Sartaj MADNI denounces civilian killings

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News Kashmir exclusive

 

The Senior Leader of People’s Democratic Party and Vice – President Sartaj Madni has condemned the civilian killings happening unabated in Kashmir and called for end to bloodshed .

He condenmned the killing of civilian Yawar Ahmad Dar of Gassipora and expressed grief over civilian injuries.

“ The youth of Kashmir is in tremendous pain and killings cannot be answer to the political issues . We urge the present dispensation under Governor to bring an end to this mayhem and let us move towards solution at faster pace . These incessant youth killings happening especially in the south Kashmir districts need to be put to an end ,”  stated Sartaj Madni .

He prayed for the departed souls and expressed complete solidarity with the bereaved families

————-Alarming rise in domestic violence———-

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Horror at Home

News Kashmir Exclusive

The monster of domestic violence against women in Kashmir has been constantly growing over the past few decades in entire valley of Kashmir. In past few years, even the Urban Police Stations have registered hundreds of cases of domestic violence showing the grim nature of the issue. Sometime back the Data compiled by the Jammu & Kashmir Police Crime Branch revealed  that in the past two years, it had registered over 4,000 cases of crimes against women.

In a latest unfortunate case it is learnt that Mehnaz Siddiqui came to Kashmir from Karachi, Pakistan, in July 2009 when she married Abdullah Danish Shervani, whom she met on social networking site Orkut. She was 25 at the time. Nine years later, she has publicly alleged that her Kashmiri husband has “assaulted and tortured” her, since right after marriage.

The said case has generated serious debate in Kashmir in both online and real world. On the larger paradigm the issue of domestic violence has remained a serious issue in our part of the world.

The Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented Nari Shakti Puruskars for the year 2015 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan  (March 8, 2016) on the occasion of International Women’s Day had aptly highlighted the grave nature of this serious issue.

Speaking on the occasion, the former President had said we must remind ourselves most emphatically and as often as we can, that every member of our society male or female has, equally, the right to live in security, peace and dignity. It is intolerable that in this day and age, women are still being exposed to barbaric brutality and violence because they are women. Violence or fear of violence reduces the freedom and development of everyone, particularly our women and children. But more than that, it diminishes our society when it allows such inhuman treatment of its women rather than guarantee their safety, security and equal rights. On this day, let us all, Government, civil society and public at large, pledge to work together for developing relevant legal, administrative and other measures to ensure the safety and security of our mothers and sisters

The expert pulse on the ground is that Women can no longer be driven like cattle; hence they are termed rebellious and responsible for breaking up the family. Women must sacrifice; kill their dignity and ego to save the family, as if men are not part of a family. For patriarchal Muslims women must undertake every obligation, duty and hardship but men should enjoy every right and authority. They stress on shunning such outdated mentality.

Way Ahead

As the number of silent sufferers of  Domestic violence goes up, it becomes increasingly difficult to track the problem. Strengthening  the Women Commission, increasing awareness in women to resist the menace of domestic violence are the some steps to be taken immediately to wipe out the menace of domestic violence.

The authorities need to act soon and book all the culprits responsible for the monstrous crimes like Domestic violence.

Pulwama brutal act

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The killing of two cops in a brutal manner at South Kashmir district of Pulwama has angered entire Kashmir with condemnations pouring in from different quarters .  It is worth mentioning here that in a painful and heart-wrenching  episode on eve of holy night Shab e Qadar, two policemen were killed on Tuesday in a militant attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The militants launched an attack on the police guards at the Pulwama court complex.

“Two policemen were killed and one was injured in this attack. The militants escaped with the service rifles of the victims,” the police said.

Official sources stated that a group of militants opened fire upon the police post resulting in on spot death of two security guards and injury to another at Takiya Wagam opposite to Government Degree College Pulwama near Barpora Kareemabad.

