men and Machinery are in ready to tackle any kind of eventuality. Essential Commodities and medicines were already stocked in far-flung and cut off areas.
People residing in far-flung and avalanche prone areas are advised to pay to heed the weather advisories seriously, which are issued by the Divisional Commissioner’s office from time to time.
-
NOT IN RACE FOR RBI GOVERNOR POST: HASEEB DRABU
Srinagar, Dec 10: Putting the speculations to rest about his being the next probable Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Dr Haseeb Drabu Monday evening said that “he was not in the race.”
Responding to Ziraat Times question about the possibility of him being the next Governor of the RBI, Dr Drabu said that he was not running for the position.
On Monday, Reserve Bank of India’s present Governor Dr. Urjit R. Patel resigned from his position citing ‘personal reasons’ for his decision. He was serving the RBI September 4, 2016 onwards, after his predecessor Raghuram Rajan stepped down from the post.
Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan served the central bank for three years, between September 4, 2013 to September 4, 2016.
Dr Haseeb Drabu has previously served as the Finance Minister for J&K government.
He has also been involved with national economic policy making in India for a decade, including in the Planning Commission, Finance Commission and the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister. He was instrumental in writing of the report of the Tenth Finance Commission which changed the fiscal federal relations in India.
He has also served as an editor at Business Standard.
-
Will continue our fight to seek whereabouts of our loved ones: APDP chief on World HR Day
Srinagar: The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons(ADDP) led by Pervena Ahanger Monday held a silent protest against the continuous disappearance of their loved ones and the callous approach of New Dehli and the State government in tracing out their family members, subjected to enforced disappearance since 1989 across the state.
APDP Chairperson Parveena Ahangar while talking to Valley Media Service said that the main aim of their protest is to make the world community aware of the plight of people of Kashmir.
“We don’t want money or anything. We only want our disappeared. We have no hope from the government, and we will continue to seek the whereabouts of our disappeared till we are alive,” Ahanger said.
“We want to draw the attention of international rights groups for intervening and mounting pressure on India to provide whereabouts of our missing family members,” she added.
She said that despite being a signatory to the international conventions against human rights violations, India seems less bothered to deliver justice to those families whose loved ones were arrested and then subjected to enforced disappearances by security agencies here
The family members of disappeared youth castigated the successive governments for being indifferent towards their pain and agony. “Neither National Conference nor PDP did anything for them to trace their missing loved one. If BJP will trace our loved ones dead or alive, we will certainly then support this party,” said an elderly woman whose son according to her was picked by Border Security Forces during a crackdown 18 years ago and since then she doesn’t know about his.
Wearing white head bands with names of disappeared people written in black, the relatives participated in APDP’s proposed sit-in program to draw attention of the government and the media to seek information about their loved ones, who have vanished, presumed dead or imprisoned without trial or record.(VMS)
-
Omar Abdullah accepts defeat before elections: Ravinder Raina
Srinagar: BJP’s state president, Ravinder Raina on Monday said that the 40 minutes address by National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah at Jammu office of NC was nothing but mere display of frustration being out of power and fear of future defeats in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
“Baseless allegations and false claims were arrows in wrong directions in an attempt to win over the confidence of the people of Jammu in particular. In nutshell it was an old wine being served in new bottle, which might have intoxicated the audience for few hours,” Raina said as per a statement issued.
He also termed Omar’s address as ‘a sign of acceptance of defeat by none other than NC State Vice-President himself’. Ravinder Raina said that whatever has been uttered by Omar Abdullah is bundle of lies with no logic or proof. “Dragging the names of country’s prestigious investigation agencies like NIA and CBI in the alleged threatening of MLAs is a serious matter and Omar Abdullah should come out with proof or seek public apology for indulging in such level of politics,” he said.
“Before raising finger on BJP-PDP coalition in the state, Ravinder Raina reminded that it was BJP in Jammu and PDP in Kashmir which got maximum seats on their own and the mandate was honoured by both parties by forming alliance government, which remained an eyesore for NC during three and half years,” he added.
“How funny it is that Omar Abdullah is now shedding crocodile tears for Jammu and its people but he should first explain why this region remained neglected and discriminated during decades of rule by his party,” he said.
“Today Omar Abdullah is questioning BJP on the issues of refugees, Kashmiri Pandits, UT status for Ladakh, he must get himself acquainted with correct information that only BJP has taken up these issues and more or less the fact is that these issues have surfaced with the active participation from the senior members of his own party at some point of time,” he said.
