Bihar Election Verdict Divides BJP

Posted on by Editor

Bihar election have thrown an open verdict with ruling party at Center BJP and its partners receiving defeat at the hands of resurgent grand alliance comprising of JDU, RJD and Congress. Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as chief minister for the third time in a row on 20 November after the Mahagathbandhan won a majority of seats in the assembly. But the electoral verdict of Bihar has given rise to rebellion in BJP with elder voices sounding the tunes of revolt.

 

Four veteran leaders, including Margdarshak mandal members L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, issued a stinging statement — a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for London — that the party was being “forced to kow-tow to a handful”, its “consensual character has been destroyed,” and it has been “emasculated” in the last year.

While ruling out Shah’s removal as party chief, Gadkari demanded stringent action against those making “irresponsible” statements against Modi and Shah. “I have told the party chief to initiate disciplinary action against those party activists who make irresponsible statements in public and cause damage to the image of the party,” the minister said.

Nevertheless the political ramifications of the Bihar electoral verdict seem to be far reaching on the overall political scene of India .

PDP Perishing?

Posted on by Editor

Rameez Makhdoomi

The PDP – BJP coalition government was formed in February 2015.This was done after a series of serious deliberations between the two parties amidst a fractured electoral verdict in Jammu and Kashmir. Many believe that nine months down the line all looks doomed for PDP and the question Is PDP Perishing has started to invoke a debate. Political analysts feel that PDP has fast lost its popularity since it has formed the government with BJP. Resurgent protests and killing of civilians has made road tough for PDP.

Pertinently, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, a top PDP Leader and parliamentarian in a sensational  interview with NDTV has signaled that future of PDP Looks quiet bleak.

Mr Baig, who was the first to support the PDP’s alliance with the BJP, an ideological opposite, told NDTV that he now fears the way the PDP-led coalition government is functioning will “lead to its (PDP’s) annihilation.”

 

Ahead of a joint rally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Srinagar, Mr Baig had written a letter to PM Modi on “rising intolerance in the country and failure of PDP-BJP alliance.

“One of the most important reasons for the higher voter turnout in the J&K Elections was the ‘fear’ of the BJP entering the valley, a sentiment which was fully exploited by the PDP during their campaign. PDP sought votes from the people on the pretext of stopping the BJP from coming to power, but what happened later is history. Forming coalition by PDP and BJP was reckless and it went wrong for Mufti in Kashmir and BJP in Jammu. PDP seems to have softened its stand on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the BJP, which has been demanding the abrogation of Article 370, has taken a complete U-turn, deciding to maintain a status quo. The way things are working as of now, it is unlikely that the PDP-BJP alliance will complete six years in the office. It is destined to fail by its contradictions. The PDP looks to be big loser politically ” – Raies Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, Lawyer at High Court of Delhi and Former Student Leader at University of Delhi.

From Coffee Shop gossip to street talk, from analytical paradigm to grassroots the downslide of PDP as a potent political force is not only being felt but discussed threadbare.

 

Senior Activist and AIP State Secretary Tanveer Hussain Khan stated – ” PDP seems to be fast losing its electoral and popular base. South Kashmir once party bastion is also simmering with anger against the party especially in backdrop of latest volatile situation of the area and accord of PDP with rightwing BJP. If PDP continues at this pace it has every chance of getting decimated and could well become history.”

“BJP too is making things tough for PDP as a series of growing acts of intolerance and rising communal tendencies under BJP rule at Center has been a focal point since past  one year in Indian Polity. These series of developments are strengthening roots of Separatism and weakening the mainstream in Kashmir ,” added Tanveer Hussain Khan.

Nevertheless, the question of debacle of PDP and debate over it despite it being in  Power has started to take roots.

Modi’s Magic Mantra?

Posted on by Editor

News Kashmir Exclusive

 

Unprecedented security measures were  put in place here in Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally on Saturday, with security forces manning all the entry and exit points of the Srinagar city.  The authorities in Kashmir had unleashed cracked down on hundreds of political activists and pro-independence leaders just ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the region. The venue for the – Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium – was virtually  turned into a fortress with Special Protection Group (SPG) taking over it.

