For the last few weeks, several political parties have been created in the Valley. The representatives of these parties are either disgruntled leaders of the existing political parties or people, who claim to bring a change in the “corrupt system” of the state.

The Election Commission of India is yet to announce dates for assembly polls, the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases beginning April 11. The restive Anantnag parliamentary constituency, comprising Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam districts, will go to the polls “in parts” in the third, fourth, and fifth phase.

Majority of these parties have no offices and operate out of private residences from where they send out press releases.

Syed Najeeb Nakvi announced of contesting the upcoming elections from Baramulla constituency.
Nakvi was former Congress member and aide of Taj Mohiuddin.

Former member parliament Abdul Rashid Shaheen, and Sequib Rehman Makhdoomi have launched own party ‘Jammu Kashmir Awami Conference’.

Another political party, Tehreek-e-Insaaf has also been launched.

Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah (Former MLC) has launched JK Bachao Tahreek.

Ridwana Sanam has decided to contest from Anantnag. Bureaucrat turned politician Shah Faesal launched a political party – the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM).

There are several other parties floated in last two weeks.

Earlier, several political parties were launched to participate in the electoral process of the state. ‘Peoples Republican Party’ (PRP) was also launched.

To become a recognised political party either at the state or national level, a party has to secure certain minimum percentage of polled valid votes or certain number of seats in the state legislative assembly or the Lok Sabha during the last election.

There have been fears that most of such parties are used to ’round trip’ the black money into white or intended to increase the voter turnout.

The Election Commission of India had found that some of the parties were “no longer in existence or functioning”.

The Election Commission of India’s latest data on political parties, registered till March 9, a day before the Lok Sabha elections were announced, reveal that the country is having a total of 2,293 political parties.

They include seven “recognised national” and 59 “recognised state” parties.

In fact, 149 political parties were registered with the poll panel between February and March on the eve of the announcement of the poll schedule.

Till February this year, the country had 2,143 political parties registered with the Commission. (KNS)

Shopian, Mar 30, : Locals from Ratnipora village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district Saturday alleged that army soldiers from a nearby camp went berserk during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday and without any provocation barged into residential houses, thrashed people and ransacked houses. They said it was a Hell like situation as unbridled army soldiers created fear psychosis in the dead of the night. 

Last week the area had witnessed a gunfight in which at least 2 militants were killed.

Locals from the village while recounting the horror told news agency CNS that they were asleep when the sound of jackboots woke them up. “The soldiers without asking anything created noisy scenes, showering abuses and attacked people. They barged into houses and started beating people irrespective of their age and gender,” they said adding even their cell phones were damaged by soldiers.

  The locals blamed army soldiers from 34 Rashtriya Rifles based in Chowdhary Gund Camp for the mess. “The armed soldiers didn’t listen to anyone and even they didn’t give any reason for their illegal action. We were scared and some of us escaped from the spot. We can’t express the scary scene in words.” 

The terrified locals said that at least 8 people sustained injuries while one of them whom they identified as Muhammad Shafi Naikoo son of Ghulam Muhammad.  

When contacted, Srinagar based Defense spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia denied the allegations saying no army personnel is involved in manhandling of any civilian or ransacking of any property in Shopian village. (CNS)

Hajin, Mar 30, : Police resorted to aerial firing after a search party came under attack from the people in Yarbalpora Hakbara area of North Kashmir’s Hajin town of district Bandipora on Saturday.

   Reports said that a police party arrived in Yarbalpora area with an intention to search a house after it received information about the presence of ‘drugs’ in it. As the police tried to search the house of Abdul Majeed Dar son of Ghulam Ahmad Dar, some of the family members as well as people from adjoining neighbourhood intervened and attacked the cops.

    Reports added that a Head Constable Ghulam Muhammad who was part of the search party was injured in the attack. 

    Police in self defence fired a couple of shots in air to disperse the mob. Police party however managed to arrest the house owner.

   SDPO Hajin Dr Mubashir while confirming the incident told news agency CNS that some miscreants created ruckus when a police party tried to raid the house in which drugs were hidden. “We are investigating the matter,” he added. (CNS)

Srinagar, Mar 30, : Authorities Saturday disallowed High Court Bar Association to organize a seminar on slain human rights lawyer Jalil Andrabi.

    Jalil Andrabi, was a prominent Kashmiri human rights lawyer and pro independence political activist associated with the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. Andrabi was allegedly subjected to extrajudicial execution by Indian paramilitary troopers and renegades in March 1996.

