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Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday threatened to step down if New Delhi fails to hold dialogue over Kashmir. The statement comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, put normalcy as a pre-condition to dialogue in a meeting between the two in New Delhi on Monday.
“If there is no heed paid to the demand of holding talks, I am ready to leave my chair,” reliable sources in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) quoted from the Mehbooba Mufti’s address at a meeting of party legislators here on Tuesday.
During the meeting at Mehbooba’s Faireview residence at Gupkar, the PDP president said that time had come for the central government to work on issues agreed in the Agenda of Alliance. She has asked her party members to reconnect to people in Kashmir, especially the youth at grassroots, and work for avoiding any further deterioration in the situation in valley, party sources said.
“The party members should reconnect with the grassroots without any delay and work to engage youth so that the situation does not slip out of hands once again,” sources said she told the meeting.
Tuesday’s meeting came as a part of a series of meetings the party has been holding with its leaders and workers to chalk out a way forward in view of the present situation in Kashmir, a party member told Kashmir Reader.
On Monday, the Chief Minister held a core group meeting in which she said the ruling dispensation in New Delhi is ready to initiate a dialogue on Kashmir but wants atmosphere to be conducive first.
She informed the members about her meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, at New Delhi on Monday. She told the meeting she was categorical to New Delhi that the overall peace and development in Kashmir depends on the dialogue.

Kashmir Reader

Srinagar: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today pitched for “mohalla clinics” in Kashmir that would offer healthcare to people at doorstep.  

President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said that mohalla clinics would bring healthcare delivery services to underserved and unserved.

These community clinics would provide better primary health care coverage and reduce the burden on tertiary care hospitals.

They will provide consultations, diagnostic tests, and medicines to people in their neighborhoods’.

This will be a paradigm change where instead of patients going to hospitals, medicare will come to them.

Senior citizens will be particularly benefitted who are unable to go to hospitals.

Clinics in neighborhood will reinvent the age old bond between doctors and patients that is so essential for patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment.

There is ample evidence that comfort and convenience of home environment allow patients to recover faster.

With abysmal primary health care, more often than not, patients end up going to tertiary care hospitals even for basic health care needs.

More than 90% of patients who throng to these hospitals can be treated in these clinics freeing tertiary care doctors to take care of more critical cases.

These clinics will help to prevent sickness and illness that would reduce the disease burden in the community.

 They will be referral links between community and tertiary care hospitals that would bring huge relief to patients.

This system is in practice at Delhi and has been running successfully for past two years.

The health programme has been praised by “Lancet” medical Journal which in its report has said that Delhi’s mohalla clinics are offering key advantage to the beneficiaries.

With its popularity, other states are replicating the model.

Under the prevailing conditions, it is all the more important for Kashmir and needs immediate legislative push.

Srinagar, April 24, CNS: A week after the opening of educational institutions in Valley, student of SP Higher Secondary school on Monday clashed with police in Kashmir capital Srinagar.

Eyewitnesses said that a large number of students from SP Higher Secondary School came out from the college and assembled on the road. Their presence on the MA Road disrupted vehicular movement prompting police to rush to the spot.

Witnesses added that though a large number of security personnel were deployed outside the college gate, students broke the gate and rushed towards the road. As students marched on the road amid pro-freedom slogans, police exercised maximum restraint and didn’t retaliate. The chaos and confusion prevailed on the roads due to students protest.

Reports said that students who were chased away by police resorted to stone-pelting. At city centre Lal Chowk, even girl students were seen pelting stones on Government Forces. During clashes a photoo journalists including Habib Naqash, Bilal Bahadur, Shah Jehangir, Danish Ismayil, Farooq Ahmed Khan and Basit Zargar were wounded. A police official told CNS that at least six students involved in stone-pelting were detained and lodged at police station Kothi Bagh. He added that several cops including SDPO Imran Farooq and SHO Kothibagh Rashid Ahmed were hurt during clashes. Reports said that Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Imtiyaz Ismail Parray was hit by a stone in his right elbow during the clashes. Police fired several tear-smoke shells to disperse the agitated students. They also fired some bullets in air to restore order.

During the day-long clashes between police and students, normal life in city centre Lal Chowk Srinagar was affected while shops remained shut. From MA Road the clashes spread to Lal Chowk. Witnesses said that besides, students, pedestrians too pelted stones on police and CRPF. Several students reportedly received injuries. One of the injured was a girl student from Mallinson School. Witnesses said that a group of girl students pelted stones on parked CRPF vehicles at Ghanta Ghar. The chaos and confusion prevailed in city centre whole day. 

The students of Government College for Women also staged peaceful protest on the busy MA road in Srinagar. Reports said that students boycotted their classes and staged massive protests inside the college in which pro-freedom slogans were raised. Witnesses said that a large number of students instead of attending classes assembled in the college premises and raised pro-freedom slogans. The students as per eyewitnesses didn’t boycott the classes.

