Srinagar, Jul 22 : Peoples Conference senior vice president and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil asserted that Kashmiris are facing the brunt of the rigged elections in 1987 resulting in eruption of militancy and

While addressing a gathering of party workers at Ferozpora and Zurhama, Vakil as per a statement issued to KNS said that the reason for political turmoil in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is in political turmoil since three decades is because governments have been formed on the basis of fooling our own people and rigging the democratic process of elections.

“The blatant rigging of 1987 resulted in eruption of militancy and the subsequent bloodshed in Kashmir. Till this day we are facing the brunt of the murder of democracy the National Conference committed to satiate its lust for power. The stealing of mandate pushed many to the other side of politics – Yusuf Shah became Syed Salah-ud-din, Syed Ali Shah Geelani became the face of separatism and common ground was lost by the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir. For things to change and peace to return to valley, the culprits of 1987 must be held accountable for murdering democracy in the Valley”, he said.

Vakil further said that the current situation of our developmental backwardness is a result of corrupt politics of NC & PDP and that we must gather our thoughts and action together to put an end to our economical misery.

“Our voice has to reach out to our people so, that they question these corruption giants who’ve looted hundreds of crores. We are seeing a new trend of corrupt politicians sermonizing the masses on eradicating corruption. Dr. Farooq Abdullah is charge sheeted and out on bail in the 120 crores JKCA scam while as many top NC & PDP leaders are in the IT net for owning assets disproportionate to their means. How can those involved in corruption steer the state away from this menace which has given the state a bad name of being the most corrupt state in the country”, he added.

Vakil said that Peoples Conference will aim to give a sense of economic and social security to our people who have suffered at the hands of previous governments

“Our emotion stands strong for the welfare of our own people, we don’t want to come in power for greed and corruption but we want to be fairly elected to power for re-structuring the corrupt and underdeveloped state of affairs as well as end the economical turmoil we are living in”, he added

While condemning the statement of Governor Satya Pal Malik in which he said that the militants should target corrupt politicians, Vakil said that “While the party support Governor Satya Pal Malik’s drive to eradicate corruption, his utterances are absolutely irresponsible and unbecoming of any head of the state”, he added.

Jammu, Jul 22 : CPI (M) senior leader, M Y Tarigami Monday said that an irreversible movement for a genuine sharing of power and self-governance is the only means to put together the state of Jammu and Kashmir, considered to be a variant of sub-continental diversities, with its multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-cultural polity.

“This requires a new mindset and a new culture of governance. The state, as a political entity, owes its growth to various historical and political factors. Undoubtedly, its historical unity, integrity or cohesion cannot be negotiated or compromised, except at the cost of its social and political stability. At the same time the existence of diverse ethnicities in different regions of the state, which constitutes its strength, rather than weakness, need to be recognized. It means carving out a political structure that recognizes the need to preserve the unity of the state, while fulfilling aspirations of its diverse regions,” he said.

He said that the twin commitment to the unity of the state and to its diverse aspirations is not a mere pious wish or a fashionable cliché but a social, political and historical necessity, carrying with it a long unifying process, which has gone into the welding together of the distinct and diverse regions and the ultimate formation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, along with the bitter experiences of its people, in the aftermath of the end of dynastic rule, extending over a period of seven decades, now.

“In this scenario, any break in the unity of the state will have disastrous consequences in the whole South Asian region, apart from causing a permanent disruption in the social fabric of the state itself. At the same time the unity of the state will remain a mere pipe dream in absence of the recognition and fulfillment of the aspirations of its diverse regions,” he said.

He said such a commitment must necessarily lead to the evolving of a composite and harmonious personality of the state. “This means a federal structure, not only at the state level but in each region itself. The objective has to be the preservation of unity and integrity of the state, while recognizing the fact that such a unity can thrive in an atmosphere, in which each region is allowed to grow according to its own peculiarities. Thus, the preservation of state’s unity and fulfillment of the diverse urges of its regions are complimentary to each other,” he added.

Tarigami said such a course implies better involvement and participation of people in different regions for a balanced political, economic, educational, social and cultural development and evolving of instrumentalities like local organs of power, at all levels, from the state to the regions, the district, the block and the village panchayat on a democratic basis.

“The least that GOI could do is to grant real autonomy by restoring Article 370 of Constitution of India to its original position. The politics of communalization is now a fact of life in J&K but it is something that has been smuggled into it by the dominant forces of our country and Pakistan,” he said.

Srinagar, Jul 22 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the state is caught in a blizzard and the need of the hour requires us to give a combined response to the challenges the state is facing particularly on its identity.

Addressing workers and party functionaries here at party headquarters party president said the Kashmiris are feeling alienated in their own land in wake of the absence of any popular government in the state.

“Today Muslims living across the world are subject to the nefarious machinations of those who have vested interests in a divided Muslim world. The fate of Muslims in the state is no different; it is at the peril due to the onslaught of such powers as are hell-bent to obliterate the Muslim Majority character of our state. The very pluralistic visage of our state has traditionally been scorn in the eyes of those people as is hell-bent to destroy it. The people of the state are feeling the vulnerable absence of a democratically elected representative government. It is high time for the GOI to give the people of the state the opportunity to elect a government which can further the cause of development in the state,” he said adding, “The iron-fist policy of the incumbent administration has added to the insecurities of Muslims living in the state. The plight of the Muslims in the state is no less miserable than their counterparts living across the country. It seems that the large population of Muslims in the state and the country is being deliberately kept out of the development agenda. However, the idea of a developed India cannot be achieved if the minorities are left out.” 

