Jammu And Kashmir Politics

Three National Conference leaders from J&K take oath as Rajya Sabha MPs

The three recently elected MPs from Jammu and Kashmir on Monday took oath as members of the Upper House. National Conference leaders -- Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and party treasurer Gurwinder Singh Oberoi took oath as Rajya Sabha members at the start of Parliament's Winter Session. While Kichloo took the oath in Urdu, Oberoi did the same in Punjabi. Ramzan took the oath in Kashmiri. After the oath, the three leaders exchanged pleasantries with Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and greeted other leaders present in the House. Last month, the National Conference won three Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP won the fourth seat in the elections.

8 injured at J-K police station while taking samples of explosives seized

An accidental blast occurred on the premises of the Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday night while personnel were taking samples of explosive material seized from Faridabad in connection with a "white-collar" terror module case, officials said. At least eight personnel were seriously injured, they said. The 360 kilograms of explosive material was brought from Faridabad by the Jammu and Kashmir police after seizing it from the rented residence of Dr Muzzamil Ganaie, who is among the eight persons arrested so far in this terror module case. It was not immediately clear whether the entire 360 kg of explosives were stored at the police station, where the white-collar terror module case was registered on October 19.

Bypolls: Double defeat for NC in J-K, Congress wins in Rajasthan

Ruling parties Friday lost four of the eight seats where assembly bypolls were held on November 11 with the Congress bagging one seat in BJP-ruled Rajasthan and the PDP handing the National Conference its first ever defeat in its stronghold of Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP won the Nagrota seat in Jammu and Kashmir and Mizoram's main opposition party, Mizo National Front (MNF), retained the Dampa assembly seat with its candidate R Lalthangliana defeating Vanlalsailova of the ruling Zoram People's Movement by a margin of 562 votes. Bypolls were also held in Anta (Rajasthan), Ghatshila (Jharkhand), Jubilee Hills (Telangana), Tarn Taran (Punjab) and Nuapada (Odisha). The Congress and the BJP won one more seat each while the AAP and the JMM also bagged one seat each. In Odisha's Nuapada, BJP's Jay Dholakia beat Ghasi Ram Majhi of the Congress by a huge margin of 83,748 votes. Jay is the son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose death necessitated the bypoll. In Nagrota, BJP's

J&K RS polls: Sajad Lone alleges National Conference 'gifted' BJP 7 votes

People's Conference chief Sajad Lone on Saturday accused the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir of "gifting" seven votes to the BJP to ensure the saffron party's victory on one seat in the Rajya Sabha polls held on Friday, calling the elections a fixed match between the two parties. The National Conference (NC) won three seats, while the BJP managed one in the first Rajya Sabha elections held in Jammu and Kashmir after it became a Union territory in 2019. You (NC) have clearly gifted seven members to the BJP. It was a fixed match, Lone claimed at a press conference. The Rajya Sabha elections for four seats were divided into three notifications. In the third notification, elections were held for two seats. While NC's Chowdhry Mohammed Ramzan won the first seat, its candidate Sajjad Kitchloo won the second. For the third notification, the NC fielded two candidates -- G S Oberoi, also known as Shammi Oberoi, and Imran Nabi Dar. The BJP, on the other hand, fielded its Jam

BJP not sincere about restoring J&K statehood, says Deputy CM Choudhary

Asserting that the BJP-led government is not sincere in the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday said the people of the Union Territory have high hopes from the Supreme Court which has been delivering justice in the country for decades. He claimed that the BJP has indulged in "lollipop politics" to hoodwink the people by seeking a report card of the National Conference (NC) government on completing its first year in office next week and said J-K is grappling with the same issues like regularisation of daily-wagers and unemployment which the national party failed to address in the 11 years of BJP-PDP and Lt Governor-led rules. The deputy chief minister was talking to reporters during his visit to Bhagwati Nagar here to review restoration works following massive damage caused to the approach road to the fourth bridge over Tawi following flash floods in August. He assured that the restoration work on the road stretch and als

CM Omar urges party leaders to back J&K statehood bill in Parliament

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday wrote to the presidents of over 40 political parties seeking their support for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying it "must not be viewed as a concession, but as an essential course correction". According to officials, Abdullah, in his two-page letter, called for bringing a legislation for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the current Parliament session. The chief minister's appeal comes nine months after his government's unanimous resolution calling for immediate statehood restoration, which, he says, was personally handed to the Prime Minister with an assurance of progress. It also comes on the sixth anniversary of the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two Union Territories -- Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. "Restoration must not be viewed as a concession, but as an essential course correction -- one that prevents us from sliding down a dangerous and ..