Masses opinion was that the killing of two policeman on the blessed and respected night of Shab e Qadr is highly unfortunate and condemnable and it is clearly an act of cowardice to kill someone after prayers in sleep. From online to real world the heinous act was condemned . All the voices of sanity showed Solidarity with the families of policemen who were killed in Pulwama during the holy night and described the act as senseless act of violence . Such cycles of violence only go on to inflict huge pain on poor families of Kashmir who are shattered due to loss of their near and dear ones  .

One hopes sanity prevails on all sides and such unfortunate acts are not repeated .

Forget them not

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News Kashmir Exclusive

With the holy month of Ramadan about to end series of festivals are dawning the most important being the Eid al-Fitr which  is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). This religious Eid (Muslim religious festival) is the first and only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal.

In Kashmir the festivals come in backdrop of pain and violence hit background. At least 114 people, including 53 militants, 34 civilians and 27 security personnel, have lost their lives in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in the first four months of year . A ray of hope  is the Ramzan ceasefire announced by the Indian government on May 16, 2018, comes after a period of heightened armed violence and killings in Kashmir and as a result the death count in the holy month of Ramadan has come down.

 

The realities also call us on to remind the issues of orphans and widows, half-widows.

Due to violence of three decades in Kashmir the number of orphans has risen sharply after the cycles of violence clamed thousands of lives  , mostly young men, many of them fathers.The UK-based NGO Save the Children sometime back  put the number of orphans in Kashmir at 214,000 , 37 percent of whom have been ‘orphaned’ – either directly, due to their parents’ death, or indirectly, through poverty – by the conflict. The orphanages spread across the Kashmir Valley are full of children who still have one parent – mostly mothers – but have been driven by destitution into state-funded homes.

Issues faced by disappeared person families and half widows are also many.

While authorities estimate the missing to number approx 4,000, the Association of Disappeared Persons (APDP) estimates there are actually between 8,000 and 10,000 missing people in the region. The number of publicly announced and reported half-widows in the Kashmir valley is between 2,000 and 2,500..

Nasir  Khuehami

 

, a young journalist states -” The pain hit atmosphere of Kashmir and tragedies urge on all of us to celebrate the festivals no doubt with fervour and zest but maintain utmost austerity. We should contribute our bit to uplift the poor and downtrodden and help the orphans and heal the miseries of half widows. Let us take a pledge on the eve of these sacred festivals to make Kashmir a very best place to live for one and all. We also pray that conflict is resolved so that violence comes to an end. The need of the hour is to defnitely remember those in grief and visit them and also provide solace to victims of violence. “

Women have key role in Kashmir Peace-building: Expert voices

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Srinagar: The world of ours is plagued by violence and conflict. Kashmir has in the past three decades seen much worst impacts of the violence and at the receiving end of all this mayhem have been the women of Kashmir , who bear worst emotional, mental trauma over the loss of near ones.

With women shinning in all fields the talk is on to give center stage to the women in peacebuilding. We need to bear in mind that the inclusion of women can and must take many forms, especially in the effort to address rising global violent conflict that since the end of the Cold War has occurred within states, with armed insurgencies or civil wars tearing countries apart. The end to these conflicts cannot be forged through only a top-down peace process, with only armed actors at the negotiating table but giving women a proactive role.

To understand the all-round contours of the role of women in peacebuilding especially in the context of the violence-torn place like Kashmir we talked to women from diverse fields.

Samreen Geelani, a Research scholar stated – “Women is source of pivotal existence of creation and world is incomplete without women. In a conflict ridden and violence hit place like Kashmir the role of women in peacebuilding is quite important, as we have got this misconception that violence impacts men only and have centered the violence impacts, resolution process only around men whileas the violence and conflict have more damaging impacts on the women as she plays multiple roles in human relations .Directly or indirectly women bear most brunt when women loses husband to violence she has to play role of father as well as mother . If women are involved  more in decision-making process then we can build peace in violence torn place like Kashmir. Women by nature are best negotiators and peace builders .”