Party president said people of the state have been disenfranchised from their constitutional right of having a representative government in place, “The utter failure of the former PDP-BJP government on every conceivable matrix in the state has already disenchanted people towards democracy. The politically motivated jibes against politicians emanating from the governor’s office are adding to the disenchantment among youth towards the democratic process. The need of the hour calls for restoring a popular government in the state that has been limping towards the full realization of democracy in wake of the persistent tumultuous situation and a long spell of governor’s rule. It is unfortunate to see the penchant of the incumbent governor for political muddle. Our party has given immense sacrifices to further the cause of democracy in the state; we have lost scores of our workers, functionaries in this connection. The people of the state are fed up of the development deficit plaguing the state. A laid back oligarchy cannot replace the vital and vibrant role of the elected legislature and representative cabinet.”

On the occasion former judge Choudhary Jamal Ud Din of Tangdhar joined the party fold. Welcoming Choudhary into the party fold, the party president said, “I welcome Choudhary Sahab into the party fold. I am sure that the party will benefit from his long experience in law.”

Among others party general Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Political Advisor to party president Mushtaq Guroo, Showkat Ahmad Mir, Kafeel ur Rehman were also present on the occasion.

Earlier party president addressed workers gathering at Naseem Bagh, Hazratbal. Party president extolled the role played by party’s women’s wing functionaries and youth national conference functionaries during the last parliament elections. “It is the youth of the state that holds the key to success. With feeling the rhythm of the youth it is impossible for us to withstand the everyday machinations of our enemies. The agenda of our enemy is explicit; it is to obliterate the unique identity of our state. However, with a combined response we will be able to trounce the nefarious designs.”

Later the party president visited the residence of late Gulzar Ahmad Sofi. Party president extended condolences to the grief-stricken family particularly to his brother Ex District President YNC and former councilor Hilal Ahmad Sofi. Party president prayed for the soul of the deceased and strength to the family to bear the inconsolable loss. Among others, political advisor to President Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, and Haji Ghulam Muhammad Shaksaz also accompanied the party president. 

We have registered 80, 000 new members since July in 15 days, Sgr tops with 8000 new members: top BJP leader, each member tasked to bring 25 members into party fold

Srinagar, Jul 22 : In a significant development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has finally managed to make serious inroads in Kashmir by registering at last 80,000 new members into the party fold in the ongoing membership drive that started on July 7. The party leaders claim that BJP’s Kashmir unit was getting overwhelming response in Kashmir and from every district especially from Srinagar district.

Talking to news agency, BJP’s national vice president and in-charge Kashmir affairs, Avinash Rai Khanna said that party’s Kashmir unit is feeling contended over the great response shown by the people of Kashmir as unexpected number of people are joining the party fold. “We are hopeful that the party will pass the fixed target of increasing the 20 per cent more number of members to the existing one,” he said. “In every district, BJP is getting overwhelming response with politicians of other political parties joining us besides cross section of the society.”

He said the party had fixed three lakh new members as its target for Kashmir and the way people are joining them, it seems that they will cross the figure and reach about four lakh mark.

According to BJP leaders, since the party launched membership drive in Kashmir on July 7, 80,000 new members have been added to the party fold while as Srinagar has topped the figure where 8000 new members alone have joined. “The figure is increasing and we hope when the membership drive ends on August 6, we will have at least four lakh new members in Kashmir,” a BJP leader, overseeing the membership drive said.

He said that in the restive south Kashmir, response to the membership drive was encouraging. “People of all thoughts are joining BJP given its clear agenda,” he said.

BJP’s General Secretary (organization) Ashok Koul said that each member has been directed to add 25 new members into the party fold. “We are satisfied with the way, people are joining us. We are hopeful that at the booth level, constituency level and also at the district level, our vote bank is increasing with each passing day,” he said.

Pertinently, BJP top brass had directed the party officials to ensure all the 17 lakh people who voted for the party across the State in the recently concluded Parliamentary polls, where BJP bagged two seats in Jammu and one in Ladakh, are brought to the party fold through membership drive. (KNS)

Inaugurates fashion designing store in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, July 22: Former Finance Minister, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Monday urged the educated unemployed youth of Kashmir to be self-employed.

After inaugurating ‘Malik Saima’, a fashion designing store in ERA Complex at Rambagh here, Bukhari said the jobs created by the state government are nowhere matching the burgeoning number of unemployed youth.

“It is unfortunate that the unemployment problem in the state is mainly responsible for social tensions. To generate a lasting solution to the problem of educated unemployed youth, various state and central level self employment schemes are in place, and the youth should take advantage of such schemes,” he observed.

The former finance minister said that Kashmir’s unemployed youth are full of potential and only prerequisite is to make them fully aware of different state and central schemes which would eventually help them to be self-employed.

“History bears testimony to the fact that entrepreneurs are not born, but they are made. Our youth is no different than rest of the world. Unfortunately, they lack the right exposure and platform to showcase their talents in different fields,” he added, while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural function.

Suhail Khan

Baramulla, July 22 : Search and rescue operation enters into second day to locate the body of 17 year old youth who drowned in river Jehlum at Drangbal area of Baramulla on Sunday.

Momin Manzoor son of Manzoor Ahmed Dar resident of Jalsheeri Baramulla has not been traced yet after he drowned in river Jhelum on Sunday when he was taking a bath.

A police official told that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and local authorities are on job to trace the drowned youth.Officer said that we have resumed search and rescue operation again today morning to trace the youth as operation was suspended yesterday evening due to darkness.

He further added that a team of Navy and Morrcos have been also pressed into service to trace out drowned youth. (GNS)