Page 31 - Jammu And Kashmir

PDP leader targets govt over 'broken promise' of industrialisation in J&K

People's Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para on Saturday criticized the government over the post-abrogation promise of development and industrialization in Jammu and Kashmir and said no major investment has taken place so far in the Union Territory. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have expressed concerns that current development will lead to destruction in the region. "While discussing allocations here over the last five years following the abrogation of Article 370, this move was justified with the claim that there would be large-scale development, industrialization and significant investments in J&K. However, this has not materialized," Para said during discussions on departmental allocations in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Taking a swipe at the government, he added, "The reality is that 50 per cent investment has gone down, with very little investment actually taking place as far as industrialisation is concerned." The PDP leader said there is a growing ...

Reservation rules: No deadline set for review panel yet, says J&K govt

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday informed the legislative assembly that no specific timeline has been fixed for the three-member cabinet sub-committee, which was formed last year to look into grievances against the present reservation policy in the Union Territory. The information was given by Sakeena Itoo, the minister in-charge social welfare, in a written reply to a starred question by Peoples Conference legislator Sajad Gani Lone in the House. The cabinet sub-committee headed by Itoo with ministers Satish Sharma and Javed Rana as its members was constituted in December last year and is going to submit its report to the council of ministers headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Reservation has become a major issue in Jammu and Kashmir following the Central government's decision to add more communities to the reserved category and expand quotas in the UT over the past five years. There are increasing objections to the Centre's move to push the reservation quota to 70

India slams Pak for 'unjustified' reference to Jammu and Kashmir in UNGA

India has slammed Pakistan for its "unjustified" reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the UN General Assembly, with New Delhi asserting that such remarks will neither validate the country's claim nor justify its practice of cross-border terrorism. "As is their habit, the former foreign secretary of Pakistan today has made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P Harish, said in remarks on Friday in the General Assembly at the informal meeting of the plenary to commemorate the International Day to combat Islamophobia. Harish said frequent references by Pakistan will "neither validate their claim nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism". "The fanatical mindset of this nation is well known, as also its record of bigotry. Such efforts will not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India," he said. Harish's strong retort came after ..

Army, Police, CRPF launch joint search operation in J-K's Bandipora; 2 held

One Pistol, one Pistol Magazine, two Hand Grenades, one AK Magazine, and other ammunition were recovered by the security forces in the joint operation

No new liquor vends allotted in Jammu-Kashmir: CM Omar Abdullah

The remaining 34 locations are being put up for re-auction through public notice issued on March 7

Govt bans J-K's Awami Action Committee, Ittihadul Muslimeen for 5 years

The central government on Tuesday declared two Jammu and Kashmir-based groups as banned organisations for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The two groups are Awami Action Committee (AAC) headed by Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) led by Masroor Abbas Ansari. In a notification, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said members of the AAC have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in J-K. The outfit is also indulging in unlawful activities that are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country. In a separate notification, the MHA said the JKIM is indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country. Its members have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in J-K, it noted. Considering all the facts availabl

'Country can be called Bharat, India or Hindustan': CM Omar Abdullah to RSS

Abdullah also noted that both 'Bharat' and 'India' are written on the Prime Minister's plane and highlighted the names of the armed forces

No control over police, says J-K CM as Opposition walks out of House

Asserting that the lathi charge on the protesting daily wage employees of the Jal Shakti department should not have happened, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he does not hold control over the police. As the House assembled for the day, opposition members highlighted the massive protests by the daily wagers demanding release of wages and regularisation of jobs, and criticised the lathi charge on them. The BJP members staged a walkout as a ruckus erupted, when the BJP and National Conference members engaged in a verbal duel over the matter. Intervening, Abdullah said, "You (BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa) have asked a question, please wait for the answer." "As far as the police's treatment of the protesters is concerned, I would like to remind Randhawa Sahab, who is making a noise about this issue, that unfortunately, neither you nor I have control over the police," he said. The Chief Minister further said that instead of creating a ruckus inside the House, i

Gulmarg fashion show controversy, Lalit Modi, Mark Carney on India, GTA 6 & more

A fashion show at Gulmarg during Ramzan sparked controversy in Jammu and Kashmir, with political leaders calling it “obscene”.

Tourism in border areas revived after ceasefire in J-K: CM Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said tourism activities in the frontier areas of the Union Territory have revived after ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border (IB). Replying to a supplementary question raised by National Conference member Sajad Shafi in the Legislative Assembly here regarding his Uri constituency, Abdullah said as the border areas are slowly opening after the ceasefire, tourism is witnessing a positive trend due to the prevailing peace in the region. Shafi also used the opportunity to inform the House about Abdullah's birthday. Most of the members from the treasury and opposition benches wished the chief minister who acknowledged the greetings and thanked the members. "It is true that Uri has huge border tourism potential. Tourists have started visiting areas like Uri and are eager to explore places such as Aman Setu and other scenic locations. Our priority is to enhance tourism infrastructure in these regions," t

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly erupts over Gulmarg fashion show amid Ramzan

