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  • Omar addresses election rally at Tangmarg, says PDP’s lies have no end

    ‘Puncture their balloon of lies through your vote’

    Nasir Aslam, various Congress leaders addressed the gathering

    Tangmarg: Cautioning the people against what he termed as an “unholy alliance” of PDP and BJP to divide the voters and wedge apart different sections of the society for power politics, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is also Working President of the National Conference Saturday asked the voters of Baramulla-Kupwara Parliamentary Constituency to puncture the balloon of deceptive politics of PDP by extending full support to NC-Congress joint candidate, Sharif-ud-din Shariq.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing an Election rally at Tangmarg today, the Working President of National Conference said that in the current Parliamentary Elections voters have to make an important decision of keeping divisive, communal and deceptive forces away from power by casting their votes with responsibility and insight. And given our history of secular ethos and brotherhood, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have a greater responsibility to defeat communal and polarizing forces by rallying behind the NC-Congress Candidates.

    Omar Abdullah asked the people to come out in large numbers on the 7th of May to cast their votes in favour of the NC-Congress Alliance candidate Sharief-ud-Din Shariq and hand a miserable defeat to PDP – a party that hadn’t thought twice before falling into Narendra Modi’s lap for the promise of political patronage. Omar Abdullah said that PDP was acting as the indoctrinated State wing of BJP in J&K and had gone to the extent of fielding candidates tactically in Jammu and Udhampur Seats to divide the anti-Modi vote, thereby helping Modi’s candidates.

    “But the people of Jammu and Kashmir have fully acknowledged this unholy alliance between BJP and PDP and have rejected it in South Kashmir and Srinagar Parliamentary Seats till now”, Omar Abdullah said. He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are known the world over for a glorious history of amity and brotherhood and that ‘Kashmiryat’ had given hope to the rest of the country in times of dire communal turmoil. The same people, based on the power of the same spirit of ‘Kashmiryat’ will scuttle the designs of BJP and PDP against the State of Jammu and Kashmir and its people.

    Omar Abdullah said that every vote polled in favour of the NC-Congress alliance candidate would be a vote in favour of Rahul Gandhi while all votes cast in favour of the PDP candidate would directly benefit BJP and Narendra Modi. “You have to make an important decision and reject the forces who want to divide you based on their communal venom and world-view”, he said. Omar Abdullah added that the dangerous quid-pro-quo political game played by PDP to help Narendra Modi with the hope that in return he will extend his blessings to the PDP leadership has to be foiled with full force and might. He asked the electorate of Baramulla-Kupwara constituency to contribute collectively and en-masse in defeating the communal, anti-J&K, BJP-PDP nexus by voting for Sharif-ud-din Shariq.

    Omar Abdullah said that the Lok Sabha Elections are meant for electing Members of Parliament and consequently the Prime Minister of the Country through the Parliament Members, and it has nothing to do with the election of MLAs in the State or with the re-election of the State’s Chief Minister. “When the occasion of State’s Assembly Elections arises, my government and me will come to you with our performance and report record on peace, reconstruction and development fronts”, he said elaborating that at the time of Assembly Elections full details of each and every work done by the coalition government would be presented to the people. Omar Abdullah said that right now, in these Parliament Elections, voters have to cast their votes to elect the Parliament Members who would voice their concerns in the Parliament and safeguard the interests of the State – traits that National Conference leaders have exhibited time and again in the Indian Parliament.

    Omar Abdullah said that the track record of Sharief-ud-Din Shariq and other NC-Congress alliance candidates as Parliament Members has been exemplary and has aided development initiatives of the State government. He said they have highlighted the concerns of the State vociferously in the Parliament in the past and would continue do so in future too.

    The Working President, National Conference said Jammu and Kashmir has remained the abode of pluralistic ethos, communal harmony and brotherhood between various sections of the society. He said the benchmark of NC-Congress political agenda has been the slogan of Hindu-Muslim-Sikh Itihaad (Unity between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and other faiths and sections) and that both NC and Congress have always worked for strengthening these values in the State. “We have upheld the inter-faith solidarity, equitable development and inclusiveness all along”, he said and added that a conspiracy is being hatched by PDP and BJP to divide the State and its people on the basis of religion, sects and language. “You have to be cautious against this design”, he told the people.

