Restoration of Article 370? Congress promises restoration Of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir

[The Bald Eagle]

J&K Poll Manifesto: Congress Promises Restoration Of Statehood But Keeps Mum On Article 370

J&K Polls: Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera emphasized the urgency of the situation in Kashmir, stating that in the past ten years, the situation in Kashmir has left hearts wounded.

Jammu and Kashmir Polls: The Congress party has released its election manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir, encapsulated in the slogan 'Haath Badlega Haalat'. The party said that its manifesto aims to address the pressing issues faced by the people of the region and has been crafted with input from a committee that engaged with various cross-sections of society across all districts. While the Congress party promised to restore full statehood for the Union Territory of the Jammu and Kashmir, it kept mum on Article 370 restoration, a promise made by its ally National Conference.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera emphasized the urgency of the situation in Kashmir, stating, "For the past ten years, the situation in Kashmir has left hearts wounded. The long night has ended, and a new dawn is upon us. Haath badlega Jammu and Kashmir ke haalaat."

Khera alleged the lack of avenues for people to voice their grievances, lamenting that "Kashmir has become a graveyard of dreams." He reiterated that the manifesto represents a commitment to restoring the rights and dignity of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. "Jobs are a right for the youth, pensions are a right for women. J&K was once a state but was turned into a Union Territory. It must reclaim its rights, and we will ensure that happens," he asserted.

Source: Zee News

 

[gani999]

Statehood has nothing to do with re-establishing Article 370. Most Indian states don't have anything like the Article 370, barring some North Eastern states which have some special privileges.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Statehood has nothing to do with re-establishing Article 370. Most Indian states don't have anything like the Article 370, barring some North Eastern states which have some special privileges.

If free and fair elections take place in Kashmir then definitely BJP won't even win a seat.

 

[Hitman]

If free and fair elections take place in Kashmir then definitely BJP won't even win a seat.

You really believe there might not be free and fair elections anywhere in India at this day and age? The fact that BJP lost in Ayodhya speaks everything.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

You really believe there might not be free and fair elections anywhere in India at this day and age? The fact that BJP lost in Ayodhya speaks everything.

Yep there are some apprehensions

Pre-Election Rigging in Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in as India’s prime minister on June 9 for a rare third term.Although the Bharatiya Janata Party, together with its National Democratic Alliance all

www.pakistantoday.com.pk

 

[Hitman]

Yep there are some apprehensions

Pre-Election Rigging in Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in as India’s prime minister on June 9 for a rare third term.Although the Bharatiya Janata Party, together with its National Democratic Alliance all

www.pakistantoday.com.pk

Bro, that's a Pakistani website

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Bro, that's a Pakistani website

Let's wait for the results as Kashmiris unlike past are not boycotting the voting process this once

 

[deltexas]

Yep there are some apprehensions

Pre-Election Rigging in Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in as India’s prime minister on June 9 for a rare third term.Although the Bharatiya Janata Party, together with its National Democratic Alliance all

www.pakistantoday.com.pk

Elections in jandk are free and fair. Here's a.lonk from this forum posters fave website al jazeera who clearly state elections were free and fair in 2024 national elections.

Kashmir election: Are separatist candidates change agents or Trojan horses?

For decades, the Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted elections. Now, the banned group has upended its position—and the campaign.

www.google.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Elections in jandk are free and fair. Here's a.lonk from this forum posters fave website al jazeera who clearly state elections were free and fair in 2024 national elections.

Kashmir election: Are separatist candidates change agents or Trojan horses?

For decades, the Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted elections. Now, the banned group has upended its position—and the campaign.

www.google.com

Yep Al Jazeera is reliable, just one question are hurriet guys participating? If so then under such fair elections no way they can EVER lose.

 

[deltexas]

Yep Al Jazeera is reliable, just one question are hurriet guys participating? If so then under such fair elections no way they can EVER lose.

I dont know why they are not participating. Maybe you can ask them. Or maybe they are a non entity agency now? An ex isi stooge. Maybe engineer rashid is eating their pie - heaven knows ? Any party can participate in the elections i guess as long as they are not a terrorist designated organization by the world. Now if you want gun wielding terrorists ala hamas or taliban style- thats a different conversation.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: 41% polling till 1 pm as J&K votes after 10 years

This marks the first assembly polls in a decade and the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Approximately 2.3 million voters, including 5,66,000 young people, are eligible to vote for 219 candidates. Among the youth, there are ...

To ensure smooth voting, the Election Commission has set up 3,276 polling stations, featuring 100 per cent webcasting across the constituencies, including 302 urban and 2,974 rural locations. With a high-profile campaign from various political parties,...

Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla and Awami Ittehad Party chief Engineer Rashid hoped that people will vote against the “enemies of Kashmir, who only betrayed us". “I hope people will consider all the things and will vote for Awami Ittehad Party,” he said...

PDP candidate from Pulwama Assembly constituency, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said the message is to come out and vote, and democratically participate in this festival. “Elections are happening after 10 years. For us, voting is an act of self-preservation...

Source: Deccan Herald

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I dont know why they are not participating. Maybe you can ask them. Or maybe they are a non entity agency now? An ex isi stooge. Maybe engineer rashid is eating their pie - heaven knows ? Any party can participate in the elections i guess as long as they are not a terrorist designated organization by the world. Now if you want gun wielding terrorists ala hamas or taliban style- thats a different conversation.

Wrong interpretation, you are mixing freedom fighters with terrorists although the regime they are fighting are one of this kind.

 

[deltexas]

Wrong interpretation, you are mixing freedom fighters with terrorists although the regime they are fighting are one of this kind.

Terrorists are terrorists. And their organizations are designated as such as well. Its like people saying Hamas are freedom fighters. These people are destroying future generation kids and setting them up for failure. And FYI - Kashmir had its own flag, constitution, assembly and unlimited central funds till 370 was removed. They misused it. They drove Kashmiri pandits away and killed them and they are freedom fighters ??

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Statehood has nothing to do with re-establishing Article 370. Most Indian states don't have anything like the Article 370, barring some North Eastern states which have some special privileges.

Why do those north eastern states have special priveleges?

 

[gani999]

If free and fair elections take place in Kashmir then definitely BJP won't even win a seat.

