Taj Vivanta optimistic symbol of Kashmir’s hospitality sector

Posted on by Editor

Rameez Makhdoomi

Taj Vivanta located at a picturesque spot of KralaSangri hills  is the only premier five star hotel of Kashmir with 83 room capacity and beautiful lobbies and restaurants.

The brainchild and joint collaboration of prestigious Saifco group and Taj Group of Hotels , Taj vivanta has just in few years grown in stature and emerged as image of the hospitality and tourism sector of Kashmir .

Pertinently ,the lobby of hotel has been built on Autumn theme and Restaurant on Spring theme.

The attractive hotel  has kept in touch the local and socio- cultural touch into consideration.

Basharrat Rashid, Director Sales and Marketing  Taj Vivanta Group States -“We have to  keep local social and cultural consideration into account because tourism is all about rejuvenating local economy and culture.The response to us has been overwhelming and especially in peak s

season the demand is full.”

Taj Vivanta has also been devising more attractive discount packages for Ring ceremonies, which forms the integral part of Kashmiris ceremony related culture.

As a matter of fact, Bollywood crews have always preferred Taj Vivanta as number one destination when it comes to stay and shooting related paradigms .

With diverse holistic paradigms and different innovative thoughts combined with efficient staff Taj Vivanta is slated to be among the prominent symbols of tourism and hospitality sector of Kashmir.

Policy Shift on Kashmir

Posted on by Editor

In what can be described  as a major shift in its Kashmir policy, the Narendra Modi government has said that the Hurriyat Conference (separatist) leaders are free to meet the representatives of any country in India.

Pertinently, the  Indian government had earlier cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan when the Pakistan’s High Commissioner, Abdul Basit, met Kashmiri separatist leaders.

At national level, Narendra Modi government’s approach towards Pakistan in ensuring better ties has invited sharp criticism from opposition parties in the country but praise from the world leaders.

Experts are it as a major  shift in its ‘Pakistan Policy’, of the government which has now decided to ‘compromise’ on its ‘most controversial’ point on Islamabad holding meetings with Hurriyat leaders.

In kashmir it has been widely welcomed, PDP Senior Leader and Spokesperson Rafi Ahmad Mir has said that PDP warmly welcomes the initiative taken by union government to allow Hurriyat to hold talks with Pakistan. Mir said that “we laud this confidence building measure by the government after sincere efforts of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, this step will be a defining moment in the Indo-Pak relations.

Former Chief Minister and Senior Leader of National Conference Omer Abdullah has welcomed the government decision to allow Hurriyat leaders to meet Pakistani leadership.

Kashmir resents NEET

Posted on by Editor

News Kashmir Exclusive

National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) to be also implemented in Jammu and Kashmir is not being received well especially by voices in Kashmir, as they feel it is against the overall interests of Kashmir.

Many a voices are openly stating that it is against JK’s special status . “NEET is against the interests of our students and clearly goes against the spirit and essence of J&K’s special status,”  the former Chief Minister Omer Abdullah  had said recently .

Khalid Tufail,an eminent activist States –

“PDP-BJP government are eroding status of Article 370.Nowadays, NEET crises are spreading all over Jammu Kashmir, as JK state is also bought under the ruling recently passed by Supreme Court, which states that only one entrance examination i.e, NEET (National Entrance Cum Eligibility Test) should be held all over India for MBBS, BDS and Post Graduation in medical education which will enable students to get admissions in various colleges of India. By this decision future of many aspiring doctors of our state is at stake. This sudden ruling passed by Supreme Court has destroyed dreams of many students who were eagerly waiting for JKCET. There is a lot of difference between JKCET pattern and NEET pattern. JK state should be exempted from NEET as education in JK is a state subject and JK enjoys a special status in India and presenting a petition by JK government in Supreme Court is only a step to erode Article 370 . From last 10 years , we are given false hopes that 10 medical colleges will be established but none is made till now and irony is that Government of India is now taking control over our medical colleges. One by one Jammu Kashmir state government is losing the control over the educational system of Jammu Kashmir, this is an attempt to convert JK into Palestine. JK government must take their stand to oppose this order. Now we have question to Minister of Higher Education Mr Naeem Akhtar , why is he silent over this issue? This ruling has created a state of confusion in many students as they don’t know what will be the fate of JKCET and what will happen to their future, why Mr Nayeem Akhtar is not clearing his stand on this thing? This time we have to stand for our students and evoke our special status so that we will not regret in future. Act now or never.”