    The Election rally was also addressed by President JKPCC Professor Saif-ud-Din Soz, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir, NC-Congress Alliance Candidate for Baramulla-Kupwara-Bandipora Parliamentary Seat Sharief-ud-Din Shariq, Provincial President National Conference Nasir Aslam Wani and various other senior leaders of National Conference and Congress. (KNS)

     

     

  • Kashmir has an excellent future: Vijay Dhar

    Pandits have to come back ultimately; Valley is safe

    We should introspect rather than blaming others 

    Family of Vijay Dhar is one among those few who chose to return couple of years after the migration of Pandit community in early 1990 from Kashmir. Vijay is son of well-known Kashmiri politician Late Durga Prasad Dhar. He studied at Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi and has remained active in politics and social life. He came back to Kashmir in 1992 and settled here only after 1998. He decided to set up DP Dhar Trust in the same year to contribute in the field of education. By now Delhi Public School which he established in Srinagar a few years ago has made a mark.

    In an exclusive interview to Rising Kashmir’s Online Editor Daanish Bin Nabi, Dhar talks about his homecoming and setting up of DP Dhar Memorial Trust.

    How would you define your father’s role to shape up your life?

    He died at a very young age. He addressed United Nations at the age of only 31; such was his grip on politics. His influence on me has been primarily on things he would tell me often. Firstly, always keep your head on your shoulder. Secondly, always keep your hand down. As any other son, I have also learnt a lot from my father. One important thing about Sheikh Sahib, Bakhshi Sahib and my father Durga Prasad Dhar is that, they had a national pride and we are lacking that.
    What motivated your family to come back to Kashmir?
    My mother got ill in 1992. While were taking her to operation theatre she asked me when are we going back to Kashmir. There and then I made up my mind to return. Then in August 1992, we decided to come back to Valley. On hearing about our decision to return to Valley, hell was let loose in Home Ministry. They gave me an impression that Pakistan will shoot me and my family. For security reasons our names were changed. When we landed we received a warm reception from our people. Everyone welcomed us warmly. Then things started to calm down. In 1998, we finally returned and our family came with the idea of starting a school as education was the worst hit in early stages of turmoil. We had kept something in mind for our school, first not to ask for any government help and secondly not to take money from anyone.

    You also served as Rajiv Gandhi’s Political Secretary. Tell us about that?

    I won’t call myself political secretary. But yes, as a friend I was assisting him for four years. So with that association and my father’s political era we had with a reasonable association with Mrs. Indira Gandhi. At the end of the day, I don’t think anyone of us has achieved anything for Kashmir. And I really can’t understand what we are fighting for. If we look rationally then we really have done nothing for Kashmir. I solely blame myself and I am also responsible as much as all of us are. I think we could do a lot. A simple example, we have in the form of universities here. Why can’t we turn these universities into educational hub? We are all responsible.
    So many efforts to bring back Kashmiri Pandits have not yielded encouraging results. What is your take?
    I can’t give you reasons for migration of Pandits from Kashmir. I can only tell you about myself. That was a moment of uncertainty which just spread. I personally think Kashmiri Pandits should return. But the problem is they don’t feel secure enough to come back which is totally wrong. There are families who are returning to Valley. However, they are very few. Ultimately, these Pandit families have to come back to the state. And as far as Kashmiris are concerned they do welcome their Pandit neighbour families and friends.

    Congress is believed to be the spoiler in Kashmir. What are your views?

    I have changed my views completely now after being involved in various political scenarios. As I said, we are to be blamed than anyone else or any spoiler. We have done nothing for our own people and keep on blaming others. It is very sad that we point finger on others rather than looking at ourselves. Forget about political parties, what as common people have we given to our society. To me politics is not important but people, society and more importantly youth of our society are. We should blame ourselves for being spoilers rather than any other party or people. Aren’t we the biggest spoilers? Yes, we are. We should introspect rather than blaming others.

    How do you see future of Kashmir after looking back at 20 years?

    I tell you we have an excellent future but we are spoiling it. No other State in India has a bright future like ours. In 1988, we had a good tourist season we got five lakh tourist and simultaneously two lakh tourist for Amarnath the same year. That means in 1988, we had seven lakh tourists. In 2013, we had six lakh tourists and four lakh tourists for Amaranth which means from 1988 to 2013 there has been an increase of 3 lakh tourists. Likewise, in Jammu we had around one crore tourists.
    Can’t we attract even 10% of that now? And I must tell you that these 20 years of turmoil have done wonders for Kashmiris. Kashmiris went out to see the world. Earlier, Lala would come in and get shawls and carpets and suddenly when Lala stopped to come to Kashmir, Kashmiris went out in his search. Now Kashmiris have done phenomenally well in every respect. It is delightful to see Kashmiris doing well all over the world.
    DPS was a major step in modernizing education, still there is some resentment from various sections of the society.
    If anyone has anything against me they should tell me. I will make myself clear to them. Let them have a discussion with me. I made a difference of two percent; let others make the remaining 98 per cent now. I am not a messiah but I am doing my bit. Everyone faces opposition and same is the case with us. Biscoe School also faced resentment earlier but parents supported it. I must be grateful to all parents as they support me like anything.