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly erupts over Gulmarg fashion show during Ramzan, with CM Omar Abdullah ordering a probe while BJP calls the outrage unwarranted

Fashion show in Gulmarg sparks row, J&K CM Omar Abdullah orders probe

Amid Ramadan, a fashion show in Gulmarg has triggered backlash, prompting J&K CM Omar Abdullah to order a probe as religious leaders call it 'obscene'

Centre, L-G clueless on Kathua security crisis: Congress J-K chief

The Congress' Jammu and Kashmir chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Sunday accused the Centre and the lieutenant governor-led administration of being clueless over the "deteriorating security situation" in Kathua district. Addressing party workers in Samba district as part of the Congress' ongoing campaign for statehood restoration, Karra said the "shocking incidents" in Kathua's Billawar-Bani belt, in the backdrop of terror incidents in the recent past, exposed the false claims of normality. "Such is the state of affairs that the (central) government is clueless about the recent deaths of five persons -- three on Saturday and two on February 16 -- under mysterious circumstances while the administration is behaving in a biased manner instead of seeking cooperation to deal with the situation," he said. Questioning the lieutenant governor-led administration's "inept handling" of the situation, Karra said senior Congress leaders Choudhary Lal Singh and Manohar Lal Sharma, who were heading ...

Decoding row over Sri Lanka's Muralitharan getting 'land for free' in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir faces political turmoil over alleged free land allotment to ex-Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan for a Rs 1,600 crore beverage plant in Kathua

Private firm fined Rs 80 lakh for illegal mining in Budgam: J-K minister

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday informed the house that a private company was fined Rs 80 lakh for unauthorised mining in Budgam district. The issue was highlighted in the Legislative Assembly by MLA Khan Sahab, Safiud-Din-Bhat, bringing it to the immediate attention of the House. The deputy chief minister said the Budgam mineral officer had taken strict action against Messrs NKC Projects Private Limited for unauthorised mining at Shaliganaga Nalla in Lanilab Basant Wooder. The action follows the circulation of a video on social media on March 2, exposing the illegal activity. Choudhary said that on receiving the report from the directorate of geology and mining, the DMO Budgam deputed a team to the site to verify the claims. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the company had engaged men and machinery for the unauthorised extraction of approximately 300 metric tons of Nallah Mukh without obtaining the permits, he said. In response, a

J&K govt reports total debt of Rs 1.25 trillion, including GPF dues

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said its total debt stands at over Rs 1.25 lakh crore, including Rs 27,900 crore in general provident fund (GPF) for the Union Territory in the last financial year. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the finance minister of the UT, said in a written reply to Assembly member Sajad Gani Lone that as of March 31, 2024, Jammu and Kashmir's total debt is Rs 1,25,205 crore. "This includes Rs 69,894 crore in loans from the Reserve Bank of India and state development, Rs 27,901 crore in GPF, Rs 14,294 crore in reserves, Rs 5,758 crore in outstanding national small savings fund, Rs 4,032 crore in negotiated loans, Rs 2,616 crore in UDAY power loans, and Rs 710 crore in Government of India advances", he said. Abdullah further said the total outstanding liability in treasuries as of February 27, 2025, under various account heads amounts to Rs 5,429.49 crore. According to the Economic Survey Report (ESR) 2024-25 tabled in the House on Thursda

J-K CM presents Rs 1.12 trn budget with focus on inclusive growth

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday presented a zero-deficit budget in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, announcing an outlay of Rs 1.12 lakh crore for 2025-2026 and emphasising multi-sector welfare and development of the Union Territory. Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio in the National Conference-led government, presented his maiden budget in the legislative assembly. Jammu and Kashmir, which was accorded the Union Territory status after Ladakh was carved out as a separate UT in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, has witnessed its first annual budget since 2018 when the erstwhile PDP-BJP government tabled the then state's document of annual finances. Amid thunderous applause, Abdullah began his speech with a Persian couplet and said, "I stand before you today to present my first budget as Finance Minister, marking the first budget of a collective government in seven years. While it is an honour, I am acutely aware of the weight of responsibility that comes

'Also get back part of Kashmir that is with China': Omar Abdullah reacts to Jaishankar's statement

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Thursday said while the government has spoken of getting back PoK from Pakistan, it should also see that part of Kashmir with China is also returned to India. >

Watch: S Jaishankar speaks on Kashmir, Trump and more at Chatham House

Watch: S Jaishankar speaks on Kashmir, Trump and more at Chatham House

IWAI inks pact with J&K government to enhance river cruise tourism

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on Thursday signed an agreement with the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government to boost river cruise tourism on three national waterways in the Union Territory, according to an official statement. The agreement aims to further bolster tourism, generate employment, boost economic growth and provide a new mode of leisure/budget tourism on local rivers. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on the sidelines of Chintan Shivir being held in Srinagar in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. Of the 111 national waterways in the country, the Union Territory has three declared national waterways, i.e., River Chenab (NW-26), River Jhelum (NW-49) and River Ravi (NW-84). As part of the pact, IWAI, which is under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, will provide waterside infrastructure, i.e., ten floating jetties and landside infrastructure comprising of waiting hall and other .