Page 9 - Jammu And Kashmir Politics

'Durbar Move' returns to spotlight as Jammu and Kashmir elections near

Although the Durbar Move has its proponents, it has faced increasing criticism since the late 1980s, mainly due to the significant costs and time it demands

Borders fully secure; will not allow terrorists to disturb J-K polls: BSF

Counter-infiltration measures have been put in place along the borders to ensure that terrorists don't infiltrate and disturb the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a top BSF officer said on Tuesday. Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF), Jammu frontier, D K Boora was speaking to reporters in Bhaderwah area of Doda district which along with six other districts covering a total of 24 assembly segments in south Kashmir and Chenab valley region of Jammu is going to polls in the first phase on September 18. The borders are completely secure as the BSF in coordination with sister agencies, including police, have taken all necessary counter-infiltration measures. I want to assure everyone that no such activity (infiltration of terrorists from across the border) will be allowed during the election process, the BSF officer said. He said the BSF is capable of dealing with any situation and will play its role in ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections. The BSF is an

J&K elections: Omar, Karra, Raina among 239 candidates in fray for phase 2

A total of 239 candidates are in the fray from the 26 constituencies going to polls in the second phase of the three-phase Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections as 27 nominations were withdrawn on Monday. Monday was the last day of the withdrawal of nomination papers for the second phase covering assembly segments spread across central Kashmir districts of Budgam, Srinagar and Ganderbal, and Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu region. Prominent among those in the fray for these seats are National Conference leader Omar Abdullah who is contesting from two seats, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Tariq Hamid Karra, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina and jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati. According to a statement issued by the office of chief electoral officer, J&K, 27 candidates withdrew their candidature in the office of respective returning officers across six districts, leaving 239 candidates in the poll fray. The highest nine candidates ...

J&K Assembly elections: Valley's first-time voters waiting for a new dawn

For young voters in the Valley where Assembly elections are being held after a decade, it's a chance to prioritise issues like unemployment and education. Here's a ground report by Sarthak Choudhury

Many Kashmiri Pandit bodies to avoid J&K polls over 'genocide denial'

As the polling dates for the maiden Assembly polls after abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir draws near, several organisations of the Kashmiri Pandit community has decided to refrain from the electoral process in the Union Territory over persistent denial of their genocide. The decision to abstain from the polling was taken at Kashmiri pandit citizens meet held here in the light of the Assembly elections scheduled to take place in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The event, attended by a significant number of Kashmiri Pandit leaders, focused on the ethical and political dilemma of participating in an election that "continues to disregard the community's demand for recognition of their genocide" and the resultant "forced exodus" from their homeland. For decades now, we have been a community in exile, watching as successive governments and political parties utilise our exodus and our suffering as talking points during elections. Yet, when it comes to addressi

Can't forecast what will follow J&K polls: Karra on National Conference CM

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Sunday said the assembly polls are not just about forming a government or adjusting leaders in the dispensation but about "restoration of statehood and powers of the assembly" as well as "our lost dignity". Karra was also non-committal on whether the chief minister would be from the National Conference (NC) in case the Congress-NC alliance wins the polls, saying "we can't forecast things that have to follow after the elections". In an interview with PTI, Karra exuded confidence that the Congress-NC combine would form the government crossing the magic mark in the 90-member assembly and the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP would not be able to hamper their chances much. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief also asserted that the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) is a "closed case" and "doesn't have a future". "I have been on record to say that as far as DPAP is concerned, it is a closed case no

Congress was not good for NC in J&K till Mufti Sayeed made it so: Mehbooba

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the National Conference forged an alliance with Congress, its nemesis, in the 1980s, only after her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed turned the national party into a viable option in the valley. Addressing an election rally in Kokernag assembly segment of Anantnag district, Mufti recalled the time when the National Conference enforced a social boycott of Congress workers in Jammu and Kashmir. "There was a social boycott. Daughters of (some) Congress workers were divorced ... The barber would not provide his service to Congress workers. But Mufti Mohammad Sayeed organised the party and Congress protested against the rising corruption. Six people were martyred when Farooq Abdullah was the chief minister," she said. "When Farooq Abdullah realised that Congress is becoming a viable option and will take part in the National Conference, he put Congress in his pocket (through an alliance) and it is struggling to come out of it till date," she ..