6 years of abrogation of Article 370: Why it matters and what has changed?

Six years after Article 370 was scrapped, debates continue over its impact on J&K's security, development, and political future, with statehood restoration still a key demand on the ground

Omar Abdullah grappled by J&K cops as he tries to visit martyrs' grave

July 13 used to be a public holiday in J&K until the state's reorganisation into two UTs in August 2019. It was removed from the list of gazetted holidays by the administration in 2020

Omar Abdullah vows to make Jammu and Kashmir a premier golf destination

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said his government is committed to make Jammu and Kashmir as one of the premier golf destinations in the country. The chief minister made these remarks during a prize distribution ceremony held here, where the winners and runners-up of the day's golf tournament were felicitated. Earlier this morning, Abdullah joined golfers to tee off the tournament at the Royal Springs Golf Course, which saw participation from eminent golfers from across the country, including former chief minister Farooq Abdullah Welcoming the golfers to Kashmir, the chief minister said that their presence was highly encouraging. He also expressed his gratitude to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) for organizing the Golf Tournament and tourism stakeholders' interaction in Kashmir. "It is very reassuring for us to see you all here. There is no doubt that your presence goes a long way in reinforcing what we are trying to do, which is essentially

Arab countries next target of US, Israel, says J&K Ex-CM Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah warned the Arab countries on Monday that they will be the next target of Israel and the US as Tel Aviv and Washington are eyeing their oil and gas. "It is their (United States') long-time policy that Iran should not become a nuclear power. Even the Sunni countries in the region are against it but they do not have the courage to speak up. "Today, they think Iran has been attacked, but I want to warn them through you that one day, Israel will attack them also, because they want their wealth like oil and gas. Israel is only a facade, America is standing right behind," Abdullah told reporters after a party meeting at Nawa-i-Subah here. Asked about the impact of the escalation of the war in the Middle East, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said it will severely affect the economic condition of all countries. "I am hopeful that the (other) world powers are watching the situation. If this (war) escalates, the economic condition

Govt targets ₹1 trillion farm economy in J&K by 2030, says LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the government's goal is to make every farmer in the Union Territory a proud stakeholder in India's journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Addressing the closing Ceremony of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at SKUAST Kashmir's Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops at Khudwani-Kulgam in south Kashmir, Sinha said it is a comprehensive strategy, designed to make J&K UT a robust Rs 1 trillion agricultural economy by 2030. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor lauded the valuable contribution of those associated with the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan for marking a transformative step, through this initiative, toward building a resilient, modern, and prosperous agricultural landscape in the Union Territory. "Let us walk together towards a future where every field blooms with prosperity, every farmer thrives with dignity and every village becomes a symbol of development. With Sankalp (resolve) comes Shakti ...

Tourist spots shut after Pahalgam attack to reopen in phases: LG Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the parks at tourist places, which were closed in view of security considerations after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, are being reopened in a phased manner to allow tourists to visit the destinations. "Some places were closed after April 22 (attack) in view of security considerations. The divisional commissioners and IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu have taken reports from every district and it has been decided to reopen some destinations in a phased manner," Sinha said. The lieutenant governor was speaking to reporters after visiting the Nunwan Base Camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Sinha said the destinations that have been decided to be reopened for tourists in the first phase include Beetab Valley and parks near Pahalgam market in the famous tourist destination of Pahalgam, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district. In Srinagar, Badamwari Park, Duck Par