On March 8, 1996, Andrabi was detained in Srinagar by Major Avtar Singh, of the 35th Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Indian army. Three weeks later, Andrabi’s body was found floating in the Jhelum River; an autopsy showed that he had been killed days after his arrest. A case is pending adjudication in a Budgam court against Major Avtar Singh who few years back shot himself dead in United States.

   High Court Bar Association had sought permission from the authorities to hold a seminar on Saturday in memory of Jalil Andrabi, however, the same was denied.

   A communiqué to Bar Association from Principal District and Sessions Judge Srinagar read: “Kindly refer your reference number JKHCB/N/2019 dated 29/3/2019. In this regard I am desired to inform you that the Seminar proposed to be organized on Saturday 30th of March 2019 at 10:30 A.M at Saddar Court premises Mominabad Batamaloo Srinagar cannot be permitted inside the District Court Complex under law.”

    Bar Association members didn’t respond to repeated calls from news agency.

   Meanwhile, Lawyers Club said that it will hold the seminar in coming days if Bar Association fails to do so.

  President Lawyers Club Advocate Babar Qadri said that the silence of Bar Association to the order in the morning itself was an act of surrender. “Bar Association disappointed lawyers’ community by not reacting to the order. By participating in the judicial proceedings after this order was passed Bar Association humiliated the sacrifices made by Advocate Jalil Andrabi,” Qadri told CNS. 

Srinagar, Mar 30 : NC’s Bandipora Constituency incharge Mohammad Abdullah Wani and Chief of Awami Insaf Party Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh (Saloora) on Saturday joined Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) along with hundreds of their activists and supporters.

According to the PDP spokesman, both Wani and Saloora were welcomed into the party fold by patron Muzaffar Hussain Beigh and President Mehbooba Mufti.

Mehbooba while welcoming Wani and Saloora termed their entry into the PDP as a positive step towards party’s overall growth and execution of its agenda of peace and reconciliation.

Both the new entrants stated that the PDP has become an emblem of peoples’ aspirations in Jammu and Kashmir and that the glint of light shown to the world by party founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the year 1999 has now become a resplendent torch, showing the aggrieved, unrepresented and distressed masses a way towards permanent prosperity. 

Srinagar, March 30 : Two labourers died after falling from an under-construction building at Ashajipora area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday.

A police officer told GNS that today late in the afternoon three labourers fell while working on the under construction shopping complex of Dr. Azad at Ashajipora.

In the incident, the labourers suffered serious injuries and were shifted to District Hospital Anantnag for treatment. However, two of them succumbed to their injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Farooq Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Deetho and Mohammad Ishaq Wagay son of Bashir Ahmad Wagay of Brah Anantnag.

The police officer said that the condition of the third one labourer is also stated to be critical and has been referred to Srinagar hospital from Anantnag

The officer said that police has taken cognizance into the incident and further investigations have been initiated. (GNS)

Qayoom Khan

Srinagar, March 30 : Two youth, riding a motorcycle, were injured when army opened fire at them after they allegedly ignored a signal to stop at Bandzoo area of Pulwama in south Kashmir.
A police officer said at around 18:15 hours, army signaled to stop a motorcyclist along with pillion at Bandzoo Pulwama.

The motorcyclist ignored the signal and tried to flee from the spot after which army fired few gunshots due to which they suffered injuries. The injured were identified as Shahid Farooq and Suhail Ahad Dar.

And the motorcycle as Shahid Farooq son of Farooq of Prichoo Pulwama. Both have been shifted to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment. (GNS)

Srinagar, Mar 30 : Jammu and National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that the flag of National Conference symbolizes the sacrifices of many who gave their lives to end the ill- fortune Kashmiris faced for centuries saying that the need of the hour calls for a second revolution to put up a joint effort to trounce the forces as are bent to destroy the integrity and unique constitutional character of the state.

Addressing a gathering of party functionaries, block presidents and segment in charges of Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said, “The leadership of the country who liberated the nation from colonial clutches bequeathed us with a secular and progressive constitution. They idealized an idea of India that was deemed to be for all, where everyone lives with dignity; where caste and religion would not have fettered anyone’s socio-economic advancement,” adding, “However there are forces as are disposed to tarnish the very secular visage of India. The agenda of BJP-RSS is all exclusive; they have all along shown consternation for the secular and progressive ideals of the Constitution of India.”

Party President while underscoring the significance of the constitutional safe guards including Art-370, Art 35-A said, “It was in that constitution, a social document that National Conference was able to achieve a special dispensation for our state. The Delhi agreement streamlined the relation between Srinagar and New Delhi. Nonetheless whatever we were able to achieve was eventually eroded by the successive governments of the state led by Bakshi and Sadiq. They had to implement the agenda of New Delhi because they drew their sustenance from them. They were bound to do so, being at their beck and call, they had no other choice.”