 

 

On its part,  government has maintained that it took  an immediate action on National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) decision of the Supreme Court by filing a prompt application against the applicability of the order to the state.

“When the Supreme Court judgment came on April 28, the state government filed immediately, without delay and perhaps in record time, an application that the decision does not extend to the state as in Jammu and Kashmir education is a state subject. We pleaded the BOPEE exams have to be conducted as before in our case,” Minister for Education    Naeem Akthar stated.

For the moment, NEET has generated resentments in Kashmir.

Hard work Rewards : Mannan Bukhari

Posted on by Editor

Mannan Bukhari is an  Author, Human rights defender and   documentary film maker .He recently authored “Kashmir – Scars of Pellet Gun”  on sufferings of pellet victims of Kashmir , which received wide appreciation. Mannan also recently made the 20 minutes long documentary “Children in Conflict Torn Kashmir’

 

In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir Magazine , Mannan Bukhari talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.

 

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I did my schooling from  Angels Garden Kanipora and Public High School Gogjibagh. My high schooling happened  during the years of hard turmoil. I had my post graduate studies from   Kashmir university and Human rights course . I was an active child, student and always inclined to activism.

 

Tell us a bit about your activism days as you are known for your activism?

 

I pioneered and lead well known Alama Iqbal Students Movement (AISM) as President and several students federations at Bemina Degree College.

 

What was motivation behind joining Pro-Freedom politics?

 

After joining student activism and  as you know it develops revolutionary tastes in you and so joining pro-freedom politics was my  natural  choice.

 

Who are your favorite authors and your favorite readings?

 

I do not have any favorite set of readings and authors. I read diverse authors and concepts so my choice of authors and readings is not limited. Although, Allama Iqbal and Mirza Ghalib I have read as first literature and loved that a lot.

 

How big is the achievement of inclusion of your book titled “Kashmir Scars of pellet Gun”  in UN Human rights library ?

 

It is really matter of honor that the book has found its place in the library and catalogue of office of the High Commissioner United Nations Human Rights Council. The book has been included in two categories -General and Education.

 

What motivated you to write your debut book “Kashmir – Scars of Pellet Gun”?

 

I was always moved by the pain and sufferings of pellet victims and made a documentary on it titled “Shattered dreams”. I than finally thought to give my urge and the sufferers of infamous pellet gun a shape of fully fledged book.

 

What Challenges you faced while writing your books?

 

The authorities  tried their best to resorted to dill dally tactics and provide manipulated figures reasons known best to them and I had to contest even RTIs to prove that their data was incorrect which I proved via my ground work.RTI related realms form the core of my book.

 

How long it took you to pen down this book?

 

Due to floods I had lost of record of the book which I had not unfortunately digitalized .It took me two years of research and pain taking efforts to finally come up with the book.

 

Had you ever thought that book will receive such appreciation?

 

My main concern was to highlight the sufferings and trauma of pellet hit victims, I had never thought it would receive such wide appreciations and reviews. The unique subject and topic also helped.

 

How far has your family supported your ambitions?

 

My family has been highly cooperative towards my ambitions and my mother has always been my inspiration as she has always stressed me to read and write.

 

Your message to young writers and activists?

 

I think your work and activism especially in the field of human rights demands lot of hard work and being focused on collecting facts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposed Shelter to Non-local Homeless generates resentment

Posted on by Editor

News Kashmir Exclusive

In the garb of humanity many believe that the Special status of Jammu and Kashmir is being diluted .

.

 

In this regard, a lot of resentment has been generated on the proposed move of the government of India’s plans of building structures for “homeless” in J&K under its ‘National Urban Livelihood Mission’. All pro-freedom Parties and some mainstream voices are also against this move.

