‘Modi the hindu majority PM can alone resolve K-issue’
Srinagar: Senior PDP leader and Member Parliament Muzaffar Hussain Baig in a startling revelation here on Sunday said that a conspiracy was hatched to kill Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan with the intention of destabilsing Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP government and claimed that Narendra Modi being a Hindu majority prime minister is the only courageous man to resolve Kashmir issue.
Addressing a party workers convention outside the party headquarters at Srinagar Baig, according to KNS correspondent present at the rally, said “a conspiracy was hatched to kill Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani with the intent of destabilizing Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP coalition government. We will reveal all about this conspiracy at the appropriate time”. Saying that neither continuing shutdown nor stone pelting can help resolve Kashmir issue as the poor outcome to Intifada movement of the Palestinians is a glaring example, Baig in veiled reference to Hurriyat Conference said “Dialogue is the only way to resolve Kashmir issue. Reiterating PDP’s commitment to work for the resolution of Kashmir issue Muzaffar Baig said “Narendra Modi is a prime minister elected by thumping majority with majority hindu community in India and he alone can resolve Kashmir issue and it was with this intent that PDP preferred an alliance with BJP on government formation in Jammu & Kashmir State. Even if a Muslim becomes a prime minister of India he will not be in a position to resolve Kashmir issue.” (KNS)
The decision will be applicable up to Class IX in all private schools of the Valley
Srinagar: In a major decision, the Private Schools’ Association of Kashmir today decided to provide provisional promotion to students of all classes, except Class X and Class XII, with immediate effect.The chairman of the association, GN Var, said the decision had been taken to save the precious time of students.“As of now, we have decided to give provisional promotion to all classes up to Class IX and Class XI till a final decision is taken,” Var said.“This will give immediate relief to lakhs of students and their parents, who are living in a state of dilemma due to the turmoil,” Var added.The association said students were living under severe stress and the provisional promotion would provide them a direction to move forward.“Now, the new syllabus and books will be issued and students will prepare for the new session,” Var added.He said it had also been decided in the meeting that schools would open during the deal period to start new admissions and issue assignments and do other academic work.“Our schools will work overtime during the deal period to help, counsel and guide the students,” Var added.He added that all coaching centres had decided to help the needy students, particularly those affected during the turmoil. (TNS)
Islamabad: Mushaal Hussein Mullick, Chairperson Peace and Culture Organization and wife of detained Hurriyet leader Yasin Malik, along with Convener World Minorities Alliance and Organizer Awaami Maseeha Party Mr. J Salik and Hurriyet Leadership organized a sit-in protest outside National press club against atrocities in Kashmir.
People from all walks of life, including lawyers, doctors, students, human rights activists, religious figures, politicians, intellectuals, writers, professors, hurriyet leadership and minorities leaders, attended the sit-in to express solidarity with people of Kashmir.
Protest outside National press club
The leaders and activists raised slogans against Indian occupation of Kashmir and demanded demilitarization of Kashmir, uplifting of army curfew and economic blockade, repealing of draconian laws, release of all political prisoners, holding of free and fair plebiscite as per UNSC resolutions, and stoppage of mass blinding, handicapping, maiming, raping, and killing of innocent Kashmiri people by security forces.
Protest outside National press club
The participants of the sit-in stressed that the international human rights organizations must take notice of Indian state terrorism in Kashmir. They urged world bodies, particularly United Nations Human Rights Council, to send their fact finding missions to monitor the scale and depth of human rights violations in Indian Kashmir. J Salik, head of world minorities’ alliance, continuously put mud on his head during six hours sit-in as a protest against the human rights violations by forces in Kashmir. He said that the purpose of protest with mud is to show that humanity is hidden under the mud.
Regrets negative portrayal of JK by some media channels; Says Mufti’s vision for tourism development will be accomplished
JAMMU: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today described tourism as an important means of people to people dialogue adding that it gives ample opportunities to people to know each other better and closely. She however, regretted the negative portrayal of the State by certain outside media outlets.
Addressing the delegates of India Tavel Mart (ITM) here this evening, the Chief Minister said there is no better mechanism to let the outsiders know of the State, its people and the situation on their own than the tourism sector. That is why, she said, every tourist visit to the State is a step towards peace.
