Kashmir hopes better 2018

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As 2017 came to an end, people of Kashmir have pinned their hopes on a better and prosperous year 2018 especially speedy journey towards peace after witnessing much human killings in 2017 . Scores of families are still grappling to come to terms so as to deal with the havoc caused by unabated violence in Kashmir in 2017.

People of Kashmir are hoping that state and central government takes the concrete steps and takes restoration of peace process, dialogue  as priority number one.

Masses in Kashmir are also hoping that 2018 would see end to corruption prevalent in our society and system. The monster of corruption is as a matter of fact  one of the serious challenge to be faced by the new State government. Painfully enough , the power crisis in Kashmir in this harsh winter is reaching crippling proportions, with the supply-demand deficit reaching a record level. Every sector is facing problem due to frequent power cuts. The prolonged spells of load shedding has become a norm in Kashmir Valley. Ending power crisis in 2018 would be a big gift to people of Kashmir by the government.

On economic front the fiend of inflation continues to haunt a common Kashmiri, especially the rising food prices. The rise in the prices of vegetables and fruits, which shot up by two to three times in such a short time, is said to be the sharpest increase in recent nostalgia in the Valley of Kashmir.

Overall the hopes of having better 2018 are high.

J&k Govt Regulates Social Media activities of employees

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News Kashmir Desk

In an order generating outrage , The JK government has added a sub-rule in the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Conduct rules which states that no government employee shall engage in any criminal, dishonest, immoral or notoriously disgraceful conduct on social media which may be prejudicial to the government.

“They shall also not use their personal social media accounts for any political activity or endorse the posts or tweets or blogs of any political figure,” the rule states.

 

The employees shall also not use their accounts in a manner that could reasonably be construed to imply that the government endorses or sanctions their personal activities in any manner whatsoever, it said.

 

The order said that the employees shall also not post inflammatory, extraneous messages in an online community with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response.

Within no time Netizens in Kashmir have criticized the order as being draconian.

 

 

2017 Year Global Memories

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As the year 2017 ends we are left with both sweet and painful memories. 2017 has been a long year. From incessant breaking news alerts to the collapse of the global terror outfit ISIS in terms of the area they hold  to a string of natural, manmade  disasters marked the year 2017.

The brutal campaign carried out against the Rohingyas in Burma by Burmese army hogged the limelight of global media. Following violence that broke out last year, more than 87,000Rohingya fled to Bangladesh from October 2016 to July 2017, according to the International Organization for Migration. At least 6,700 Rohingya were killed by Myanmar security forces in one month following a government-led crackdown in the country’s Rakhine state in late August, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Iran was struck by powerful earthquake in Mid November . At least 452 people were killed and thousands injured after a powerful earthquake struck near the border of Iran and Iraq .

The most heated news event of the year 2017 took place in month of December when defying the global outrage USA President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The angry reactions to move are still pouring from many parts of the world. The deadly and damaging Syrian Civil war tilted towards Bashar al Assad regime in year 2017 with Russian airpower propelling him to many victories.

2017 year in India saw the ruling BJP propelling to many electoral victories in the State Elections. On 9 June – India became full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. 20 July – Ram Nath Kovind won the 2017 Indian presidential election with 65.65% votes against Meira Kumar, the presidential candidate of the opposition. The year 2017 was a mix bag .

Flashback 2017

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News Kashmir Analysis

2017 remained another high-voltage year of happenings and sad developments that defined the buzz on street in Kashmir .We analyze the top five developments that impacted Kashmir in year 2017.

NIA raids against separatists and others

In June this year, NIA had carried out searches at 14 places in Kashmir and eight places in the national capital in connection with terror funding. Around eight hawala dealers and traders in the national capital were also raided. The raids and arrests related to it continued for several months.

 

Six Hurriyat members were arrested from Srinagar and one was nabbed from Delhi. Among those arrested, six of them including Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son-in-law Altaf Ahmed Shah (also known as Altaf Fantoosh), Geelani’s close aides Nayeem Khan, Merazuddin Kalwal and Pir Saifulla, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar, and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq’s close aide and spokesperson Shahid-ul-Islam were arrested in Srinagar. Farooq Ahmed Dar alias ‘Bitta Karate’ was arrested in Delhi.