Pertinently, few time back it was learnt that the government is planning to ‘temporarily’ accommodate homeless people, both state as well as non-state subjects, in shelter homes to be build across J&K with first such dwellings to come up in Jammu and Kupwara districts.

The project for which a high-level meeting chaired by Governor NN Vohra was conducted in January this year is currently being executed in Jammu and Kupwara at a cost of Rs 1.96 crore and Rs 1.75 crore respectively

While talking to News Kashmir Magazine, BJP Srinagar District President Fayaz Bhat stated – “ It is a temporary arrangement for homeless people as it is nothing what we call the permanent settlement .We need to take a humanistic outlook on this issue. However, anything that impacts the article 370 and its related features should  not be done.”

Commenting on this issue, AIP Supremo and MLA Langate Er Rasheed – “ This is a grave and issue of serious concern. I urge Government to come clean over reports of providing temporary shelter to non-state subjects and added that lakhs of such people are already here without any proper record or reason and we would like to warn the government that Kashmiris will not allow any such shelters for non-state subjects.”

Hurriyat (M) spokesperson government’s move to provide shelters to non- locals was fictitious as poor people do not stay on roads pavements or under bridges in Kashmir.

Hurriyat (M) spokesperson added there was no need to set up shelters for Kashmiris although people belonging to Kashmir keep on coming and going to different Indian states for different trades and businesses.

The J&K High Court Bar Association (HCBA)  has also  opposed the government decision to construct shelters for the non-locals under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), terming it another ‘conspiracy to change the J&K’s demography so as to reduce its Muslim majority character to minority’.

 

“The HCBA executive committee at its meeting held  stated that  the move shall affect and endanger the ongoing freedom struggle of people of Kashmir and their demand to give them their right of self-determination, therefore, the decision should be opposed tooth and nail by everyone,” a spokesman of Bar, in a statement  said, adding that “The decision is a part of the sinister design by RSS-BJP combine of settling non-state subjects in and around Srinagar Airport, for which even land was identified.”

 

On nutshell paradigm, experts and analysts opine that the new government will be advised not to stoke yet another controversy in the name of providing shelter to non-locals as the fire of unrest  that raged from the NIT controversy and Kupwara killings is yet to be doused fully .

Turbulent summers in Kashmir

Posted on by Editor

Sheikh Saqib

Summer has always emerged as a season of war between stones and bullets in Kashmir. This time it’s just the month of April and six young people have been shot dead and several others injured. These

killings and a shameful action from the  army which comes wearing the mask of what it calls its ‘security’ forces has brought the people of Kashmir on streets with one slogan chanted endlessly,

Hum kya Chahtey? What we want? Aazadi! Freedom. On April 13 , the  army fired bullets at a demonstration in Handwara , who were themselves protesting about a girls alleged molestation by an Indian trooper. One of the bullet hit a 21 year old Iqbal Farooq Pir and minutes later another youth, Nayeem, also fell on the ground followed by a 70 year old lady who was calmly working in her vegetable garden. Three killings in a day led more Protests , and more killings. In 4 days  five people were shot dead on the streets of Kashmir. After the news got published in the Kashmiri press thousands defied the police and joined the funeral procession the next day , chanting angry slogans and pledging revenge.

The whole Kashmir is under strict military restrictions. Citizens  are locked up inside their homes here, as they are in every town in the valley. For 5 days, shops, businesses, most government offices and schools have been shut. In a convulsion of anti-India anger, residents—thousands at a time—have defied  harsh restrictions to come out on the streets , raining stones at everything that symbolizes the state’s authority. They have fought pitched battles with police and paramilitary forces, who have responded with lethal force, killing over six residents mostly teenagers.

Demonstration against Indian security forces escalated on 13th April when it was  revealed that a Handwara based girl was allegedly molested in a Public toilet by an Indian army trooper , After taking note of the scene people reclaimed the streets , came out in massive demonstration with thousands of people protesting against the shameful act by the India army.

This stepping out of young people on the streets resulted in the killing of three people and two on next day  at the hands of Indian forces.

Protest appears and young people die. Though with the start of summer the years 2008-2010 got refreshed when  brutal deaths of Tufail , Wamiq , Zahid ,  Inayat were laid to rest in martyr’s graveyard(

mazar-e-shouhda) and this time five more are going to be remembered as martyr’s.

