SRINAGAR: The Congress party unveiled its manifesto titled ‘Nyay Patra’ promising several key initiatives, including restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir immediately

Also, they pledged to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in central government posts, implement a 10 percent quota in jobs and educational institutions for economically weaker sections, adopt the Rajasthan model of cashless insurance for universal healthcare, and pass a constitutional amendment to raise the cap on reservations for SC, ST, and OBC.

They also committed to conducting a nationwide socio-economic and caste census and guaranteed a new ‘right to apprenticeship act’ for diploma holders or graduates below 25.

Furthermore, the manifesto outlined plans for urban employment programs, abolishing the Agnipath program, and ensuring normal recruitment in the armed forces to achieve full sanctioned strength.

SRINAGAR: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off the first electric train in the Kashmir valley and the train service between Sangaldan station and Baramulla station, the move drew praise from National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah who expressed his thanks to Prime Minister Modi.

“We needed it. It is important for our tourism and people. This is a big step that has been taken today. I congratulate the Railway Ministry, PM Modi for this," said National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah.( HT News Network)

The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday claimed that its president Mehbbooba Mufti has been put under house detention. “Even before Supreme Court judgement is pronounced, Police have sealed the doors of the residence of PDP President @MehboobaMufti and put her under illegal house arrest,” PDP posted on X. It also shared pictures of locked doors. The party claimed that its office was also “sealed” by the police.National Conference State Spokesperson Sarah Hayat Shah said party vice president Omar Abdullah has been "locked up in his house".

“Mr @OmarAbdullah has been locked up in his house. Democracy?” she said in a post on X, while sharing pictures of the locked gate at Abdullah's residence..

However, Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that "nobody was under house arrest" in J&K.

" Any report of house arrest or arrest of anyone ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution is totally baseless,” Sinha said while terming the allegations as rumours.

Omar reacted to the LG statement and asked why he was "denying."

“Dear Mr LG these chains that have been put on my gate have not been put by me. So why are you denying what your police force has done. It’s also possible you don’t even know what your police are doing? Which one is it? Are you being dishonest or is your police acting independent of you?” Omar said in a post on X.

Srinagar police too denied that any person has been put under house arrest.

The Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud upheld the validity of the Union government action of August 5, 2019 when J&K's constitutional provision was scrapped.

There was no restriction on civilian movement across Kashmir and the internet worked normally , officials said. While Srinagar and other major towns were calm, the government was keeping a strict vigil on the situation. The police have stepped-up surveillance on social media and several netizens have been booked in the past few days for their posts.

The authorities late Sunday evening deputed 29 civil officials as magistrates in the Srinagar city, following a communication received from Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar to keep an eye on the situation.

Officials said the movement of the security convoys has also been suspended as a precautionary measure on Monday. (UNI)

Former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said the “ struggle” would continue and they were prepared for the "long haul." “Disappointed but not disheartened. The struggle will continue. It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul. #WeShallOvercome #Article370,” Omar said in a post on X.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the fight for “honour and dignity” would continue and the SC verdict was not the end of the road.

“We should not be disheartened. J&K has seen several ups and downs. The SC verdict is not our defeat, but the defeat of the idea of India. …The people of J&K are not going to lose hope or give up. Our fight for honour and dignity will continue regardless. This isn’t the end of the road for us,” said former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti soon after the Supreme Court judgement.

Another former Chief Minister and Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief Ghulam Nabi Azad said people of J&K were not happy with the verdict.

“ People of J&K were hopeful … The SC bench was good. …It was a mistake to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019. It was done in a hurry. ..J&K political parties should have been also asked.... The people of Jammu and Kashmir are disappointed with this judgment,” Azad told reporters.

Peoples Conference head Sajad Lone said Article 370 may have been legally obliterated but will always remain a "part of our political aspirations."

The Supreme Court verdict on Article 370 is disappointing. Justice yet again eludes the people of J and K. Article 370 may have been legally obliterated but will always remain a part of our political aspirations.

"In the case of statehood the Supreme Court sidestepped even commenting on it, thus protecting the entire country from any future misuse, by citing precedence. Yet the same misuse was subtly endorsed in J & K. Let us hope at a future date Justice wakes up from its slumber of pretence,” Lone posted on X.

Earlier in the day, the apex judiciary upheld the presidential proclamation of 2019 abrogating Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

In a unanimous verdict, the five-judge Constitution Bench said Article 370 was a temporary feature and the President had the power to abrogate it as there was no "mala fide".

The top court also directed the Central Government to hold Assembly election in J&K by September 30, 2024. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: A day after the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed in the Lok Sabha, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday alleged that the BJP through this Bill was trying to increase their seats through backdoor in the Legislative Assembly.

On Wednesday, Lok Sabha passed the Bill which seeks to nominate two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one representing the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Kashmir to the Legislative Assembly.

“As far as the bill is concerned, we have objections on two things. One that the Supreme Court has not announced its decision on Reorganisation (Act) and they ( BJP government) keep bringing change one after one another," Omar told reporters in south Kashmir’s Tral area after a party convention, the National Conference Vice President said.

