News Analysis India

Tag: Kashmir

  • Pregnant lady found dead with throat slit in Jammu and Kashmir’s Banihal

    By PTI

    BANIHAL: A pregnant woman was found dead with her throat slit in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Thursday, police said.

    “Police received an information from reliable sources that one pregnant lady namely Zubaida Begum was found lying in a pool of blood with her throat slit at her home at Darshipora this morning,” they said.

    Consequently, a team from Banihal police station was immediately dispatched and top police officials reached the spot.

    Sensing some mischief, police has taken cognisance in this regard and a case of murder has been registered at Banihal police station, they said.

    The investigation is underway and all possible angles are being explored to find out if any foul play has happened, they added.

  • Erdogan’s Kashmir-reference prompts India’s Cyprus retort

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yet again raked up the Kashmir issue during his address at the United Nations General Assembly, prompting India to pay back in kind and call for Turkey to respect the UNSC resolutions on Cyprus.

    “We maintain our stance in favour of solving the ongoing problem in Kashmir for 74 years through dialogue between the parties and within the framework of relevant United Nations resolutions,” Erdogan said. Last year, too, he had made a reference to Kashmir in his pre-recorded speech at the UNGA.

    Hours after his remarks, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Cyprus counterpart Nikos Christodoulides and stressed the need for Turkey to respect and adhere to the UNSC resolutions on Cyprus. “Working to take our economic ties forward. Appreciated his regional insights. Important that relevant UN Security Council resolutions in respect of Cyprus are adhered to by all,” Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

    The reference to the resolutions refers to the recognition of North Cyprus by Turkey, which came into being in 1974 when Turkey invaded the northern part of the country in response to a military coup on the island which was backed by the Greek government. Turkey is the only nation which recognises North Cyprus while the Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognised.

    Erdogan, in his address, also referred to China’s Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and Myanmar’s Rohingya. “Within China’s territorial integrity perspective, we do believe that more efforts need to be displayed regarding the protection of the basic rights of the Muslim Uyghur Turks,” he said.

  • Jammu and Kashmir youths taking to drug out of unemployment and frustration: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of being indifferent to the plight of the youths of the Union Territory, who, he claimed, were turning to drugs out of joblessness and ensuing frustration.

    The NC president, who is also the Srinagar MP, made the allegation while interacting with party workers who had called on him at his residence here.

    The visiting delegation apprised the party president of various issues concerning the people, particularly youths.

    “The J&K youths are sinking under the weight of the incumbent administration’s indifference,” said Abdullah.

    He also told the visiting delegation that the August 5, 2019 decision of revoking J&K’s special status has adversely affected the local educated and skilled youths.

    “The mounting evidence is in the form of widespread and scathing unemployment and job losses resulting in their continuing alienation and frustration,” he said.

    The NC president said the incumbent administration’s “lack of interest” in the needs of youths has also incurred a cost in terms of their physical and mental health.

    “Youths are a major part of our demographics but regrettably this promising chunk of the J&K population is living in frustration, unemployment, and insecurity. Despite having the best of capabilities, our youths from Kashmir, Chenab, and Pirpanjal and Jammu regions are uniformly caught in a vortex.”

    Mired by hopelessness and anxiety, our youths are taking to drug addiction and substance abuse.

    “The situation is very grim and our youths are living the grimmest nightmare, one which brings new government diktats seeking to deprive them of their land rights, natural resources, livelihood and freedom. There has been no respite,” he said.

    Abdullah said there is a great need to come up with a youth project that seeks to relocate and rejuvenate the disenfranchised energies of our youths.

    Terming unemployment as the most alarming issue faced by youths, he said, “The much-touted promises of local and central governments on extravaganza, investment and fast-tracking of recruitment has fallen flat.”

    “On the contrary, unemployment in all J&K regions has seen a manifold increase which also had a cascading effect on other social and health issues particularly of our youths,” he said.

    He said the NC remains committed to the revision and revival of the youth policy that will create a situation wherein the J&K youths will get education and employment and remain free from drug abuse, sectarianism and communalism.

  • Search operation underway along LoC in J-K’s Uri sector after Army detects suspicious movement

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A search operation was launched along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir after the Army detected suspicious movement in the area, a defence spokesperson said on Sunday.

    “Suspicious movement was detected along the LoC in Uri sector last night,” PRO Defence Col Emron Musavi said.

    Searches in the area are underway, he said.

  • PDP to fight upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir: Mehbooba Mufti

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The PDP will fight the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, party president Mehbooba Mufti said on Sunday, ruling out an alliance with its erstwhile coalition partner the BJP.

    The former chief minister said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is far from normal which is evident from the twin attacks in Kulgam district in south Kashmir where a policeman and a non-local labourer were killed by militants on Friday.

