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  • Can 500 arrested youth cast vote today?

    ECI clueless; will go by prescribed norms: Police
    Srinagar: Election Commission of India (ECI) is clueless about the casting of votes by 500 youth arrested by police in the wake of second phase of Parliamentary elections in Srinagar constituency.
    Puzzled by the query Chief Electoral Officer, Umang Narula said he has to check the guidelines.
    “Are these detained youth eligible to cast vote. Give me some time I have to check the guidelines,” said Narula.
    Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Abdul Ghani Mir said police would follow the norms set by ECI for the detained youth.
    “Whatever guidelines Election Commission has set for the people who are in jails or in preventive custody for casting their vote will be applied to these 500 youth also. We will follow the procedure,” said Mir.
    Police has arrested over 500 youth after terming them ‘trouble mongers’ and ‘stone pelters’, a claim that evoked widespread public outrage across Kashmir valley.
    Around 400 youth have been arrested in Central Kashmir alone while police has so far arrested 70 youth in South Kashmir— 25 in Pulwama, 09 in Shopian, 12 in Awantipora, 13 in Kulgam and 11 in Anantnag district.
    The chief minister too has passed the buck to Director General of Police and Chief Secretary.
    “People should pose this question (on arrests) either to Director General of Police (DGP) or the Chief Secretary. If I talk to officers now, you will accuse me of violating the model code of conduct,” Omar said yesterday.
    “At this point the security and law and order of the state is the direct responsibility of the officers who are in turn accountable to the Election Commission,” he added.
    Meanwhile, police has justified the arrests for “instilling confidence” among the voters.
    In the first phase of the polling in South Kashmir, people observed complete poll boycott. While places like Pulwama, Shopian areas witnessed heavy stone pelting and protests.
    As per the law detainees, held under Goondas Act, Cofeposa etc, are eligible to cast postal ballots.
    Justice K Chandru, former judge of the Madras high court, says there is a distinct difference that permits detainees to vote, “A detenue (detainee) is neither an accused nor a convict. He is detained only by the orders of a district collector or commissioner of police, on the apprehension that he may commit an offence or disrupt public order if not arrested. The detention order is issued to restrict his movement alone.”

     

  • Arrests undemocratic, uncivilized: Untoo

    Srinagar: Condemning the fresh arrest spree across the valley, the International Forum for Justice and Human Rights – JK (IFJHR-JK) Tuesday said the administration cannot justify its actions in the name of “security concern” due to which uncertainty has been created.

    “Where on earth does police arrest youth for conducting smooth elections, this is totally undemocratic and unacceptable to any democratic nation,” chairman IFJHR-JK, Muhammad Ahsaan Untoo said.

    He demanded unconditional release of all those arrested persons accused as stone pelters and trouble mongers by the government. “Around 700 persons have been so far arrested in various districts of Kashmir and are ‘wrongly’ labeled as threat to free and fair conduct of elections,” he said.

    Lashing out at police, Untoo said that arresting 700 youth tantamount to arresting 700 voters. “How come in a democratic setup authorities allow the “police-dictatorship”. This is a sheer violation of basic human rights,” Untoo said.

    The HR forum Chairman also castigated authorities for detaining vehicles in the name of security concern. “These methods are, in no way, justified to ensure the peaceful atmosphere in the valley. Instead such actions will contribute to the chaos and uncertainty in the valley,” he vowed.

    “The International Forum for Justice and Human Rights will not allow any kind of human rights violation from any sector of the administration and we will continue to raise our voice against such injustices taking place in the name of whatever conditions. We also urge administration to immediately release the youth in the better interest of peace in the valley,” Ahsaan Untoo added. (GNS)

     

  • City tense before poll day; shutdown in Maisuma

    Srinagar: Amid pre-poll tension in the Srinagar city, the volatile Maisuma located in heart of the city, observed a complete shutdown in the afternoon.

    The Srinagar constituency is going for polls tomorrow and the tension and fear has gripped the city. The vehicular and pedestrian movement was less in whole city on Tuesday. The reasons cited by people are heavy security checks, fear of militant attacks and stone-throwing protests.

    The rumors also rounded the city throughout the day. Many people called media houses and journalists including GNS office and enquired about happenings in the city.

    Meanwhile, a complete spontaneous shutdown was observed in Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front bastion – Maisuma – in the afternoon. Witnesses told GNS that shopkeepers downed their shutters in Maisuma and Red Cross road from 3: 00 pm.

    The Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for protests against polls from Maghrib to Isha before poll day. (GNS)

     

  • Ahmed Shehzad express his feelings about Maria Shrapva

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  • Ramdev apologises for ‘honeymoon’ remark against Rahul Gandhi

    Lucknow: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev today apologised for his “honeymoon” remark against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi that has sparked a major controversy. Mr Ramdev, who was booked for those remarks earlier in the day, said he was misinterpreted.