From analytical paradigm, “MODI-MAGIC” mantra not long ago was seen electorally  sweeping across all India as a result in 2014 General Elections  a thumping win and  clean sweep for BJP was ensured. But with growing acts of intolerance in the country the governance model has come into question.

MLA Langate Engineer Rashid, While talking Exclusively to News Kashmir stated – ” There is no such thing as Modi Magic Mantra with reference to Kashmir. Kashmir is being caged and suffocated virtually turned into a prison on the eve of Prime Minister Visit .Kashmir needs resolution of its political conflict not mere meaningless packages. Intolerance is at its peak in India and it is no longer Gandhi’ s India. Modi needs to shun extremist approach and be mature, inclusive if he wants to see way ahead in Kashmir. Suffocations and repressions cannot deter people of Kashmir.”

Faizaan Bhat, a student  and columnist  states – ” Kashmir is a humanitarian issue and needs humanitarian solution and perspective. Prime Minister trips to Kashmir will make any sort of sense to Kashmir only when some sought of concrete political packages is announced until that nothing concrete can be achieved . Any further delay in resolution of political disputes endangers peace and harmony in this world.”

How much peace is still fragile in Kashmir was evident as just 36 hours before  Prime   Minister visit militants hurled a grenade towards the CRPF camp housed in a hotel at Khyam Srinagar in which 13 CRPF personnel were injured.

On the otherhand, Business community in its own way had its expectations  from the visit .  ”We are pinning high hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Jammu and Kashmir on November 7. It would give a new pace to development projects across the state,” AJKPC President, Anil Sharma told reporters .

Commoners have their own expectations from the overall dynamics of prime Minister visit as they are hoping this visit will have beneficial consequences on Kashmir.  Bashir Ahmad, a commoner states – ‘’The magic mantra of prime Minister would work on ground only if the State and Central governments in real sense walk the talk. We hope the era of unemployment that has long pained Kashmir would be now solved. In addition of solving the problems of unemployment and giving an effective economic package to the state we are also hoping that some sort of dialogue mechanism would be started with all shades of opinion  and this conflict will be settled so that we move towards a brighter Jammu and Kashmir .’’

Most of the pulse on ground reflects that Magic Mantra of Prime Minister would only be effective if it yields concrete economic and political package that would solve decades of misery and sufferings of Kashmiris.

Rejuvenating Carpet Sector of Kashmir

Posted on by Editor

Carpet industry has historically been backbone of Kashmir as it has provided meaningful employment to youth and been representative of our exports and in a way also represented our culture. The splendid carpet industry of Kashmir has wonderful history behind it. Pertinently, Kashmir carpet industry is of Persian origin. The trade, which has been handed down by the grand artisans of Iran, prospered and thrive to huge extent in the valley of Kashmir during the Mughal rule in Kashmir.

Nevertheless, the Persian culture influenced the Kashmiri carpet for quite a long time. It was only after a long period of time that Kashmiri carpet acquired some sought of  an aboriginal quality. On the otherhand, although in India the origin of hand-knotted carpets can be traced back more than 1800-2000 years, in Kashmir, however, its history begins with the invasion of Mughals. With the touch of local artistic splendor the Kashmiri carpet attained a sky-scraping degree of perfection and carved out an ‘elite’ place in the worldwide market.

At this juncture painfully enough the carpet industry in Kashmir does not show much healthy picture . Despite having all the potential for generating huge employment and earning bulk of foreign reserves, the low allocation by the government for this sector has reduced its growth to a limited size and curtailed its reach in the national market  and not many are taking carpet industry as a serious option and younger generation seems to be disinterested towards carpet sector.

 

The realities of the present hour state that presently the Carpet Sector  of Kashmir should be paid attention so as to strengthen the economy of Kashmir and return the lost sheen of the carpet industry of Kashmir  .

“If talking Truth is separatism then I am proud to be the separatist” Er Rashid

Posted on by Editor

Noted writer, literary activist and a well known politician from Jammu and Kashmir Er-Rashid a multifaceted personality. He is currently the patron of the ‘Awami Ittihaad Party’ (AIP) and MLA of Langate constituency from North Kashmir.

