The divisional administration in Kashmir has ordered closure of all schools and colleges across the Kashmir division tomorrow on May 24.
Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan said the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure
Encounter breaks out in Tral
Srinagar, May 23 : A Gunfight raged between government forces and militants in forests of Batipora area of Dadsara Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Reports said on specific inputs about the presence of militants, a joint team of forces including 42 RR launched search operation in the area.
On intensifying search operation towards suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon forces triggered encounter, he said.
As per sources, two to three militants of Zakir Moosa lead group are believed to be trapped
Meanwhile, the mobile internet services have been snapped in Police district Awantipora as precautionary measure.
Inputs from KNO
Imran Khan congratulates Modi: ‘Look forward to working with him for peace in south Asia’
Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on Thursday joined the number of world leaders to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his victory in the general elections.
The Pakistan premier while taking to his Twitter handle said that he was looking forward to work with Modi for peace and prosperity of south Asia.”I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia.” Khan tweeted.
Prime Minister Modi is all set to return to power as his party Bharatiya Janta Party according to initial leads has won more than 300 seats.
NC To Form Next Government In J&K On Its Own: Rana
National Conference Provincial Headquarters in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir kept reverberating with crackers and drum beating on every report trickling in about the party winning all the three seats of Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag it contested in the just concluded general elections to Lok Sabha.
Led by Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana along with senior leaders, the National Conference workers rejoiced the victory of the party President Dr Farooq Abdullah from Srinagar parliamentary constituency, Mr Mohammed Akbar Lone from Baramulla and Justice (Retired) Hasnain Masoodi from Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.
“This is the victory of the progressive and forward looking policies of National Conference and inspiring leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mr Omar Abdullah”, Mr Devender Singh Rana told the reporters at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon.
Mr Rana described today’s victory as a semi-final to the finals of assembly elections which will witness National Conference forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir on its own.
He said Jammu and Ladakh regions too will witness the party getting maximum number of seats like in Kashmir, leading National Conference to absolute majority.
He said National Conference is a force to reckon with, which has started bouncing back in full steam.
He termed the non-NC coalitions as aberration, adding that the previous BJP-PDP dispensation turned out to be a big disaster that pushed the state to morass and political instability with people of all the three regions feeling dejected and deprived.
He said the failures of this insensitive coalition took the state to backwards on developmental front.
When asked about the BJP staging comeback at the Centre and its impact on the politics of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Rana said that the two elections are quite different.
While the Lok Sabha elections were aimed at the formation of the government at the Centre, the assembly elections are all about addressing to the political, economic and developmental aspirations of the state, which can only be assuaged by the National Conference.
This has been substantiated many a times in the past when the governments led by National Conference worked towards development and progress of the three regions with opportunities to all, irrespective of regional or religious aspirations, he maintained.
“The contestants in the assembly elections will have to stand to the aspirations and expectations of their electorate here on ground zero”, Mr Rana said in reply to a question, adding that the performance of the BJP legislators is not a distant memory but still afresh in the minds of the people, who feel haunted by over three years of misrule.
He exuded confidence that National Conference will secure the absolute mandate of the people and work for their betterment.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included former ministers Mr Ajay Kumar Sadhotra and Mr Surjeet Singh Salathia, Mr B. R Kundal and Mr Abdul Gani Malik, former legislators Mr Rattan Lal Gupta, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Th. Kashmir Singh, Qazi Jalal Ud Din, Mr. Sardar Tarlochan Singh Wazir, Dr. Kamal Arora, Mrs Bimla Luthra, Mrs Deepender Kour, Mrs Swarn Latta, , Dr Gagan Bhagat besides Mr. Mr Jugal Mahajan, S. Gurdeep Singh Sasan, Mrs Satwant Kour Dogra, Mrs Vijay Laxami Dutta, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Pardeep Bali, Mr Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Mr Abdul Gani Teli, Mrs Daljeet Sharma, Mr Ashok Singh Manhas, Mr Ravi Dogra, Mr Ashok Kumar Dogra, Mrs Rashida Begum, Mr S. Sandeep Singh, S. Gurnam Singh, Mr Iftkair Choudhary, Mr Sian Dass, Mr Som Raj Taroch, Mrs Rekha Manhas, Mrs Anju Drover, Mr Rohit Bali, Mr Rohit Kerni, S. Tejinder Singh, Mr Nitish Gowsami, Kr. Yashwardan Singh, Mr Rakesh Koul, Mrs Asha Mehra, Mr Tanveer Babzda, Mr Varinder Pal Lakhotra, Mr Shabir, Mohd Rashid Retd Col and others.
No one can stop AIP now: Er Rasheed
Srinagar
Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) President and Party’s candidate for Baramulla Parliamentary constituency Er Rasheed has said that results are much encouraging for AIP and no one on earth can stop the party from becoming alternative to NC, PDP and other regional parties.