Asking the Tourism Department and tour operators to work together for improving the tourist footfall to the State, the Chief Minister said the impression about the State would improve consequentially with more and more tourist arrivals as they would be judging the place for themselves rather than relying on newsroom discussions of some news channels.
Mehbooba Mufti said that it is true that Jammu Kashmir is having certain political issues but the hospitable nature of its people was never given proper and appropriate coverage. She recalled how a boatman in Dal recently rescued a tourist family when his boat capsized and in the process got himself drowned and how some injured Amarnath Yatris were treated by local people during the last few difficult months. But these things were not reflected appropriately, she remarked with regret. She said some media channels unfortunately created gory pictures on both the sides and tourism is the best way to bridge this gap.
Terming the vision of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed about Jammu & Kashmir as the cornerstone of her Government, the Chief Minister said the late leader believed that peace was imperative for development of the State and for that dialogue and discourse was a must. She said the aim of the late leader was to bring closer hearts and minds of people of the three regions of the state when he thought of making the Government in 2014. His aim was to unite people and regions and not divide them, she said.
Mehbooba Mufti said if peace and development in J&K is so desired it can be fulfilled only by following the vision and dream of the late leader and assured the delegated that whatever he had conceptualized for tourism promotion in the State would be accomplished by the present Government with all seriousness. She said ambitious projects like border tourism, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Tawi lake etc. in Jammu province would be pursued.
CM addresses ITM at Jammu
Mehbooba Mufti said one of the positive things to come out of recent disturbed situation in the State was that people of all the regions now feel the pain of each other. Many businessmen of Jammu suffered losses due to shut down in Kashmir and many of Kashmiri parents thought it safe to send their wards to Jammu when they couldn’t send them to school there, she said adding that something of this sort is being witnessed in Jammu & Kashmir for the first time and complimented the common people for showing such gestures.
Giving some food for thought to the delegates, the Chief Minister asked them to sit down and see how Jammu & Kashmir can be marketed in tourism industry for every section of society. Why can’t we have some separate packages for adventure seekers, pilgrimage seekers, women and girls as J&K has remained safest on women’s security count.
Mehbooba Mufti said tourist infrastructure needs more and more upgradation and it needs to be made Nature friendly while providing the guests all the requisite facilities. She said the Centre has allocated sufficient funds for tourism development in the State and hoped that in the coming months and years tourist infrastructure would be upgraded exponentially.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister distributed 4th All India Tour and Travel awards among the winners.
In his address, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh hailed the vision and developmental concept of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for the state and said for the first time the people in every region felt that here was a Government which represented his or her aspirations.
The Deputy Chief Minister assured the delegates that the present Government with the cooperation from the Centre has planned a massive development initiative for the State and referred to the up gradation of Jammu airport which was done in a short span of time.
Minister of State for Tourism, Priya Sethi in her address said the State Government with the support of Centre would give a big push to the development of the State.
Secretary, Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah gave an overview of the tourist development projects in the state.
Earlier, top industry leaders of the country including Mr Subhash Goel, Mr P P Khanna and Mr Akshay Kumar also addressed the gathering and assured the State Government of their support in promoting tourism. They also hailed the vision and plan of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for promoting tourism in the State.
Minister for Cooperatives, Mr T Dorjey, senior officers of State administration besides representatives of Tourism Departments of many states, tour and travel bodies were present in the inaugural function of the three day event.
‘People with vested interest spreading such rumors’
JAMMU: Terming rumors about salt shortage a mischief, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has clarified that there is no dearth of salt in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Minister said that some people are spreading the rumors about shortage of salt in Jammu & Kashmir which is a hoax. He said that some people are trending the news on TV and social media which has no authenticity.
‘’There is absolutely no shortage of salt in any part J&K,” the Minister said adding that the news is being spread by people with vested interest.
Zulfkar said the government won’t allow anybody to create artificial shortage of salt and unscrupulous elements found involved in hoarding of salt will be dealt with as per the law.
The Minister also clarified that not only Jammu & Kashmir, there is no shortage of salt in the whole country. He said the people who are trying to create artificial shortage of salt are having vested interest. ‘’These people are hell bent to hike prices of essential commodities for which they are trying to spread rumors about artificial shortage of commodities,” Zulfkar added.
