News Kashmir Magazine

News Kashmir Analysis

 

 

Keeping in view the continued violence and unrest of Kashmir in mind the Home Minister Rajnath Singh was recently on a two day visit to Kashmir, his second visit in a month. As Kashmir unrest is on verge of completing two months post the killing of militant Commander Burhan Wani, the Home Minister invited all the stakeholders to talk within framework of humanity and democracy.

Pertinently, the vast section of civil society and entire pro-freedom leadership declined to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and it was seen by many analysts as a blow to efforts of vast outreach in solving kashmir.

In the joint Press conference on Thursday , August 25 by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Home Minister Rajnath Singh when asked whether the government would talk to the separatist Hurriyat leaders, Mr Singh said: “We are willing to talk to anyone within the scope of Kashmiriyat, Jamooriyat and Insaniyat.”

As the demand for visit by all party delegation is being found on ground zero he said that an all-party delegation would visit Kashmir soon and asked the state government to make preprations for same.

Pertinently, an officer will be appointed to tackle problems of Kashmiris outside the state, the home minister added.

On pellet gun

On the burning issue of pellet gun Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that they will soon announce a substitute to pellet guns in Kashmir. He said the committee formed to look into the issue of pellet guns will submit its report within two to four days.

 

Chief Ministers controversial words

Importantly, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti got angry and asked a reporter not to compare the situations of 2010 and 2016.

 

“You are wrong. What happened in 2010 had a reason. There was a fake encounter in Machil. Three civilians were killed. Today three militants were killed in an encounter and how is the government to be blamed for that.”

 

 

She said that people came out on the roads after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani even though the government had imposed a strict curfew.

 

 

“Had a kid gone to buy a toffee from an army camp? A 15-year-old boy who attacked a police station (in south Kashmir), had he gone to buy milk? Don’t compare the two,” she said

 

 

Condemning the joint press conference of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Nayeem Khan, Senior profreedom leader  stated -” Rajnath Singh visit has been a mere eyewash tactics.  If Mehbooba believes only five percent people are participating in agitation than why to shun away from referendum,and this is simply cruel, misleading, illogical statement. Calling for employing 10000 SPOs is a shameless policy of arrogance of power and aims at legalising state terrorism via these private militias. Kashmir is not law and order problem but a mass movement for referendum.

Surprisingly, MLA Langate Engineer Rashid during his meet with Home Minister Rajnath Singh urged on having plebiscite . He stated – “Kashmir can’t be ruled under the barrel of gun but blinding and maiming Kashmiris has only strengthened the sentiment of plebiscite.”

On holistic paradigm Home Minister Rajnath Singh Visit looked to be a lackluster visit.

 

 

Rameez Makhdoomi & Farzana Mumtaz

Kashmir is witnessing currently an unprecedented wave of unrest and agitation . Scores are dead, thousands injured and many other blinded due to infamous pellets in the 2016 agitation so far. Just few days back five persons were killed and 18 injured in fresh clashes in the Valley when security forces opened fire on protesters in Budgam district , raising the death toll to 65 in the unrest since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.

A look at past few Chief Ministers shows how throne of Kashmir is proving to be graveyard of reputations of chief ministers despite touted labels on account of unsettled political issue of Kashmir .

When Ghulam Nabi Azad was sworn in the 10th chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir at the picturesque Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex in November 2005 , it was a coronation with  euphoria and hope. He was the first non-kashmir valley Chief Minister of the state.

But in 2008 On 26 May 2008, the government of India and state government of Jammu and Kashmir reached an agreement to transfer 99 acres (0.40 km2) of forest land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) in the main Kashmir valley. To set up temporary shelters and facilities for Hindu pilgrims. This caused a controversy, with demonstrations from the Kashmir valley against the land transfer and protests from the Jammu region supporting it. The largest demonstration saw more than 500,000 protesters at a single rally, among the largest in Kashmir’s history. Scores were dead and injured in this agitation mainly in Kashmir valley.

As a consequence of this, Ghulam Nabi Azad   resigned on July 8, 2008 as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister after withdrawing his confidence motion at a special session of the Assembly.

The State at that time was put under Governor’s rule as no party was ready to stake claim to form a government in view of the Assembly elections in Octoberear that year. With this, the Congress-People’s Democratic Party coalition rule had come to an end.

 

On January 5, 2009, Omar Abdullah became the 11th and the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after forming a government in coalition with the Congress party. Tipped as Kashmir’s hope, he began with a clean slate and distanced himself from the political and administrative blunders committed by the previous governments.