They are likely to win in Jammu and even Ladakh.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Terrorists are terrorists. And their organizations are designated as such as well. Its like people saying Hamas are freedom fighters. These people are destroying future generation kids and setting them up for failure. And FYI - Kashmir had its own flag, constitution, assembly and unlimited central funds till 370 was removed. They misused it. They drove Kashmiri pandits away and killed them and they are freedom fighters ??

The term terrorist is just thrown around dependent on which side you support. For a hindutva, any Muslim who refuses to cede Kashmir to hindus will be termed a terrorist. Any Muslim who refuses to cede Palestine to the settlers will be termed a terrorist. For the oppressed, it will be the oppressor who is the terrorist.

 

[Local.Dada]

The term terrorist is just thrown around dependent on which side you support. For a hindutva, any Muslim who refuses to cede Kashmir to hindus will be termed a terrorist. Any Muslim who refuses to cede Palestine to the settlers will be termed a terrorist. For the oppressed, it will be the oppressor who is the terrorist.

I would say if you bomb people in crowded areas, office buildings, attack business capitals that only result in casualties of civilians etc then by any definition one would be called a terrorist. . Most of those groups are flagged in USA, UK, India and even in some Islamic countries. Not sure you have a different definition

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I would say if you bomb people in crowded areas, office buildings, attack business capitals that only result in casualties of civilians etc then by any definition one would be called a terrorist. . Most of those groups are flagged in USA, UK, India and even in some Islamic countries. Not sure you have a different definition

Are the israelis terrorists in your eyes?

 

[Local.Dada]

Are the israelis terrorists in your eyes?

Isreal is a sovereign country that has a fucntioning democracy,strong scientific and educational system, army, trade and commerce etc. if they have a foreign policy that is bothering you I don’t know, I have no stake in the conflict.

I am not sure where you are finding an equivalence.

Let me put it this way; political or diplomacy aside, lot of tangible things to genuinely admire about Isreal and the progress they made, don’t think same can be said for Al-Qaeda, ISIS etc. maybe you see it differently.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Congress is saviour of India

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Isreal is a sovereign country that has a fucntioning democracy,strong scientific and educational system, army, trade and commerce etc. if they have a foreign policy that is bothering you I don’t know, I have no stake in the conflict.

I am not sure where you are finding an equivalence.

Let me put it this way; political or diplomacy aside, lot of tangible things to genuinely admire about Isreal and the progress they made, don’t think same can be said for Al-Qaeda, ISIS etc. maybe you see it differently.

Nazi Germany was a sovereign country, functioning democracy etc. This is not a measure of right or wrong so putting labels like terrorist to suit your own preference doesn't mean that much.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

If free and fair elections take place in Kashmir then definitely BJP won't even win a seat.

Elections are free and fair in India and BJP hardly wins anything in the Kashmir valley.

 

[IndoorCricket]

If free and fair elections take place in Kashmir then definitely BJP won't even win a seat.

Elections are the only instrument which is fair and free in India.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Nazi Germany was a sovereign country, functioning democracy etc. This is not a measure of right or wrong so putting labels like terrorist to suit your own preference doesn't mean that much.

Nazi Germany was a functioning democracy.
Are we looking for alternate reality here

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan going 'balle-balle' over Congress-National Conference manifesto: PM Modi​

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called out the Congress-National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that Pakistan is very happy seeing their manifesto for the Assembly election.

Addressing a poll rally in Katra, PM Modi said, "The Congress-National Conference alliance is being applauded in Pakistan. Pakistan is very happy with their manifesto and has openly extended its support."

PM Modi was reacting to Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's remark where he said that the Shehbaz Sharif government and the Congress-National Conference alliance were on the same page on the issue of restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan's Defence Minister has openly come out in support of the Congress-National Conference alliance. He says their agenda is the same as that of Pakistan... Congress and National Conference want to implement Pakistan's agenda here in Jammu and Kashmir," PM Modi said.

"Nobody is giving them (Congress and National Conference) any importance here. But in Pakistan, inki balle balle ho rahi hai (they are being celebrated)," the Prime Minister added.

On August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi-led government revoked Article 370, which granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, through a presidential order. Later, the government passed a resolution in Parliament, bifurcating the state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

While the National Conference has vowed to restore Article 370, the Congress has been completely silent about it and has not even mentioned it in its manifesto. The Congress has, however, promised its commitment towards restoring full statehood status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan going 'balle-balle' over Congress-National Conference manifesto: PM Modi

PM Modi said while nobody is giving the Congress and National Conference any importance in Jammu and Kashmir, "Pakistan main inki balle balle ho rahi hai" (they are being celebrated in Pakistan.

www.indiatoday.in

 

[Red-Indian]

J&K Poll Manifesto: Congress Promises Restoration Of Statehood But Keeps Mum On Article 370

J&K Polls: Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera emphasized the urgency of the situation in Kashmir, stating that in the past ten years, the situation in Kashmir has left hearts wounded.

Jammu and Kashmir Polls: The Congress party has released its election manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir, encapsulated in the slogan 'Haath Badlega Haalat'. The party said that its manifesto aims to address the pressing issues faced by the people of the region and has been crafted with input from a committee that engaged with various cross-sections of society across all districts. While the Congress party promised to restore full statehood for the Union Territory of the Jammu and Kashmir, it kept mum on Article 370 restoration, a promise made by its ally National Conference.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera emphasized the urgency of the situation in Kashmir, stating, "For the past ten years, the situation in Kashmir has left hearts wounded. The long night has ended, and a new dawn is upon us. Haath badlega Jammu and Kashmir ke haalaat."

Khera alleged the lack of avenues for people to voice their grievances, lamenting that "Kashmir has become a graveyard of dreams." He reiterated that the manifesto represents a commitment to restoring the rights and dignity of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. "Jobs are a right for the youth, pensions are a right for women. J&K was once a state but was turned into a Union Territory. It must reclaim its rights, and we will ensure that happens," he asserted.

Source: Zee News

Whatever silly promises are made in election manifestoes, the revocation of Article 370 is a practical impossibility now. Too many outsiders have moved into the state purchasing land and other properties etc., opposition parties do not have the numbers in the national parliament to even propose such a venture and conceptually, it is stupid for a certain state not to have to follow the national constitution. The move should be towards the few remaining states losing whatever special status they have...not away.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Congress is saviour of Pakistan

Edited

And you are welcome

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Whatever silly promises are made in election manifestoes, the revocation of Article 370 is a practical impossibility now. Too many outsiders have moved into the state purchasing land and other properties etc., opposition parties do not have the numbers in the national parliament to even propose such a venture and conceptually, it is stupid for a certain state not to have to follow the national constitution. The move should be towards the few remaining states losing whatever special status they have...not away.