Zulfkar Ali has issued strict instructions to the officers of Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Department to strictly keep an eye on markets and check hoarding of salt if any. He instructed to take stern against those found involved in creating artificial shortage of salt and other commodities.
Srinagar: The family members of an old Srinagar city youth Saturday while accusing police of harassment said that one of their members was arrested at Srinagar Airport while on way to Delhi and then was implicated in a false case.
“Dawood Mushtaq a resident of Nowhatta Srinagar according to his family members was detained at Srinagar Airport for the reasons better known to police. “Despite being innocent, he was taken to Cargo for interrogation wherefrom he was shifted to police station Khanyar. Now we were informed that he has been booked under Public Safety Act and has been shifted to Kot Balwal Jail,” the family members told news agency CNS.
“Neither is he a stone-pelter nor any militant. Dawood’s only fault is that he is the relative of a militant commander. We fail to understand why he was arrested and why police is not giving any reason for his arrest,” they said.
They alleged that family members are not allowed to meet him and they are anxious about his safety. When contacted a police official said that the arrested youth is a ‘known’ stone-pelter. “Dawood was not only a stone-pelter but he was the front-runner who incited youth for stone-pelting in the old Srinagar city,” he said. (CNS)
Srinagar: Ninety eight percent students of class 10 and class 12 have collected their respective admit cards to appear in scheduled examinations, commencing from November 14.
Official records accessed by KNS revealed that most of the students have collected admit cards soon after the government announced relaxation of syllabus for those who wish to appear in November. On November 4, in a breather for students, J&K government has decided to hold separate exam for class 10 and 12 students in March next year if they fail to appear in already scheduled exams in November this year. The students who will appear in March exams won’t be given any relaxation in syllabus. They have to attempt 100 percent of the question paper. The official data reveals that all candidates from districts Budgam and Kulgam and collected their admit cards to appear in exams. The percentage of candidates who have collected their admit cards in districts of Bandipora, Anantnag is 99 percent while the percentage in Shopian, Ganderbal is 98 percent. In Baramulla, Kupwara and Srinagar, 97 percent students have collected their admit cards. “Students have preferred to appear in November exams as they have relaxation of 50 percent syllabus. There is still one day and we can expect that students who are yet to collect admit cards, to get it,” BOSE official told KNS. He added that students are busy in exam preparations while authorities have finalized all preparations and arrangements for smooth conduct of examinations. (KNS)
Mohammad Sartaj Madni, a senior PDP leader and a two time MLA of Devsar assembly constituency is presently General Secretary PDP. A winner of 2002 and 2008 assembly elections on PDP ticket Madni was Deputy Speaker Jammu & Kashmir Legislative assembly from 2008-2015.
Senior KNS correspondent spoke to Sartaj Madni on a wide range of issues concerning PDP’s alliance with the BJP, the working of PDP-BJP coalition government and the current unrest in Kashmir.
Q: Would you please share the intents of the PDP in forging an alliance with BJP ?
Mohammad Sartaj Madni: Since PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had launched PDP for facilitating the resolution of Kashmir, the support of the central government was an unavoidable compulsion for PDP determined to work on agenda of dialogue and reconciliation with both Pakistan and as well as the people of Kashmir. Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a statesman and he never took to vote politics but was always concerned about the future of Kashmir’s future generations. He did not ally with BJP for power and had power been his destiny then National Conference had offered unconditional support and a coalition government could be also formed even in alliance with Congress and other smaller groups. Since Sayeed had launched PDP for resolution of Kashmir the support of the central government was an unavoidable compulsion for PDP determined to work on agenda of dialogue and reconciliation with both Pakistan and as well as the people of Kashmir.
Q: What could be advantages of PDP’s alliance with BJP on dialogue and reconciliation over Kashmir ?