At the yearend many leaders, businessmen continued to remain in Jail in what NIA termed its effort to curb terror and violence in Kashmir.

Braid chopping

Braid chopping was yet another burning issue faced by Kashmir in year 2017 and it remained intense in months of September and October.”Braid-chopping” attacks  had resulted in protests across the region.

At least 200 women in Kashmir had reported being attacked by masked men resorting to braid chopping.

The women had claimed that the attackers sprayed chemicals on their faces and left them unconscious. Upon waking up, they found their hair had been chopped off.

Review Of Article 35A, Key to J&K’s Special Status

The politics over the article 35 a which grants special status to the Jammu and Kashmir state was another dominating development defining debates on Kashmir. A case over whether Jammu and Kashmir can keep its right to decide who qualifies as a permanent resident of the state has  been taken for hearing by the Supreme Court  and would be taken again in January-end next year.

Intrestingly during last hearing The  Central government had cited the recent appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as its interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, saying the top court’s hearings in the politically volatile and emotive one could have some impact on the government’s initiative. The case is being heard by three judges including Chief Justice Dipak Mishra.

Operation  against militants

 

‘Operation All-Out’, an offensive launched by the security forces against militants in year 2017 that killed more than 210 militants  and security forces stated that it would continue till there was complete peace in the state.”The people of Kashmir will feel peace very soon,”. the top cops have maintained .

During these encounters scores of civilians also lost their lives in firing by security forces on protesters.

Kashmir Press Club office bearers call on FM

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SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 23: The office bearers of Kashmir Press Club called on the Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment, Dr Haseeb Drabu here today to discuss the issues confronting the media fraternity in the Valley.
The Press Club delegation was led by its President M Saleem Pandit. It also included Vice-President Shuja-ul-Haq and Secretary Administration Asif Qureshi.
The officer bearers of the Press Club Kashmir demanded immediate handing over of the 9-HB building at Polo View Srinagar to the PCK so that it is made functional as maiden Aiwan-e-Sahafat in the summer capital.
They also demanded speedy operationalization of the J&K Journalists’ Welfare Scheme, for which the Government has already earmarked a corpus fund of Rs 2 crore.
The Finance Minister assured the Press Club office bearers to support the journalistic fraternity in their endeavour and get the needful done regarding handing over of the identified building at Polo View and its refurbishing for setting up the Aiwan-e-Sahafat Srinagar.
Dr Drabu also agreed to consider the demand of the working journalists for extending national pension scheme and health insurance cover to the accredited journalists of J&K.

Drug threat

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Drug  menace is among  the top burning  problem confronted by humanity in the present  era of progress and technology . This vice does only leads to social, medical and psychological problems, but also have an adverse effect on the world economy. Despite concerted efforts by the world  community to prevent misuse of drugs and its illegal trafficking, it continues to flourish in several parts of the globe.

Worryingly enough, Production of drugs and its trade has so far shown no signs of decline. Instead, the trade in illegal drugs has now become a multi-billion dollar global business. According to the UN estimates, more than 50 million people across the globe are regular users of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs like Ecstasy. The UN report claims that millions of others are directly or indirectly involved in its production, trafficking or sale.

As a matter of great pain and shame  Thousands of  people especially youngsters n Kashmir are suffering from drug addiction. NGOs working on the subject and experts fear that if government authorities do not address the problem soon, it may assume disastrous proportions.

It is a known fact  Depression, drug addiction and suicide are all interconnected in Kashmir. The easy availability of prescription drugs for depression is a quick route to addiction, and also a potential method of overdosing. It’s not surprising, then, that alongside the drug addiction rate; the suicide rate in Kashmir is climbing.

The recent vision and tough steps  shown by the Government to curb  this menace is well come step but more needs to be done.

All  the worrying realities call for all the concerned stakeholders that we as a society need to put an end to this menace and crack down on poppy cultivators and drug traffickers everywhere.