Why do those north eastern states have special status? I asked @gani999 but he pretended not to have seen the question.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Why do those north eastern states have special status? I asked @gani999 but he pretended not to have seen the question.

Are you interested in a genuine fashion or just going to segway into some other trajectory.

Waiting for the functional democracy of Nazi Germany

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Are you interested in a genuine fashion or just going to segway into some other trajectory.

Waiting for the functional democracy of Nazi Germany

It's a simple enough question. You could just answer it unless you find it troubling for some reason.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

It's a simple enough question. You could just answer it unless you find it troubling for some reason.

Its a simple enough query that gets answered with a simple google search but some fantastic claims like democratic Nazi Germany are hard to find on google.

 

[Red-Indian]

Why do those north eastern states have special status? I asked @gani999 but he pretended not to have seen the question.

All of the special status to states - basically Article 370 & 371 were granted to satisfy and tamp down local agitations and insurgencies. I don't agree with any of them but it's tough to judge the circumstances sitting as we do today.

Most of the Articles under 371 - Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, even Assam and Manipur were basically lip service but states that were most essentially tribal at the time - Nagaland and Mizoram didn't want outsiders and didn't want to change their tribal governance systems were allowed special exemptions.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

All of the special status to states - basically Article 370 & 371 were granted to satisfy and tamp down local agitations and insurgencies. I don't agree with any of them but it's tough to judge the circumstances sitting as we do today.

Most of the Articles under 371 - Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, even Assam and Manipur were basically lip service but states that were most essentially tribal at the time - Nagaland and Mizoram didn't want outsiders and didn't want to change their tribal governance systems were allowed special exemptions.

Fair enough. Thanks.

 

[gani999]

Why do those north eastern states have special status? I asked @gani999 but he pretended not to have seen the question.

The northeastern states have many tribes with very unique and anthropologically distinct cultures. The special status is given so that these tribal customs can be preserved while still allowing these states to integrate with the Indian Union.

And I did not pretend not to have seen the question. Some of us work for a living, you see. Posting stuff on a forum isn't actually on our priority list.

 

[deltexas]

The term terrorist is just thrown around dependent on which side you support. For a hindutva, any Muslim who refuses to cede Kashmir to hindus will be termed a terrorist. Any Muslim who refuses to cede Palestine to the settlers will be termed a terrorist. For the oppressed, it will be the oppressor who is the terrorist.

You don't see gun toting civilian killing terrorists that you cant say are not terrorists. And almost all of these 99% of them belong to one specific religion. That should be some food for thought.

And on kashmir- nobody is ceding it to Hindus. Ind is a secular country fyi. And it was the Kashmiri Muslims along with help from pak Islamic terrorists who drove out the Kashmiri pandits and had committed genocide at the time. There is no opressed terrorist nonsense. Hamas "started" the war and kidnapped and murdered innocent civilians. That is a terrorist. And is it a coincidence that a vast majority of worldwide recognized terrorist outfits are in pak/afg and the middle east and even the ME countries designate them so.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

You don't see gun toting civilian killing terrorists that you cant say are not terrorists. And almost all of these 99% of them belong to one specific religion. That should be some food for thought.

And on kashmir- nobody is ceding it to Hindus. Ind is a secular country fyi. And it was the Kashmiri Muslims along with help from pak Islamic terrorists who drove out the Kashmiri pandits and had committed genocide at the time. There is no opressed terrorist nonsense. Hamas "started" the war and kidnapped and murdered innocent civilians. That is a terrorist. And is it a coincidence that a vast majority of worldwide recognized terrorist outfits are in pak/afg and the middle east and even the ME countries designate them so.

Gun toting people in uniform who kill civilians are just as capable of terrorism as those who don't wear their national colours. If anything they are worse because they have the full might of the state behind them, and in countries where they hide their religious bigotry behind a "secular" label, it still has to be described as evil on a par with Nazi regime.

 

[deltexas]

Gun toting people in uniform who kill civilians are just as capable of terrorism as those who don't wear their national colours. If anything they are worse because they have the full might of the state behind them, and in countries where they hide their religious bigotry behind a "secular" label, it still has to be described as evil on a par with Nazi regime.

There are rules and consequences for men in uniform when countries are governed by elected people. If the army is running the country without the civilians electing them - that's a different conversation and maybe a lot os posters on this forum are used to that vs eleced officials.

There is no religious bigotry in a secular country where the people elect the government. Unlike you know where I guess...

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

There are rules and consequences for men in uniform when countries are governed by elected people. If the army is running the country without the civilians electing them - that's a different conversation and maybe a lot os posters on this forum are used to that vs eleced officials.

There is no religious bigotry in a secular country where the people elect the government. Unlike you know where I guess...

There are no consequences for men in uniform if a party has been elected on the basis of ethnic division. If anything that gives them a free hand to murder and rape minorities as they know the electorate has voted them in power.

 

[deltexas]

There are no consequences for men in uniform if a party has been elected on the basis of ethnic division. If anything that gives them a free hand to murder and rape minorities as they know the electorate has voted them in power.

Not true. And you can live in your false beliefs. Nobody is denying there will be a bad apple here and there but saying it gives them a free hand is laughable . May be in dictatorships and where the establishment rules overriding the will of the people..

 

[FearlessRoar]

PM Shehbaz urges UN chief for Kashmir dispute resolution

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif met United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres and called for the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

PM Shehbaz called on Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York.

Briefing the Secretary General on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister underscored Pakistan’s serious concerns over India’s egregious actions in the occupied Valley and stressed upon the need to resolve the dispute to ensure lasting peace and stability in South Asia.

He also condemned Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians, and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. He urged the international community to hold Israel accountable. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the establishment of a viable and sovereign State of Palestine.

Shehbaz Sharif also underscored the need for stemming the rising tide of Islamophobia, and discrimination against Muslims worldwide. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to actively contribute towards international peace and security as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the year 2025-26.