    “PDP will fight the (assembly) elections. So far an alliance is concerned, the question is premature but one thing is absolutely clear that we will not go with that party (BJP),” Mehbooba told reporters on the sidelines of a party function here.

    The BJP walked out of the PDP-led government in 2018, ending a three-year-old alliance with the party.

    Mehbooba has made it clear time and again that she herself is not going to fight the assembly elections as her objective is to seek restoration of Article 370 of the Constitution which was abrogated by the BJP-led government in August 2019.

    “Their claim that everything is normal in Jammu and Kashmir is absolutely wrong. People are silent and silence does not mean that the situation has improved. They are feeling suffocated while they (BJP) are trying to portray that everything is alright,” she said.

    Referring to the one-day strike call given by Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry against for September 22 against alleged attempts to finish local trade by allowing big corporate chains to open their outlets, she said those who the BJP claimed were in support of the abrogation of Article 370 are going on a protest strike.

    “At least they are registering their protest but in Kashmir, the people cannot even do this. They are forced to open their shops if they resort to strike,” the PDP leader said.

    “They are only concerned about the commission which they use to buy opposition MLAs to bring down an elected government,” she alleged.

    Asked about the removal of the national flag from a building at Kotranka in Rajouri district during her visit, she said, “I do not have any information. Ask the police about this.”

    Police on Saturday said an FIR was lodged against unidentified persons for removing the national flag from a building in Kotranka during the intervening night of September 17 and 18.

    In response to a question about the visit of 70 union ministers to different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and their remarks that Article 370 was a hurdle in the development of the Union Territory, Mehbooba said, “It is nothing but a photo opportunity to portray that the situation is normal. But if the situation is normal, why are District Development Council (DDC) members kept in hotels and other buildings under security and not allowed to move freely.”

    “They should go to Uttar Pradesh to campaign for the next assembly elections. They should go there to find out the reasons for dumping of bodies in the sacred river Ganga and the condition of the people,” Mehbooba said.

    About the slow pace of work on various projects in Jammu, She said, “Nothing is happening in Jammu and Kashmir. Many of these projects were sanctioned during the previous government.”

    She alleged that the corruption in Jammu and Kashmir is at an all-time high with all government departments affected, while the poor people are facing starvation in the backdrop of rising prices of essential commodities and fuel.

  • India calls out Pakistan, OIC for K-anard at UNHRC session

    By Express News Service

    India on Wednesday gave the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) a piece of its mind for raising Kashmir at the UN Human Rights Commission, calling it out for allowing itself to be held hostage by Pakistan.

    Exercising its rights to respond to comments made by Pakistan and the OIC on Kashmir at the ongoing session of the council, India said Pakistan has been globally recognised as a country openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy. 

    The stinging response came from Pawan Badhe, first secretary in India’s permanent mission in Geneva. “India, as not only the world’s largest democracy but a robustly functional and vibrant one, does not need lessons from a failed state like Pakistan which is the epicentre of terrorism and worst abuser of human rights,” he acidly said.

    Pakistan, he added, has failed to protect the rights of its minorities, including Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Ahmadiyas. “Pakistan has been engaged in systematic persecution, forced conversions, targeted killings, sectarian violence and faith-based discrimination against its ethnic and religious minorities,” he said. 

    Turning his attention to the OIC, Badhe said it has no locus to comment on Kashmir. “The OIC has helplessly allowed itself to be held hostage by Pakistan…. It’s for the members of the OIC to decide if it is in their interest to allow Pakistan to do so.”

  • Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promises train service to Kashmir before 2024

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday promised that rail link with the Kashmir Valley would be open to the public before 2024, an official spokesperson said.

    He said systematic surveys are being undertaken to link the remotest regions of the country through mobile and internet connectivity.

    The minister, who visited the Jammu railway station and a community service centre (CSC) here, took stock of the facilities being provided to the public.

    His visit is part of the public outreach initiative of the Union government for Jammu and Kashmir.

    The railway minister assured that rail link with Kashmir would be open to the public before 2024, the spokesperson said.

    He also inspected the Jammu railway station and studied the upgradation plan for the Jammu and Kathua railway stations.

    Vaishnaw assured that appropriate steps would be taken to facilitate pilgrims and tourists reaching Jammu and beyond through the railways.

    On February 14, former railway minister Piyush Goyal had set the target for completion of the Katra-Qazigund track project by next year.

    “Reviewed the progress of Udhampur Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project in Jammu and Kashmir and deliberated ways for early execution.

    The project will be completed by 2022 and will facilitate ease of transport for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Goyal had tweeted.

    On December 28, 2020, Northern Railway General Manager Ashutosh Gangal had set the target for completion of the project by December 2022.

    “The prestigious project will be completed by the end of 2022,” Gangal had said.