"The second thing is that reserving these seats should have been left to the elected government. As per the Bill, the LG (Lieutenant Governor) sahib has been given the right to fill the reserved seats and it has straightway created a doubt that the Bill is aimed at helping BJP,” he said.

Omar claimed that BJP can’t win elections in J&K and through backdoor they are trying to increase the seats in Assembly.

Meanwhile, CPI (M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami has questioned the passage of two Amendment bills in the Lok Sbha.

“The passage of Amendment Bills at this juncture appears to be in sharp contrast to democratic and judicial practices,” Tarigami said.

He said it has become a standard practice of the current dispensation to take undemocratic and unconstitutional decisions.

“Moreover, the Jammu and Kashmir government had already passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004. The Act provided for reservations in recruitments and admission in professional colleges to the members of Schedule Casts, Schedule Tribes and other socially and educationally backward classes.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 replacing the terms like "weak and underprivileged classes" with "other backward classes" seems mere a linguistic revision,” the CPI (M) leader said.

He said on the one hand the government seems adamant to continue to keep the J&K people disempowered by refusing to hold Assembly elections since 2018, despite stating from the so-called delimitation process, upgradation of electoral rolls and tall claims of normalcy.

“The nomination of two members from the Kashmiri Pandit community to the Legislative Assembly reeks of the current dispensation's intentions of never rehabilitating them in their native places,” he said. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: National Conference on Monday demanded a thorough investigation into the fire incident in Dal Lake that left three Bangladeshi tourists dead.

The demand for the investigation was made by the party Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq after visiting Dal Lake where he met the fire victims.

“While it is regrettable that a tourist lost their life, he demanded a thorough investigation without causing unwarranted harassment to any of the boat owners,” a party statement said.

Sadiq also requested Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to immediately offer low-interest loans to the houseboats affected by the destructive fire in Dal Lake.

“These owners should be allowed to rebuild their boats, considering the significant impact on their livelihoods,” he said.

In early hours on Saturday, Police said a massive fire broke out in the houseboats along Ghat number nine in Dal Lake area and conflagration quickly spread and engulfed five houseboats namely Safeena, Sabreena, Young Gulshan, Lala Rukh and Khar Palace. Seven residential huts and neighbouring houses in the vicinity were also gutted in the ensuing blaze. Three tourists from Bangladesh who were staying in houseboat Safeena were charred to death. (UNI)

“The bombardment on Gaza must stop to save the innocent people who are being killed” Omar told media persons in Srinagar.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said that United Nations and other influential countries must play their role even if they have talked sometimes about the situation and humanitarian crisis that have arisen out of the war in Gaza.

He said “Israel is being supported by the US, Britain and other countries that is why the United Nations could not play such a role that we expect”.

Omar said “if the war escalates out of Gaza definitely it would have a direct effect on India. That is why we are saying the bombardment should be stopped and the war should stop”.

The NC Vice President said so many people from India are working in Arab countries. There is no other country in the world whose such number of people are working there.

To a question about India sending humanitarian aid to Palestine, the former CM said there is nothing to hide, India from day one supported Israel. And after seeing that innocent people are being killed in Palestine they (India) announced to send humanitarian aid to Gaza that too equivalent to a drop in the ocean.

He said where hundred trucks were being allowed to enter Gaza daily, today even 20 truck loads are not being allowed by the Israeli forces.

What would the population of lakhs would do with just 10-20 truck loads of aid, Abdullah asked. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member Parliament Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that the issue of Palestine if left unaddressed will have far reaching consequences on the long term peace and stability of the entire West Asia region.

Interacting with the press on the side-lines of an event in Srinagar, Farooq said, “I am really sad that no one is raising a voice about the plight of Palestinians in the United Nations”.

He said “it’s very unfortunate to see marked change in India's stance on Palestine”, Farooq said and added “India's stand on Palestine has traditionally been guided by the ideals of Nehru and Gandhi. Our people have historically been supportive of Palestinian people and its claims.”

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said, “It's unfortunate that our government had not even made a token appeal for restraint and ceasefire, negating the vision of support to the Palestinian cause articulated by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru." (UNI)

SRINAGAR: National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah led opposition parties will stage an anti-government ‘peaceful’ protest on October 10 in Jammu.

“The current situation in Jammu and Kashmir was discussed in the meeting of opposition parties and it has been decided that a ‘peaceful’ protest will be held against the government on October 10,” Abdullah told reporters after convening the all parties meeting here.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Congress J&K president Vikar Rasool Wani, Congress leader Raman Bhalla, CPI (M) leader MY Tarigami and other opposition parties leaders attended the meeting.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Abdullah said, “the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir was discussed threadbare in the meeting.”
“The present situation in Jammu and Kashmir is worrisome,” said Abdullah, alleging that the Constitution has been suspended in Jammu and Kashmir and democratic rights are under attack.

“Lieutenant Governor, Home Minister, PM Modi repeatedly say that everything is normal in Jammu and Kashmir, then why elections are not being conducted. Why elections are not being conducted even after delimitation and preparation of fresh voter list,” said Abdullah.