“However no sooner we returned to power, the unrelenting erosion of our special status ceased to end. However our absence from power corridors of our state gave all the forces as is inimical to state’s unique character and integrity a field day to fiddle with our status. What enfolded during past few years during the PDP-BJP rule bears my assertions out, be it implementation of National Food Security Act or GST. What was left of our special status in shape of our fiscal autonomy was eroded by PDP. We have seen it all with our eyes. This should act as an eye opener to all.”

Dr. Farooq while reproving Union Finance minister for his recent uncouth assertions about Art 35-A said, “Art-370, Art-35 A sanctify the constitutional link between New Delhi and the J&K state. They are hell bent to degrade our constitutional status; this assertion of his reveals their anti Kashmir agenda. Kashmiris have lent immense sacrifices to throw the autocratic yolk away from state. We have never allowed anybody to enslave us; we will never give up on that predilection of ours. We will fight for the unity and integrity of our state at any cost.”

Party President said that PDP canvassed in 2014 election campaign to keep BJP out but what followed they eventually landed up in the lap of RSS-BJP. “Mufti Syed in his last days repented for his colossal mistake but that delayed repentance of his was of no help. His daughter followed her father’s suit and hobnobbed with BJP to keep her flock together. She hunkered down before BJP-RSS for the sake of power and chair. Not to talk of preserving what was left of our autonomy.”

“The countless miseries that were inflicted on Kashmiris in PDP-BJP government will take years to heal. Now Mehbooba Mufti is again up to the same gimmickry, she masters; this time we should not fall prey to her theatrics,” he said.

While referring to the mushrooming of parties mostly one man armies in every nook and corner of the state, he said, “My father Sher-e-kashmir foretold about such mushrooming of leaders in every alley of Kashmir after his death. People who were seeking freedom until the recent past are now sitting in BJP-RSS. Today they are hobnobbing with them but time will come when they will also suffer at hands of their masters.”

Party president while flaying Prime Minister Modi for squandering the precious mandate of people said, “PM Modi had promised to deliver on various issues concerning the nation during his 2014 election campaign but he has aggravated the problems to an extent that will take decades to solve. Modi Government presents a tale of failures and misgovernment. People have now made it a point to give befitting reply to Modi for his failures and lies. ”

“Having been failed to deliver on key issues that the country is facing, the Modi led BJP government would create a war like situation in the country to subvert the attention of people from the real issues affecting poor and middle class; farmers and labor class,” he said.

While underscoring the importance of ensuing Lok Sabha elections, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said, “Today it is an opportune movement to clean the country and the state from the communal yolk. India is a vast country and our fight is with the communal forces. This time you have to cast vote for securing India’s Secular visage, and in particular the very identity and integrity of our state.”

Party General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar while addressing the convention said, “This time the situation is like that of 1977. It is National Conference pitched against all the forces as are inimical to our special status. In the forth coming elections we should make it a point to trounce all those forces as are bent to destroy our unique constitutional position.

Party’s senior leaders Nasir Aslam Wani, Mubarak Gul, Shameema Firdous, Salman Ali Sagar and Tanvir Sadiq also addressed the people.

Among others party vice president Omar Abdullah, General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustufa Kamal, Irfan Shah, Peer Afaq, Showkat Mir, Er. Sabiya Qadri, Sheikh G Q Pardesi, Ahsan Pardesi, Younis Gul, G N Tailbali, Sardar Jagdish Singh Azad, Khalid Rathore, Qaisar Jalali were also present in the convention.

Srinagar, Mar 30 : Noted Socio-political leader Sardar Janak Singh Sodhi of Baramulla on Saturday joined National Conference here at the Gupkar Residence of party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

Among others party vice president Omar Abdullah, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, and Sardar Jagjeet Singh Azad were also present.

Terming Sardar Janak Singh’s joining the party fold as second home coming, party vice president said, “Janak Singh Ji has immensely contributed for the preservation of inter communal bonhomie of the state. His role in furthering the cause of inter-religious harmony is immense. Once in power we will ensure speedy redressal of the grievances of Sikh Community.”

Meanwhile Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and additional general secretary Dr. Sheikh Mutufa Kamal participated in the Nimaz- e- Jinazah of the daughter of late Sheikh Abdul Hamed of Soura. The duo prayed for peace to the soul of departed and strength to the grief stricken family to bear the loss.