Kashmir – Page 5

Five dead in New Year's Eve clashes on LoC

January 1, 2015 by Nasheman

India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire in 2003, but it is often violated

Srinagar: Indian border forces killed four Pakistani interior-ministry troops on New Year’s Eve, ending a year in which clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours have escalated and hopes for reconciliation faded.

Wednesday’s incident, on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, followed the killing earlier in the day of an Indian border guard, a senior officer from India’s Border Security Force said.

“We have retaliated effectively … four Pakistani rangers have been killed along the International Border in Samba sector this evening, said Rakesh Sharma, BSF inspector general for the Jammu Frontier.

“As Pakistani rangers suffered casualties, they waved white flags, asking BSF to stop the firing so that they can lift the bodies of the dead men. We stopped the firing after their request,” Sharma said.

Frontier clashes have intensified in recent months, dashing hopes that a brief thaw in relations after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected in May would lead to a calming of the situation.

The worst violence has been further north in the mainly Muslim Kashmir Valley, where separatist militants killed 11 Indian soldiers and police in early December, the worst losses in six years.

Jammu and Kashmir held state elections in December in which Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party made gains. While leaving the party short of a majority, the result could open the way for it to form a ruling coalition with a regional party.

(Reporting by Fayaz Bukhari; Editing by Douglas Busvine, Larry King)

No end to deadlock on government formation in Kashmir

December 31, 2014 by Nasheman

Srinagar: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday said no breakthrough is expected in the near future over the formation of new government.

PDP chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said no serious conclusion has been drawn so far over the formation of new government and the deadlock is likely to continue.

Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday left for Jammu to meet Governor, N N Vohra, for the government formation. “Don’t expect any breakthrough soon after the meet. She has left for a discussion over the present political scenario that has emerged in the state after the results of the state elections of 2014,” Akhtar said. “The talks with all political parties is going on with no final decision made over the issue.”

“It is an evolving situation and not concrete has come to fore yet. The situation continues to remain the same,” said the spokesperson. “The deadlock is not expected to end in the near future.”

He also maintained that Mehbboba-Vohra meeting should not be expected as the final point in ending the deadlock as the party is yet to take final call over entering into a coalition with any other party. “You cannot term it a final step. The discussions are going on and shall continue till final decision is made,” Akhtar said.

The PDP was part of a coalition that ruled the region between 2002 and 2008. Poll pundits suggest that the party is again likely to form the next government in coalition with other political groups and some independents.

People’s Democratic Party has 28 seats and gained seven seats as compared to the 2008 elections. BJP has gained 14 seats in this time election.

National Conference lost 15 seats and most of them from the summer capital Srinagar. Earlier the party had 28 members but this time the results have squeezed it to mere 15. The Congress got 12 seats in its kitty.

Both the BJP and the PDP benefited from widespread public discontent over the ruling National Conference’s handling of devastating September floods that killed more than 200 people in Kashmir.

(KNS)

BJP wants to rule Kashmir – with Hindu chief minister

December 26, 2014 by Nasheman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during the party's Central Election Committee meeting for the upcoming Assembly elections, in New Delhi on Sunday. Photo: PTI

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during the party’s Central Election Committee meeting during the J&K Assembly elections, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

Srinagar/Jammu: The BJP declared Thursday that it was determined to govern Jammu and Kashmir amid speculation that the National Conference would ally with it if the BJP didn’t insist on a Hindu chief minister for the country’s only Muslim-majority state.

BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Ram Madhav made known the party’s intentions separately in Jammu and Srinagar, with the latter saying he was in the state to explore various options on government formation after elections led to a hung 87-member assembly.

The BJP and the National Conference, the second and third largest groups in the house with 25 and 15 members, denied they were in secret talks. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which won 28 seats, was reportedly looking at both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress as possible allies.

Jammu and Kashmir must have a BJP-led government, party general secretary Ram Madhav said, adding he was in Srinagar to explore the various options.