The year 2008-2010 gave rise to hundreds of civilian killings by Indian forces in a very short span of time including eminent separatist leader, sheikh Aziz.

The teenagers of 2008-2010 who never had a childhood at all , who have seen their childhood under the shadow of guns, didn’t fear death.lt is this generation that picked up rocks in violent protests in the year2008 – 2010 unrest that resulted in the killing of more than 200 people at the  hands of Indian Forces.

Every day brings news of more unarmed protesters killed somewhere in Kashmir. The children of the conflict fight the soldiers with stones and receive bullets in return. The years since 1989 seventy thousand Kashmiri have been killed and eight thousand have gone missing. To this must be added the less visible costs of torture , rape , lifelong physical incapacities and grievous economic, social and psychological damage. The extent of this devastation will probably never be fully estimated.

Demilitarization of Kashmir

Posted on by Editor

The whole Kashmir valley was on edge few days back as after allegations of molestation of girl by army five civilians lost their precious lives in firing by security forces. Now to cool the tempers  bulldozers tore down four  army bunkers on Tuesday 19 April at Kashmir’s Handwara town, a week after a young cricketer and two others were killed in firing by security forces.

Pertinently, these  four bunkers set up 23 years ago in the north Kashmir town were razed by the administration. The army, which had refused to move out of the town, relented after “negotiations with the administration and the an intervention at the highest level at the state government and army command,” sources say.

It is worth mentioning here that as the main bunker came down in the heart of the town, locals immediately put up a banner naming the square after Nayeem Bhat, a 19-year-old cricketer who was killed in the firing last Tuesday.
It is a known veracity that locals in Kashmir have been long demanding the demilitarization of Kashmir as a tiny Kashmir valley cannot afford to much security forces. Many have stated that demilitarization of Kashmir completely  logically is not possible but to some extent it should be done.

Many voices are stating that removing of army bunkers in Handwara was a “good sign” and that the process needs to be extended to other parts of Kashmir too.

What is up? Curbs on Social Media

Posted on by Editor

News Kashmir Exclusive

Recently, the J&K government had blocked the internet services in  Kashmir following public protests over killings of five civilians allegedly in the Army firing in the North Kashmir District of Kupwara. All this generated anger, now in latest bizarre development and to avoid rumours spread via social media app WhatsApp groups during tension in the Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to make license compulsory to create a WhatsApp news group

The Jammu and Kashmir authorities have also  stated that they will take strict action against the admins of the WhatsApp groups for any wrong content forwarded.

According to latest government guideline, the administrators of WhatsApp news groups will have to get themselves registered with the government authorities within the next ten days to get a license. A circular issued by the Kashmir Divisional Commissioner, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, instructs users to first apply for a license to start WhatsApp news group.

All this has generated furor on both online and offline world. Idrees ul Haq, an activist states –  “Unfortunately , DM budgam through circular (DIPK-493) published in a local English daily on Thursday  page no. 13 has snatched Right to Liberty and Personal Freedom of Govt. Officials in point no. 4 by restraining govt. employees to comment /Remark with regard to the policies and decisions of Govt. on whats app groups running in Budgam District. This is really an autocratic step and shall be reverted ASAP…”

Muhammad Tauseef, an eminent activist and Netizen wrote on Facebook- “Congrats countrymen…So finally Kashmir is becoming ‘North Korea’. With the Government hell-bent to curb the freedom of expression of the masses, The state apparatus  is soon going to add yet another souvenir in their occupational hall of fame (read shame) i.e: curbing informal spaces and social-networks and probably making Kashmir the first place where FB pages and WhatsApp groups would need registration.

Anyways, it’s expected of them but what is unexpected is the sheer silence and docility that we (especially the civil society and intellectual classes) have exhibited over the same. It was heart-wrenching to discover my friends marching to DC office to confirm the formalities and fulfill the same.