In an exclusive interview with the “NEWS KASHMIR”, ER RASHID  meets our  Special correspondent  ‘SYED TAJAMUL ‘IMRAN’ Recently in Delhi  and shares his views about the beef row, current political scenario and other things.

 

Excerpts:-

Q:- After doing engineering and working  as Government employee what brought you into Mainstream politics which is considered a degraded job in our part of the world?

Er:-   (Smiling) ‘Degraded job’ !  It may be degraded job for some people but it is a worship if done with sincerity it can change the destiny of anyone by this one can help to those who are in need. It was the atrocities of police, army and the miseries of my people at all fronts which pushed me to join the politics and I think it was need of the hour to avoid atrocities from state actors.

 

Q:- Was life better as Employee, as Activist or now as politician?

Er:- It all depends upon situations, some times I feel life was better as employee when I was serving and performing my duty and was trying to fight in a corrupt system, sometimes I feel it was better as an activist because being an activist you are free to raise the voice against every bad thing happening and you would still get less enemies, But I believe being a politician it is tough to do business as you get more enemies even you contribute more good. I think as a government  employee I was feeling better.

 

Q:- You took oath under Indian constitution like other legislators and still you believe and say loudly Kashmir is not part of India?

Er:-  Kashmir Issue is always there, unless not resolved and participating in elections has nothing to do with Kashmir issue. I reiterate that the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir has to be in accordance with the aspirations of the people. Indian state has time and again promised a resolution to the dispute. So talking about Kashmir dispute and its resolution does not mean working against sovereignty of India.

 

Q:- You have been vocal against the role of National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But at the time of alliance you advocated the idea of grand “secular” alliance between them?

Er:- Very true., but we had to try to choose good among the worst and there was no option but to try for a lesser evil to govern the state.

 

Q:- How do you view the present PDP-BJP Government as far as governance is concerned & present political scenario of Jammu and Kashmir?

Er:- I think these lines suites for Mufti’s PDP “Na khuda hi mila, na visaal-e-sanam  Na idhar ke rahe, na udhar ke rahe!!” As far as Governance is concerned, it seems bureaucrats have taken over and political setup is confused and PDP has to do much of the business in clearing its image which gets damaged on daily basis by arrogant BJP’s irresponsible slogans. BJP led government  at the centre seems to have iota of a concern about aspirations of Kashmiris and that has proved as a nail in the coffin of PDP.

 

 

Q:- How do you see the stand of PDP on rehabilitation of Flood victims in Kashmir?

Er:- I need not to make a comment on it because when there was anniversary of last years devastating Floods  a complete strike in Kashmir was observed against ignoring of the victims of this grave  tragedy by Centre . How sad that Modi has used these floods to abuse Pakistan at international forums but reduced Kashmiris to beggars at home.

 

Q:- How do you view the return of Kashmiri Pandits?

Er:- I think they are safe were they presently are. They had not left the Valley after consulting their Muslim brothers and in fact had left them at the mercy of guns and violence. It is their land and they can come when they wish but without adding salt to the injuries of majority community and have to ensure that they will not get exploited as usual at the hands of New Delhi to abuse Kashmiris. However nobody should expect them to return as they are enjoying job packages, huge monthly relief and all other facilities.

 

Q:- What is your stand on the ban on beef in the state?

Er:- I am of the belief that nobody even High Court, Supreme Court of any country can decide what people should eat and what not. When it comes to beef my religion Islam also allows me to eat it and I will fight for my religious and fundamental rights till my last breath and nobody can stop me.

 

Q:- On this ‘BEEF’ row you were beaten and dragged in state assembly how do you see that? 

Er:- You should ask this to my fellow colleagues from PDP and BJP who have not only tried to do worst with me in the assembly but their shameless act has disgraced the institution of assembly. However I can only pray Almighty to give Mufti Sahib some sense so that BJP goons will revisit their communal politics. Leela Karan has already said that if Er Rashid could be taken to task in assembly how could he be treated in Jammu needs not to be explained. However these dirty acts cannot restrain me from speaking for my oppressed people.

