Page 6 - Kashmir

BJP has imposed undeclared emergency in Jammu and Kashmir: JKPCC chief

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani on Monday said the BJP government has imposed an "undeclared emergency" in Jammu and Kashmir by not holding assembly elections in the Union Territory since 2019. "Congress believes in conducting elections at every level like panchayat, DDC (district development council), BDC (Block Development Council), and especially at the assembly level," Wani said. "In November this year, nine years will be completed without elections. If every state gets the right to vote in an election after every five years then why not here. Here BJP has made an undeclared emergency. Definitely in Jammu and Kashmir elections should take place," Wani told reporters at Khonmoh in the outskirts of Srinagar. The JKPCC chief also said Congress is preparing for municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in other parts of the country. When asked if Congress will ally with the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) in the elections, Wani

G20 Leaders' Summit 2023: The world knocks on a door more than ajar

A rich, many-faceted dialogue is underway in India as part of the G20 meetings, and diplomats hope for a successful summit, never mind the alarm bells

Unchecked Kashmir box

India has worked hard to earn a sweet spot on Kashmir. But full statehood remains to be restored as we approach the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370

G20 in Kashmir kicks off amidst security, delegates given rousing welcome

Delegates of all G20 countries, barring China, arrived in Srinagar on Monday for the third working group meeting on tourism - a much-anticipated event for which authorities have made extensive security arrangements and spruced up the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The delegates were given a traditional Indian welcome at the Srinagar airport with performances by local artistes, and the three-day meet kicked off with a side event on 'Film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation'. All the G20 countries except China participated. This meeting had an overwhelming response. We had 61 delegates here. All countries except China are present here, India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant told reporters at a press conference. Kashmir, where tourism is a major industry, is embarking on an exciting journey with the G20 event in the Valley and it will send a strong message against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Union ministers who have been camping here to oversee the event ...

Govt chalking out comprehensive strategy for tourism in Kashmir: Reddy

Film tourism has emerged as a powerful medium to promote the tourism industry and the government is chalking out a comprehensive strategy for its growth in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday. He said tourism helps in creating employment opportunities in hospitality and gastronomy. "We are chalking out a comprehensive strategy for tourism growth. Film tourism has emerged as a powerful medium to promote tourism, to promote a destination, Reddy, the Minister for Culture and Tourism, said. He was addressing the delegates from the G20 countries on the side event 'Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural Preservation' at SKICC here. The event is a part of the three-day third Tourism Working Group Meeting of the G20 countries being held here. The minister said Srinagar is India's of one of the most beautiful cities. "I would like to highlight the beauty and cultural heritage of the host destination. Srinagar is India's one of the oldest cities," he added. Redd

Pak FM Bilawal visits PoK ahead of G20 Tourism Working Group meet in J-K

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday kickstarted his 3-day long visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) where he will also deliver an address

Skyrocketing airfares force many tourists to visit Kashmir by bus

Skyrocketing airfares have forced many tourists to visit Kashmir by bus this summer. Due to high demand, a return air ticket from Delhi to Srinagar these days can cost anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 40,000. This makes some holiday destinations abroad such as the UAE, Thailand and Malaysia look cheaper with return air ticket per person costing as low as Rs 18,000. "We travelled to Kashmir by bus. We could have come by air but tickets were so costly. At such prices, we could go to Dubai as well," Rajesh, a tourist from Gujarat, told PTI. Varsha Mankwada also took a bus to Kashmir in view the expensive airfares. "The air tickets were so expensive. To and fro fare was around Rs 25,000. So, we came through travel agency by bus. Comparatively it was reasonable," she said. Tushar Bhai, hailing from Gujarat, travelled to Srinagar by a flight from Mumbai. "I came here from Mumbai. We planned travel according to our budget but it has cost us dear. From Mumbai to Srinagar, it costs us Rs

Earthquake of 3.1 magnitude jolts Kashmir as people rushed out of homes

An earthquake of 3.1 magnitude jolted the Kashmir valley on Monday as panicked residents rushed out of their homes and work places for safety. The tremor, measured 3.1 on Richter scale, had its epicentre in Baramulla district of north Kashmir at a depth of 10 kilometres, the National Center for Seismology said. The earthquake occurred at 14:28 hours of Indian Standard Time, it said. Officials said there were no reports of any damages due to the quake.

Kashmir border issue should be resolved as per UN resolutions: China

China said on Saturday that the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan was left over from history and should be resolved as per the UN resolutions while avoiding any unilateral action. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang arrived in Pakistan on Friday for a two-day visit, which is his first trip to the country. He co-chaired a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday. The two sides issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the 4th round of the 'Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue' in Islamabad. According to the statement, the entire range of bilateral relations and cooperation, including in political, strategic, economic, defence security, education and cultural domains was reviewed while regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the dialogue. It stated that both sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the need for the resolution of all outstanding disputes. The Chinese

Age just a number: Central Kashmir hosts sports event for senior citizens

Hundreds of senior citizens -- both men and women -- participated in events including Kabaddi, Tug of War, Chess, Carrom, Skipping Rope, and Hopscotch with full enthusiasm and energy

Protesters disrupt forum on Kashmir at National Press Club in Washington

The International Center for Peace Studies invited Mir Junaid and Touseef Raina from the valley for a panel discussion titled 'Kashmir - From Turmoil to Transformation