“Before talking of corruption, Omar should tell as to who is involved in JKCA case,” Raina said, saying BJP do not need any certificate from NC or its leadership as the people of Jammu are best judges and can differentiate between the pro-Jammu and anti-Jammu political dispensations.
“BJP was always on roads for the cause of Jammu and the NC governments always silenced our voice by use of force on agitating karyakartas and putting them in jails,” he said.
-
Teenagers joining militancy a new worry for police
We are checking why it has happened: IGP Kashmir
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police has sought the feedback from the its district heads about the fresh trend of teenagers joining the militant ranks so that appropriate measures are taken to plug it before “situation goes out of hand.”
“We are checking what has actually happened. I have sought the report (in this regard),” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, told reporters here on the sidelines of a function here.
On Sunday, in an 18-hour-long gunfight, two teenagers—Mudasir Parray, 14 and Saqib Bilal, 17, both residents of Hajin Bandipora area of north Kashmir were killed along with a Pakistani militant Ali Bhai in a fierce encounter at Mujgund area on Srinagar outskirts.The killing of Mudasir and Saqib triggered a fresh debate as to whether teenagers joining militancy was a dangerous trend in Kashmir though it was not for the first time.
A Police officer told KNO that they are looking into the things that push the youth, especially the teenagers into the militancy. “We need to plug it sooner the better though it has not taken a serious turn yet,” he said wishing not to be named. “We will assess all the past cases as to what pushes the youth to militancy.”
On the social network, the pictures of Mudasir, who had joined Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in August this year along with his friend and neighbour Saqib, have gone viral. “This is dangerous trend, what has happened to Kashmir. 14 year old boy, who should have been holding pen in his hand, died fighting forces,” wrote Shahzad Ahmed, a netizen.(KNO) -
Pak will continue to lend full support to people of Kashmir: Imran Khan
Islamabad: Pakistan would continue to lend full diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday.
Khan’s remarks came in a message on the Human Rights Day which is observed every year on December 10.
This year, the Human Rights Day marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“On the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we reaffirm our full diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for human dignity, respect and inalienable right to self-determination, he said.
He said this year is also significant for Pakistan as it has joined the UN Human Rights Council.
“Pakistan’s membership of the Council, for the fourth time, is a testimony to the confidence of the international community in Pakistan, as a consensus builder within the international human rights policy framework,” he said.
-
Calling off operation better option to save trapped minor boys: Sajad Lone
SRINAGAR: The killing of a minor militant in Srinagar gunfight has evoked sharp criticism from different quarters of society. Senior political leaders and People’s Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone has advised establishment to call off operations when any minor is trapped in a cordon and search operation.
Mudasir Rashid Parrey (14) and Sakib Bilal (17), the two minor militants from Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in Mujhgund fierce gun battle. A Pakistan militant Ali Bahi was also killed in the same gun fight.
While reacting over the killing of a minor boy, Sajad Lone tweeted: “The killing of a fourteen year old is sad and scary. The administration should exhaust all non military options when a minor is involved. Calling off such an operation is a better option. And the involvement of minors in non state military activity merits thought from the society.”Sajad Lone
@sajadlone
The killing of a fourteen year old is sad and scary. The administration should exhaust all non military options when a minor is involved. calling off such an operation is a better option. And the involvement of minors in non state military activity merits thought from the societyMajid Hyderi
@majidhyderi
Labeling a 14-yr-old as “Terrorist” is contemptuous and killing him even bigger abuse of Child Laws in India, to say the least.
Because at least kids deserve a chance to live.#KashmirNeedsDialogue#Kashmir#KashmirBleeds #Srinagar #MJH -
Never said J&K conflict was ‘Hindu India versus Muslim Kashmir’, says Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar
Mirwaiz, who is also the chief cleric of the Valley’s main mosque, spoke to HT about the meeting and the Hurriyat’s desire for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq , chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella organisation of separatist groups in Kashmir, and his colleagues met former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik in the Valley last month.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq , chairman of the Hurriyat Conference and the chief cleric of the Valley’s main mosque, spoke to Ashiq Hussain about the separatist body’s position on a peaceful resolution for the Kashmir problem, the difference in approach between the Vajpayee and Modi governments, and why the Hurriyat has failed to make headway. Edited excerpts:
When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, you were hopeful of forward movement on Kashmir citing your experiences under (late former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee era. Does that hope still exist?