Besides, the Prime Minister welcomed the initiative by the UN Secretary General to organize the “Summit of the Future”, and expressed his hope that its outcome would help the developing countries in bridging the financial gap for implementation of SDGs and climate goals.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan’s active engagement at the United Nations as well as for its role towards international peace and security in the form of its UN’s Peacekeeping force.

The prime minister has also met Maldives Presinder Dr Mohammaed Muizzu, the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on sidelines of the the UN General Assembly Session in New York.

PM Shehbaz is set to address the General Assembly on Friday. In his address, he will highlight Pakistan’s perspective on a range of international and regional issues of concern, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Palestine issue.

The prime minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and support for the role of the United Nations in fostering global peace, security and prosperity.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, PM Sharif is scheduled to attend several high-level meetings, including discussions on existential threats posed by sea level rise and the UN Security council’s open Debate on Leadership for Peace.

PM Shehbaz urges UN chief for Kashmir dispute resolution

NEW YORK: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif met United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres and called for the implementation of the relevant

arynews.tv

 

[BouncerGuy]

The Kashmiri politician whose return from jail ruffled feathers

As Indian-administered Kashmir prepared for assembly elections earlier this month, a local MP returned home from a Delhi prison to campaign for his candidates. Who is he and why does his return matter to the region's politics? Auqib Javeed reports from Srinagar.

Sheikh Abdul Rashid, who had been in jail since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019, was granted interim bail earlier this month on terror funding charges he denies.

The 57-year-old, who is popularly known as Engineer Rashid, has urged people to vote for his candidates instead of regional or national parties. His Awami Ittehad Party has fielded candidates on more than three dozen seats.

The high-stakes assembly elections are the first since the region's autonomy was revoked in 2019. With 873 candidates across 97 constituencies in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and Hindu-majority Jammu, the elections have been described by federal officials as a proof of normalcy in a region long plagued by insurgency. The third and last phase of the polls will be held on Tuesday and votes will be counted on 8 October.

Kashmir's politics, dominated by mainstream parties pledging allegiance to India, has had a history of individuals and groups seeking separation from the country or enhanced autonomy for Kashmir, with some of them supporting an armed movement to achieve that.

Some separatist groups in the past have also backed Pakistan's role in Kashmir. India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in full, but control only parts of it.

But this assembly election has seen participation of many former separatist leaders as well.

Rashid has chosen to be part of the democratic process but has been vocal against what he calls Delhi's "heavy-handed" rule in Kashmir.

He is known for his fiery speeches, and leading protests in unconventional ways against alleged government excesses, often irking authorities.

He made waves in June when he defeated regional political heavyweight Omar Abdullah in parliamentary elections. While he was lodged in jail, his sons led an emotionally charged and successful campaign on his behalf.

But this time he is able to speak to voters directly and he has also smartly used social media to amplify his messages.

Within hours of being released on 11 September, Rashid told the media that he was going to fight against the removal of Article 370.

The article allowed the state its own constitution, a separate flag and freedom to make laws. Foreign affairs, defence and communications remained the preserve of the federal government.

"We don’t accept Prime Minister [Narendra Modi's] decision taken on 5 August [2019],” he said, referring to the day when the autonomy was abrogated.

He then went live on Facebook, repeating similar messages. The hour-long speech currently has more than 2.5m views, 44,000 likes and 25,000 comments – an unusually high number for a regional politician.

Rashid’s popularity worries his regional opponents, who have termed him a “proxy” of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Two former chief ministers of the state and the heirs of leading regional parties, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, have publicly questioned his party’s funding and alleged that he was dividing voters to favour the BJP.

He has repeatedly denied the allegations. "If I were a BJP man, I wouldn’t have spent over five years in jail,” he told the BBC. "I won [almost] 500,000 votes in the general elections, how could I be dividing votes?".

Prof Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a political analyst, said Rashid's release from jail just days before the elections did give his opponents a pretext to accuse him of collusion with the BJP-run federal government in Delhi.

“Despite these allegations, his win in the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail has given him an unprecedented credibility in the eyes of the locals,” he said.

Rashid has also worked hard to carefully craft his image.

Unlike the valley’s prominent leaders who have established political lineages, Rashid has managed to establish an image of a “common man’s politician” who doesn’t shy away from taking on authorities.

In 2012, he attempted to bring dozens of dogs into the state secretariat as a protest against the government's inaction on the growing canine menace in his constituency, where numerous dog bite incidents had been reported.

"I hope the ministers and bureaucracy now understand the seriousness of the issue," he said at the time.

But Rashid’s bluntness and candour have also landed him in trouble.

In 2015, he hosted a “beef party” to protest a ban on the slaughter of cows, considered sacred by many Hindus, in several states. A day later, members of the BJP, then a part of the state’s ruling coalition, assaulted him in the assembly.

A few days later, members of a Hindu group outraged by the "beef party" attacked him at Delhi’s Press Club, dousing his face with ink as he protested the lynching of a Kashmiri truck driver accused of cow smuggling in Jammu.

Rashid’s unusual protests have often addressed the alleged human rights violations in the Kashmir valley, a charge that the federal government denies.

On International Human Rights Day in 2015, his party marched through Srinagar with a cow, a mule, a goat, and a dog, holding placards saying, “Animals have more rights than people in Kashmir.” He and other leaders were detained.

His family members say they are not surprised by his politics as he had a “rebellious nature” since childhood.

“He used to protest against the human rights violations, presence of military bunkers, forced labour by the army," said his brother Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh.

In 2008, he resigned from his government job as an engineer to contest assembly elections, winning twice in a row as an independent candidate.

Once elected to the state assembly, he gained recognition across Kashmir for protesting against what he called the government’s “anti-people” policies, analysts say.

“The element of protest makes him popular. He has been a crowd-puller since he entered politics,” said Noor Mohammad Baba, a political analyst based in Kashmir.

His jail term has intensified public interest in his rallies, he added.

At a recent rally, an enthusiastic group of men assembled to listen to him. Some of them were curious onlookers hoping to see the man in the news, and some were his fans.

Did the allegations of Rashid being a “proxy of Delhi” bother them?

“Almost all the regional parties have been in an alliance with the BJP [in the past]. They aren’t in a position to allege him of complicity with the BJP,” said Rafiq Ahmad, a businessman. “People want to give Rashid a chance and see what he does.”