BJP releases sixth list of 10 candidates for J&K Assembly elections

The BJP on Sunday released a list of 10 candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, fielding RS Pathania from Udhampur East and Naseer Ahmad Lone from Bandipora. The three-phase elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly will be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results will be declared on October 4. According to the BJP's sixth candidates' list, Faqir Mohammad Khan will contest from the Gurez Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seat, Abdul Rasheed Khan from Sonawari and Ghulam Mohammad Mir from Handwara. Bharat Bhushan will contest the election from Kathua, Rajeev Bhagat from Bishnah and Surinder Bhagat from Marh. These three assembly seats are reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC). The BJP has named Vikram Randhawa as its candidate from the Bahu assembly seat.

No separate yardstick for separatists joining J-K polls: Jitendra Singh

With some separatists contesting in Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said asserted those who decide to join the national mainstream cannot be deprived of this democratic opportunity. He also said the alliance between the National Conference and the Congress is just for the sake of power and it has nothing to do with national interest. If any separatist has decided to join the national mainstream by fighting elections, should he be deprived of this democratic opportunity? "(NC founder Sheikh) Abdullah after spending 12 years in prison came out the same way and became the chief minister. We cannot have two different yardsticks, Singh, the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, told reporters here while replying to queries on separatists entering the electoral fray. On former chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah's claim that the BJP has struck a deal with some regional parties and independents ...

More women registered to vote in J&K Assembly elections compared to men

Women voters outnumber men in the eight assembly segments of Srinagar district that are scheduled to go to polls on September 25 in the second phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said here. Of the 7,74,462 registered voters, 3,87,778 are female while 3,86,654 are male and 30 people have registered themselves under the third gender category, they said. Women outnumber men in six of the eight assembly constituencies with Central Shalteng and Eidgah segments being the exceptions. "To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 932 polling stations, of which 885 are urban polling stations while 47 are rural polling stations," an official spokesperson of the district administration said. Among the eight assembly constituencies of the district, Zadibal segment has the highest number of 1,12,864 registered electorate, comprising 56,408 males and 56,451 females and five transgender voters. Th

NC leader accused of inciting hate during rally, faces police action

Authorities here have recommended filing a case against a National Conference leader for allegedly inciting hatred at an election rally of party leader Omar Abdullah in the Ganderbal segment of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Nodal officer, Model Code of Conduct, Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani recommended registering an FIR against Mohammad Ashraf Ganaie, former sarpanch, for using the term "assassination" during an election speech at Kachan in Ganderbal. "Given the gravity of the situation, it is recommended that stringent action be taken against the said person. An FIR should be lodged against the culprit under the applicable laws for promoting hatred through his speech and violating the model code of conduct," the nodal officer said in the letter to the concerned official. Ganaie, during an election rally where Abdullah was present, said "We can kill" anyone for disrespecting the party flag. In a video, which formed the basis of the complaint, Ganaie was, however, promptly stopped by ...

J&K polls: 50% phase one candidates crorepatis, PDP contender richest

In the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, 50% of the 219 candidates have declared assets exceeding Rs 1 crore. The average assets per candidate in this phase stand at Rs 3 crore

J-K Assembly polls: Kashmiri Pandit woman enters race after three decade

Daisy Raina, previously employed with a private company in Delhi and currently serving as a sarpanch in the region will be contesting from the Rajpora seat in Pulwama

J-K polls: 14 Kashmiri Pandits enter fray, return of displaced their aim

So far, 14 Kashmiri Pandits have filed nominations to contest from the valley for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, aiming to ensure the return and rehabilitation of their fellow community members, whose number run up to 3 lakh. Srinagar's Habba Kadal assembly constituency has virtually turned into an electoral battlefield for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. A record six KPs out of the 14 have filed their nomination from the assembly segment, which goes to polls, along with 26 other constituencies in the second phase of elections, on September 25. "As many as six candidates from the KP community have filed their nomination papers in Habba Kadal. Of them, five have filed under recognised political parties, while two have filed as Independents. A total of 14 candidates have filed their nominations," an election department official told PTI. Ashok Kumar Bhat has filed his papers as the BJP candidate, Sanjay Saraf as the Lok Jan Shakti Party candidate, and Santosh Labr