 

Q; You were attacked with ink in Delhi along with families of victims, how do you see it?

Er: I have nothing personal with those who attacked us in New Delhi and don’t want to blame few goons who attacked us. Our fight is with the Sang Parivar who are always very keen to harm Muslims and when it comes to Kashmiris they turn more eager to do adventures. It has just proved that Delhi is always biased towards Kashmiris and doesn’t treat people of Kashmir as Indians.

 

Q:-  Kavinder Gupta the Jammu and Kashmir assembly speaker has not suspended anyone of them who attacked on you as he suspended NC legislators  before the incident happened on same ‘beef’ row?

Er:- I don’t expect justice from a person who proudly says “I am a RSS man” and please don’t forget it is not only BJP but all other parties who often had been hurting my sentiments and calling me sometimes a separatist and on other occasion a Pakistani agent. So it is all against one when Er Rashid speaks facts in the assembly.

 

Q:- Do you believe that there are signs of a pro-militancy sentiment resurfacing. And that is why joined one’s are getting a good response on social media?

Er:- India has let down Kashmiris time and again and never moved even an inch for the resolution of dispute. Not only that but, has ironically made the provision of mortal remains of autonomy also controversial by various ways and means. The rigid attitude of India to resolve Kashmir dispute has forced new generation to analyze and introspect the events of last 25years and the outcome is obviously the conclusion that India has claimed the victory in the war, it forces Kashmiris to go to any extent to get Kashmir issue resolved and youth after seeing political leadership having completely failed use other options to reach out India.

 

Q:- Some of your critics also say “Er. Is a man of agencies? And some of your fans say “Er. Is a man with ease”?

Er:- I am what I am. I don’t need anyone’s certificate to prove myself, if talking about facts and realities gives me any name I don’t care. I like every Kashmiri have suffered much and am grown up through all the devastation state has faced during last 25years. I can’t agree J&K being India’s integral part as Kashmir dispute is alive from UN to Shimla and Tashkent to Agra. Those who say what you said are cowards and traders and are afraid of my clear and realistic stand about issues.

 

Q:- You are seen as a ‘separatist’ in the assembly? Have you suffered in any way because of your ideology?

Er:- If talking Truth is separatism them I am proud to be the separatist, Yes of-course I have suffered in every aspect socially, politically and economically but that will never stop me from  pursuing my cause.

 

Q:- Many of your opponents say you make a laughing stock of yourself, As most of your issues are always rejected by assembly?

Er:-  It is their choice, why should somebody laugh if rulers are not ready to face the truth. Infact they try to hide their failures and dual policies under these cunning laughs. Truth doesn’t need anybody’s appreciation and authentication. It has its own norms and history will one day judge my cries and their laughing.

 

Q:- What is wearing a Kashmiri Pheran in assembly and political activities and moving around without security means for you, are not you afraid?

Er:-  Nothing special or new except the fact that my Dress code is my culture and my identity and I can’t compromise it. Pheran is our traditional dress and that is why I wear it, whenever I require it, By Wearing  Pheran in Assembly it gives a message to so-called legislators that people of Kashmir were tortured and humiliated for wearing This Pheren most of the times  in 90’s by army and other agencies. As far as security is concerned My God “Almighty Allah” is the protector and also my people. I have not harmed nor ever imagine of harming even my enemies so why should I be worried of my enemies. I have a logic and argument to defend my view point, why should anybody harm me for that.

 

Q:- Do you feel isolated in assembly when you raise issues like AFSPA and such other issues?

Er:-  Very often I do feel isolated in and outside assembly as my views and stand doesn’t fulfill the requirement of their masters but I have to do what I am doing.

 

Q:- What can be the way ahead to resolve kashmir issue?

Er:-  United Nations Resolutions.

 

Q:- There are issues like killing of innocent people and human rights violations?

Er:- We believe that human life is precious and nobody has the right to harm anybody but Issues like killing of innocent people and human rights violations will remain their till the basic political  problem is resolved. Obviously state has to be more responsible  in conflicts but here the situation is reverse.