 Pertinently, authorities on Monday ordered opening of universities, colleges and higher secondary schools in Jammu and Kashmir after a week’s closure. These educational institutions had remained closed for over a week following widespread protests by students after government forces entered Degree College Pulwama in south Kashmir on April 12.

Over 50 students had been injured in clashes on April 12 in Pulwama after students protested setting up a check post outside the college by the government forces. (CNS)

Srinagar: Joint resistance camp chairman, Syed Ali Geelani has demanded immediate release of “pro-freedom” leaders and activists while saying that “hundreds of innocent youth detained under frivolous cases are languishing in jails and police stations across the valley and most of them are detained under infamous Public Safety Act.”

In a statement issued, Geelani blamed administration for “pushing youth to wall,” and called it “extreme vandalism and bullying.” He said that denying political space, choking genuine voices and continuous crackdown against pro- freedom leaders and activists is deliberate act to disrupt situation and create uncertainty in state.

While referring to continuous detention of Masarat Aalam Bhat, and other leaders and activists he said, detainees arrested during people’s uprising are lodged in different jails and interrogation centers.

“Detainees lodged in different JK jails are living miserable life and  are subjected to vengeance and are harassed on one pretext or the other,” he said.

We are receiving disturbing reports from different jails and jail staff in Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur is very harsh towards prisoners,” he stated. “It is a jail within a jail and mostly the detainees remain in lock up in their jail barks.”

Geelani urged International Red Cross and Amnesty international to take note of “pathetic condition of political detainees and impress upon India to shun its callous attitude towards detainees and provide them with basic necessities as per jail manual.”

New Delhi: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today strongly pleaded for initiating dialogue in Jammu & Kashmir to get the State out of the clouds of uncertainty, violence and bloodshed. She also sought compensation to the State for the losses it is suffering due to the Indus Water Treaty.
The Chief Minister said this during her meeting with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi here today.
During the meeting, Mehbooba Mufti apprised the Prime Minister about the latest situation in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Chief Minister said dialogue is the only way forward for unbundling the knots of mistrust and uncertainty in the State and herald it to a level of prosperity and welfare. She said it was the dialogue only due to which many path-breaking initiatives were taken in the State. She said peace and dialogue are interdependent on each other.
The Prime Minister told the Chief Minister that in the twin pronged objective of dialogue and development lies the solution to all the problems of the State and all efforts would be made in this regard.
The Chief Minister also brought into the notice of the Prime Minister the colossal losses suffered by Jammu & Kashmir due to Indus Water Treaty and sought compensation for the same. She informed Mr Modi that the recurring losses to the State due to non usage of waters of its rivers for agriculture, power and irrigation have gone beyond Rs 30000 crore as the treaty does not allow storage of its river waters by the State.
The Prime Minister assured the Chief Minister that the demand for compensation would be appropriately addressed and ways and means would be explored to see how the State is properly compensated.
Many other issues like progress on ‘Agenda of Alliance’, obtaining situation in the State and other related matters also came up for discussion during the meeting.
The Prime Minister assured Mehbooba Mufti of full support from the Centre in its approach on these issues.
It may be recalled here that Chief Minister yesterday during the meeting of Niti Aayog had raised the issue of reports of alleged harassment of Kashmiri students studying in various parts of the country.
Responding to the concern raised by Mehbooba Mufti, the Prime Minister has directed all the States to ensure safety and security of Kashmiri students across the country.
Interacting with the waiting media persons, the Chief Minister appealed all sections of society in the country to help in creating a conducive atmosphere for dialogue and reconciliation in the State. She specifically appealed media to play a positive and constructive role while reporting things about Kashmir.
In a separate meeting with Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, Mehbooba Mufti also underlined the urgent need for initiating dialogue with all shades of opinion in the State.
The union Home Minister told Mehbooba Mufti that already an advisory has been issued to all state Governments about protecting and safeguarding students from the State in their areas.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister also met the union Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad and brought several issues concerning his Ministry into the notice of the union Minister and sought their redressal. 

