News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • OIC meets India envoy, seeks to send team to see Jammu & Kashmir situation

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a 57-member grouping, sought to send a delegation to Jammu and Kashmir and raised issues concerning the situation of Muslims in India, in a meeting with India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The rare meeting between an Indian diplomat and an OIC secretary general was held on July 5 in Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah.

    “The Secretary General welcomed Ambassador Ausaf Sayeed and reviewed with him a number of issues concerning the situation of Muslims in India, along with the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and relevant UN and OIC resolutions opposing any unilateral actions on the issue,” a statement from the OIC noted.

    Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindham Bagchi said the meeting was held on the request of the Islamic bloc. 

    “A wide range of issues was discussed. Our ambassador conveyed the need to correct some of the misperceptions about India that are being perpetrated by the vested interests in the OIC,” Bagchi said.Ambassador Sayeed told the OIC to ensure that its platform is not used by those with vested interest to make comments on India’s internal affairs or to spread anti-India propaganda through biased and one-sided resolutions, Bagchi said.

    India has maintained that the OIC has no locus standi on Kashmir, and had, in the past, called out the grouping for making unwarranted references to India in its resolutions. New Delhi had also raised concerns that Pakistan is trying to use the OIC as an anti-India platform.

  • Four militants killed in separate gunbattles in Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: Four militants were killed in two separate gunbattles with security forces in Kulgam and Pulwama districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

    Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Zodar area of Kulgam district following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

    He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened firing on the security forces, who retaliated.

    Two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants have been killed in the operation which was going on till last reports came in.

    In another operation at Puchal in Pulwama district, two militants have been killed, the official said, adding that further details were awaited.

  • Pakistani terrorist killed as Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

    By PTI
    JAMMU: A Pakistani terrorist was gunned down as Army troops foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, a defence spokesman said.

    Two soldiers were injured in the firefight with the terrorists who made an attempt to cross the LoC, official sources said.

    “In the early hours today, a group of Pakistani terrorists made an attempt to infiltrate across the LoC in the Nowshera Sector of Rajouri,” the spokesman said.

    Alert Army troops thwarted the infiltration bid by suitably employing an integrated surveillance grid along with domination by fire, and engaging the terrorists in a fierce firefight in which one terrorist was neutralised, he said, adding that his body has been recovered.

    An AK 47 rifle, four magazines of AK 47 with ammunition and two hand grenades have been recovered, he said.

    This action displays resolve of the Indian Army to thwart any misadventure on the Line of Control, the spokesman said.

    According to sources, two soldiers were injured in the gunfight and have been hospitalised.

  • Drones banned in three more districts of Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI
    JAMMU: District authorities in Samba, Ramban and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday banned the storage, sale or possession of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles.

    Authorities in Srinagar and border districts of Rajouri and Kathua have already imposed such a ban after the recent terror attack at an IAF station in Jammu with armed drones.

    In Baramulla, those having drone cameras or other similar kinds of unmanned aerial vehicles have been directed to deposit them in local police stations.

    The District Magistrate (DM) of Ramban, Mussarat Islam, said the ban has been ordered in the wake of the frequent use of small drone cameras for capturing photos and videos in social and cultural gatherings and the risk of its use by anti-national elements.

    According to the order, the move will help to avoid any confusion in the current situation to secure aerial spaces near vital installations and highly populated areas.

    “Any drone operating in the district needs to be registered. The owner of the drone and operator thereof shall be liable for all damages incurred, to person or property, due to mishandling or malfunctioning of drone or otherwise,” the order stated.

    In what was the first instance of Pakistan-based terrorists deploying drones to strike vital installations, two bombs were dropped at the IAF station Jammu in the early hours of Sunday, causing minor injuries to two personnel.

    The explosions took place at around 1.40 AM within six minutes of each other.

    The first blast ripped off the roof of a single-storey building at the technical area of the airport manned by the IAF in the Satwari area on the outskirts of Jammu.

    The second one was on the ground.

  • Articles 370, 35 A only gave separatism, terrorism, nepotism, corruption: Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday said Articles 370 and 35A — which were revoked by the Centre in August 2019 — gave only separatism, terrorism, nepotism and large scale corruption to the erstwhile state.

    Addressing a national webinar to mark the birth anniversary Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee as part of Azaadi ka Amrut Mahotsav at Raj Bhavan here, Sinha remembered Mookerjee as the architect of fully integrated and modern India.

    Steadfastly working to realise the goal of “Ek Vidhaan, Ek Pradhaan, Ek Nishaan (one constitution, one leader and one flag)”, Mookerjee’s struggle in J-K was a revolution and he sacrificed his life while fighting for it, the LG said.

    Mookerjee wanted to see Jammu and Kashmir like other states of India with the same rights for the people of J&K as in the rest of India, he said.

    “Today, on his birth anniversary, while expressing my sincere tributes to Dr.Mookerjee from Srinagar, I want to express my gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for fulfilling his dream on August 5, 2019, leading to the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the country,” he said.