 

Q:- The Jammu and Kashmir high court has recently made it clear that their will be no changes in 370 and it will never removed ?

Er:-  I will tell you one thing, Article 370 whether they drag it or have it, it doesn’t make a difference because the basic Kashmir Dispute has nothing to do with art 370. It is an internal adjustment between Kashmir and Delhi, if Delhi wants to weaken article 370 it will further harm New Delhi not Kashmiris.

 

Q:- Share your views about the current spat between India and Pakistan talks, Growing tension on border, and its effect on Jammu and Kashmir?

Er:- These talks have yielded nothing in the past and nobody should expect the miracles to happen as India has always tried to manage the problem and has never been sincere to talks. Ultimately it is human being who gets killed at borders and elsewhere. Just sermons from anyone will never help in easing tension unless political dispute is not resolved.

 

Q:- You in one breath have said that the Indira-Abdullah Accord is nothing and in other breath while taking the exception to Governor NN Vohra’s statement last year you said that the Accord was a historical deal?

Er:-  Then Sheikh Abdullah was not the elected prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir, so in which capacity he signed the accord and in 1975 he was neither MLA nor anything else so that deal is already under question mark. Indra-Abdullah accord has also not been able to address the internal dimension of Kashmir problem but has just helped India to maintain status co. Yes the accord was historic as it led Kashmiris to disappointment and forced them to take to arms struggle few years later. The Accord yielded nothing except power for Sheikh dynasty.

 

Q:- Do you still believe that Without active involvement of syed Salah-u-din who is the chairman of UJC, there is no solution to Kashmir issue is possible?

Er:- Obviously because militants are sacrificing everything including their lives. Their families have been forced to live a life under consequent threat and humiliation by the state agencies. Nobody talked about Kashmir till armed struggle began. We may differ with the way of working of militants but can’t ignore them. I am not talking only about Syed Salah-u-Din I am talking that you should talk to militants, if you could talks with militants in Nagaland, Assam, if America can talk with Al-Qaida and Taliban then what is wrong in talking to UJC Chief because Kashmiris treat them custodians of their sacrifices.

 

Q:- As you have your own party “Awami Ittihaad party” What is being done to make party position strong in All 3 regions especially Jammu and Ladakh?

Er:-  Let me be honest, I was never optimistic about idea of forming a party but my some well-wishers who forced me to give a platform, and AIP is just a platform for good people who really want help Kashmiris, it (AIP) is open to everybody and let people decide if they want us to speak for them.

 

Q:- How do you desire to see Jammu & Kashmir and what is your message to people of state?

Er:- I want to see Jammu & Kashmir a prosperous state. A place where our kids can sleep without fear, where we will not be asked to prove our identity, wherever religious and cultural rights are preserved and where we can say with proud my J&K. To achieve this we have to be sincere, strategically and committed to compel Indian for a genuine solution. Let us not lose the hope as truth has always prevailed and same will be true with us one day.

 

 

After Beef what next?

Posted on by Editor

SYED TAJAMUL IMRAN

Every Government pushes in a new issue, loads of promises and other things. It’s all same in case of New BJP government in India. After more than a decade congress faced their worst defeat in 2014 that gave birth to Narendra Modi’s Sarkar in the country. As BJP, because of its policies and affiliation with top hindu religious organizations, is always considered as the right wing hindu religious party. Before winning the election through a series of tweets, a televised interview and a media statement, BJP’s Leaders hardened its stand against the other religions including Muslims and Christians. And, soon after their win 600 attacks analyzed by foreign observers, have taken place since they came in power against Muslims and Christians.

However observers believe BJP in every state including Jammu and Kashmir are doing the politics on ‘Beef’ and other such issues in order to distract the attention of the people from the real issues and their promises which they made all over the country during election campaign. It includes providing employment, end corruption, Low prices and other such things. In other words BJP is justifying the beef ban all over India, in some parts they successfully have banned it, like Maharastra.But their Chief minister of Goa have said that the same ‘beef’ is part of diet for the people of his state, Well if he is correct then they should know that it is also part of the diet for the people of Maharashtra and other states where beef has been banned by them or others. Not banning ‘beef’ in Goa has a big political reason because the elections in Goa are yet to arrive and the political analysts believe that if they will ban it in Goa they will definitely lose the election there. It shows that BJP have no guts to ban the beef in Goa.