Srinagar: Maintaining that Kashmir issue is a long-pending issue which cannot be resolved without dialogue between India and Pakistan, Senior PDP leader and MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig said that both the countries should develop an understanding to start dialogue on the issue.
Talking to KNS, the former deputy chief minister said that till India and Pakistan develop an understanding on the issue, the political parties in Kashmir need to resolve issues of the people that they are facing.
“Since 1990s, youth has seen violence and killings. What are we doing for these youth? We don’t have infrastructure and opportunities for them. We need to create employment for them, start development, business and other activities in Kashmir,” Baig told KNS.
The senior leader said that Government of India is ready for talks but Hurriyat is not ready because Pakistan does not permit them.
“Hurriyat leaders will not talk without the consent of Pakistan. They will enter into dialogue with India on the directions of Pakistan. Unless Pakistan gets ready for talks with India, Hurriyat will not participate in dialogue with Government of India,” he said.
On holding by-polls on Srinagar parliament seat, the PDP leader said that holding by-polls was a wrong decision. “Holding by-polls gave an opportunity to people to vent their anger against PDP, NC and Congress. People feel that the political parties have exploited their sentiments and grievances,” he said, adding that the Election Commission of India should postpone the by-polls on Anantnag parliamentary seat.
Baig said that due to deteriorating situation, no development activity is being carried out in Kashmir which has an impact on the PDP’s strength in the valley
“PDP’s image in Kashmir is being hit as no development activities are taking place, while BJP is on ground in Jammu as the development activities are going on in the region,” he said.
On the prevailing situation in which students have protested in educational institutions, the PDP leader said that “unless we resolve the issues of Kashmiri people and youth in particular, situation in Kashmir will not improve.”
“Today the situation is very grave as Hurriyat is not in control of youth. Hurriyat leaders do not want destruction. They have witnessed the last year’s unrest. But it is youth who are on the ground, Hurriyat has no control on them,” he said.
He said that army cannot resolve political issues; it is meant to defend countries on borders.
On non-implementation of agenda of alliance on which PDP-BJP coalition was formed, Baig said, “I had told Mehbooba Mufti to see for 6-8 months if Agenda of Alliance is implemented then she should continue as chief minister. And if it is not implemented then she should go to the people again.” (KNS)

Srinagar: The protests by students have relented in Kashmir valley as only one incident of clashes were reported in Srinagar’s SP higher secondary school today, with the education minister reiterating his appeal to students to maintain peace and focus on their academics.
Talking to KNS, minister for education Syed Altaf Bukhari Monday said students in Kashmir attended their classes, barring a single incident of protests outside SP Higher secondary schools which erupted after a group of outsiders entered into the school through Chinar Bagh and provoked the students.
“All the colleges and higher secondary schools resumed their class work peacefully today while at Srinagar’s SP school some outsiders entered inside the school premises and provoked students to take to streets.”
Bukhari said the to prevent outsiders from entering into educational institutes, police and security forces will be deploy on the Bund side of SP college to keep eye on those who try to disrupt academic atmosphere in schools and colleges.
“We have taken a strong note of outsiders disrupting academic activities in educational institutes. These outsiders will be identified and action will be taken against them,” the minister said, adding the students must cooperate to nab these outsiders.
The minister appealed the students to bring their identity cards with them and help the authorities in identifying the miscreants who are sabotaging their education.
“I also appeal parents to cooperate with the government to help achieve academic excellence of their children,” he said.
Earlier, clashes erupted between SP Higher secondary students and forces on Monday on MA Road here Srinagar. Witnesses said that the students blocked the road following which the police disallowed their protest march which resulted in clashes. During the clashes, police used some tear gas canisters to disperse the protesting students who were pelting stone on them.
Official said that some cops and two photojournalists were injured due to stone pelting during clashes.
Police version on the incident:
Meanwhile, the police in a statement issued to KNS said that students were attending classes normally today in S P School and in Women’s College at M A Road Srinagar.
“However, just after the end of about an hour of class work, some miscreants from different places entered in the premises of school and created disturbances.
“The miscreant’s alongwith some students blocked MA road because of which hundreds of vehicles got stranded on this ever busy road and adjacent Chowks. The Police and security forces personnel reached the spot. They were pelted upon heavily due to which many police and security forces personnel were injured. The stone pelting created panic in the area after which many shopkeepers closed their shops. Some vehicles were damaged,” the statement reads.
Police said that the miscreants and the students pelted stones on Traffic Headquarters and attacked police vehicles with stones clubs and lathies. “The police showed utmost restraint. Twelve personnel including three officers were injured in the stone pelting. Some boys involved in stone pelting were caught on the spot and detained by Police,” they added.
“The mob was dispersed and the normalcy was restored in the area. The parents are requested to advise their wards not to indulge in stone pelting and other such activities which create disorder in the schools and on the roads,” police said, adding that “There was no aerial firing as was reported by some groups on social networking sites and web portals. This is factually incorrect.” (KNS)