Rashid spoke and demanded a resolution to the Kashmir conflict and an end to the use of anti-terror laws to put Kashmiris in jail. Young men shouted in unison in support.

Within minutes, Rashid was on his way to his next public meeting.

BBC

 

[FearlessRoar]

INDIA Bloc to hit roads if J&K statehood not restored: Rahul Gandhi​

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said restoration of statehood was the right of people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the INDIA bloc will hit the road and use “full force” in Parliament and outside if the Centre fails to restore it after Assembly polls.

In an election rally in Jammu and Sopore in north Kashmir, Rahul said the August 5, 2019 decision to bifurcate the erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories (UTs) was “a grave injustice” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“This has never happened in the history of India that we have taken away statehood and transformed a state into a Union Territory,” he said.

“It should have never happened, and I guarantee you that if the BJP does not restore statehood after the elections, we — the INDIA alliance — will use our full force in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and even take to the streets for the restoration of statehood to J&K,” he asserted.

This rally marked Gandhi’s third visit to the region in nearly three weeks, following prior stops in Banihal and Dooru on September 4 and in Surankote and Central-Shalteng on September 23.

His visit comes ahead of the crucial third phase of the assembly elections, with the first round having taken place on September 18 and the second on September 25.

Gandhi criticised the current administration for allegedly prioritising “outsiders” over local residents, claiming that the presence of the Lieutenant Governor has marginalised local interests.

“As long as the Lt Governor is there, outsiders will benefit and locals will be sidelined,” he said, arguing that the statehood was revoked to facilitate governance by non-residents.

He told the youths that the restoration of statehood is “your right and your future” and J&K cannot move forward without it.

In addition to his focus on statehood, Gandhi criticised the central government’s economic policies, alleging that they favour a select few business magnates.

“This government runs for Ambani and Adani,” he claimed, denouncing the GST and demonetisation as tools designed to benefit these conglomerates.

Referring to migrant Kashmiri Pandits and refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said all the promises made to them by the Manmohan Singh government will be fulfilled after the formation of the National Conference-Congress government in J&K.

He also said the smart electricity meters will be removed and Punjabi will be granted official language status.

The former Congress president concluded his address by accusing the BJP government and the Lt Governor of undermining Jammu’s economic strength, which he described as the central hub of J&K essential for facilitating the production chain from the valley to the rest of the country.

As the assembly elections unfold, the call for the restoration of statehood remains a pivotal issue in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.

INDIA Bloc to hit roads if J&K statehood not restored: Rahul Gandhi

INDIA Bloc to hit roads if J&K statehood not restored: Rahul Gandhi

brighterkashmir.com

 

[JaDed]

Yes Rahul go ahead please.. would prefer if you do it before elections as such..

 

[deltexas]

INDIA Bloc to hit roads if J&K statehood not restored: Rahul Gandhi​

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said restoration of statehood was the right of people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the INDIA bloc will hit the road and use “full force” in Parliament and outside if the Centre fails to restore it after Assembly polls.

In an election rally in Jammu and Sopore in north Kashmir, Rahul said the August 5, 2019 decision to bifurcate the erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories (UTs) was “a grave injustice” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“This has never happened in the history of India that we have taken away statehood and transformed a state into a Union Territory,” he said.

“It should have never happened, and I guarantee you that if the BJP does not restore statehood after the elections, we — the INDIA alliance — will use our full force in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and even take to the streets for the restoration of statehood to J&K,” he asserted.

This rally marked Gandhi’s third visit to the region in nearly three weeks, following prior stops in Banihal and Dooru on September 4 and in Surankote and Central-Shalteng on September 23.

His visit comes ahead of the crucial third phase of the assembly elections, with the first round having taken place on September 18 and the second on September 25.

Gandhi criticised the current administration for allegedly prioritising “outsiders” over local residents, claiming that the presence of the Lieutenant Governor has marginalised local interests.

“As long as the Lt Governor is there, outsiders will benefit and locals will be sidelined,” he said, arguing that the statehood was revoked to facilitate governance by non-residents.

He told the youths that the restoration of statehood is “your right and your future” and J&K cannot move forward without it.

In addition to his focus on statehood, Gandhi criticised the central government’s economic policies, alleging that they favour a select few business magnates.

“This government runs for Ambani and Adani,” he claimed, denouncing the GST and demonetisation as tools designed to benefit these conglomerates.

Referring to migrant Kashmiri Pandits and refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said all the promises made to them by the Manmohan Singh government will be fulfilled after the formation of the National Conference-Congress government in J&K.

He also said the smart electricity meters will be removed and Punjabi will be granted official language status.

The former Congress president concluded his address by accusing the BJP government and the Lt Governor of undermining Jammu’s economic strength, which he described as the central hub of J&K essential for facilitating the production chain from the valley to the rest of the country.

As the assembly elections unfold, the call for the restoration of statehood remains a pivotal issue in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.

INDIA Bloc to hit roads if J&K statehood not restored: Rahul Gandhi

INDIA Bloc to hit roads if J&K statehood not restored: Rahul Gandhi

brighterkashmir.com

Yes pappu , please pleeeaaaase do it ! You are the constant gift that the country and the NDA needs to expose the image of traitors like you.. You are God given to the Ind public lol !! Please start the agitation tomorrow itself..

 

[FearlessRoar]

BJP using J&K as pawn to stir nation, Cong will restore statehood: Priyanka​

The Congress will restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Saturday while she slammed the BJP for using the Union territory as a pawn to "stir emotions" elsewhere in the country.

Gandhi, the Congress's national general secretary, also criticised Lt Governor Manoj Sinha saying the current administration was a "puppet" government being run with a remote control.

"The Congress party has a vision for you and for Jammu and Kashmir. We want to restore your state's status. If our government comes to power, we will immediately restore your statehood. We will also revive the tradition of the Darbar Move," Vadra told a public rally here.

Darbar Move refers to the bi-annual shift of government offices, including the secretariat, between Jammu and Srinagar in view of the harsh winter in J-K.

"We want to protect your rights, your rights to your land and your employment," said Gandhi while speaking in support of the party candidate in Bishnah, Neeraj Kundan.