    Sinha said that due to Article 370, constitutional reforms and hundreds of central laws which would have been helpful in raising the quality of life of people and bringing a surge of development in the region were not implemented in J-K.

    “Article 370 and 35A gave only separatism, terrorism, nepotism and large scale corruption to J-K. There was not a single provision in it that would connect J-K to the mainstream development,” the LG said.

    He added that Article 370 also provided that the Indian flag would be flown only on two occasions in J&K but today, it is being hoisted proudly on every government building of Jammu and Kashmir and in every school.

    All 890 central laws are now applicable here, he said.

    “The rule of only a handful didn’t give leadership opportunities to any young citizen of J-K, but today the youth of J-K are not only making successful political debut but are also marching towards development,” he remarked.

    The Lt Governor said Mookerjee had made immense contributions to the Constitution of India, India’s politics, education and modern industries.

    “I believe Dr.Mookerjee’s arrival in Jammu and Kashmir, 68 years ago, in May 1953, was the first Swadeshi movement of the country after independence. And today, his Tapobhoomi is illuminated with development as his dream turned into reality many years after his arrival,” he said.

    Sinha said Mookerjee had such integrity and dedication for nation-building that he did not rest until the challenge at his hand was resolved.

    “He believed that the basic element of good governance, nationalism, change, prosperity of the society, is wholesome policy and even the most complex problems can be solved with the righteous approach,” Sinha said.

    “I strongly believe that national integration is the first step in the development of citizens and Dr.Mookerjee knew that this unity was incomplete without the complete integration of J-K with rest of the country,” he said.

    “I believe that the country became independent in 1947, but its political consciousness and political sense was found due to Dr.Syama Prasad Mookerjee,” he added.

    Sinha said the views of Mookerjee’s on J-K issue, relations with neighboring countries and reforms in elections were like the fragrance of spirituality in Indian politics.

    “Today, if J-K is moving ahead on the path of development, then it is only because of two personalities, one Dr.Syama Prasad Mookerjee and the other is Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” he said.

    “I bow down to Dr.Syama Prasad Mookerjee for his steadfast efforts, amazing valour and supreme sacrifice to get justice. And today Jammu and Kashmir has been fully integrated with India and taking along the crown jewel of India, we have to move forward for the development of the country with full faith, determination,” he said.

    The webinar was organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and was attended by Arif Mohammed Khan, the Governor of Kerala; Droupadi Murmu, the Governor of Jharkhand, Prahlad Singh Patel, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Culture and Tourism; among others.

  • Jammu & Kashmir: Leaders of political parties meet with Delimitation Commission panel

    By ANI

    SRINAGAR: Leaders of different political parties of Jammu and Kashmir arrived at the hotel in Srinagar for a meeting with members of the Delimitation Commission on Tuesday.

    The members of the Delimitation panel will be meeting political leaders, district officers or Deputy Commissioners of 20 districts of the region and other stakeholders and gather ground-level information relating to the ongoing process of delimitation in the Union Territory.

    Both Congress and BJP, along with Jammu and Kashmir’s Panthers Party had welcomed the move of the Election Commission and said they will meet the delegation and demand fair representation of all communities.

    Earlier, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said it will not meet the Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission, stating that the “outcome of the meeting which is widely believed to be pre-planned and may further hurt the interests of our people.”

    The Delimitation Commission, tasked with redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, is scheduled to visit the Union Territory from July 6 to July 9 and interact with administrative officials, political parties and public representatives there.

    The decision to visit Jammu and Kashmir was taken after the panel held a meeting at the Election Commission office in the national capital on June 30.

    Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had held a meeting with political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir on June 24. The meeting was the first high-level interaction between the Centre and political leadership mainly from Kashmir since August 5, 2019, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and also bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    Days after attending an all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has expressed its dissatisfaction over the outcome of the meeting. The first meeting of the alliance after the Delhi meeting was held late Sunday evening at the residence of National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, who is also the chairman of the alliance.

    PAGD spokesperson MY Tarigami told ANI that there has been an “absence of any substantial confidence-building measures” such as releasing political and other prisoners from jails.

  • Gupkar Alliance unhappy with outcome of All-Party Meeting chaired by PM Modi

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: In its first joint statement since the June 24 meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, the Gupkar Alliance Monday asserted that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held only after restoration of statehood. The six-party alliance expressed disappointment at the outcome of the All-Party Meeting (APM) chaired by the PM saying “whatever little hope we had was not fulfilled and no assurance was given and no CBMs (confidence building measures) announced”.

    “All the PAGD (Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration) members expressed their disappointment at the outcome of Delhi meeting, especially at the absence of any substantial CBMs like release of prisoners and taking concrete steps to end the siege and atmosphere of suppression that has choked J&K since 2019,” Alliance spokesman and CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said in a statement.

    The Alliance leaders met at chairman Farooq Abdullah’s residence at Srinagar on Sunday evening to deliberate on the APM. “No assurance was given. No message was received by the people on CBMs,” Tarigami said, adding that “the Centre should respond to our suggestions and take some CBMs to restore trust and faith”.