Srinagar: Nearly 300 WhatsApp groups, of which 90 per cent have been shut down, were being used to mobilise stone-throwers in Kashmir to disrupt security forces’ operations at encounter sites, a police officer said today.The 300 WhatsApp groups had around 250 members each, the police officer said, explaining howattempts were being made to disrupt the operations of the forces by mobilising stone-throwing mobs at the encounter sites.“We identified the groups and the group administrators, who were called in by the police for counselling. We have had a good response to this initiative,” the police officer said.In the last three weeks, more than 90 per cent of these WhatsApp groups have been shut down, he said.He said the government’s policy of suspending Internet appeared to be showing positive results in curbing stone-throwing during encounters and cited the case of Saturday’s encounter in Budgam. Just a few youth gathered to hurl stones after two militants were gunned down in the encounter on Saturday.This was in sharp contrast to the encounter in Durbugh village in the same area on March 28, when a large number of stone-throwers had assembled and three of them were killed in firing by security forces. PTI

‘Jhelum dredging not only ultimate solution for preventing floods’

Srinagar: As water level in river Jhelum continues to rise, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department Hanif Mohammad warned floods could become inevitable this year and claimed dredging of the river is not the ultimate solution for preventing floods.
“The floods could become inevitable this year also if people don’t do their bit in stopping illegal constructions coming up along embankments of river Jehlum and other water bodies,” Hanif told Rising Kashmir.
He said the water in river Jehlum is very high as compared to previous year during the same period.
The water level started increasing since the preceding night as Valley witnessed heavy rainfall.
The Chief Engineer said only dredging won’t help avert floods.
“We have got to understand that dredging is a process of de-silting the river. The moment we take out a considerable amount of silt, the river brings more,” he said adding owing to media hype, dredging is now seen as a last resort to solve the flood crisis.
According to him, the dredging of river Jehlum is being carried out every year. “Due to unrest last year, the work was stuck.”
He, however, said the main benefit of dredging will only be in Baramulla region because they are giving river a slope and water depth in North Kashmir would be more.
On rise in water level in Jehlum and other water bodies, Hanif said the valley received huge amount of rain this April as compared to previous years. “Besides, the snow has been melting faster due to rise in temperature in past few weeks.”
He cited construction of new bridges on the river as one of the reason for increase in water level in Jehlum. “The construction of new bridges on Jehlum can prove disastrous for the valley”.
“Many of the outflow channels (flood channels) are being obstructed by the developmental works carried out by various government agencies like the Economic Reconstruction Agency,” the Chief Engineer said.
He said there is no 2014-like flood threat today but cautioned that if encroachment around the banks of Jhelum is not stopped, then flood will become inevitable.
Asserting that there has been a continuous surge in the encroachments along the banks of Jhelum, he warned that filling of wet lands particularly from Sangam in South Kashmir to Srinagar city will prove fatal.
“If people want to avoid 2014-like floods then they have to get rid of encroachments,” he said adding I&FC has started drive to demolish all previous and new encroachments.
He urged people to help the department in stopping such activities.
Hanif said the I&FC has already submitted a project report to the government under which it plans to enhance the height of the embankments of the river to 5 feet above the existing level, which will help solve the flood issue to a large extent.
“We have also started a project to strengthen the embankments of the river,” he added.

Courtesy: Rising Kashmir

Srinagar: The coalition government, led by Mehbooba Mufti, is faced with a major challenge of maintaining peace and prevent repeat of 2016-like unrest in Kashmir, while a cycle of violence leading to civilian killings disturbing law and order has already started.The cycle of violence has been taking shape since early this year on the pattern that followed the killing of militant commander, Burhan Wani, along with two of his accomplices in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8 last year. During the first three and a half months this year, with the exception of January when the Valley mostly remained snow-clad, there has been a series of such incidents, claiming at least 20 civilian lives.Two major tasks are to be addressed by the coalition government — both depending on the maintenance of peace in the region that would also help instil confidence among the tourists coming to the Valley and those associated with the tourist trade. The tourism, trade and education sectors have already suffered a lot during the unrest last year.First, handle law and order situation in the event of crowds attempting to hamper anti-militant operations, which have become a common feature since last year following the warning by Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat. There have been a number of such incidents close to the site of encounters between hiding militants and security forces which result in the death of civilians, disturbing the overall law and order situation by heightened resentment and anger. Various measures to prevent such incidents have not yielded any results, e.g. three civilians were killed in one such incident in the Chadoora area of Budgam district, days before the Srinagar bypoll.Second is to ensure a peaceful conduct of the bypoll in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency in the backdrop of the widespread violence in Srinagar on April 9 that resulted in the death of at least nine civilians.The stage is set for the bypoll to the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, which has been rescheduled for May 25 in view of the violence that marred the Srinagar bypoll. It is crucial for the PDP-BJP coalition government to ensure peaceful conduct of poll as the Anantnag constituency comprises four districts of south Kashmir, which has been the bastion of the PDP. The south Kashmir region has also been the epicentre of 2016 unrest following the PDP-BJP “unholy alliance”. The question remains whether peaceful election takes place in Anantnag next month that would be an indicator of the peaceful summer months ahead — a major challenge before the state government.

Tribune News Service