The newly introduced laws in democratic India are interesting as in Maharashtra carrying a beef burger a person can go in jail for five years but in same Maharashtra for sexual harassment a person will go in jail for three years. In other words, eating a beef burger is greater crime in the Maharashtra BJP Government than carrying out an act of sexual harassment. It seems that this all is distraction as the BJP is encouraging the slaughter house business  they have brought down duties of items used to slaughter cows and bulls.

The other fact in Democratic India is that its present government does not allow its people so that they can eat beef but they can sell it, do business with it, or in other words they can export it to other countries. It was Vajpayee’s (BJP) era when India was on 5th number in producing the beef in the world with numbers 6.3 million tons among which 62 percent was cow meat, 31 percent of this was cattle meat and
all this continued in the years of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government. ln first ten months of the new BJP government under the patron-ship of Narinder Modi the exports of beef have gone up. It means that they are encouraging the people in exporting the beef and then they are saying that they are saving religious aspects or in other words they are saving the cows. But, unfortunately they can sell cows and thus they are befooling people , if  BJP is really doing what they said respecting religious sentiments then the Prime Minister should immediately bring an ordinance to ban export of the beef and beef products.

If BJP really wants to ban something in the country which is dangerous then they should ban Alcohol, Drugs and other such things that will be good and welcomed by every social, religious organization of india. If it is the matter of religios and cultural sentiment then why they are
not banning the Fish, because the fish was the Awatara Vishnu. Why don’t they ban mutton because the father of India M.K. Gandhi was a
vegetarian who was loving the goats milk. Why don’t they ban pork and alcohol if it is really the question of religious sensitivities that matters for every Indian then ban pork and alcohol because Muslims don’t approve both any of them. 90 percent of things you will not be able to eat in lndia because my religion or others is against it.

With this beef politics, apart from attacks which are now common in every part of the country A man lives in the UP  whose son is serving the nation ‘India’ was killed by the mob of goons on the bases of a false information. The interesting thing in this killing was that apart from pressuring the police to nab the culprits the  Government and agencies checked the beef in a scientific laboratory just to check whose meat was that. After checking they found the meat was of goat, which means checking the meat was more essential than finding the killers. Here it should be mentioned that still there is no ban on beef in Uttar Pradesh, the killing is not stopped here. Soon after Dadri one more person was killed in Himachal Pardesh.

 

In Jammu and Kashmir as BJP is the part of government and Beef Politics is there, the thing that was seen their and which made a big debate was when Muslim truck drivers were attacked and burned in their truck while coming from Jammu to Kashmir by fanatic hindu mob near Udhampur, and after some days one among them Zahid was declared dead at a Delhi hospital. Following the Zahid’s death while protesting Yasin Malik JKLF Chairman was assaulted by the forces at Islamabad South Kashmir and many other youth were injured among .  The other thing which happened first time in the history of Kashmir as well as India was when a Muslim law maker Er Rasheed was beaten and dragged by the Hindu Lawmakers of BJP in state assembly in Srinagar. Er Rashed arranged a beef party before the incident happened and after  the supreme court of India allowed eating beef for 2 months which was banned by the high court of Jammu recently. Also, he was attacked by the goons in new Delhi’s Press club of India with the relatives of Zahid after coming from press Conference regarding the Beef party, Zahid’s killing and other things in Kashmir.
Knowing the fact of Unemployment, Poverty and the suicide of farmers is in every corner of India, BJP should focus on such things rather
than making it a communal India. But unfortunately, they are focusing on those things for what people never chose them. Common man in india is suffering a lot, all he need is peace, basic needs of life for which he/she has voted. But same common man is waiting as he knows and has seen politics on visits to foreign countries, Dress Code, Dehli Elections, Bihar Elections, Cease Fire Violation on Borders now BEEF
and what will be Next?