Ram Madhav told reporters: “The BJP has the mandate to lead the government in Jammu and Kashmir. I am here to explore the options.”

He added that he was meeting representatives from different parties but did not provide details.
“We are open to discussions, and meetings can be had with the prime minister also in this regard,” he added, two days after the BJP emerged as the second largest group in the Kashmir assembly for the first time.

BJP sources told IANS that talks between the National Conference and the BJP had hit a roadblock because of the BJP’s insistence on having a Hindu chief minister.

In Jammu, Finance Minister Jaitley said the BJP would play a prominent role in government formation and the decision on its exact nature had been left to party president Amit Shah.

Briefing reporters after meeting newly-elected BJP legislators, Jaitley underlined that his party got the largest popular vote in the state though it contested from only 76 of the 87 constituencies.

He said the BJP was in touch with “independent and unattached” legislators.

“Whatever government is formed, the BJP should have a prominent role in the political process as the popular mandate in terms of highest vote is with us,” he said.

The National Conference, the sources said, was ready to support and even join a BJP-led coalition on the condition that the BJP gives up its demand for a Hindu chief minister.

At the same time, the PDP, while keeping its options open vis-a-vis the BJP, had sent feelers to Sajad Lone that he could be a deputy chief minister if he backed a PDP-Congress coalition, the sources said.

Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference has won two seats. Congress candidates were elected from 15 constituencies.

Another independent, Hakim Yaseen, has denied media reports that he had announced support for a BJP-led government.

Seven independents have also been elected to the assembly. A group of parties will need the support of 44 members to form a government.

Earlier, Ram Madhav denied a meeting had taken place between the National Conference and the BJP leadership.

Outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has been in New Delhi since Wednesday, retweeted Ram Madhav’s statement.

Some reports say the BJP would get the chief minister’s post for a full six years while Abdullah would join the union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A PDP spokesperson said the reports were meant to mount pressure on it to reach an early post-election agreement with the BJP. “As of now, we have decided to wait and watch,” the spokesperson told IANS.

All the BJP legislators were elected from the Hindu-majority Jammu region while almost all PDP and National Conference legislators won from the largely Muslim Kashmir Valley.

(IANS)

BJP, PDP discuss Jammu and Kashmir government formation

December 26, 2014 by Nasheman

Srinagar: Talks between the BJP and the PDP for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to continue Friday, party sources said.

BJP top sources said that two rounds of talks were held Thursday between BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and senior PDP leader and parliamentarian Muzaffar Hussain Baig in Srinagar.

“The talks remained inconclusive and will continue,” BJP sources told IANS.

PDP sources said the party is discussing a common minimum programme with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“There has to be a clear common minimum programme before we join hands with future allies,” PDP sources said.

Former chief minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah has again said he did not meet any BJP leader to discuss an alliance.

NC leader who won elections from central Kashmir Badgam seat Syed Ruhullah said Thursday any truck with the BJP would be against the interests of the people of Kashmir and the NC.

Ruhullah’s statement came amid media speculations that the BJP and the NC were close to reaching an agreement on coalition in the state.

Coalition won’t last long: Salman Soz

Congress leader Salman Soz Friday said PDP should take responsibility to bring stable government in the region.

He said that like-minded people should come together so that stability may be achieved.

Soz said Congress is open for alliance with PDP if the party is asked for the same.

Refuting on any possibility of alliance between BJP and PDP, Soz said that both the parties are like oil and water, having no chemistry and therefore such alliance would not last long.

(With inputs from IANS)

Hung verdict puts NC, PDP in quandary

December 24, 2014 by Nasheman

Srinagar: The fractured mandate in Jammu and Kashmir has left both NC and arch-rivals PDP caught in a cleft stick — with second-placed BJP appearing to be their sole saviour.

With 15 seats, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) is out of power, but it has an option of supporting the BJP and thereby keeping its arch-rival the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) out of power for the next six years.

The PDP’s dilemma is even bigger. With 28 seats it has fallen short of its estimated projection of getting closer to 44, the simple majority needed to form the government.