    Addressing a gathering in Lucknow yesterday, Mr Ramdev had said, “He (Rahul) goes to houses of Dalits for honeymoon and picnic… His mother told him that if he marries a foreigner, he won’t become the PM.  He does not want to marry an Indian girl. His mother wants him to first become PM and then marry a foreigner.”

    The 43-year-old yoga guru today said, “I did not mean to insult Rahul Gandhi or Dalits. Rahul Gandhi indulges in publicity with photos of him sitting in the homes of Dalits. If my statement hurts the Dalits, I regret it”.

    The apology comes after the Congress severely condemned Mr Ramdev for what it said are “anti-Dalit” remarks. Mr Gandhi’s sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has aggressively hit out at opponents recently for attacking her family, said, “I will not respond to such vileness.”

    Acting on a complaint, the police has charged Mr Ramdev under Section 171G of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for making “false statement with intent to affect the result of an election”.

    Some Dalit activists, also upset with the comments, had also reportedly filed complaints with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Women.

    Mr Ramdev, who has often declared his support for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, also refuted Congress’ allegations that he was campaigning for the BJP at his yoga camps. (Baba Ramdev joins ‘Narendra Modi for PM’ chorus)

  • People resist nocturnal raid in Old City

    Srinagar: Clashes erupted in Nowhatta area of Old City on Saturday night when a police party allegedly raided a house to arrest a youth involved in stone-pelting incidents. People foiled the attempt of police and clashed with them during which a top police official was reportedly injured.

    Locals told CNS that a joint police party from police stations Nowhatta and Khanyar raided a house at Nowhatta to make an arrest of one Ashiq Hussain Rangrez, who according to police sources is allegedly involved in stone-pelting incidents.

    Reports said that people showed stiff resistance and foiled the chances of police to get the said arrested. Locals clashed with the police as a result one police officer received injuries.

    Locals alleged that a large contingent of police cordoned off the area again during the dead of the night and raided the house of the said youth, who reportedly was not present at the house. Locals alleged that after not finding Ashiq Hussain at his home, the police apprehended his uncle Nazir Ahmed Rangrez, his two cousins and the son-in-law of Nazir Ahmed.

    “All the arrested persons have been lodged in police station Nowhatta,” one of the relatives of Rangrez family said.

    A top police official said that he does not know anything about the incident and he would look into it.

     

  • NC leaders are Delhi’s collaborators in JK: Mufti

    SRINAGAR: Accusing National Conference (NC) leaders of acting as collaborators of the Government of India in hurting J&K’s interests, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saturday said that ever-since independence NC has performed the dubious role of a collaborating with the Centre in bartering the State’s political and economic interests for power. “While the voters of our state have little influence in determining who forms the government at the Centre, what is more important is who represents them in the Parliament to be able to deal with the very serious issues facing J&K,” Sayeed said while addressing a series of election rallies in Budgam Assembly segment of Srinagar-Budgam Parliamentary constituency.

    Sayeed said as NC leaders have nothing to show by way of performance or a vision for 21st century J&K, they have adopted a multilevel scare strategy to mislead the voters. “While the party’s Modi-PDP nexus rhetoric is their substitution for a manifesto, enforced boycott is their ground strategy for manipulating polls,” he said and added that PDP on the other hand transformed the political discourse in J&K by piloting successfully and with conviction the crucial issues concerning the State and its people.

    He said PDP has not only put the Kashmir issue in a specific and rational political and economic context, but also laid strong foundations for its peaceful resolution in the emerging scenario of the regional and global political realities.  “The remarkable feature of the political transformation that transcended on J&K in the post-2002 era was that for the first time the State Government came on the forefront of the resolution process.  The PDP-led Government, immediately after the 2002 elections, took the centre-stage and drove the peace process from the front,” he said and added that this political transformation accorded fresh credibility to the mainstream parties and public representatives in the State.  Ridiculing NC leaders’ comic utterances on PDP-BJP nexus, Sayeed said a diatribe doesn’t behove a party that discarded Prof Saifuddin Soz for having voted against the then BJP government in 1999.

    Reiterating that PDP would continue to work hand-in-hand with the progressive and democratic forces in the country to facilitate dignified resolution of JK’s problems, Sayeed asked PDP cadres to prepare for a significant role ahead as the winds of change have already set in across J&K.

    Addressing the rallies, PDP senior Vice-President Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari lashed out at the Omar Abdullah-led Government for pushing the people into an anarchic and distressing situation and bringing back a sense of insecurity and uncertainty.

    He said the people have already started running out of patience with this disastrous Government as their miseries are multiplying with every passing day. “Ironically, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and is father Dr Farooq Abdullah are keeping themselves too busy in making hilarious noises on issues that mostly fall out of their domain,” he said and added that the Chief Minister  seems to be resorting to such histrionics only to hide his countless failures on the home turf.