    People relate DPS to Delhi’s efforts and relate it to normalcy in Valley?

    This school has nothing to do with New Delhi or the politics of the state. We neither teach politics nor do we discuss it.
    What about total enrollment in DPS and on what basis you give admissions?
    Today, we have 4200 students. As far as admissions are concerned we first try to give it to siblings, then to any special child. But the main thing for selection of a child is how much parents are interested in their child. We are very keen as far as infrastructure of the school is concerned and we have probably a good infrastructure compared to any school in India. Our senior library has 40,000 books and junior library have 20,000 books.

    What about expansion of DPS?

    I will be happy if I can look after what I have at this moment. If I had known that school needs so much dedication I won’t have started it. Unless you don’t have proper dedication you can’t think of expansion.

    Thank You.

     

  • Situation normal: Police

    Srinagar: Situation remained normal throughout the valley. However, isolated stone pelting by some miscreants were reported from Gulshan Chowk and Naid Khai in Bandipora and Khanpora in Baramulla.

    According to a police handout issued to KNS, miscreants pelted stones upon an ambulance at Sheikh Mohalla Bandipora resulting in injuries to the ambulance driver Javed Ahmad Mir and damage to the ambulance.

  • JKLF continues its boycott campaign in north Kashmir

    North Kashmir should defeat wickedness of vote asking politicians: JKLF

    Srinagar: JKLF Public awareness program asking people to keep away from Indian elections continued today and various JKLF leaders and activists visited many villages, towns and other important places in north Kashmir and besides addressing people at various places distributed boycott related written material among masses.

    “Police, army and STF raids on JKLF workers, leaders and activists also continued and police along with army raided the residence of JKLF district President Kulgam Abdul Sattar last night. Besides this many people including a student of BSC Ishfaq Ahmad Lone has been arrested by police from Zainakot HMT,” said a JKLF statement issued to KNS.

    The statement added: “Despite these oppressive measures JKLF leaders continued with their peaceful program and JKLF zonal president Noor Mohammad kalwal addressed people at Karhama Tengmarg while as senior leaders Mohammad Zaman Mir and  Zonal General Secretary  Sheikh Abdul Rashid visited Behrampora Rafiaabad, Siraj ud din Mir visited Drooru Tengmarg, Professor javed visited Gund Jahangeer Bandipora,  Abdul Rashid Magloo visited Tarzoo Sopore, Molvi Reyaz visited Brath Kalan Zainageer, Ghulam Qadir Khan visited Senad Sangrama, Syed Nisar Jeelani visited Saderkot Bandipora, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani visited Saad I Naar, Ghulam Jeelani visited Ajas Bandipora,and  Pir Abdul Rashid visited Androoni Bandipora and addressed people at these places. JKLF leaders and activists also visited Handwara Chowk, Kupwara Chowk, Younis Kulangam,Natnoosa, Tareth pora, Magma Handwara, Trehgam Kupwara,Lone Haray etc and distributed boycott related pamphlets among people at these places.”

    The statement said: “In their speeches leaders apprised people of the bad effects and consequences of participating in Indian elections and said that boycotting Indian elections is our moral and political right as well as duty because these elections are meant to weaken our freedom struggle and voice. Speakers said that the main aim and objective of elections organized by India and held under Indian constitution is to prolong the slavery of Kashmiris, to legislate new tyrannical and oppressive laws against people of Jammu Kashmir and to subject Kashmiris to torture and repression .Therefore participation in these election In any name is showing enmity with Kashmir and Kashmiris.”

    “Leaders said that whole world knows that people who have rendered most sacrifices and have suffered most are the people of north Kashmir, but now some wicked politicians have jumped in the field, asking us for votes. There sole aim and job is to undermine the sacrifices and take out the love and passion for freedom from our hearts and souls. Leaders asked the people of north Kashmir to rise to the occasion and defeat the wickedness of these vote asking politicians through their total boycott.