There has been a change in policy as far as New Delhi is concerned as compared to the policy adopted by then NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government under Vajpayee. I think the basis of that engagement then was the realisation that Kashmir is a humanitarian problem. That is why Mr Vajpayee said we are willing to engage within the ambit of humanity. That opened a way for us to engage with Delhi and also go to Pakistan… This was a triangular approach where every party was talking to the other party. That approach is totally missing now. We have seen hardening of stand and extreme repression. That Vajpayee doctrine has been replaced by Doval doctrine. Now the state is engaging people through cordon-and-search operations. While Vajpayee was talking about peace, Mr Modi and his team are talking about war.
After Imran Khan came to power in Pakistan, he has repeatedly talked about Kashmir.
From day one , he (Imran Khan) mentioned that ‘if India walks one step, we will walk two steps.’ Pakistan did mean to engage but there has to be willingness on both sides. Mr Khan is repeatedly asking India to engage but there is no response on this side. The thing is that New Delhi is not willing to engage with Islamabad or with Kashmiris at this juncture. May be it has to do with the coming elections. It is very clear that their agenda is Hindutva and they want to focus on that.
India says there will be no talks till violence stops and accuses Pakistan of fomenting trouble in?Kashmir.
Many analysts say that if the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) feels that they are on a weaker wicket, they might use Kashmir and Pakistan in a broader context. If anything doesn’t work, definitely Pakistan, terrorism and Kashmir are those issues where they can rake up nationalistic ideas. It has to be seen what happens. And India accusing Pakistan of violence — they have been doing it for the past many years. The fact is that these are indigenous, young Kashmiri boys who are getting killed, maimed and blinded.
It has been more than 25 years that the separatists have been working in Kashmir without any breakthrough on the issue. Why have you failed?
What can you do when the other side is not ready to acknowledge the problem? They are only using military means. There is not much you can do other than being steadfast and strong. And that is what we have done. And that is what people have shown – generations of Kashmiris. Every other day we have to deal with different issues or disputes. Issues like settling outsiders, institutional autonomies and J&K Bank (turned into a public sector bank).
How do you see the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Kashmir?
As far as the Kashmir militant movement is concerned, you can’t label it as al-Qaeda or any other thing. There is absolutely no trace of that. Even parties like Hizbul Mujahideen and others, they have been very clear about what their goal is. They are limited to Kashmir. There are certain aberrations, certain youth; when you are pushed to the wall, there is a possibility that certain sections tend to see things from a different picture. As a Mirwaiz, as a religious head, we have always maintained that it is a political problem. We have never said that it is Hindu India versus Muslim Kashmir.
This year has turned out to be the deadliest as far as killing of militants has been concerned in recent years. The central government says they are gaining control of the situation.
When has India said otherwise? India is claiming that Kashmir is our integral part but the fact is that (they) are not bothered about its people. It is only territory they are talking about. It is a very clear indication that they are dealing with the problem militarily. They are only bothered about how it is going to be played out in India. The public opinion is also being molded by a jingoistic media.
Hurriyat’s meeting with ex-PM of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik has generated a lot of buzz. How did it come about?
It was after 5-6 years that a visit by any foreign dignitary happened. Mr Bondevik and particularly Oslo Center (founded by Bondevik) have some experience in conflict regions. He came here, went to Delhi, and went across to Islamabad. The important thing is that he talked about involvement of Kashmiris and secondly that there can be no military solution. Definitely his visit must have the blessings of certain powers; otherwise he would not have been allowed to come here.
So you think the Centre had given him the go-ahead?
Definitely, there has been some interest on Kashmir recently in the international arena ,especially after the UN (human rights) report on Kashmir. We hope the initiative will continue and there is some movement forward.
In the recent urban body polls, you gave a boycott call while the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) abstained, which resulted in the BJP making impressive gains in Kashmir, uncontested. Would you again ask the people to boycott and allow the BJP to dominate?
In terms of space to pro-India parties, NC, PDP or BJP won’t make any difference. In any case the institution of the army and the paramilitary forces is what guides government of India’s policy here. Even today, NC and PDP are getting labelled as being pro-Pakistan. I don’t think BJP making inroads is going to bother us because they are using money and muscle.
I think it is the NC and PDP which are at a crossroads. They have to decide what they have to do because of the fact that they have been discredited by the government of India. They have to take a call. They are the face of India in Kashmir.