    Ansari said the contrary innocent killings have become the order of the day, power position in Kashmir has deteriorated to the worst levels ever, drinking water has become scarce, treasuries are running dry, pensioners are being denied pension, contractors are crying for payments, daily-wagers and consolidated workers plead for their wages, people are being kept hostage on roads for hours together due to horrific traffic jams and so on and so forth.

    “I challenge Omar Abdullah to show one single project anywhere in the State which he can claim was pioneered and accomplished by his Government during the past more than 5 years,” he said.

     

  • SMC seizes 3042 kgs of polythene

    19,600 rupees recovered as fine: Qasba

    Srinagar: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) while carrying on its drive against the polytheneSaturday claims to have seized 3042 kgs of polythene across the city.

    According to the KNS correspondent, Dr G.N. Qasba while addressing a press conference at SMC office stated that the corporation acted against the 23 persons found violating the government order in the city.

    Qasba stated that as per the directions of the high court and the government order, the sale of polythene is banned in the summer capital and that the employees of the corporation have acted against the people who were found undermining the court directions.

    He added that it is not only the SMC that could control the menace of the polythene usage in the city but the role of civil society members and of the common people is very important. He urged the people to remain active players in SMC’s drive against the polythene.

    Qasba while proving the details to the newsmen stated that from March 1 to April 25, SMC seized 53 kilograms of polythene from Nishat area while as 22 were recovered from Lal Chowk.  He said that 23 cases against the persons have also been registered in this regard while as one FIR has also been filed against the person found violating the order.  He added that 19,600 rupees have also been collected as fine. (KNS)

     

     

  • Hizb chief pays tributes to slain militants

    Srinagar: The chairman of United Jihad Council (UJC) Syed Salahuddin on Saturday paid rich tributes to militants who were killed during an encounter in South Kashmir’s Karewa area in Shopian district.

    Chairing a special meeting of Hizb Command Council, Salahuddin, who is also supreme commander of Hizb, said, “The martyrs: Abdu-Haq Malik alias Hum of Aarwani, Mohammad Asif Wani alias Muzamil of Drubgam and Shabir Ahmad alias Arsalan of Rangwar, have laid down their lives for Islam and the freedom of their motherland”.

    “The way (militants) are confronting forces, India should realize (militants) and people of Kashmir will not give up their struggle till the dawn of freedom, the statement said.

    In an emergency meeting, Salah-ud-Din also praised the sacrifices offered by the family of District President of Jammat for Kulgam, Qari Ghulam Hassan Malik and said their sacrifices should be an inspiration for the people of Kashmir.

    Salah-ud-Din, according to a spokesman of the Hizb, said, “Both the freedom fighters fought bravely with the armed forces and embraced martyrdom. The martyrdom of these freedom fighters amply demonstrates the fact that every Mujahid of Hizb is committed to Kashmir cause and is ready to sacrifice their precious lives to achieve the noble cause.”

    Meanwhile, the Hizb Supermo said that three army men including a Major were killed and seven others wounded during the gunfight. (GNS)

     

  • Modi’s Modification of ‘Idea of India’ detrimental to the country: Dr. Farooq

    ‘South Kashmir has already punished PDP for nexus with BJP’

    Srinagar: National Conference Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah addressed an impressive public meeting in Surasyaar, Chrar-e-Sharief today and said that “Modi’s modification of the ‘Idea of India’ is detrimental to the country’s peace and communal harmony”.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said Narendra Modi was out to polarize the entire country in order to achieve his goal of becoming the Prime Minister. “The idea of India is that of a multicultural, multi-religious and secular country where every minority community feel included in growth, prosperity and avenues for development. It is this Idea of India that J&K acceded to and it is this Idea of India that National Conference believes in with utmost conviction”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said.

    Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that Narendra Modi’s talk of development and progress has been exposed as nothing beyond shallow rhetoric given that the BJP manifesto talks about the same old divisive issues of construction of the Ram Mandir, Abrogation of Article 370 and the imposition of a Uniform Civil Code. “What does the Ram Mandir, Article 370 abrogation and imposition of Uniform Civil Code have to do with progress and development?”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah asked.

    Stating that the people of South Kashmir had punished PDP for its alignment with and endorsement of Narendra Modi, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that PDP fielded its candidates tactically in Jammu to divide the secular, anti-BJP vote in order to directly help the BJP candidates in the fray. “This is no secret anymore – PDP has done everything Modi had asked of it in Jammu probably in lieu of a promise of political patronage by Narendra Modi. However, the people of South Kashmir have aptly punished PDP for its secret dealings with Modi and the party is facing a historic rout from South – a rout that will be replicated in North and Central Kashmir as well in the coming days and months”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq Abdullah asked the people to vote in large numbers for the NC-Congress Coalition so that communal forces and their partners within the State are kept at bay and aren’t allowed to succeed in their designs to dilute Article 370 for their personal political goals. (GNS)