But the year 2010 really worsened the reputation of Omar Abdullah as a leader. On June 11, 2010 as Tufail Ahmad Mattoo headed home from a tutoring center where he was studying for the medical entrance exam, a tear gas canister fired from close range bashed a hole in his skull. He died almost instantly. This tragic death led to 125 deaths of mostly young people throughout the Kashmir. For entire summer of 2010, the valley of Kashmir saw naked dance of death and destructions. Curfews and arsons became order of the day. All this resulted in major electoral debacle to Omar Abdullah lead NC in 2014 elections.

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. Hopes were raised once again.

 

And, already the 2016 unrest has taken much sheen out of her rule.

Syed Tajamul Imran, a young activist whole talking to news kashmir said, “Be it Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah or for that matter Mehbooba Mufti all have failed as Chief Minister’s of the state in one or the other respect.  Despite much hyped labels by National Media the unresolved kashmir dispute has made all of them face severe public anger. All these Chief Minister’s have faced serious civil agitations. Whatever be the sensation created especially by national media governing kashmir in peaceful manner is an impossible dream until Kashmir dispute is not settled.”

Political analysis and ground view is that political nature of Kashmir issue is making the governance of state of Jammu and Kashmir a daunting task.

 

Farzana Mumtaz

Kashmir is tremendously suffering on account of the prevailing situation which has worsened over the past few weeks, since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. With more than 55 deaths, 6000 injuries and about 200 mostly youngsters hit by pellets on eyes which has endangered their vision , the unabated  siege and curfew continuing since more than 35 days and simply now the human suffering has attained new heights in already browbeaten Kashmir.

Sharing the pain of the suffering Kashmiris, Parliament few days back unanimously appealed to people of the valley to restore peace and harmony even as the government expressed readiness to hold talks with moderate groups and others and decided to call an all-party meet on the issue.

But, many are not satisfied with this and terming it a mere rhetoric as they feel now there has been history of lip- service without much concrete action to end the pain and sufferings of Kashmir .

Syed Tajamul Imran, a young columnist while talking to News Kashmir Stated – “Human sufferings in Kashmir are tremendous . Kashmir on account of atrocities has been ruined. Our youngsters are falling to bullets and we have been reduced to a mourning place .Where are the voices of humanity and voices of conscience. Kashmir  is being brutalized under the barrel of gun. If political issues are not addressed and policy of suppression follow unabated it would have disastrous consequences. Yells, Pain, Cries have become our fortune. Sanity should prevail and issues, aspirations should be addressed .”

As rightly analysed, the crux of the Kashmir problem is very simple (although often carefully elided in many essays on the subject): The Kashmiris want a voice in their future.

Even the depth of pain is gauged from what is written on the social networking sphere , Muhammad Tauseef, a volunteer who has worked untiringly during this agitation to reach to distressed , writes on his facebook wall –“ Met an innocent looking and sober kid brother Shahid Ali today. The thirteen year old boy was a Hafiz-e-Qur’an in making who has already memorised about 22 chapters of the holy book. According to his relatives He, this year led the taraveeh prayers at Pinjoora Village in Shopian. He had been called at a congregation at his native place Chee, Islamabad to do the Tilawat (holy recitation) on last friday but received pellets in his eyes during the event. The noble kid laments that had the tragedy befallen him after completing his Hifz (complete memorisation of Qur’an) he would not have felt that bad. He also fears that his dream to be a Mufti (Islamic Jurist) might be shattered.

Also whilst his mother learned about the episode she left home in search of him only to receive a  volley of pellets in her abdomen including private parts….

I fall short of words to express my feelings but just one prayer may the might of Almighty come to our rescue.”

Be it the loss of vision   caused by the  pellet gun or the arrest spree and the continuous death cycle the pain and misery in Kashmir is heartrending.

 

News Kashmir Exclusive

Kashmir is witnessing unprecedented suffocation, siege in the current wave of 2016 agitation that erupted after killing of Burhan Wani, Hizb Commander. From North to South, Central to remote parts life is paralyzed in Kashmir since more than  one month now.

Downtown areas of Srinagar city also known as the old city areas and entire South Kashmir belt from Kakapora to Qazigund are under virtual siege . In North Kashmir, Frontier District of Kupwara is most volatile. Protests, curfews, arrests, blinding and maiming on account of pellet guns is the only news emanating currently from Kashmir .

 

Tempers are running high in each and every part of Kashmir valley especially after the killing spree of civilians . Just a few days back,  a guard at an ATM booth was found dead, with hundreds of pellets fired from close range, officials and residents said.

 

The cause of Riyaz Ahmad Shah’s death was confirmed by an autopsy report. Official sources revealed  that doctors who performed the post-mortem found over 300 pellets in his abdomen. The volunteers working in hospitals are revealing the horror that the Kashmir is witness to with the breakdown of state machinery looking imminent.