 

 

The Author Is an Activist, Political Writer/Blogger, Student Pursuing MBA & The Dream Of Breaking The Status Quo. He Hails From Village Nazneenpora, Shopian. He Can Be Reached At Aclockdies9@gmail.com He Tweets as twitter.com/@syedtajamulimran.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Educated Militancy

Posted on by Editor

News Kashmir Analysis

Gone are those days when militancy mostly used to be driven mostly by less educated or uneducated youth as from past few years   highly educated and technically skilled militants especially from South Kashmir have emerged as new face of Kashmir militancy.

Educated militants in the armed movement of Kashmir has constantly been worry for the agencies supposes to counter it as no longer they can term militancy an act of few unaware youth and this in many ways turns it into battle of ideologies rather than being mere issue of law and order.

 

From North  to South over the years educated youth have become part of Kashmir militancy. With these militants able to use competently social networking tools they are able to add angle of glamour to militancy in Kashmir.

Just few days back, scores of Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, students offered funeral prayers in absentia to the slain militant Afaq Ahmad Bhat of Karimabad in Pulwama district.

Talking to media students of the IUST had stated  that students assembled in the premises of the varsity at  morning time and offered prayers in absentia for Afaq Ahmad and other militant who were killed in an encounter in Drubgam in Pulwama on last Tuesday.They stated  that Afaq was studying in fourth semester in Islamic Studies department in the university.

Even engineering professionals have been killed as militants in Kashmir over the past few years. In 2013 the killed militant in encounter in South Kashmir identified as a 21-year-old engineering student  Saif Ullah Ahanger alias Burhan son of Mohammad Rafiq Ahanger  from Hariparigam Tral.

Similarly, Talib Afzal Shah, was killed by forces in Kakpora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Talib, a youth in his 20s, held double post-graduate degrees but those who knew him  had in media outlets stated that frequent summons to police stations and night raids left Talib’s dream of getting a job and normal life short lived as he joined militant ranks in 2014. Pertinently, Scores of educated militants have fallen to bullets in these years.

 

Mir Imran, an eminent Human Rights activist while talking exclusively to News Kashmir stated – “The paradigms of militancy have dynamically shifted in case of militancy in Kashmir. Educated youth joining militancy is now an open secret in Kashmir. We also need to continuously remind ourselves that unresolved political issue of Kashmir is the root cause of all these trends and problems. The need of the hour is to settle the Kashmir issue in its actual historical, humanitarian and political realities. With more educated youth joining militancy it would be clearly a cause of worry and should be worry for all political shades concerned.”

Ajaz War,  Prominent  Journalist stated – “ The new breed of militants are not just well educated but often come from wealthy backgrounds. This new  face of militancy   dates back to the 2008 summer agitation and  2010 ‘stone pelting’ unrest in Kashmir in which many were of the opinion that youth voice was crushed and at the same time the policymakers warned of ‘radicalisation’ among the youth after 120 civilians, mostly teenagers, were killed in retaliatory action by security forces in 2010 . The government did little to contain the situation at that time and all this has forced younger generation to arms. We have also seen on record many relatives of militants claiming highhandedness and torture of men in uniform behind educated youth joining militancy.”

Pertinently, at a recent Idea Exchange at The Sunday Express, A S Dulat, former R&AW chief and the Kashmir point-man during the Vajpayee administration in the early 1990s, expressed concern over “Kashmir returning to the pre-’96 era”. “A lot of these boys (who become militants) are from fairly good families, middle class, upper middle class, qualified engineers. So why are they getting into this? That’s the scary part. I’m not worried about the waving of Pakistani flags, they can be stopped any time. If ISIS flags are raised or ISIS graffiti appears in downtown Srinagar, then somebody needs to look into it,” he said.

 

Even the police top brass has admitted that the number of local militants has been steadily rising in the past several years, but in the last two years, there has been a sudden increase in local militant involvement and presence. Expert analysis is clear that from multi-dimensional factors especially the nature of political conflict or  sometimes atrocities by men in uniform or the ideological factors are driving the educated youth of Kashmir towards militancy.