Daily Wage, Permanent Relief

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Farzana Mumtaz

“Our govt will be regularizing 60,000 daily wagers & casual labourers working in various departments in J&K to provide sustainable livelihoods to those who need it the most,” tweeted Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti few days back, which many have seen a big stride towards solving this complicated and serious issue .

Daily Wagers and Casual Labourers have become symbols of agitation over the past few decades owing to their unfulfilled demands.

 

 

Some years back the state Finance ministry stated that 61,446 casual/seasonal /need-based employees were engaged in as many as 31 government departments.The reply added that at present wage rate of such workers was Rs 150 per day however in someDepartments,

The need-based and part-time workers were being paid consolidated wages at varying rates.

Importantly, this  reply also contained  department-wise number of such employees with Public Health Engineering-Irrigation and

Flood control (PHE/I&FC) department alone employing 23711

followed by Forest Department (7171), R&B (6692), Agricultureproduction (4383) and Housing and Urban Development(3922). In a worrying development despite the  state government imposing  a blanket ban on appointment of daily wagers on several instances, these people were engaged by various departments under different names such as casual workers and need-based workers.

After the State was burdened with huge appointments of daily wagers by polity that lacked foresight , what followed was the Lack of concrete policy on daily wagers, no regularization policy, huge delay in payment of salaries has defined the plight of daily wagers. With crisis growing into a disaster Daily Wager issue was among the  serious issue that has been surfacing as a very big headache  for the state administration and successive governments.

Importantly, The panel headed by Chief Secretary BB Vyas submitted its report to the finance department in October, stating that the total number of workers engaged in 31 departments under 15 different categories, including casual labourers and seasonal workers, was 1,00,501.

Syed Mohammad Haadi, an expert voice on it stated  “We should all welcome the decision of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to regularize the daily wagers as agitation was becoming only means for these daily wagers over past many years .The daily wagers have faced great number of serious issues mainly due to very meager amount paid and that too after much delays .One is hopeful that the recent policy decision from the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will be implemented in letter and spirit. Once the daily wage issue is solved with great vision and pragmatics it will take state to new level of transparency.’’

One hopes there would be light at the end of dark tunnel on byDaily wage issue with announcement on daily wage issue by CM.

 

 

 

 

Mindless Trump!

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Javeed Ali

I read a story in today’s Washington Post which was captioned as “Where would a US Embassy in Jerusalem actually go? It had all the contours of US plot how they are going to establish their embassy in Jerusalem.  It follows after the irresponsible and ridiculous statement of US President Donald Trump wherein he has expressed his unrealistic dream of making the Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He further said that US embassy will be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Donald Trump is one of the arrogant, immoral and wicked presidents of America who has a deep hatred for Islam and Muslims. He intentionally or inadvertently displayed his utter abhorrence for Islam at number of times through his insane deeds even in his Presidential election campaign. Now being as President, he always formulates foreign policies which always hurt the sentiments of Muslims.

But this time he has done a silly mistake which has provided us a great opportunity to unite a divided Muslim Ummah. We should try to make the best use of this foolish act of Trump to aware Muslim Ummah about the evil intentions of America and Israel against Islam and Islamic countries.

Israel illegally occupied Palestinian territories in the 1967 war, including East Jerusalem in defiance of the international community, and wasted no time in declaring the city as its “eternal, undivided” capital.

The first Qibla, Muslims prayed towards, is Al-Aqsa mosque or  “Bait-ul-Muqqadas” (Holy place) which is now in Jerusalem (Quds). Most of the prophets of Allah were appointed in this city. This is one of the most blessed places on earth.