The PDP’s problem is also compounded by the fact that its most likely future ally, the Congress, has got just 12 seats. The two together have only 40 seats — still short of the vaunted mark by four.

The vote count of the staggered five-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir took place Tuesday.

There are seven independents who have won. Two of these are with Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference whose proximity to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is well known.

Barring the PDP, Sajad’s party will support anyone.

Saeed Mohammed Bakir Rizvi, the lone independent candidate from Zanskar constituency of Ladakh region, has won with NC support and cannot support the PDP.

Pawan Kumar Gupta, the lone independent candidate from Udhampur, is a BJP dissident and is likely to return to the party.

Then there is Yusuf Tarigami of the CPM against whom the NC had not fielded a candidate.

This leaves Hakim Yaseen and Engineer Rashid, the other independent candidates who would support any dispensation that provides power to them. Many, however, believe Engineer Rashid might support no alliance.

This leaves just two possibilities, the PDP aligning with the BJP or the NC aligning with the BJP.

The PDP would have to compromise if it is forced to align with the BJP and the most difficult of such a compromise would be the BJP’s push for a Hindu chief minister for at least half the term if the alliance is worked out on a three-year rotational basis.

On the other hand, the NC can keep the PDP out by supporting the BJP, but Omar Abdullah would be the biggest opponent of such a move even if his father, the NC president, Farooq Abdullah advised him to be more friendly to the BJP now that the hype raised against each other by the NC and the BJP during election campaign was over.

It is a catch-22 situation for the NC and the PDP and gives the controlling handle to the BJP that has 25 seats.

Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary, is arriving here Thursday to spell out his party’s terms to both the NC and the PDP — if either of them is willing to cobble up a ruling alliance with the BJP.

Madhav will first meet Omar Abdullah and later call on Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, the PDP patron.

Omar has left for winter capital Jammu to submit his resignation to Governor N.N. Vohra before he flies back to Srinagar for his meeting with Ram Madhav.

(IANS)

Jammu & Kashmir heading for hung assembly; BJP to form Govt in Jharkhand

December 23, 2014 by Nasheman

Srinagar/Ranchi: Jammu and Kashmir today appeared headed for a hung assembly with BJP making gains in Jammu region while the party is all set to form government in Jharkhand, the trends coming from both the states in assembly elections show.

The PDP, headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and the BJP were leading in 25 seats each. The ruling National Conference was ahead in 16 seats and the Congress in 14 of the 87 seats for which the trends were available.

JKPC led by Sajjad Lone was ahead in two seats while JKPDF and CPI-M were leading in one seat each while Independents were leading in three seats.

The BJP’s spectacular performance, the best in the state so far, was however limited to the Jammu region where 37 seats are up for grabs. The party has not bee able to make any dent in the Valley which has 46 seats in all.

Going by the trends, unless any two of the four major parties–BJP, PDP, NC and Congress–come together government formation would not be possible.

In the last elections, National Conference had won 28, PDP 21, Congress 17 and BJP 11 seats.

In Jharkhand, the BJP was well on the road to forming a government of its own by leading in 38 seats including four of ally AJSU in the 81-member assembly. Ruling JMM is leading in 20 constituencies, Congress 4, JVM (P) 8, RJD 5 and others 5, the trends show.

(PTI)

PDP confident of clear majority in Kashmir polls

December 22, 2014 by Nasheman

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti during an election campaign in Kulgam, Kashmir

Srinagar/ANI: Expressing confidence about winning assembly elections by a clear majority, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday asserted that the party won’t require any alliance to form the government in the region.

“We feel that we will win by clear majority because the exit polls only give idea of the trend but numbers generally differ. We don’t need any alliance. However, we need everyone’s support to run the state and deal with the issues, especially from the BJP because they are at power at national level and in state also they are coming up strong. We will need Congress’ support also. We need everyone’s support to run the government but not to form one,” said PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar.

He added that exit polls were credible in showing the trends but they don’t have exact numbers.