Chairperson Kashmir Women’s Collective Mantasha Binti Rashid, while talking to the Kashmir News Bureau stated – “ To understand the roles of women in peace-building or any other important roles we need to understand how much women is able to articulate her voice. The place of women in position of power is still less which weakens the role of women in political process and for that women needs to be empowered although one cannot deny the role of women as mother, wife or sister. Historically Kashmir was not a patriarchal society but with time our society has become much patriarchal as a result women do not get desired stage, power and role. Kashmiri women have a definite role in peacebuilding but for that, they need to get empowered and suffocation of women ended  . Men have failed globally so far to bring peace and now it is time to let women take their position in dialogue and resolution mechanism so that peace is ushered not just in Kashmir but elsewhere in the world. Women realizing their role and society breaking shackles around them and allowing them growth and empowerment would definitely let us see a peaceful world .”

On the other hand of the spectrum, women in polity have their own thoughts over the issue . Neelam Gash, Prominent leader of Ruling BJP , while talking to the Kashmir news bureau stated – “Women is the worst sufferer of violence. Whether anybody dies or gets arrested the women gets worst hit.Women is magnificent teacher as via the role of mother she learns to be trainer, peacemaker and if she up brings her child in a soft, balanced, educated way then the child can be groomed in best way away from violence and love of war and conflict.  Women as mother , sister can be best teacher to teach kids how to believe in the ultimate concept of coexistence and humanity and also make them learn how to tolerate and celebrate the religious and political differences of other humans.  Females have to play a great role in making Kashmir peaceful as currently we witness the youth of Kashmir having much rage and anger thus women can teach the kids from early age to shun the anger which destroys peace of mind. To make our younger generation awake about peace, humanity, value of life and tolerance women can be best guides and teachers. Thus women have utmost role to play in peace-building in a violent hit place like Kashmir. “

The nutshell analysis is that Gender equality is a stronger indicator of a state’s peacefulness than other indicators, such as GDP. We still have a long way to go in fully unleashing the potential and power of women in building and sustaining peace, especially in those countries most affected by violent conflict. And understanding and letting women play the same prominent role in peace-building can go long way in making Kashmir a peaceful place.

Courtesy : KNB

Kashmir: Dialogue positivity

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Dialogue is the ultimate solution of all conflicts and the violence hit Kashmir is craving for talks, peace, negotiations and dialogue. In a significant development in this regard on 7 June Thursday, 218 ,Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir addressed a press conference at Srinagar . Addressing the media at SKICC, Shri Singh said that the government is open for talks with anyone but they should be right-minded people in order to restore peace and tranquility in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Central Government’s special representative has visited the state 11 times. He appealed to all the sections of the society to introspect and come forward to help the Centre as well as State Government in bringing normalcy in Jammu & Kashmir. Recognizing the role of media, he requested for its support in this noble endeavor towards peace and development.

Pointing out towards the various elements hell-bent to spoil the future of the innocent youth, Home Minister appealed not to play with their future. These youth are not only children of Jammu and Kashmir but also of the whole country. Keeping this in mind, the government withdrew cases of first time offenders involved in Stone-pelting.

With bloodshed getting reduced to great extent during Ramadan month many are hoping that separatists, militants too will respond.

Pertinently, Home Minister Rajnath Sigh  said that the suspension of offensive operations against the militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramadan was keeping in view the interests of ordinary people of Jammu and Kashmir. He lauded the role of the security agencies who have executed their responsibilities professionally and with patience amidst provocations.

Undoubtedly one hopes positivity generated due to dialogue offer is strengthened and  sustained.

Peanuts from Power Projects

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NEWS KASHMIR EXCLUSIVE

Hydro-electricity or commonly known as the hydropower is the leading source of renewable energy. It provides more than 97% of all electricity generated by renewable sources. The main advantage of hydro systems is elimination of the cost of fuel. Hydropower on a small-scale is in most cases “run-of-river”, with no dam or water storage, and is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally benign energy technologies to be considered both for rural electrification in less developed countries and further hydro developments in developed countries.