Hitting out at Amit Shah's remarks on the statehood issue, she said "I found it amusing when the home minister said in his speech that if you want statehood back, you must vote for us. But the fact is, they are the ones who took it away. It is like a thief who steals your TV and then says, 'If you want it back, ask me.' "They claim only they can return it. If our government comes to power, we will immediately restore your statehood," Gandhi said hitting out at the BJP government for "downgrading" J-K into a Union territory.

She added "This is the peak of the country. Nature has given you everythingthese resources, this beauty. From here came the great sages who spread faith, culture and teachings not only in India but in other countries too." But the BJP has snatched everything you have, the Congress leader added.

Recalling her grandmother Indira Gandhi's "deep bond" with Kashmir, she said, "Four or five days before Indira Gandhi's assassination, she told us she wanted to visit Kashmir and see the autumn leaves. She brought us to the Kheer Bhawani temple, and just a few days after returning to Delhi, she was assassinated.

"It was a call from her land and Mata that took her to Kashmir," she reminisced, emphasising her family's longstanding relationship with the region.

Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her speech, saying he was not serious about the concerns of the people of J-K.

BJP leaders have turned Jammu and Kashmir into a pawn in their political chess game as policies are not being made for the people of the region, she said.

"They are created to stir emotions across the country using you and serve political purposes," Gandhi said.

"Even in Modi Ji's speech, there was no seriousness about the genuine concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Fixing railway stations is not an achievement to boast about when the bigger issues of your rights, land, and employment are being ignored," she said.

"What really matters are the genuine concerns of the people of J-K. Why aren't those being addressed? Why aren't they focusing on the truth? When did the prime minister take away your state's status? The Congress leader also raised the issue of unemployment in her speech, claiming that half of the contracts meant for J-K had been awarded to outsiders. "You have been deprived of your voting rights, and small businesses are being crushed by large corporations. Why is Jammu and Kashmir lagging behind in employment? Why is there so much unemployment?" The BJP government, she said, has established a "system of loot, with a puppet government running things by remote control", she said.

"Land banks are being created, and your lands are being handed over to big industrialists, the same ones whom Modi Ji has favoured across the country. The same is happening here in Jammu and Kashmir," Gandhi said.

Big Reliance stores are opening, and small businesses are being crushed, she said.

The Congress leader added that the prime minister is "promoting Ambani and Adani" at the Centre, and in J-K, the LG "is favouring his friends".

"Nothing is being done for you. A Dalit officer exposed the scam in the Jal Jeevan Mission, and instead of investigating, the officer is harassed. There should be a probe into this, but instead, you harass the officer," she said.

Criticising the government on the Agnipath scheme, Gandhi said, "They introduced Agniveer, a scheme that gives nothing to those who risk their lives on the borders and become martyrs. This is why all opposition parties are fighting and raising this issue repeatedly.

"This government and the prime minister are so arrogant that even though they know the scheme is wrong and not beneficial for the youth, they refuse to back down," she said.

She also touched on the drug addiction problem plaguing the region, saying that no BJP leader talks about it because they know the root cause is unemployment. "Due to joblessness, people are falling prey to the drug mafia," she said.

Gandhi called on the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote wisely, underlining that the Congress's vision includes the restoration of statehood, protection of land rights of locals, and employment opportunities for its people.

https://www.business-standard.com/elections/jammu-kashmir-elections/bjp-using-j-k-as-pawn-to-stir-nation-cong-will-restore-statehood-priyanka-124092800693_1.html

 

[FearlessRoar]

Yogi Sahab Ram Ram: When Adityanath met 'Maulvi' in J&K after Article 370 removal​

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday highlighted the transformation in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.

Addressing a poll rally in Haryana's Faridabad on Saturday, the UP Chief Minister recalled his recent visit to the valley and said that when he met a 'Maulvi' (Muslim cleric) there, the latter greeted him with "Ram, Ram".

"I was in Jammu and Kashmir for the Assembly elections campaign during the last two days. I had to take a chopper to reach the venue of a rally but could not leave the airport since it was raining. As soon as I went inside the airport building, a gentleman greeted me with Ram, Ram. I did not, at first, look at him since I did not know anyone there. But when the gentleman again said Yogi Sahab Ram, Ram, I turned and saw it was a Maulvi. I was surprised to hear Ram, Ram from a Maulvi", Yogi Adityanath said.

The former Lok Sabha MP said that he thought to himself that it was due to the Article 370 abrogation, that those who once challenged India's sovereignty are saying 'Ram, Ram' today. The chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' from the crowd attending the poll rally followed.

"Remember, if India gets stronger, the BJP gets stronger, there will be a day when these people will be seen singing Hare Rama, Hare Krishna in the streets across the country", Yogi Adityanath added.

This is why the country needs the BJP, he contended.

The UP Chief Minister also highlighted that there have been no communal riots in the state under his government since 2017, saying that before he assumed power, there used to be communal violence every other day.

Yogi Sahab Ram Ram: When Adityanath met 'Maulvi' in J&K after Article 370 removal

Addressing a poll rally in Haryana's Faridabad on Saturday, the UP chief minister recalled his recent visit to the valley and said that when he met a Maulvi (Muslim cleric) there, the latter greeted the former Gorakhpur MP with "Ram, Ram".

www.indiatoday.in

 

[FearlessRoar]

Modi’s Kashmir statehood promise. Poll rhetoric or genuine outreach?​

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – As Kashmir gears up for the last phase of local elections due on Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to restore the disputed territory’s “statehood” that was stripped five years ago by his Hindu nationalist government.

“We had promised in the parliament that Jammu and Kashmir [official name of Indian-administered Kashmir] will again be a state,” Modi said, addressing a rather dull crowd in Srinagar, the main city in the disputed Muslim-majority territory.

Only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “will fulfil this commitment”, he said without elaborating further.

Modi’s latest election pitch comes amid widespread anger in Kashmir at the BJP for scrapping the region’s limited autonomy and demoting it into a federally run territory in 2019.

The move is also aimed at blunting attacks from Kashmir-based parties, who have made the restoration of the special status and statehood their main poll agenda.

The ghost of New Delhi’s unilateral decision to scrap the region’s special status, aimed at safeguarding local culture and demography, still looms large over the poll campaigns.


Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the disputed Himalayan region, which has witnessed decades of armed rebellion. India has accused Pakistan of backing rebels – a charge denied by Islamabad. Both the South Asian neighbours claim Kashmir in full but have governed parts of it since their independence from Britain in 1947.