Muhammad Tauseef Mir , President Youth Council and one who has worked closely these days in hospitals while talking to News Kashmir states – “ I have seen the enormous brutality witnessed by Kashmir since past few weeks. Felt heart wrenched recently  to discover a young brother from Pulwama who was earlier discharged from the hospital whom I had seen nearly 20 days back at the ophthalmology ward with pellet injuries in one of his eyes admitted at the hospital yet again. He was among the first lot of pellet (eye) victims admitted at the SMHS. Upon my enquiry he told me that since day first he had been played upon; with his surgery delayed every day. Many a times including few days he was made to wait at the Operation theatre and later sent back to the ward without being operated upon. Hope he is attended by the Doctors soon before his other eye also gets involved. There are similar other stories too.

With all this happening and over the days of my work at SMHS hospital Srinagar I have discovered a hybrid of suppression and pretence being employed by the state and its functionaries to deal hidden blows to the browbeaten people:

1: As per our informal conversations with some staff members, the hospital claims to have operated about 206 pellet (eye)patients out of 262 admitted there so far. Out of this 3 have been rendered fully blind and 3 happen to have lost one eye. But the fact is many of the patients like the above mentioned case were sent home after a superficial treatment of a few days and with pellets still stuck in their eyes to be called for follow-up after a few weeks, just to not let the people and media know how many are being blinded by the state. Moreover, the initial eyewash and first-aid of the eye is being counted as surgery to inflate the figure of surgeries performed like above, whereas the most of the patients who are returned home have hardly regained their vision. In a way the state is actualizing its blinding campaign in ways more than one; some hidden and some manifest.

2: Now if the family wants to have a second opinion elsewhere, or get the patient treated outside the hospital does not give the medical records of the patients. The patients as such are discharged without any medical documents, which the hospital denies the patients. It anyways creates a major hindrance in the cure and treatment of the patients.

3: Many of the family members of the patients have been complaining of regular calls from police to enquire about the patient, just to further mentally suppress and harass them and bundle up the patient as soon as he is out of the hospital in a stable condition.

4: The patients and their attendants are given medicine, food and other stuff by voluntary organizations belying the tall claims of the government that they are providing the stuff. For instance one of the camps that I have been volunteering with has a daily consumption of about 4 and half quintals of rice (approx 5000 plates), around 20Kg mutton for soup, tea and bread worth 15000 bucks approx, etc. and there are many other camps working on similar scale and lines….similarly many other medicinal camps distribute medicine worth lakhs daily, and the government is literally nowhere in doing its bit unlike its claims.

As such all the claims are mere eyewash, everything is done by the people further consolidating the fact that we are worth independence.”

 

Unambiguously, Kashmir is under complete suffocating siege currently.

Farzana Mumtaz

Pellet Gun has come to symbolize  new face of tyranny  in Kashmir over the past few years. Loss of Vision, terrible injuries and often fatalities have been aftermath of deadly pellets fired from  pellet guns on humans of Kashmir. Pertinently, a pellet is a non-spherical projectile designed to be fired from an air gun. Air gun pellets differ from bullets and shot used in fire arms because of the pressures encountered: airguns operate at pressures as low as 50 atmospheres, while firearms operate at thousands of atmospheres.

Even during the current wave of unrest, the indiscriminate use of pellet gun is giving nightmare to people of Kashmir with analysis emerging that-“Pellet Guns Are Giving Kashmir’s Young & Restless A Dark Future”. Pellets impact on vision of Kashmiris has been devastating

The brutal pellets have in this current wave of unrest destroyed vision of scores of boys and girls in kashmir.

. Ninth class student Insha Malik  resembles the brutalism inflicted by pellets as she has lost vision in her left eye that was pierced by pellets fired by forces, and doctors say there are “zero chances” of the teenager regaining vision in her right eye, also badly damaged by the pellets. Her case has gained worldwide attention owing to media coverage.

 

14-year old Insha, one of more than 100 pellet victims, few days back was  lying unconscious in the Surgical ICU of general specialty SMHS hospital here. Her face and neck resemble a wire-mesh with dozens of holes made by pellets therein.

Pertinently, Out of the thousands injured are 180 protesters including children and women who were hit by pellets. Reportedly more than 40 have lost their eyesight.

“The pellets have ruptured her right eye and it has come out. The left eye is lacerated with zero chance of recovery,” said a doctor attending to her. Insha hails from Sedow village of south Kashmir’s Shopian.

The doctor added: “She does not even have perception of light in the eye that she is left with.”

The book by Mannan Bukhari titled scars of pellets released last year that depicted pain of pellet victims documents 2010 SKIMS study which shows that from June 2010 to September 2010 alone, 198 patients were identified who had sustained pellet gun-fire wounds with patients ranging from minor age of 6, elder ones being 54. Most of the patients suffer multiple wounds and at instances even 70 to 80 wounds.