Has our intellectual pursuit finally reduced to plagiarism, ideological hijacking and the number of likes and shares our decorated and garnished posts receive on FB and elsewhere….Should we really follow such diktats of the Government like dumb driven cattle or raise our voice to atleast defend our personal space on social-networks…

This scrutanisation started with giving vital family details to the police on the forms, followed by registration of FB and whatsApp groups will be followed by registration of marriages, Allah knows finally where this vicious chain will end and lead us to….”

Sane voices are also questioning that  under which authorities asks whatsap groups admins to get license. Direction are supposed to be issued under certain law by authorities.

While the orders are generated lot of resentment against state and authorities, it cannot be missed that Curbs on rumor mongers and facebook and twitter journalist’s is need of current times but we need some strict laws to be framed to ease media functioning.

.

IIMUN Jammu from 29 April

Posted on by Editor

In an optimistic news for the Jammu and Kashmir state the Asia’s Largest Youth Conference, the Indian International MUN is going to organize a three day conference at heritage School Jammu from 29 April to MAY 1 2016  .

With the intention to provide a platform to the youth of India to voice their opinions on international relations, geo-political scenario and teach them more about the United Nations, IIMUN has conducted chapters of the main conference in various parts of the country. Committees were simulated in local languages, Hindi and with variations as to ensure that it reached to as many as people possible. IIMUN is proud to have reached a cumulative participation thousands of  students in these chapters. The chapters also enable them  to have a pan India reach all around the year.

In an MUN conference the future of tomorrow are given tremendous exposure as the  students don hats of diplomats and solve a wide range  of issues ranging from Human Rights violations to establishing peace between two countries who are at loggerheads. The solutions passed here are then forwarded to the United Nations for further discussion.

Pertinently, youth of  Jammu  are excited with IIMUN taking now place in their city.

Mehbooba’s Quagmire

Posted on by Editor

News Kashmir Exclusive

On 4th April, 2016 Mehbooba Mufti became the  first woman Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was sworn in as the 13th chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Within just few days mammoth challenges have started to galore for the Mehbooba Mufti Lead Government. From the controversy of National Institute of Technology which arose from tensions between locals and non-locals after India’s defeat to Westindies in cricket and then allegations of police highhandedness over non local students has now translated into Non-local students leaving the Valley and protesting loudly at Delhi against the State Government.

Now in latest dramatic turnaround of events, after allegations of molestation on soldier at North Kashmir town of Handwara fierce clashes erupted. Nayeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer, 70-year-old Raja Begum and Mohammad Iqbal, 21, were killed in the firing by security forces. The very next day another man, who was allegedly part of  protesters in Kupwara, died after being hit on his head by a tear gas shell. Curfew and strict restrictions have followed as a reaction to curb the public anger and rage. On Thursday Mobile Internet services  were not available in Srinagar, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts of the Valley.

To refute the allegation of molestation, the army released a video of the girl’s statement yesterday. In it, she does not talk about molestation by any soldier but says a boy grabbed her bag, pulled her and abused her when she went to the washroom after school on Tuesday.

Pertinently, to control the damage Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has met the Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, at Delhi and discussed with him the unfortunate firing incident at Handwara  in which three civilians, including a woman, were killed.

 

During the meeting, the Chief Minister called for a time-bound enquiry into the incident so that those responsible for the deaths are handed exemplary punishment. This, she said, will act as a deterrent against such incidents in future.

Mehbooba Mufti said such incidents shake the confidence of the people and adversely impact the efforts of the State government in consolidating peace dividends.

Talking to News Kashmir, Faizaan Bhat, a  young Columnist states -“Governing Kashmir is not a cakewalk. Doing opposition would have been easy for Mehbooba Mufti but now with assuming the reins of power, it is much difficult task ahead . Within few days a series of serious challenges have encircled Mehbooba Mufti Lead Government. The NIT rage and controversy is refusing to die down. The Handwara killings have added fuel to the fire .The killings of innocents is in no way going to make matters easy for Mehbooba Mufti. The harsh  treatment meted out to Kashmiri students outside valley is another serious matter. All in all Mehbooba has assumed the charge of throne which is full of challenges.”

 

Undoubtedly, just within one week the government of first ever women Chief Minister  of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has witnessed a series of burning problems and tense matters. The road ahead is likely going to be  full of challenges.