J&K Congress president Vikar Rasool Wani said that BJP promised to make Jammu and Kashmir number one in the country, but after four years, Jammu and Kashmir has topped in corruption and unemployment.

“The recent terrorist attacks have also exposed the party's claim of peace,” said Wani.

SRINAGAR: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday claimed that the National Conference is speeding towards a meteoric success in the election to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) in Kargil on Wednesday.

The campaigning for the Kargil Council poll ended on Monday. There are 85 candidates in the fray, with 22 representing the Congress, 17 from the NC, 17 from the BJP, four from the AAP, and 24 Independent candidates.
The National Conference and Congress are in alliance and the two parties are trying to keep BJP out of the 30 member Council.

On Monday, Omar addressed various election meetings and rallies at Drass and other places during his daily tour of Kargil where he ridiculed the claims of the ruling dispensation on decimating the National Conference party from Ladakh.

“Contrary to the claims, the NC is speeding towards a meteoric success in the LAHDC election,” he said.

“People of Kargil are not looking at the upcoming council election as just general elections but the people here want to send a message to the entire country along with the local administration that what happened on August 5, 2019 was wrong, undemocratic , unconstitutional and not reflective of their aspirations,” Omar said.

The former chief minister said in his speech that the council elections are still being held on time in Kargil, but in Jammu and Kashmir, no one knows when the elections will be held, whether they will be held or not.
“Having a duly elected government & assembly is a distant thing, we were preparing for panchayat and local body elections and were looking for candidates. They too are lost to view after the union home minister's meeting with the local BJP leaders from J&K.

The reason why BJP is shying away from elections is due to its long dismissed public support in its so called stronghold Jammu plains," he said.

The NC Vice President alleged that the administration in Ladakh was dancing to the tunes of BJP.

Omar said that in order to occupy the council in Kargil, these people are changing the laws in New Delhi, sometimes four seats are being kept for nominations, sometimes eight are specified and sometimes something is being done, but no matter how hard these people try, they will be defeated.

"It will be faced because the people here are really not seeing this election as just a council election, the people here want to send a message not only to the administration but to the whole country that what happened on August 5, 2019, should not happen to him,"he added.

The former CM said that he used to tell the people of Leh time and again that after the removal of Article 370, Leh and Jammu will suffer the most and that is exactly what happened.

"Jobs, contracts and administration, everything is being outsourced in Ladakh, Jammu. Now people want to reverse all these actions with their vote," he said. (UNI)

SRINAGAR:  The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah led party rank and file in offering Fatiha and floral tributes at the Mazar-e-Anwar of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 41st death anniversary.

Dr Farooq while paying glowing tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah said, “Sher-e-Kashmir’s struggles and sacrifices for the dignity of this beleaguered region and its people need to be emulated to take it out of the throes of divisive politics and sinister plans of political disempowerment.”

 “Sher-e-Kashmir’s life was a valiant story of selfless leadership. He fought for the political rights and dignity of his people till his last breath. He chose prison over power for his people and it is this sense of sacrifice and courage that needs to be instilled in our youth for the future of our region. Sher-e-Kashmir’s call for inclusiveness and secularism needs to be heard in every town and village – at a time when divisive political forces are trying their best to divide the people of the State on the basis of region and religion,” he said.

Vice President Omar Abdullah said, “Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah’s legacy denotes J&K's high traits of pluralistic ethos and inclusiveness. He nurtured and strengthened this characteristic and cemented the bonds of love between various sections of the society and different regions of J&K," Omar said, adding, “His ultimate goal was the political and economic empowerment of the common man and the equitable development of his vision of Naya Kashmir encompassed holistic and comprehensive development of all sections and all regions of the State without any favour or discrimination.”

Among others Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani Sogami, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, MP Hasnain Masoodi, Political Advisors Mushtaq Guroo, Mudassar Shahmiri, Senior leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Abdul Rahim Rather, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Nazir Gurezi, Shameema Firdous, Irfan Shah, Zone Presidents Javed Dar, Ali Mohammad Dar, State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, YNC Provincial President Kashmir Salman Ali Sagar, VP Province Ahsan Pardesi, Syed Tauqeer, Provincial Secretary Showkat Mir, District Presidents Peer Afaq, Gh Mohiudin Mir, Dr Sajjad Shafi, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Showkat Hussain, GR Naaz, Women's Wing Provincial President Er. Sabiya Qadri, Sheikh Mohammad Rafi, Irshad Kar, Peer Mohammad Hussain, Additional Spokesperson Sheikh Ovase, Neelofar Masood, Masrat Kar, functionaries, YNC, Women's wing, Minority wing , Media and Social Media functionaries also offered floral tributes at the final resting place of Sher-e-Kashmir. The event was marked by Quran Khawani, and Durood Azkar Majlis as well.

Commemorative functions marking the 41st death anniversary of Sher-e-Kashmir was also held at district party headquarters and Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu. Similar functions were held at all district headquarters across J&K. (GNS)