    Leaders said that participating in Indian elections is like legitimizing Indian oppression in Jammu Kashmir and kashmiris will have to keep their eyes and hearts open and keep away from this sugar coated poison that is used to weaken and finish our resistance and struggle for freedom.”

    While condemning the continues arrest of JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and other resistance leaders and activists, thousands of youth, police raids, restrictions and other oppressive measures by police and forces, JKLF leaders said that these arrests and other oppressive measures have once again proved the fact that Indian elections in Jammu Kashmir are a mere eye wash and a stage managed drama aimed at hoodwinking the international opinion and be fooling their own people in India. Speakers said that these arrests and restrictions on peaceful political activities have proved that these elections are an institutionalized manipulation and India through these measures is only trying to befool the world.

    Condemning the brutal killing of a young man Bashir Ahmad Bhat at Nawakadal Srinagar and injuring hundreds of others throughout valley from last 3 days, Speakers said that these elections, assembly and parliament has always inflicted trouble on Kashmiris and the members elected to these assemblies and parliaments are only deputed to safeguard the interests of India and conceal the crimes of its forces and agencies. Leaders appealed people to keep the mission and sacrifices of martyrs in sight and boycott these fraud elections. 

     

  • Nawakadal killing DC Srinagar to head Magisterial Enquiry, to report within 15 days

    Court of enquiry a routine matter: PRO CRPF

    Srinagar: The state government has ordered district Magistrate Srinagar to hold enquiry into Nawakadal firing incident which led to the killing of a youth on April 30 evening.

    According to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, an enquiry has been ordered to look into the death of Bashir Ahmad son of Mohammad Shafi resident of Gratabal, Nawa Kadal, Srinagar allegedly during the firing incident at Nawa Kadal, Srinagar on April 30, 2014.

    “District Magistrate, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah has been appointed as Enquiry Officer who shall submit the report along with recommendations within 15 days.”

    A 22 year old youth Bashir Ahmad Bhat got killed when CRPF allegedly opened fire.  Four others, including a woman were injured in the firing that reportedly took place on a group of youth allegedly pelting stone in Nawakadal area on April 30 evening. The government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The injured were identified as Haleema Bano wife of Reyaz Ahmad Shakshaz and Nazir Ahmad Kaloo, both residents of Gratbal. Bashir son of Muhammad Shafi Bhat a resident of Gratbal, Nawakadal  was doing Pashmina business.

    The PRO, CRPF, Kishore Prasad told KNS that CRPF has started court of enquiry which is a routine matter in any such incident wherever CRPF personnel are deployed. “This court of enquiry does not mean that CRPF personnel are responsible for the killing as we order court of enquiry even if a weapon from any of personnel gets damaged or any round fo fire is misplaced,” Prasad told KNS.

     

  • Hizb condemns Nawakadal killing, attack on Junaid-ul-Islam

    “Repressive measures won’t impede Kashmir movement’

    Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen has strongly condemned Nawakdal killing and what it called ‘repressive measures’ including arrests, preventive detentions, harassment, using tear smoke shells, aerial firing and firing on protesters used by the authorities to conduct polling in Kashmir.

    In a statement issued to KNS, Salim Hashmi, spokesman of the Hizbul Mujahideen said: “We appeal all international human rights organizations to take cognizance of the worst human rights situation and expose all those responsible for these brazen rights abuses in Kashmir. The world community and human rights bodies should take notice of the rights abuse and agitate against Indian repression in Jammu and Kashmir.”

    Hashmi added that world rights bodies should also use its office to stop India from further human rights violations in Kashmir. The Hizbul Mujahideen has also condemned the Sangrama firing incident in which four persons including Hizb former spokesman Abdul Khaliq Dar alias Junaid-ul-Islam were injured in an attack on Tata 407 passenger bus. The Hizb has also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured. “We think that such incidents won’t impede Kashmir movement and instead the same would boost it further. The Kashmir movement would continue till its logical conclusion.”

     

  • Police rescue youth from CRPF

    Srinagar: A Deputy Commandant of CRPF on Friday allegedly have a brawl with Station House Officer Batamaloo here triggered by preventing children from playing cricket by paramilitary forces at Tengpora locality here.

    Sources and eyewitnesses told GNS that a contingent of 73 battalion CRPF caught some kids playing cricket on roadside at Tengpora on Friday afternoon. Led by the Deputy Commandant, the paramilitary forces even started to beat up some kids, accusing them of planning to create disturbance in the area.

    In the meantime, a police party which was passing through the area objected to it and saved the kids.