MSM: Former Prime Minister Attal Bihari Vajpayee extending a hand of friendship to Pakistan from a public rally in Srinagar in the year 2003 shows we can have the advantage of working in alliance with BJP on the agenda of peace and reconciliation over Kashmir. Remember Mufti Mohammad Sayeed told Attal Bihari Vajpayee at a public rally in Srinagar in the year 2003 that Kashmir does not want a package but a life with dignity. Vajpayee at the instance of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan from Srinagar rally. Manmohan Singh during his 10 year long Prime Ministerial tenure did not get even a single opportunity to visit Pakistan but the Present Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Pakistan to sit over a cup of tea with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Shariff to convey a message of goodwill and mutual trust. Unfortunately we could not propagate the intents of alliance with the BJP at the grass roots in Kashmir. Our intent of allying with BJP can’t be questioned as Mufti Mohammad Sayeed launched PDP on 28th July 1999 two days after limited war between India and Pakistan on Kargil heights ended on 26th July 1999. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was of the opinion that war is not a solution and here it may reminded to the people that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed fought 1998 Lok Sabha bye election as Congress candidate but on the slogan “na grenade se na goli sey, baat baney gi boli say”. He was pained to see our grounds changing into graved yards and it pains us this time also. Unfortunately Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did not get majority he wanted to change the destiny of the people of Kashmir. If at all we had got the magical number of 44 plus to run a government on our own, even them we were forced to work in tandem with the central government for dialogue with Hurriyat and Pakistan.
Q: Situation in Kashmir itself is an indication that PDP does not get full support from the central government controlled and commanded by BJP. PDP is the ruling party in Kashmir but situation has almost reversed to that of 1990. The atrocities including night raids and arrests of youth under PSA are generating waves of anger against PDP. PDP is a party which had generated lot of goodwill by disbanding SOG, releasing detunes, opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for bus journey, opening trade routes between divided parts of Kashmir from 2002-2005 but now the party has lost all that good will. What could be the future for PDP in Kashmir ?
MSM: If Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s dream on the resolution of Kashmir could be achieved, the anger fueling against the PDP would boil down automatically. PDP is committed to work on Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s broader outline of Kashmir resolution. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during her address at Bakshi Stadium on August 15 pledged to punish the guilty. We agree all is not well and we assure that wrong doers won’t go unpunished.
Q: Critics blame the present situation to what they called ‘mishandling after Burhan’s killing’. How would you react to it ?
MSM: Chief Minister Mehbooba Muti did not want to use force to trouble her own people and took a lenient view of the situation. Keeping in view the experience of handling unrest like situations by curfews and restrictions Chief Minister allowed the people to come out but unfortunately situation turned violent.
Q: In 2010 when Omar Abdullah was Chief Minister a top police official Ashok Bhan said that two girls in Shopian were drowned and Chief Minister was embarrassed. This time Chief of the police’s intelligence wing embarrassed the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by saying that Chief Minister was already informed about the operation launched to kill Burhan. Do you think there were some hidden hands behind the current unrest in Kashmir ?
MSM: The cause of 2010 unrest was Machil encounter and murder mystery of two women in Shopian but this time anti-establishment forces were already trying to trigger unrest in Kashmir. Rumors were abuzz across Kashmir that situation would worsen soon after Eid-ul-Fiter and Burhan killing was only used to trigger the unrest. The attempts of triggering unrest by false propaganda over “sainik colonies”, “Pandit Colonies” and “Industrial Policy” failed but attempt to trigger unrest over the killing of Burhan clicked.
Q: Didn’t PDP stop Kara from quitting ?
MSM: He was on the forefront in forging alliance with BJP but disowned the alliance for personal reasons later . Kara, one of the party’s senior most leader, was supposed to raise louder voices for Kashmir resolution from the biggest law making body of the country. Had he raised voices for Kashmir resolution , his cries would have sent the messages for Kashmir resolution world over. Party never asked him not to talk on any issue in the parliament as party can neither depute nor restrict a parliamentarian from raising the voices for the welfare of the people of his constituency. He did not utter even a single word as ruling party’s Member Parliament during his two year stint as Lok Sabha member.He talked about Kashmir issue in his Shivpora house but not in the Indian parliament where the whole world would love to take his words seriously. I was in touch with him till the last but he left the party for personal reasons.
Q: How do you see the future of PDP-BJP alliance ?
MSM: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was always talking about the possibilities and he had vision about Kashmir issue by conviction. He said PDP allying with BJP was just like north poles meeting south poles and this in itself was an indication that how he understood PDP-BJP alliance . In 2010 unrest Vehicles were burnt down on Srinagar-Jammu national highways but this time no vehicle was attacked and thousands of valley children were admitted in Jammu schools after the unrest crippled education in Kashmir.