J-K CM urges PSU, parliament meets in Kashmir to boost tourism, trust

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday proposed a dual approach to resuscitate Jammu and Kashmir's tourism sector, severely impacted by the Pahalgam terror attack, urging the Centre to mandate PSUs to hold meetings in Kashmir and to convene parliamentary committee meetings there. Speaking at the Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abdullah also raised the issue of recent shelling from Pakistan that claimed 23 lives in Poonch, Rajouri and north Kashmir and underlined that the construction of individual bunkers for residents is necessary. Acknowledging the severe impact of the recent events on the vital tourism sector, Abdullah proposed that as an immediate step, the government should direct its public sector undertakings (PSUs) to hold their meetings in Kashmir. He also strongly pitched for holding of parliamentary consultative committee and parliamentary standing committee meetings in Jammu and Kashmir. These concert

CBI charges former J&K governor Satyapal Malik in Kiru hydropower case

Malik, who claimed to be currently hospitalised, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the alleged ₹2,200-cr scam, saying the probe is looking to target him instead of the real culprits

India calls Pak's nuclear bluff, rejects Kashmir mediation: Govt sources

Will respond 'fiercely' and 'punitively' in case of violations by Pakistan, say Armed forces

Omar Abdullah meets PM Modi, discusses Pahalgam attack, J-K issues

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and discussed various key issues, including last week's terror attack in Pahalgam, officials said. The meeting at the prime minister's residence lasted around 30 minutes, they said. This is the first meeting between the two leaders since the April 22 terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. Giving details of the meeting, an official spokesperson said Abdullah discussed key issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir with the prime minister, with particular emphasis on the recent developments in the region. During the meeting, the chief minister briefed Modi on the prevailing situation in wake of the heinous terror attack in Baisaran Valley of the Pahalgam tourist resort town, he said and added Abdullah reiterated the deep sense of grief and outrage felt by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. On April 28, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a ...

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif's YouTube channel blocked in India over security

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's YouTube channel was blocked in India on Friday amid ongoing tension between the two countries following the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. "The content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For more details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report," read a message on the blocked channel. The government had earlier this week blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly disseminating "false, provocative and communally sensitive content" about India and has also strongly objected to the BBC's reportage on the Pahalgam attack. The government's move follows recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in the upper reaches of the Kashmir resort town in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. Besides, the Ministry of External Affairs will

Kashmiris will no longer tolerate violence: Sajad Lone on Pahalgam attack

The barbaric attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam has awakened the people of Kashmir, who will no longer tolerate violence, Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone said on Monday. Speaking on a resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to condemn the April 22 terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, Lone asserted that the people must be engaged positively rather than pushed back by punitive actions. He said several areas of Jammu and Kashmir are earning their livelihoods from the tourism sector, and the dastardly terror attack was a direct attempt to uproot a generation. "We are thankful to our nation, which woke up after 35 years to unequivocally condemn the attack on our guests. "Leaving politics aside, I am of the opinion that the violence has some sort of acceptance in our society as some people have accepted it as a legitimate thing, but their number is continuously declining," Lone said. A former minister whose father and Hurriyat

Resolution condemning Pahalgam attack passed at all-party meeting in J&K

A resolution unequivocally condemning the "heinous and inhumane" attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam was passed at an all-party meeting convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday. Reading out the resolution, Abdullah appealed to governments of other states and union territories to protect Kashmiris against any form of harassment in the wake of the Pahalgam killings. "We, the participants of the All-Party Meeting of Jammu & Kashmir, deeply shocked and anguished by the recent barbaric attack in Pahalgam on 22nd April 2025 on innocent civilians, do hereby adopt this resolution in a spirit of collective solidarity," the chief minister said. "We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous, inhumane attack in Pahalgam that targeted and killed innocent civilians. "Such cowardly acts of brutality against peaceful citizens have no place in society and are a direct assault on the values of Kashmiriyat, and the idea of India which have ..

26 tourists killed in terror attack in J&K's Pahalgam; at least 20 injured

At least 12 tourists were injured in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. The attack took place at Baisaran, a meadow accessible only by foot or ponies, where a group of tourists had gone visiting this morning, they said. According to an eyewitness, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the tourists from close range, resulting in injuries to several persons. "My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack," a woman survivor told PTI over phone. The woman did not identify herself but pleaded for help in evacuating the injured to the hospital. Authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured, the officials said, adding some of the wounded were brought down from the meadows by local people on their ponies. A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital said 12 injured tourists were admitted there and the condition of all of them was stable. A little earlier, security forc