    The 272-km railway line is being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 28,000 crore by the northern railway.

    Gangal said that the first section connecting Udhampur to Katra and the third section between Banihal and Baramulla have been completed with both the sections operational.

    The work to complete the most difficult Katra-Banihal section is going as per schedule, he added.

  • Gunfight breaks out during search operations for terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri district

    By PTI

    JAMMU: A gunfight broke on Sunday after security forces launched a search operation in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district following information about suspected movement of terrorists from across the Line of Control (LoC), officials said.

    The officials said that the encounter started when terrorists opened fire on the joint search parties of the Army and police in the forest area of Dori Maal near Barote Gali in Manjakote area. They said the gunfight between the two sides was going on for the last several hours but there was no immediate report of any casualty on either side.

    The search operation was launched in the area along with parts of Thanamandi in the early hours of Sunday after intelligence inputs suggested movement of a fresh group of terrorists who managed to sneak into this side and are hiding in the forest area, the officials said. “The encounter is going on and further details are awaited,” a senior police officer said.

    The twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a spurt in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters. Three soldiers also laid down their lives in the earlier operations.

  • Will provide all help to Kashmiri Pandits: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday reached out to displaced Kashmiri Pandits, saying he and his family belong to this community, and promised them all help.

    He also accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of trying to break the composite culture of Jammu and Kashmir, and said both the organisations are “ruining” the love and brotherhood that exists among the people of the Union Territory.

    “I told my Kashmiri Pandit brothers that I will show by helping you. I do not tell lies,” Gandhi said while addressing Congress office-bearers and workers at a party function here on the last day of his two-day visit to Jammu.

    He said that he himself belongs to the Kashmiri Pandit community and feels their pain. “Today morning, a delegation of Kashmiri Pandit brothers had come. When the members of the delegation were talking to me, it came to my mind that I am also a part of this community,” Gandhi said.

    He said that his family belongs to the Kashmiri Pandit community. Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee from the Kashmir Valley to Jammu and other states in the early 90s soon after the outbreak of militancy in the region.

    Taking a dig at BJP-led central government, Gandhi accused it of making false promises to migrant Kashmiri Pandits.

    “A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits told me that a promise of providing Rs 25 lakh compensation has not been fulfilled yet. It was the Congress that announced the compensation for the Kashmiri Pandits,” he said.

    The Congress leader said that whenever he comes to Jammu and Kashmir he feels at home. “I had said in Srinagar that whenever I come to Jammu and Kashmir I feel that I have come home. Yesterday, I had gone to offer prayers at the Mata Vaishnodevi temple (in Reasi district) and I felt at home,” he said.

    “Jammu and Kashmir, which was a state, but now is a Union Territory, has a very old relation with my family,” said Gandhi. On August 5, 2019, the Centre had abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

    On the first day of his visit to Jammu on Thursday, Gandhi had paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi after undertaking a 13-km-long foot yatra.

    Last month, Gandhi had offered prayers at one of the biggest temples of Kashmiri Pandits — the Mata Kheerbhawani temple in Ganderbal district in the Kashmir Valley.

    This is Gandhi’s second visit to Jammu and Kashmir in the last one month, and he has said that he will also go to Ladakh in the coming days.

  • Punjab Congress chief Sidhu’s adviser Malvinder Mali quits over controversial comments on Kashmir

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Under fire for his controversial comments on Kashmir, Malvinder Singh Mali on Friday quit as adviser to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.

    However, Mali did not term it as a “resignation”.

    In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Mali said, “I humbly submit that I withdraw my consent given for tendering suggestions to Navjot Singh Sidhu”.

    Mali, in another Facebook post, claimed that the question of his resignation does not arise as he never accepted the post.

    “Neither accepted any post, nor resigned from any post,” Mali said in a post in Punjabi.

    Amid a power tussle in Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had asked Sidhu on Sunday to “rein in” his advisers after two of them made “atrocious” comments recently on sensitive issues like Kashmir and Pakistan.

    AICC general secretary Harish Rawat, who is in charge of Punjab affairs, had also said that the two advisers need to go.

    Sidhu on August 11 had appointed Mali, a former government teacher and political analyst, and Pyare Lal Garg, a former registrar of Baba Farid University of Health and Sciences, as his advisers to seek their “wise counsel.

    ” In a recent social media post, Mali had waded into the issue of revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

    He had reportedly said if Kashmir was a part of India, then what was the need to have Articles 370 and 35A.

    He had also said, “Kashmir is a country of Kashmiri people.”

    Garg, another adviser of Sidhu, had reportedly questioned the chief minister’s criticism of Pakistan.

    The chief minister had warned against such “atrocious and ill-conceived comments that were potentially dangerous to the peace and stability of the state and the country”.