New Delhi, Aug 4 In view of the prevailing tension in Kashmir, it is important to assure the minority communities living in the valley, said Secretary General of Kalhana Society Satish Mahaldar.

“The minorities fear that certain vested interests and evil designed efforts may be targeted against them. Hence, the request is to the government but more to the common people, as well as the religious and political leaders to send messages of assurance to the minorities in order to allay their fears,” a statement released by Mahaldar said.

“The government of Jammu and Kashmir is taking specific measures in the valley to secure the place but the security of the minorities still is a matter of concern,” the statement added.

“This is to request the local majority people in the valley to reassure the minority community members living in the valley. The locals have, indeed, shown a big heart for the Amarnath Yatris and the Tourists offering help and shelter.

“It goes without saying that Kashmiris excel in personal hospitality and serving. There is, no doubt that they will ensure the safety concerns of the minorities living there.” Mahaldar added.

“Many of the minority community members are living either in government created camps or in individual houses. It is important for the leaders of the majority community, be they religious or political, to assure them in this moment of fear and uncertainty,” he said.

–IANS

Srinagar, Aug 04 : CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, DP (N) chief Ghulam Hassan Mir and PDF chief Hakeem Mohammad Yasin Sunday said the government’s decision to deploy additional forces in Kashmir and security advisory issued asking tourists, yatris and outside state students to leave Kashmir immediately, has triggered panic and confusion among people in the Valley.

In a joint statement issued, they said, “The panic escalated since Kashmir was already tense for the past few days after the Centre ordered the deployment of 100 companies of additional troops in the Valley. Massive build-up of security forces, curtailment of the Amarnath Yatra and unprecedented advisories issued to the tourists, yatris and other civilians, all created an atmosphere of heightened insecurity and fear and gave rise to the speculations about some major decision in the offing regarding the J&K’s special status.”

“Even during the peak of militancy, Amarnath yatra was never cancelled, tourists had were never driven out and panic was never allowed unchecked on the streets of the Valley. Why were more forces rushed to Kashmir when the government was claiming that the situation on the ground has improved since last year? Although Parliament is in session, the Central government has given no statement whatsoever for these measures. Nor have political parties in the state been taken into confidence. This has fuelled apprehensions among the people that some drastic measures affecting the Constitutional status of J&K are being contemplated with reference to Article 35A and Article 370,” the leaders said.

They asked government of India not to take any decision that would precipitate the crisis in J&K and it should ensure the constitutional guarantees given to the state are maintained. “The Center must desist from making any political adventurism which will have grave consequences not only for Kashmir but for the whole country,” the leader said.

They also appealed to people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to remain together at this critical juncture and maintain harmony. “Under these tiring circumstances, it becomes duty of every citizen to safeguard age-old traditions of tolerance of our people. We can have grievances and gaps with each other, but that is part of every society. We also appeal to the people that whatsoever the provocations, we should protect those thousands of outside state laborers, who have come here to earn their livelihood and are working across the length and breadth of Kashmir. Kashmir has a history of communal harmony as in 1947, when whole sub-continent was in communal flames, Kashmir showed the way,” they added.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Sunday called for effective and immediate measures to instill confidence among the people, saying the party is willing to go an extra mile to defend Art 370, Art 35-A.

A meet of political affairs committee (PAC) was held here at the party head quarters Nawa e Subha, Srinagar. The meet was presided over by party vice president Omar Abdullah. The meet was called to deliberate on the prevailing situation in the state. Party leadership unanimously impressed upon the government of India to clear the air on current Kashmir conundrum. The party leadership called for urgent measures to infuse confidence among the locals.

The party leadership in a marathon four hour meeting expressed concern over the uncertain and uptight situation in the state especially in the Kashmir region. The leaders unanimously asserted that the party will fight any infringement upon the special constitutional position of the state. Party leadership also asserted that the party is ready to go an extra mile to defend the state’s interests both inside and out side parliament. The leadership also urged the people to forge unity in these trying times. They necessitated for maintaining calm. The leadership said the need of the hour’s calls for well considered response to the situation.