Counting of votes for the five-phased assembly elections will begin on Tuesday.

Earlier on Saturday, the Election Commission of India had announced 76 percent voter turnout in the fifth phase of elections, adding that the overall polling percentage in the state in all phases was 65.5 percent.

Schools in Kashmir issue advisory after Peshawar attack

December 20, 2014 by Nasheman

Fearing Peshawar-like attack across disputed Himalayan state of Indian administered Kashmir, prominent schools here on Friday issued advisory, issuing guidelines to the students and parents on dealing with such situations.

Srinagar: Fearing Peshawar-like attack across Jammu & Kashmir, prominent schools here on Friday issued advisory, issuing guidelines to the students and parents on dealing with such situations.

“Security and safety are primary concerns for all of us. All the children have the right to live in a secure environment. Being exposed to violence can have a negative impact on children’s health, sense of safety, security and their feelings about the future,” Principal at prominent Srinagar based Delhi Public School, Athwajan, Kusam Warikoo said in a communique issued to guardians. Warikoo asked parents to respected some guidelines by for ensuring “better security”

“No child will be allowed to board the bus without their Identity Cards. No electronic gadgets will be allowed in the school, if confiscated it will not be returned,” she wrote to them (parents).

The school authorities said that the students will be allowed only to carry their study material and their lunch in the school bag.

Similar communication has been issued by many other Srinagar based schools working under the aegis of CBSE.

Meanwhile Indian home ministry on Friday issued an advisory to all states and Union territories reiterating CBSE’s 2010 guidelines to schools on dealing with “terror” situations.

The standard operating procedures (SOPs), apprise the school management on how to deal with kidnappings outside the school gate, random firing from road outside the school, armed intrusions followed by hostage taking and explosive objects and seek regular mock drills at schools to test their preparedness against possible strikes.

A set of guidelines issued to the prominent schools across India has urged the authorities to remain vigilant and also use telephone connectivity from the gate, CCTV systems along the boundary and inside, walkie-talkie communication between guards, alarm system and a centralized public announcement system are some of the other requirements to make the school secure.

The government has said that the in the event of kidnapping of children at the time of arrival/departure, the guards must rush children outside inside the school and close the gates, besides asking vehicles carrying children to leave the area. Mock drills should be conducted to ensure that a system is in place to set off the alarm, alert the police and respond to medical emergencies.

“If there is bomb scare, children should not be allowed to collect in one place without properly checking the area,” a guideline booklet book issued by Indian home ministry said.

‘Outraged camp’

Many Kashmiri leaders are outraged and strongly condemned the Peshawar incident wherein the Taliban stormed a military-run school in northwest Pakistan and gunned down over 145 people, most of them children, in one of the country’s deadliest attacks in recent weeks.

Huriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani while terming the attacks barbaric, said waging war against such elements is the duty of every Muslim.

Geelani said that there is no need to prove that those claiming to fight for Islam and are involved in such cowardly acts are in actual the biggest enemies of Islam and Muslims. He said that the attacks are inhuman and those involved in the incidents must be served the stern punishment.

Kashmir chief cleric and Huriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while condemning the killings of school children said that those involved in the cowardly acts cannot be the well-wishers of Islam and Pakistan. Huriyat Conference leader Shabir Ahmad Shah condemned the attack saying that the killings are tantamount of killing the whole humanity.

(With inputs from Authintmail)

Fourth phase: 49% cast vote in J&K, 61% in Jharkhand

December 15, 2014 by Nasheman

Ranchi: Ignoring the boycott call given by separatists and braving cold weather, over 49 per cent of 14.73 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the penultimate phase of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Barring minor clashes between supporters of rival parties at a dozen places, polling in all the 18 constituencies spread over three districts of Kashmir, including summer capital Srinagar, and one district in Jammu region was by and large peaceful.

Despite severe cold, long queues of voters were seen outside the polling stations to exercise their franchise at many polling stations.