    On restoration of statehood, he said both PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had promised to do so within and outside Parliament. “Why they have not fulfilled the promise so far is our concern,” he said.Tarigami said the PAGD does not want Delhi-type statehood but restoration of the pre-August 2019 status. Assembly election must be held only after restoration of full statehood to J&K. “To make the election process credible, the Centre should restore statehood to J&K,” he added.

    Asked whether the Gupkar Alliance would meet the Delimitation Commission which will begin its four-day visit on Tuesday, Tarigami said political parties that are part of the Gupkar Alliance will take their own decision on this.

  • Policeman injured in grenade attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda

    By PTI
    BHADERWAH: A policeman was injured on Monday when some unidentified men hurled a grenade in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, officials said.

    The incident took place when the victim Zahoor Ahmed (45) working with SOG of J&K Police, along with another jawan, was on duty at the district police lines (DPL) at Doda, said SP (Operation-Doda) Raj Kumar.

    He said the attack took place in an under-construction building outside DPL at Doda.

    “Though Doda is militancy-free, it could be the work of active over ground workers (OGWs) who want to revive the militancy in the area,” the officer stated.

    The injured cop was shifted to a government medical college hospital at Doda, where his condition is stated to be stable, police said.

    Medical Superintendent of the hospital Yudhvir Singh said the cop have injury in his leg.

    “He is stable and out of danger,” Singh said.

    Meanwhile, Kumar said additional police and Army personnel have been rushed to the area to take stock of the situation.

    “Extra personnel of security forces have been deployed and search operation is going on as the area has been cordoned off,” he added.

  • J&K’s Gupkar alliance wants Assembly elections only after restoration of statehood

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: The Gupkar alliance leaders, who met to discuss the deliberations at the June 24 all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, have expressed disappointment at the outcome. They also want Assembly elections to be held only after restoration of statehood.

    The Gupkar leaders met at NC president Farooq Abdullah’s residence at Gupkar, Srinagar, on Sunday evening. The meeting was attended by vice-chairperson Mehbooba Mufti, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi, Javed Mustafa Mir and Muzaffar Ahmed Shah.

    The meeting was convened to discuss the recent all-party meeting chaired by the PM in Delhi on 24th June. At least 14 J&K leaders including four from the Gupkar alliance attended the meeting, which was the Centre’s first political outreach to J&K leaders after the scrapping of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K state on August 5, 2019.

    “All members of PAGD expressed their disappointment at the outcome of the Delhi meeting especially at the absence of any substantial Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) including release of prisoners and taking concrete steps to end the siege and atmosphere of suppression that has choked J&K since 2019,” a statement issued by the alliance said.

    It stated that the CBMs would have initiated the much needed process of reaching out to the people of J&K who are the biggest stakeholders and sufferers.

    Referring to restoration of statehood, the Gupkar alliance said it has been the BJP’s commitment on the floor of parliament and they must honour their word.

    “So any assembly election must be held only after restoration of full statehood for J&K. To this end, the PAGD has decided to reach out to other political parties in J&K with a view to take a common position on the issue,” the statement stated.

    The Gupkar alliance, which was formed by seven parties (one of which has quit the alliance), in October 2020 to fight for restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, reiterated its commitment to fight together to reverse “unconstitutional and unacceptable changes” foisted on J&K people on August 5, 2019 using all constitutional, legal and political means at its disposal.

    “PAGD’s struggle for undoing these changes will continue for as long as it takes while striving to achieve this objective as early as possible,” added the statement.

  • Ending age-old bi-annual Durbar Move will hurt economy of Jammu: Traders

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: Traders in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed their resentment over the UT administration’s decision to end the 149-year- old practice of bi-annual Durbar Move saying it would hurt Jammu’s economy and also, increase the void between the two regions. 

    Surinder Mahajan, president of Raghunath Bazar Businessmen’s Association, said: “When the Durbar used to shift to Jammu in winter, thousands of Kashmir-based employees and their families would come to Jammu. There used to be a hustle-bustle in Jammu markets for six months in winter.

    Our sales would go up.” The 149-year-old bi-annual tradition of shifting capitals between Srinagar and Jammu, by moving hundreds of official files physically in trucks on the treacherous Jammu-Srinagar highway, came to an end on June 30.

    “I appeal to the PM and Lieutenant Governor to reconsider the government decision to stop the Durbar Move. Let this tradition continue. Stopping this  nearly 150-year-old practice is not right,” he said, adding the traders are hurt and disappointed.

    L-G Manoj Sinha has said stopping the Durbar Move will save the government `200 crore per year. Jammu chambers president Arun Gupta said the Durbar Move is not only connected with finance but connected Kashmir and Jammu as well.

    Kanakmandi, Jammu Traders’ Association president Anoop Mittal said: “It will break the backbone of Jammu’s economy.” Mittal said the practice’s aim was to connect Kashmir with Jammu as both regions have different topography.

    “Through the Durbar Move, people of both regions understood Kashmiriyat and Dogra culture, and it led to amity and communal harmony in J&K,” he said.