Asia's largest Tulip garden in Kashmir to open for visitors from March 19

Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, Asia's largest Tulip garden, ensconced between Dal Lake and Zabarwan Hills is in full bloom and ready to welcome tourists form next week. "Preparations like gardening, engineering, fungicide treatment, nutrient spraying and minor repair which we do before the tulip show are going," Inam-ul-Rehman, Incharge of the Tulip garden, told PTI. The garden, which has become a well-known landmark across the country, will be open to the public from March 19. Besides 1.5 million Tulips of various colours and hues, the garden, also known as Siraj Bagh, will have other spring flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, muscari and cyclamens on display. "Every year we expand this garden and new varieties are here. This year we have extended the fountain channel..It should set an example of gardening professionalism across the globe," Rehman said. He said there will be a rainbow of tulip colours this year ranging from yellow, red, crimson, purple and white among others. "Under

Chenab Valley put on speedy development under Modi govt: Jitendra Singh

The Chenab Valley, ignored by the previous dispensations, has been put on fast-track development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday. He visited Jammu and Kashmir's Doda, which is a part of his Udhampur parliamentary constituency, and chaired a meeting to assess the pace of development works on mega projects being executed by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), NHPC and General Reserve Engineering Force. Interacting with reporters after addressing a BJP workers' meeting, Singh said a revolutionary change has taken place in the entire Chenab Valley which comprises Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts after Modi took over as the prime minister of the country. "Unfortunately, the region, despite being bestowed with natural resources, was ignored by the successive regimes for nearly seven decades. Many of the political leaders reached Delhi, became union ministers and also served Jammu and Kashmir but t

ED raids 9 places in Kashmir in connection with MBBS seats allotment racket

Sleuths of ED started raids at the places, including three in Srinagar district in connection with the allotment of MBBS seats to residents of J&K in different colleges in Pakistan

Made eye contact with terrorists in Kashmir during Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul

Rahul claimed that he had been warned by the intelligence officers to be "careful" while speaking on the phone as his calls were being recorded

Will take stringent actions for security to minorities in Kashmir: CRPF

Stringent measures are being taken to provide security to the members of the minority community in the valley, a senior CRPF officer in Jammu and Kashmir said here on Friday. Minority pickets of CRPF are on alert, we review the security regularly. Our endeavour is to keep all the minorities in south Kashmir safe and we are in touch with them on a regular basis, IG CPRF (Kashmir Operations) M S Bhatia told reporters in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. His remarks come in the backdrop of terrorists on Sunday killing a 40-year-old Kashmiri Pandit in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district while he was on his way to a local market, in yet another targeted killing of a minority community member in the valley. Sanjay Sharma, who worked as an ATM guard, was shot in the chest at point-blank range barely 100 metres from his residence in Achan area of south Kashmir. The killing evoked widespread condemnation and demand for security for the community members. Bhatia said every measure will b

Record surge in tourism in J-K, politicians also enjoying in Kashmir: Reddy

After a "record surge" in tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, some politicians are also having a leisure time in Kashmir and other parts of the Union Territory, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday. He made the remarks while addressing a gathering at an event here, without naming anyone. Recently, videos of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi skiing in Gulmarg in north Kashmir, and he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enjoying a ride on a snow scooter there went viral on social media. "After Independence, the tourism footfall in Jammu and Kashmir has seen a record surge. If we look at figures for one year, in 2022, it was about 1.8 crore tourists in J&K," the Union tourism minister said. Reddy said earlier there were "hardly any tourists", but today some politicians are "also playing there" and having a leisure time in Srinagar and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is a good thing, people must go, it is part of our India. That is the situation today, people are eager to visit

Gap between civilians, security forces reducing in Kashmir: SSB official

The general atmosphere in Kashmir has undergone a positive change as the gap between civilians and security forces has reduced over the past few years, a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) official said on Monday. There is a change in the atmosphere of the valley. Earlier, kids used to be scared of the security forces but now they have started to come closer. We will take them along and this bonding will be strengthened, SSB 10 Battalion Commandant R S Rawat told reporters here. Rawat was talking to reporters after flagging off 23 students from Government Boys Higher Secondary School Batamaloo on 'Bharat Darshan' tour, sponsored by the Ministry of Home Affairs, to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. This tour to Lucknow, Agra and Delhi will widen the vision of these students. Besides visiting places of historical importance, they are also scheduled to meet the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. This will be a new experience for these students as it will help them in personality development, which will, in tur

LIVE: Terrorists attack Karachi police chief's office, TTP responsible

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Kashmir is filled with tourists after abrogation of Article 370: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Kashmir has become a tourist destination rather than a place for protests, stone pelting, and revolution.While speaking at the 76th Raising Day celebrations of Delhi police at Kingsway camp, Shah said, "India's law and order, and safety have seen positive development since 2014. Every day in Kashmir used to be a place for protests, stone pelting & revolution. Today, Kashmir is filled with tourists."Shah was referring to the development that had taken place in Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India."It is a moment of pride that I am part of a legacy of more than 75 years. Delhi Police has been known for their work since independence to the present day and has been appreciated by the whole nation," he added."We feel empowered as we think of Kashmir as we travel across the country. The instances of leftist politics & extremism have decreased now considerably," he stated.On Thursday, Shah said ...