Q: Has the government any plans to revive the dialogue process in Kashmir ?
MSM: Shutting doors on the All Party Delegation members was most unfortunate and a big set back to the political engagement in Kashmir. Had separatist opened doors to the all party delegation members, then we would have shown our role. I told the home minister during an open discussion at SKICC Srinagar that many delegations have come to Kashmir in recent years and recommendation were sought from several panels appointed by the central government but failure to implement the recommendations on ground has disillusioned people of Kashmir. Meetings for the sake of meetings won’t bring peace to Kashmir but a result oriented dialogue with the real stake holders is the mother of all resolutions in Kashmir. Shutting down doors on the All Party Delegation members was a big set back to the efforts of dialogue and reconciliation in Kashmir.
Q: During NC rule PDP used to crow much over the disproportionate use of force but now when PDP is in power the harshest methods of disproportionate use of force are in place. Why so ?
MSM: Disproportionate used of force is necessitated by the disproportionate use of force from the other side. Private vehicles are burnt down, houses are set on fire, school buildings are torched. PDP block president’s house was set on fire in a particular area in South Kashmir and the man who provoked people to torch the house though a provocative announcement from a mosque is still missing to evade arrest. This all is happening despite Syed Ali Shah Geelani publicly asking people to desist from such activities but no one is paying heed to the repeated calls of Mr Geelani.
Q: What about the role of National Conference as the main opposition ?
MSM: Unfortunately National Conference could not play role of constructive opposition. The opposition is bound to propose oppose and depose. No opposition leader talked about either restoration of peace or loss of lives during first two months of unrest.
Q: What about Jamat-e-Islami ?
MSM: Jamat-e-islami has its own stand and is trying for resolution of Kashmir as per its own way. Today all are talking about resolution of Kashmir issue through dialogue and reconciliation.
Q: What about your own role in PDP ?
MSM: It wanted to work for the party and I have been granted an opportunity to serve the party as General Secretary. I am satisfied with the responsibility I have been given in the party.
Q: What about revival of PDP in south Kashmir ?
MSM: Many questions were raised before the bye election to Anantnag assembly constituency which Mehbooba Mufti won with a huge margin. Today questions are raised on our fate in the bye election to Anantnag parliamentary constituency. We are facing yet another test in South Kashmir and result of the bye election will reveal our strength in South Kashmir parliamentary constituency.
Q: What about future of agenda of alliance ?
MSM: PDP has forged alliance to get issues resolved in short time but unfortunately crisis erupted in short time. Give PDP a chance, help government restore peace and normalcy. If our points of agreement reflected in the “agenda of alliance” are not implemented, alliance with BJP won’t last long.
MSM: We were already working out some proposals to release detaines but fresh trouble has hindered the process of releasing the detaines. Let normalcy return you will see us working on the release of detaines.
Srinagar: News about the death of South Kashmir’s religious leader ‘Sarjan Barkati is fake and just a rumor. He is safe in the jail. “These are rumours. He is all well,” said Additional SP Shopian. (PTK)
Srinagar: National Conference General Secretary and MLA Khanyar Ali Mohammad Sagar Saturday undertook a review of the arrangements being made by the district administration for the smooth conduct of Urs of Sultanul Arifeen Hazrat Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (RA) being held at his ziyarat Sharief, Kathi Darwaza Srinagar.
The meeting was attended by Additional DC, officials from Municipality, Exen PHE, Exen PDD, Wakf Board officers and other officers of different departments. Sagar directed the officers to ensure that the devotees coming to offer their obeisance to the revered shrine do not face any inconvenience, adding they should work in complete synergy to ensure the smooth celebration of the Urs days. During the meeting Sagar impressed upon the concerned to ensure repair of the currently defunct solar system installed in the premises. He said that the devotees come from different corners of the state to pay their obeisance and they should not face any problems. Sagar also directed the PDD officials to ensure that the areas coming in the vicinity of the shrine get uninterrupted power supply during the Urs days and necessary direction should be passed in this regard. While directing the officers of the Municipal Corporation to ensure that proper cleanliness and hygiene is maintained in the vicinity and the catchment areas of the shrine, the General Secretary said that they should also ensure that the proper illumination of streets. Later Sagar interacted with a delegation of locals who raised issues confronting the area. He assured them all possible help.