The trends in voter turnout in eight constituencies of Srinagar city, which have witnessed low voter turnout in the past elections due to separatist boycott calls, pointed towards a higher poll percentage this time.

While four constituencies of Khanyar, Habbakadal, Amirakadal and Zadibal had already surpassed the turnout recorded in 2008 assembly elections, the polling was going on briskly in other segments.

Sonawar constituency, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is contesting, witnessed the highest 33.85 per cent turnout in Srinagar followed by Hazratbal constituency at 22.77 per cent.

Edigah, Zadibal, Khanyar, Amirakadal and Batmaloo constituencies witnessed over 21.51 per cent, 20.14, 21.02 and 18.73 per cent turnout, respectively, till 2 PM in the fourth of the five-phased Assembly polls.

Anantnag constituency in south Kashmir, where PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is a candidate, saw 30.58 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the first six hours.

Pahalgam constituency in Anantnag district was leading in the turnout in Kashmir with 54.63 per cent of electorate exercising their franchise till 2 PM.

Shangus constituency recorded 53.46 per cent turnout, followed by Dooru (52.63), Kokernag (51.95), Bijbehara (44.07), Shopian (39.78) and Wachi (36.30).

Stringent security arrangements have been put in place to ensure incident-free polling across the state, the officials said.

Women outnumber men in Jharkhand

Women voters Sunday outnumbered men in the fourth phase of the assembly elections in Jharkhand. Around 61 percent balloting was reported from across the 15 constituencies that went to the polls, officials said.

“The highest polling was reported from Chankayari with 71.28 percent, followed by 70.2 percent in Madhupur. Polling was by and large peaceful. The turnout in Maoist-affected areas was more than 60 percent,” a poll official said. Women voters scored over the male voters.

“In the fourth phase, women’s turnout was around two percent more than male voters,” an Election Commission official said.

Balloting for 15 of the 81 assembly constituencies began at 7 a.m. While voting for 13 seats ended at 3 p.m., it continued in Bokaro and Dhanbad till 5 p.m. Voting took place at 5,482 booths, including 36 auxiliary ones.

As many as 716 booths were declared ‘very sensitive’ and 2,007 declared ‘sensitive’.

The Election Commission declared 183 polling stations as model polling stations. Webcasting facility was available in 335 polling stations and 27,410 polling personnel were deployed in the fourth phase.

A total of 43,48,709 voters, including 20,03,516 females, were eligible to elect their representatives.

The fate of 217 candidates, including 16 females, was sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) by the end of balloting for the day. Former chief minister Babulal Marandi contested from Giridih constituency.

Ministers Mannan Mallik of the Congress, Haji Hussain Ansari of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Suresh Paswan of the Rashtriya Janata Dal were among the other prominent candidates in this phase.

In the 2005 assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its then alliance partner Janata Dal-United won seven of these 15 seats together. The JMM won four seats.

(Agencies)

Ranji Trophy: Jammu & Kashmir take historic win over Mumbai

December 11, 2014 by Nasheman

It was J&K’s first win over the 40-time champions in the tournament’s 79-year history.

Mumbai: Jammu and Kashmir upset domestic cricket giants Mumbai with a historic four-wicket win by chasing down 237 runs on the last day of the match here at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

It was J&K’s first win over the 40-time champions in the tournament’s 79-year history.

Opener Shubham Khajuria led the innings again, with a composed 78, and the win was secured by an unbeaten 41 from Hardeep Singh. Captain Parvez Rasool also contributed with a valuable 32.

J&K resumed on 58 for one and lost Bandeep Singh in the fourth over of the day.

But the visitors were steadied by Rasool and Hardeep and sealed the victory despite losing four more wickets.

Khajuria was named Man of the Match for his 50 in the second innings and 107 in the first.

Brief scores:

Jammu & Kashmir vs. Mumbai – 254 & 237/6 (Shubham Khajuria 78, Hardeep Singh 41; Vishal Dabholkar 2/66, Iqbal Abdullah 1/24) beat Mumbai 236 and 254.