    Enraged by of police’s support to kids, the Dy Commandant allegedly took his pistol out and aimed it at SHO.

    The deputy Commandant, they said, also accused police of being “hand in glove with militants and stone-pelters.”

    In a related development, sources said that locals have lodged a written complaint against the erring paramilitary personnel at police station Batmaloo for beating the cricket playing kids.

    When contacted, spokesman of CRPF, Kishore Prasad first feigned ignorance about the incident and asked GNS to wait before confirming it.

    After about few minutes, the spokesman said that CRPF personnel only asked the kids not to play cricket “as the area is prone for stone pelting.”

    “However, when police came in support of the kids, there were some verbal exchanges and nothing more. They (public) is making a mountain out of a molehill.”

    Despite repeated attempts, SSP Srinagar could not be contacted even as it has been reliably known that the SHO has taken up the issue with him. (GNS)

     

     

  • Nawakdal injured kept on ventilator

    Srinagar: One of the four injured in April 30, Nawakadal firing incident has been kept on ventilator after one of his fingers was amputated by doctors here in a city hospital.

    Moeen Ahmad Akhoon son of Bilal Ahmad Akhoon who got injured in the incident has been kept on ventilator in SMHS after he fell unconscious today, doctors attending him told KNS.

    Talking to KNS, Moeen’s father Bilal Ahmad said: “He is my only son and my family depends on him. There is no movement in his body. I don’t know what will happen to him,” Bilal told KNS while appealing people for special prayers for his son.

    A senior doctor attending Moeen told KNS: “The index finger of his left hand was amputated as it had got completely damaged   by the bullet. Later he underwent into an unexplainable shock so was kept on ventilator. We cannot say anything  about his condition right now.”

     

  • Nawakadal firing incident Will fully cooperate with police: IGP CRPF

    Srinagar: IGP CRPF P K Singh on Friday said that since the police is investigating the Nawakadal firing incident the CRPF will fully cooperate with the investigating agency to reach out to the circumstances which led to the death of a youth in the incident.

    Talking to KNS, the IG CRPF said: “I don’t want to say anything on this issue because it is a police subject and they are investigating the matter. But the CRPF being a government agency will fully cooperate with the police in its investigations into the matter. We have already initiated court of enquiry because CRPF personnel were also deployed there.”

    Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a 22 year-old youth got killed in the firing incident on April 30 evening at Nawakdal. Four other has sustained injuries in the incident.  (KNS)

  • NC, PDP glorified Ikhwanis: Sajad

    ‘Mufti rewarded Kashmiris with Jagmohan; Farooq pushed state in Ikhwan rule’

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Fridaysaid the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party are glorified Ikhwanis as they intentionally facilitated the massacres and killings of Kashmiris in their unique white collar style.

    “PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who went to become the Home minister of India in ‘90s presided over the worst excesses committed in Kashmir. He sent Jagmohan as the governor and we all know Jagmohan was consumed with hatred for the Kashmiris and he executed his tough policies of catch and kill with the blessing of Mufti. It was during Mufti’s tenure as Home Minister that AFSPA was extended to the Valley, “Lone said while campaigning for party candidate Salamuddin Bajad in several parts of north Kashmir. According to a statement issued to KNS, Lone further said Farooq Abdullah after becoming Chief Minister in a selection process- which was branded as election in 1996- pushed the whole state in the grip of Ikhwan rule.

    “Prior to 1996, Farooq was hopping from one international forum to another defending those who were indulging in human rights violations in Kashmir. After becoming the Chief Minister he was in the most vindictive mood trying his best to punish the Kashmiris,” Lone said. “They are nothing short of glorified Ikhwanis. The only difference is that they wear a tie and act behind the curtains like cowards.” Lone said calling PDP-NC twinship as Kashmiri or pro -Kashmiri is a slur for all those who have lost their lives during past more than two decades.

    “For every injustice meted out to the Kashmiris, for every humiliation suffered by the Kashmiris, for all those killings, for all those carnages in Kashmir both the parties (NC and PDP) and their leaders have their signatures on every atrocity,” he said. Lone said both the NC and the PDP have the same ideology as the BJP and the Congress. “Don’t get mislead by the sloganeering and rhetoric of the two parties. Give me one instance when they have suffered or sacrificed for the sake of the Kashmir cause. Their Kashmiri leanings do not stretch beyond the newspaper statements”, Lone told the gatherings. Lone said it is time people come forward and through their vote make the distinction between a pro Kashmiri and an anti-Kashmiri entity.