In a statement issued today, Rasheed said that the spirit of democracy needs to be respected and all those who have won the elections deserve congratulations. However, AIP has proved all political analysis wrong and has shown excellent performance by improving its performance beyond imagination. Those who used to accuse AIP of dividing votes should realize that party was not there to divide votes but to give a befitting fight despite all compulsions and the results have proved all those forces wrong who claimed to be lone warriors of Kashmiris.
Rasheed while thanking AIP cadres said that party is thankful to every single voter and party colleagues who voted and worked for an ideology and have laid a strong foundation stone for the future. AIP promises to follow its pro-people agenda with consistency and sincerity. One should not forget that AIP decided at the eleventh hour to contest the elections and without a proper cadre the party volunteers succeeded in sending a deep message to the masses that AIP has the potential to replace those who have given Kashmiris nothing except disappointments and false promises.
Rasheed reiterated his appeal to sincere political workers to join AIP and become part of a change which will not only ensure leadership that represents sentiments, sacrifices and aspiration of masses but will also give them best and corruption-free governance.
Hopefully new govt at Centre will do justice with Jammu and Kashmir, says Farooq Abdullah
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is all set to win from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Thursday expressed hope that the new government at the Centre would do justice with the state and engage in a dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Speaking to reporters at the NC headquarters, Farooq Abdullah thanked his party leaders, workers and the people of Srinagar constituency for their support.
He is leading in Srinagar by 67,159 votes over PDP candidate Aga Mohsin. He has bagged 82,166 votes till now.
“I thank (NC vice-president) Omar (Abdullah), our party leaders and the people of Kashmir, especially the people of Srinagar constituency – all the mothers, sisters, elders and youth for supporting the NC,” he said.
“This Parliament will not be easy. There are several important issues with respect to J-K because we have to fight them on their intention to do away with the Article 370 and 35A. Another issue is that they want to divide the Muslims and Hindus in the country; we have to fight that as well,” the NC chief said.
Press Trust of India
Am happy that PC is second highest voter taker in Valley: Sajad Lone
Srinagar, May 23 : People’s Conference president Sajad Lone has congratulated Narendra Modi for his historic second term and also thanked the voters who voted for PC.
He said that he was happy that PC has got second highest votes in the Valley.
“I thank all those who came out and voted. Win and loss r two sides of the same coin. M happy that PC is the second highest vote getter in the valley.”
“Congratulation to @narendramodi for a historic second term.” (KNS)
Altaf Bukhari congratulates Dr Farooq Abdullah for his win
Extends felicitations to BJP leadership for landslide victory
SRINAGAR: Former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday congratulated the National Conference especially its president Dr Farooq Abdullah for winning Lok Sabha elections.
Bukhari also extended felicitations to Narendra Modi and BJP leadership for achieving a historic mandate on the second consecutive time in the country.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari observed: “We must respect peoples verdict. There is yearning for change in Jammu and Kashmir. It is time for other parties to introspect for their dismal performance.”
He said the poll results in Kashmir indicate the electorate’s desire for a change. “For BJP leadership my earnest appeal would be to review its policies and try to reach out to the bruised psyche of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he remarked.
India wins yet again, says PM
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) With the BJP headed for a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India has won again and together with everyone, a strong and inclusive nation will be built.
Riding on a massive Modi wave sweeping through most parts of India, the BJP was set to return to power as it led in over 300 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with about 50, according to trends released by the Election Commission for all 542 seats that went to polls.
“With all+ development for all+ everybody’s confidence = victorious India,” Modi tweeted.
“Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again,” he said.
LS polls: Mehbooba concedes defeat from Anantnag
Srinagar, May 23 (PTI) PDP president Mehbooba Mufti conceded defeat on Thursday in the election to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat after trailing in the third place, behind the National Conference’s (NC) Hasnain Masoodi, who has taken a lead of 7,600 votes over Jammu and Kashmir Congress president G A Mir.
Masoodi, a retired high court judge, was leading Mir by 7,600 votes with 18,000 votes to be counted, election officials said.
Mehbooba, who had won the Anantnag seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, was at the third spot, 11,700 votes behind Masoodi.
“I’ve been fortunate to get the love & affection of my people. They have every right to express their anger for my failings. Accept their verdict with humility. Congratulations to winning candidates from NC. I’m grateful to my party workers & colleagues,” the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president said in a tweet.
She also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “historic” mandate in favour of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Congratulations to Narendra Modi ji for a historic mandate. Today surely belongs to BJP and it’s allies. Time for Congress to get an Amit Shah,” she said.
This is only the second electoral defeat for Mehbooba since she joined politics in 1996. She had lost the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from Srinagar to the NC’s Omar Abdullah.