So, what will be the nature of the promised state? What powers will the newly elected assembly wield? And can Kashmir’s unionist political parties, technically, deliver on their poll promises?

Late Professor Kenneth Clinton Wheare, an Australian academic and expert on constitutions of the British Commonwealth, described India as a “quasi-federal” state.

“Almost devolutionary in character: a unitary state with subsidiary federal features rather than a federal state with subsidiary unitary features,” he observed, implying that while power is centred in New Delhi, states are allowed to govern and legislate in accordance with regional contexts.

The Indian constitution defines the country as a “Union of States”, and then breaks down the power-sharing, legislative structure into three lists: the Union List, including remits such as defence and currency that are exclusive to the parliament; the State List, including powers such as police and public health that can be drafted by the states; and the Concurrent List, including areas such as marriage, education, and forests, which can be legislated by both.

But Kashmir’s relationship with New Delhi has been unique and complex as it joined the Indian union in 1947 with a set of conditions, which were enshrined in Article 370.

Under the terms of the instrument of accession, Kashmir gave India the power to manage matters of foreign affairs, defence, and communications — and left New Delhi with limited legislative powers.

While successive governments in New Delhi gradually eroded those powers, Kashmir still flexed its separate constitution, flag, and freedom to make laws on permanent residency and property ownership, and reserve government-sponsored opportunities exclusively for the state’s subjects.

On August 5, 2019, the Modi government removed Article 370, fulfilling BJP’s decades-long promise to remove the special status, which it said was responsible for the region’s political crisis and separatism.

New Delhi also bifurcated the region into two federally governed territories: Jammu and Kashmir bordering Pakistan in the west, and Ladakh bordering China in the east.

On the same day, Amit Shah, India’s home minister and Modi’s confidante, informed the parliament that, unlike Ladakh, “statehood” will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir.

To prevent the outbreak of protests, authorities arrested thousands of Kashmiri leaders and activists and imposed a months-long communication blockade – a move denounced by the opposition and international rights observers.

The decision was also immediately challenged in India’s top court, which eventually upheld the move in December last year and called for the restoration of the same statehood as any other Indian state – with no separate autonomy rights – “at the earliest and as soon as possible”.

But just weeks before the region’s first assembly elections, the Modi government gave its handpicked administrator more powers, further shrinking the scope of the incoming legislature.

“For the last five years, all Kashmiris have seen is an arrogant bureaucracy and the important missing layers of a local government,” said Anuradha Bhasin, editor of Kashmir Times and author of A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir after Article 370.

“New Delhi has suppressed this area that has a history of turmoil. It has worrying, ominous signs,” she told Al Jazeera.

Speaking at a poll rally in the Jammu region, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in parliament, took a dig at the local administration saying “non-locals are running Jammu and Kashmir”.

“Your democratic right was snatched. We have given priority to the demand for restoration of statehood,” he said, addressing the crowd. “If [the BJP] fails to restore statehood after the elections, we will put pressure on them to ensure it.”

Political observers and Kashmiri analysts see the elections as a referendum on the BJP’s controversial decision –– and reflect upon the unchartered duality of running a legislature subservient to the central government.

While Kashmir parties have tried to realign their politics along the calls for restoration of special autonomy and “dignity”, experts told Al Jazeera that the newly elected government will have to work at the mercy of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), a constitutional head appointed by New Delhi under the current setup.

Under the flipped framework after August 2019, the LG will sway more influence than the elected assembly and will retain control over issues of “public order and police”. The government will also be unable to introduce any financial bill without a nod from the LG, holding the assembly a virtual prisoner in fiscal matters.

The LG now wields control over the greater bureaucracy, the anticorruption bureau, appointment of the Advocate General and law officers, and is included in matters of prosecutions and sanctions.

“The elected assembly will be completely under the thumb of the Lieutenant Governor, with curtailed powers for the head of government without any appreciable autonomy for the state,” Siddiq Wahid, an academic and political expert, told Al Jazeera.

The events of August 2019, Wahid said, “stripped us completely naked (of) our enhanced autonomy, dismantled the state and left it without any democratic representation for six years”.

The promise of statehood by the BJP, he added, is merely an act of “handing over a cap”. “We can put on a cap on top of our heads, but it means nothing,” he said, adding that “the more immediate objective is to divest Delhi of the direct political control over the state.”

Even in a case where the BJP restores the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the scenario remains open to alterations that will be tailored to New Delhi’s needs, said Sheikh Showkat, a senior Kashmiri analyst.

The pro-India Kashmir parties have accused the BJP of denying Kashmiris their democratic rights and promised to restore Article 370 and full statehood.

Showkat said he has observed a “huge revulsion and deepening trust deficit” post-August 2019 between Kashmiris and New Delhi. But despite the enthusiasm he has noticed among the cadres of regional political groups, Showkat said the upcoming government “will be nothing more than a sort of a metropolitan council”.

“It may deal with day-to-day administration and local issues but cannot go beyond that,” he said. “It will always be dependent upon the views and wishes of the LG.”

That is a reality that has not escaped the regional political powerhouses.

The last two elected chief ministers of Indian-administered Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — who head the National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) respectively — initially denied participating in the polls citing curtailed powers.

But both Abdullah and Mufti have reversed their decision to boycott the polls amid fears that the BJP may benefit from their non-participation.

Shokwat, the analyst, said the Kashmiri parties are facing “two bad choices: participating in polls gives legitimacy to New Delhi but staying away could give the BJP an edge in the government”.

He also emphasised a resolution that the new assembly could pass on the reorganisation of the erstwhile state in August 2019 — a vital key missing, as required under the constitution.

“Whosoever comes to power,” Showkat added, the new government will “use the avenue to legitimise or delegitimise the August 2019 decision”.

Will the Kashmir status quo be returned?

The friction between the elected government and the LG is not new to India. In Delhi, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government has fought multiple court battles, protested in the streets, and campaigned for greater control over the legislature.

That also provides a view of the upcoming tussles in Indian-administered Kashmir, said Bhasin, the editor. “The way that the BJP keeps controls, I don’t see they have a very different vision of governance in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Even before the abrogation of Article 370, Kashmir’s first leader Sheikh Abdullah was arrested in 1953 for backing a UN-sponsored plebiscite in Kashmir. He was released after 11 years in prison and after ceding powers to New Delhi. Over the decades, rights guaranteed under Article 370 were hollowed out by nearly 47 presidential orders.