Moreover the party president Dr Farooq Abdullah despite not keeping well, is in constant touch with the opposition parties at the centre. The party is already fighting for Art 35-A, Art 370 both inside and out side parliament. The party has already employed a battery of lawyers at the Delhi to put up a strong front at the Apex Court to protect Art 35 A and Art 370. The leadership said the NC has always been at the fore front of protecting the interests of state and that the party will not allow any body to tinker with the special status of the state.

Among others Haji Ali Muhammad sagar, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Nasir Aslam Wani, Devender Singh Rana, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Muhammad Shafi Uri, Abdul Rahim Rathar, Mian Altaf, Hasnain Masoodi, Muhammad Akbar Lone, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sakina Itoo, Mubarak Gul, Shammi Oberoi, Nazir Ahmad khan Gurezi, Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo, Ajay Sadhotra, S S Salathia, Mir Saifullah, Javed Rana, Haneefa Jan were present in the meet.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has asked former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti to explain her position before it regarding the illegal recruitments in Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

In a letter No: SSP/ACBK/FIR-10/2019/3064 dated 03-08-2019, SSP, ACB, has asked Mehbooba, “During the course of investigation of case FIR No 10/2019, poli station ACKB dated 08-06-2019, it has surfaced that some appointments were made by Chairman J&K Bank on references and recommendations of few ministers.”

“It may please be clarified whether such references had your endorsement, verbal or otherwise for appointments in J&K Bank,” it added. (KNS)

Srinagar, 4th August: Awami Itehad Party State Spokesperson, Sheeban Ashai in a statement today informed that AIP Supremo and PUF leader Er Rashid was summoned by NIA day before yesterday.

Despite his reluctance to leave on such short notice, Er. Rashid had to reach for NIA questioning today morning and has been there since.

Awami Itehad Party and its leadership is open to all kinds of probity and has nothing to hide. But these kinds of last minute summons, at a time when Kashmir is going through such great political uncertainty raises many red flags.

Awami Itehad Party denounces the witch hunt against its leadership for trying to forge unity between various stakeholders vis-a-vis safeguarding Article35-A and Article-370. We would want to assure the whole Kashmiri nation that Awami Itehad Party and its cadre cannot be forced into subjugation by such cowardly tactics and would resist all assaults to silence credible political voices.

Union home minister Amit Shah is meeting National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Intelligence bureau chief Arvind Kumar, RAW’s Samant Goel, Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba and other officials today amid a massive security build-up in Kashmir.

There have been intelligence reports that militants have made multiple infiltration attempts to launch an attack similar to the one in Pulwama in February. In view of that, a huge number of security personnel have been deployed in the state and tourists and pilgrims on Amarnath yatra have been asked to leave the immediately.

Intelligence sources said militants were making multiple attempts to cross the Line of Control and infiltrate into India between July 29 and July 31. The army said on Saturday that five men of Pakistan’s Border Action Team or BAT were killed while they were trying to infiltrate into India and strike at an army post in the nearby Keran sector.

Pakistan has been asked to take back the bodies of the intruders for last rites, but there has been no response so far. Heavy cross-border firing is continuing in Keran sector, sources said.

Over the last week, there has been huge security build-up in the state, with the Centre pushing in more than 35,000 paramilitary troops. The massive security build-up had triggered rumours in the Kashmir Valley about a possible government move on Article 35-A – which were rubbished by state Governor Satya Pal Malik.

The administration has issued an advisory for tourists and Amarnath pilgrims to leave the state immediately.

The advisory — issued on Friday — asked pilgrims and tourists to “curtail their stay” and “return as soon as possible”. The locals said it was unprecedented since such an advisory was not issued during the height of militancy in the 1990s. NDTV