Prophet Mohammad (SAW) with Ahlulbayt (A.S.) and noble companions (RA) used to say their prayers facing towards direction of Quds. Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) offered his prayers facing Bait-ul-Muqqadas for thirteen years when he was in Makkah then for seventeen months after emigration to Medina. The foundation for Bait-ul-Muqqadas has been laid by Prophets of Allah Almighty and they used to spend their sacred life there besides offered their prayers there also. Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) has said that Masjid-ul-Haram in Mecca is the first mosque that was constructed in the world and then Bait-ul-Muqqadas was the second mosque which was build 40 years later after the establishment of Masjid-ul-Haram.  According to the Holy Quran and Islamic traditions, Al-Aqsa Mosque is the place from which Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) went on a spiritual night journey  (Al Isra Val Me’raj) from Makkah to al-Aqsa.  Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) tethered Buraq to the Western Wall and prayed at al-Aqsa Mosque and after he finished his prayers, the Angel Jibril (A.S.) traveled with him to heaven, where he met several other prophets and led them in prayer.

It is well established fact that Quds is an important part of Islam and its liberation from the Zionist Israel is paramount for Islam. Therefore, whole Muslim Ummah, keeping aside their sectarian differences, should unite under one umbrella and fight for the Palestine freedom struggle with greater energy. We should all converge under one platform and we should use all the resources available to us for the just cause of Palestine.

We should never forget that the Arab Resistance Movement Hezbollah, the only entity that has defeated Israel ever, in 2006 had made a blueprint to liberate Quds and Palestine from the clutches of Israel but it was impeded by Israel with active support of Arab sheikhdoms who orchestrated a civil war in Syria and turmoil in Iraq immediately after the Hezbollah victory.

Israel along with its masters America with full backing and support from Persian Gulf Arab countries pumped petrodollars into the unjust war, created  ISIS (Daesh) and plethora of other terror groups to divert the attention from the core issue: Palestine.

Now as the ISIS menace have been wiped off from Iraq and Syria, Israeli Zionist forces have started direct confrontation by launching missile attack on Syria. This is being done to hamper the reconstruction and rebuilding process in Syria as they never want Syria to stay stable in order to keep their illegal occupation of Palestine intact.

The Israeli forces are killing, bombarding and torturing the innocent Palestinian people in a planned manner. Palestinians are struggling against the forced and illegal foreign occupations since last 6 to 7 decades and Israel is using every possible oppressive method to suppress the voice of helpless people.

Aftermath the fresh statement of Donald Trump, the  leader of Hamas Resistance movement Ismail Haniyeh  has called for a new uprising against Israel. “We should call for and we should work on launching an intifada in the face of the Zionist enemy,” Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech from Gaza on Thursday. A spokesperson for Hamas previously said on Wednesday night that Donald Trump had “opened the gates of hell” by taking the provocative step of calling the occupied city Israeli.

Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the Muslim world should stand against the US plot to declare Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital,” stressing that Palestine will eventually be freed from occupation.  Speaking on Wednesday on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Ayatollah Khamenei stated, “Palestine today tops the political issues facing the Islamic Ummah and everyone is duty-bound to make endeavors towards its freedom and salvage.” The Leader made the remarks in an address to state officials, ambassadors of Muslim countries and participants at the 31st International Islamic Unity Conference underway in Tehran. Ayatollah Khamenei said that the enemies’ utterence to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of the Israeli regime stems from their “incompetence and despair.”  “The Muslim world would undoubtedly stand against this conspiracy and the Zionists will be dealt a heavy blow with this move and dear Palestine will at last be liberated without doubt,” he added.

Traditional US allies like Saudi Arabia  are among a growing chorus condemning President Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised US President Donald Trump‘s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying it would throw this region into “a ring of fire”.

I urge all the factions concerning Palestinian issue to unite quickly in order to have the strategy to confront the occupation of Palestine and the US administration policies inside the Palestinian territories. I request all the Muslim clerics of all sects to stop bickering on one another. We should ponder that our ultimate enemies are America and Israel and we should use our energy and resources against them not against our fellow Muslims. Stop using pulpits to spread venom against each other. These pulpits are not for dividing us on trivial issues but to unite as we Shias and Sunnis are two arms (Bazoo) of Islam. We should use the religious centres for Wahdat (unity) which was the fundamental ambition of all the prophets [Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse No. 213]

I want to conclude with the slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free”.

-The author is a freelance writer and can  be reached at javeedaliofkashmir@gmail.com