In August 2019, the BJP claimed it had put the last nail in the coffin.

But Bhasin painted a pessimistic political outlook as she pointed out the unprecedented crackdown on press freedom and human rights.

“The hands of the clock have never moved back. Whatever has been taken from the people, in terms of their autonomy or democratic rights, has never been given back. I doubt that would change in the near future,” she told Al Jazeera.

Modi’s Kashmir statehood promise. Poll rhetoric or genuine outreach?

Modi promises Kashmir statehood amid regional elections, but analysts doubt full autonomy will be restored.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

BJP downplays Omar Abdullah-led cabinet resolution for J-K statehood​

Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader Altaf Thakur on Friday downplayed the significance of the Omar Abdullah-led cabinet passing resolution for statehood, saying that Abdullah did it to remain relevant among the people.

He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have expressed their commitment to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to ANI, Thakur said, "The central government has already expressed its commitment to restore the statehood; the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have expressed their commitment and we are confident that the statehood will be restored... To remain relevant among the people, they passed a resolution in the cabinet yesterday."

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir JD(U) president GM Shaheen said that it does not matter if the cabinet led by Omar Abdullah passes Jammu and Kashmir's statehood resolution.

"This is the commitment of the Government of India. The Union Home Minister has said it in the House. It does not matter whether the Cabinet passes the resolution or not. But it will be good if you get the status of a full state. If you get statehood like Delhi, then it does not make any difference," Shaheen told ANI.

Omar Abdullah took oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

Source: Business Standard

 

[The Bald Eagle]

NDA govt's policies completely failed to establish security, peace in J&K: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress on Friday (October 25, 2024) slammed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre over the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Gulmarg, saying its policies had completely failed to establish security and demanded that it should immediately take accountability as well as ensure the safety of Army personnel and civilians.

Two soldiers and two Army porters were killed in the attack on Thursday (October 24, 2024) while another porter and a soldier were injured. Terrorists attacked a vehicle of the force six kilometres from the tourist hotspot of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Source: The Hindu

 

[FearlessRoar]

Farooq Abdullah cries 'conspiracy' behind terror attacks in J&K, BJP reacts​

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said there should be an investigation into the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir to see if there was an attempt to “destabilise the government”. He said the terrorists should be caught and not killed, and they should be questioned to get to the bottom of who's behind the attacks.

Abdullah’s remark was in response to a question on whether Pakistan should be blamed for every terrorist attack in J&K, including the recent Budgam terror attack.

"There is no question about that. I would say that there should be an investigation into this. They (terrorists) should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency that is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah...," Farooq Abdullah said.

The Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference had secured a decisive victory in the recently-concluded Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The party won 42 out of 90 seats, with ally Congress adding six seats to the bag, and Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister.

The J&K government has repeatedly spoken about the demand to restore statehood. Omar Abdullah recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the matter.

Farooq Abdullah questioned if the increase in terror attacks were to "destabilise the J&K government".

The remark has not gone down well with the BJP, which accused Abdullah of “blaming the Indian Army, Indian agencies to escape his responsibility”.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "It is very unfortunate that on such a sensitive issue, instead of giving priority to the nation, some people are giving priority to politics, family and vote bank. It does not befit Farooq Abdullah to blame the Indian Army, Indian agencies to escape his responsibility or to save the sponsors of terrorism".

Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina said that the army, police, and security forces should have our full support.

"Farooq Abdullah knows that this terrorism is coming from Pakistan... This is a well-known fact. What is there to investigate in this? He knows that the terrorist attacks that are taking place in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and terrorist organisations are involved in this... We all should support our army, police and security forces... We have to fight unitedly against those who are the enemies of humanity...," Raina said.

Meanwhile, the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP defended Farooq Abdullah’s statement.

Sharad Pawar called Farooq Abdullah the "tallest personality of Jammu and Kashmir" and said, "He spent his life serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have no doubt about his integrity and honesty. If such a leader is making any statement, then the central government, especially the Home Ministry, should take it seriously and try to work out how that situation can be resolved".

J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra also claimed that there was a “lack in the intelligence grid” which needed to be addressed.

“But the atmosphere that is being created now seems to be different from that. First of all, the people who are behind this do not want peace in J&K. Second thing is the timing. It seems a bit suspicious because of the timing that you people conducted elections here on the orders of the Supreme Court, all stakeholders participated in it, after such a peaceful election, suddenly this is happening, this does not seem to be a normal thing, some suspicious things come to the fore in this,” he said.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the BJP should take responsibility for the attacks happening in Jammu and Kashmir as law and order falls under the purview of the Lieutenant Governor.

"The LG has the responsibility of law and order and if terrorist attacks are happening there, BJP should take the responsibility. I am saying that terrorists are coming from Pakistan, why are you not stopping them?...What is the Modi government doing? It is the government's responsibility to stop them, to arrest them...This is the failure of the Narendra Modi government that they are not able to stop the terrorists..." Owaisi said.

Farooq Abdullah cries 'conspiracy' behind terror attacks in J&K, BJP reacts

Farooq Abdullah called for a probe into the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting that there were attempts to “destabilise” the Omar Abdullah-led government.

www.indiatoday.in

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Jammu and Kashmir assembly passes resolution on restoration of special status

The assembly then had to be adjourned due to the uproar from the opposition benches, with BJP members storming the well of the house

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, passed a resolution asking the Centre to hold dialogue with elected representatives for restoration of special status of the erstwhile state, prompting protests by BJP members who tore copies of the document.

The resolution, which also expressed "concern" over the "unilateral removal" of the special status, was passed without any debate as the Speaker put it to voice vote amidst noisy scenes. BJP MLAs stormed the well of the House and are camping there.

As soon as the assembly proceedings began, J-K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution for restoring the special status of J-K, which was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

Amidst uproar, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday, 6 November, passed a resolution asking the Centre to hold talks with elected representatives for the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state.

As soon as the assembly proceedings began, deputy chief minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary moved the resolution for restoring the special status of J&K, which was revoked by the Centre on 5 August 2019.

'That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal,' the resolution moved by Choudhary said.

'This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,' the resolution added.

Source: National Herald