J&K elections: Over 300 candidates file nominations for 26 seats in phase 2

More than 300 candidates have filed nominations for 26 assembly constituencies which are going to polls in the second phase of the three-phase Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, officials said on Thursday. Thursday was the last day of filing nomination papers for the second phase voting for which will be held on September 25. As many as 310 candidates have filed their nomination papers across 26 assembly constituencies of six districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the second phase, an official spokesperson said. The highest of 20 candidates have filed nominations from Habbakadal, while the lowest six are from Kangan. A total of 310 candidates have filed 329 nomination papers for the second phase, the spokesperson said. As many as 112 candidates have filed their nominations in Srinagar district, followed by 68 in Budgam district, 47 in Rajouri district, 35 in Poonch district, while 24 candidates each have filed nominations in Reasi and Ganderbal districts, he said. In Jammu division

J-K Assembly polls: Election schedule, key candidates, issues. Details

The last Assembly elections took place in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, but the government fell in 2018 when the BJP withdrew its support from Mehbooba Mufti's PDP-led administration

J&K polls: Cong releases phase 2 list of 6 candidates, fields JKPCC's Karra

The Congress on Monday released its second list of six candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, fielding JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra from Central Shalteng. The list was released soon after Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC) met here to finalise names of candidates for the elections, which the party is contesting in alliance with the National Conference. Apart from J-K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Karra, the party has fielded Mumtaz Khan from Reasi, Bhupender Jamwal from Mata Vaishno Devi, Iftikhar Ahmed from Rajouri (ST), Shabbir Ahmed Khan from Thannamandi (ST) and Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary from Surankote (ST). These constituencies will go to polls in the second phase of the three-phase assembly elections. The total number of candidates declared by the party is now 15. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, general secretary in-charge (organisation) K C Venugopal, Karra, Jammu and Kashmir screening committ

J&K polls: 219 candidates for 24 seats; 91 running as independents

With the nominations for the first phase of J&K polls finalised, there will be 219 candidates in the fray for the 24 seats going to vote on Sept 18. Among the 219, 91 are contesting as independents

Will dialogue with Pakistan end terrorism in valley: J&K BJP Prez asks NC

Slamming National Conference for advocating dialogue with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Sunday asked it to clarify whether initiating dialogue with the neighbouring country will end terrorism and bloodshed in the Union Territory. He also played down the protests and resignations by his party leaders and workers over the selection of candidates, saying he is confident the BJP will form the government on its own. The assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to take place on September 18, 25, and October 1. Votes will be counted on October 8. "Unfortunately, the NC leaders do not talk about the welfare of the people, the Pakistani gun which brought death and destruction to our land. By advocating for dialogue with Pakistan, they are not doing the right thing," Raina said. He said starting a dialogue with Pakistan is the prerogative only of the central government and the foreign minister. "NC leaders should know that our former PM A B Vajpayee

NC to prioritise lifting of Afspa if voted to power in J&K: Omar Abdullah

The National Conference will prioritise the lifting of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir and put an end to the "unjust harassment faced by Kashmiri youth" if it is voted to power, party vice-president Omar Abdullah said on Saturday. Abdullah had pitched for the revocation of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in 2012 when he was chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. He had even announced that AFSPA would be revoked during his tenure but the proposal faced strong opposition from the Army. "The party (National Conference) reiterates its unwavering dedication to fulfilling the promises outlined in our manifesto. Once in power, the National Conference-led government will prioritise the lifting of AFSPA, putting an end to the unjust harassment faced by our youth," Abdullah said as he welcomed prominent political activists into the party. The National Conference leader said his party was committed to streamlining the passport verification process, .