In our part of the world, the hydro-electricity potential is quiet rich. Despite about 20,000 MW of the Hydro Electric Power potential of the State, only a small fraction of it has been harnessed so far. J&K State is one of the potential regions for generation of power through Hydro electric rotor, significant river basins of State having large potential of power generations of power include Indus and its tributaries, Jhelum and its tributaries, Chenab and its tributaries; as well as Tawi and other  water resources.

The another grave issue is that Kashmir according to voices has got just peanut share from the power projects as every time the state government  has raised the demand for the return of the power projects from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, it has got a snub from the government of India. The successive union power ministers have openly talked against the return of the projects, as agreed upon by ruling the PDP and BJP, in their Agenda of Alliance. Voices have also stated that  the projects undertaken by NHPC have significantly longer project execution period which depresses the equity returns during the construction period. The longer execution period coupled with regulated tariff for all the projects limits the potential upside on equity and  possibly lead to increase in project costs and tariff from these projects. Even top NHPC officials have in the past talked against the idea to give back the projects.

 

Advocate Nazir Malik, while talking toNews Kashmir  stated – “State especially the valley of Kashmir has got peanut share from the power projects generated from its  water resources .Take example of recent Kishengaga project which got Constructed at the cost of Rs 4,000 crore, the project that began in 2009, The HCC constructed this project on behalf of National Hydro Power Corporation. The memorandum of understanding was brazenly violated as the promised development of roads, giving public health care institutes to Bandipora was never implemented and the local populace just got peanuts. On environmental side, one is already aware that HCC has been no less than a catastrophe for the serenity of Bandipore. It is a well-known veracity that HCC diverted the chemically polluted water into the nearby beautiful and important streams of the area thus polluting Madhumati River, which is the main water source for whole Bandipore Township, and adjoining villages and all this has continuously made local population horrified. The lush green forest cover to was vandalized . The compensation that company had to ensure in lieu of this disaster has never been given

The realities call for the government to ensure state gets due share of its power projects .

 

MEDIA ROLE

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Media is an important institution of a civilized society and a prosperous nation. Currently as we would like to quote a famous quote – “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses” – Malcolm

In democratic societies Media is considered the fourth pillar of the state in these societies .Media is without doubt  the most powerful means of communication. It helps in cheering the right things on right time. It gives a real exposure to the mass audience about what is right or wrong. Even though media is linked with spreading fake news like a fire, but on the safe side, it helps a lot to inform us about the realities as well. The globe is moving towards progress in every walk of life. But when we look towards societies, it feels as if something is still absent. Money, power, lust, etc., is the wish of every human being to attain.

Media has a constructive role to play for the society as Media has unmistakably played an significant role in order to center on the social and political issues in approximately every age. It is the reality that in most of the eras, media were not being given free and fair chances to explore the issues of society more openly than it is being given now; but in the conflict ridden zones like Kashmir media continues to face the wrath from different sections for its objectivity. We all need to play our  role in building a constructive society via allowing press freedom.

Realities of time call on the stakeholders to ensure freedom of press  and let media play a role for building a great society.

youth issues

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Youth is the season of hope, but in Kashmir over the past three decades the youth have been worst hit due to violence and turmoil. In Kashmir  Young people are not given opportunities to prove themselves claiming that they are not equipped with experience to participate actively in shaping society.

 

As a matter of fact, Youth have bore the most horrible brunt of violence and bloodshed on account of lingering conflict. Killings, uncertainties, strikes have made youth of Kashmir to be at the receiving end.