 

Social Networking in Kashmir

Posted on by Editor

Social Networking has become reality of our lives in Kashmir and especially youth in Kashmir are taking to diverse social networking mediums like facebook and twitter to express their emotions, thoughts and ideas on the platforms. It has had overall positives on our debating and exposure related paradigms. From the teenagers to senior citizens all seem to be overawed by this phenomenon of social networking with majority having their personal accounts on Facebook or Twitter.

Pertinently, Kashmiris via this phenomenon are able to make contacts and friendships across the world and also locate their lost friends with whom they have cherished memories . Social Networking as a phenomenon has grown substantially in Kashmir. This growth has helped us in remaining touch with recent updates and makes friends with noted personas and also gather  vital information about events taking place in our part of the world and other parts

The need of the hour is to use the social networking websites for promoting love, knowledge and all positivity and not to misuse it.

”.

 

On the other side of paradigm, all these developments   can prove quiet energetic for the valleyites especially the youngsters as according to a latest survey the social internet media helps to get jobs. The survey points out that with increasing number of users globally, socialnetworking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are turning out to be happy hunting grounds for employees seeking new jobs.

 

Majority of employees surveyed felt that social media are helping them to find new jobs quickly and efficiently, according to HR services firm Ma Foi Randstad.

82 percent of Indian employees are extremely confident on using the social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to enable them to find a new job quicker and more efficiently,” Ma Foi Randstad had stated.

Unquestionably, although having few negatives as well but on overall  levels of analysis the phenomenon of Social Networking is proving to be a great boon for the people of Kashmir.

Seven Pakistan armymen killed in South Waziristan border attack: ISPR

Posted on by Editor

ISLAMABAD: At least seven Frontier Corps personnel were killed as a checkpost northeast of South Waziristan’s Angoor Adda came under fire Tuesday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

“The terrorists opened heavy fire from across the Pak-Afghan border early on Tuesday,” the ISPR said.

North and South Waziristan are among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with homegrown insurgents and are alleged to be strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, among others.

According to the ISPR, troops have been deployed along the border with neighbouring agencies to block any movement of terrorists in and out of the region.

The Pakistan Army launched military operations Zarb-i-Azb and the National Action Plan targeting insurgents following attacks on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Peshawar’s Army Public School in 2014.

Officials say nearly 3,000 militants have been killed since the launch of the latest offensive.

The number of attacks in Pakistan has fallen around 70 per cent this year, due to a combination of the military offensive against Taliban bases along the Afghan border and government initiatives to tackle militancy.

Many militants have fled to other parts of Pakistan, and some into Afghanistan, complicating the United States-backed Kabul government’s fight against its own Taliban insurgency.

Courtesy: Dawn

Saudi prince held over record Beirut airport drug bust

Posted on by Editor

A Saudi prince and four other people have been detained in Lebanon in the largest drug seizure in the history of Beirut airport, a security source has said.

Prince Abdel Mohsen Bin Walid Bin Abdulaziz was among those detained by airport security while allegedly “attempting to smuggle about two tonnes of Captagon pills and some cocaine,” the security source said.

“The smuggling operation is the largest one that has been foiled through the Beirut International Airport,” the source told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

Captagon is the brand name for the amphetamine phenethylline, a synthetic stimulant.

Manufacturing of the substance thrives in Lebanon and war-torn Syria, which have become a gateway for the drug to the Middle East and particularly the Gulf.

The UN Office of Drugs and Crime said in a 2014 report that the amphetamine market is on the rise in the Middle East, with seizures mostly in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria accounting for more than 55 percent of amphetamines recovered worldwide.

The security source said the drugs had been packed into cases that were waiting to be loaded onto a private plane that was headed to Saudi Arabia.

Lebanon’s state news agency said the private plane was to head to Riyadh and was carrying 40 suitcases full of Captagon.

The five Saudi citizens were still in the airport and will be questioned by Lebanon’s customs authority, the source added.

In April 2014, security forces foiled an attempt to smuggle 15 million capsules of Captagon hidden in shipping containers full of corn from Beirut’s port.

Source: News Agencies