The main issue faced by youth are violent circumstances, Unemployment and lack of political space. Infact unemployment is one of the serious problems faced by the youth of Kashmir. The unemployment in Kashmir is characterized by lack of opportunities ,  constant underemployment or disguised unemployment. The lack of private sector in Kashmir is making things worse for the youth unemployment problem is turning out to be disastrous for the healthy growth of society and overall life of youth . Unemployment on  youth of Kashmir on a large scale has resorted to multiple drawbacks – youth are resorting to drug addiction, violent tendencies . Unemployment is also one of the main reasons behind the rising mental stress and   suicides in the Valley of Kashmir

Democracy is the buzz word for our political system and Youth are its important constituent. The lack of political space among the youth in Kashmir is undoubtedly  among the prominent reasons of youth being pushed to wall as youth neither find any room for themselves  in mainstream nor separatist polity. Dynasty politics and its upper hand in mainstream polity of the state is a matter of great concern and a contributing factor in pushing youth to wall, according to ground pulse.

Time has come to address the youth issues .

Voices in Kashmir calling to follow Ramadan’s Message of peace and humanity

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The holy month of Ramadan has started in the entire Islamic world. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, it is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims desist from eating, drinking and sexual needs  from dawn until sunset.

As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon. Pertinently, Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

With the recent ceasefire announcement by the Government during month of Ramadan the masses are hopeful that this Ramadan passes on peacefully and becomes a foundation for achieving lasting peace and prosperity in Kashmir.

As a matter of fact, the Valley of Kashmir being predominantly a “Muslim” dominated area, so this holy month has special significance for the masses of Kashmir. The people of Kashmir are hopeful that peace and prosperity would return to Kashmir as virtue of this holy month.

We at the Kashmir News Bureau talked to diverse eminent, common voices to understand the basic crux of message of Ramadhan for global peace and humanity .

Eminent Scholar Professor .(Dr.)Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi, Senior Faculty Member at Kashmir University’s Islamic Study Department , while talking to the Kashmir News Bureau stated – “Holy month of Ramadan is the month of blessing . The essence of fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of Allah. Every good deed in this life has its roots in the self control and Ramadhan teaches in best way us the self control. Self control is the best way to learn patience, develop abhorrence towards violent behavior and have control over greed. Ramadan Message via self control for us the humans is to develop the passion towards harbingering global peace and humanity . Values of mercy, self control , tolerance learned via fasting should be followed throughout the year so that we strengthen the roots of global peace and humanity . Ramadan fast should enrich our self control, tolerance towards opposite world views , the passion towards following right path in life and if right lessons are learnt Ramadhan would for sure be a significant path builder in promoting global peace and humanity.”

Moulana Khurshid Ahmad Qunango, eminent religious scholar stated – “Ramadan teaches us to have control over bodily desires and I am of firm belief that if we transmit the very ideals into reality we would via message of Ramadhan usher global peace and harmony throughout the world. Holy Quran was revealed in Ramadhan and its teachings are clear and apt : Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32. ) . The world of ours including Kashmir which is full of bloodshed and misfortunes can move towards a better times if we really follow the message of tolerance, human brotherhood and humanity learnt in Ramadan. In our part of world,  it is not just health, wealth and luxury for which the Muslims in Kashmir would toil during Ramadan, dignified peace is also at the top of their prayers . “

Irshad Ahmad, a commoner stated – “Ramadan is the holiest month of year for the Muslims throughout the world. We need to bear in mind that the essence of fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. If we take the overall teachings of Ramadan in real perspective then it should help us in becoming better human beings and believe in leading a life of peace and compassion. It should also makes us tolerant towards others religions and make us real humanity lover. I hope that our younger generation entangled in so many troubles would take correct lessons and usher in a peaceful way of life via teachings of Ramadan.”

The pulse from expert voices to masses is that the great message of Peace, Humanity should be followed in letter and spirit by the Muslims of Kashmir and Muslims of entire world.  With Ramadan ceasefire in effect the hopes and optimism of seeing a peaceful and prosperous Kashmir remain all time high. (KNB)