 

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a journalist and one who has covered pellet victims states -” Pellet is yet another horrible weapon used against the browbeaten nation of Kashmir as since six years of its inception it has devastated vision of many Kashmiris and Pellet is a round ball loaded with lead. If it penetrates the eye, which is a water ball, damage is done. In this agitation it has been used brutally by government forces to smash the vision of Kashmiris and this pellet represents a blot on the so called democratic credentials of India. It is shame that the authorities are still adamant not to replace this weapon of tyranny. It is high time for conscience voices to impress upon the government to ensure its ban .”

Undoubtedly, Pellet is shattering many a dreams in Kashmir and making people blind forever.

News Kashmir Exclusive

Kashmir is current bruised, caged, gagged and suffocated as the continuous unrest has killed scores and blinded , wounded many. As a matter of fact, Rape victims, pellet victims, unmarked graves, fake encounters, tortures, killed protesters, gagging internet, snapping communication, peace of graveyards ,useless inquiries have defined handling of Kashmir conflict.

All the voices of sanity are expressing deep angst over the gloomy state of affairs.

 

Advocate Babar Jan Qadri , President Lawyers Club states – “ Indian integrity in Kashmir is exposed to the hilt as Indian state had to show its control over Kashmir through media gag , brutal use of force and even killing Kashmiris . Indian democracy and civility is now under question at international level . Gandhi’s Indian principles will have no takers and Indian state can’t use Gandhi as currency to buy UN permanent seat. Indian Prime Minister Modi who is already exposed in Gujarat will have lot  to answer about Kashmir killings too . By Media Gag Indian state has shown it’s feeble character as no democratic system strangulates it’s so called 4th limb. In totality we can define Indian state as a political opportunist who wants to earn political space by inviting world economic powers to her home .”

Many a voices on ground feel that Indian state has failed to meet the aspirations of Kashmiris and no sense and logic has been applied to solve Kashmir issue.

While talking to News Kashmir , Senior Advocate and Spokesperson Lawyers Club , Iftikhar Ahmad states -” Kashmir is being brutally caged and suppressed .Indian or pro-indian politicians have started the old game of deception technology, time buying technology and sabotage of popular mass movement.

They are again talking of healing touch , autonomy , azaadi means different to different people in kashmir , sky is the moon , art. 370 should not be fiddled, jobs to youth ,economic development , tourism all party delegation should go to kashmir and put balm on the wounds of people , no harm in talking to hurriat , militants , mis-guided youth. , elections were rigged , they are our own people , Indian did not own kashmiri people , we coudnt keep our promise , alienation,  children education etc

GOI and collaborators are talking these niceties while killing people , blinding youth , disabling people , arresting youth ,By keeping people of Kashmir under the siege.
By talking autonomy and then dispatching autonomy report to dustbin.
By appointing interlocutors and then sending their reports to shit-bin
By changing the demography of the State.
By holding  jammu and Kashmir by adding more and more troops to  eight lakh troops ,already most militarized territory in the world.

By blaming each move on Pakistan while gagging mobile service,telephony , internet , cable and even print media.
By explaining which weapon is more lethal to crush the people of Kashmir .

By promising the Moon and settling for bullets , and pellet terrorism.”

On ground definitely the caging and gagging of Kashmir has failed to curb the sentiments of masses .

 

News Kashmir Analysis

 

The age in which we live can only be characterized as one of barbarism. Our civilization is in the process not only of being militarized, but also being brutalized———Alva Myrdal

The above quote sums up the current heart wrenching situation of Kashmir .

The fires of political unrest have engulfed Kashmir once again, with 40 death and thousands injured  and the situation in Kashmir looks to be heading from bad to worse with every passing day. Killing of unarmed protesters, impairing vision via indiscriminate use of pellet guns, ruthless beating of protesters suggest that humanity is being murdered in Kashmir. About a 100 people have also been reported to have lost their vision completely.

 

All this started with the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani. As a matter of fact, Burhan Wani’s funeral was attended by lacs of people, and despite tough restrictions, the funeral venue was so crowded there was virtually no space to conduct funeral prayers.

Wani, 22, is largely accredited with reviving and legitimising the image of militancy in  Kashmir via the social networking skills he had.

Humanity looks to have taken the worst hit in Kashmir during the previous and current upheaveals.

Mushtaq ul Haq Sikander, a political analyst stated – “The brutal face of Indian state has once again been unveiled before the whole world, as they have once again started killing innocent protestors. Humanity, non violence, Gandhism, and Democratic values that India boasts about have all been proving an ugly hoax in Kashmir since 1947. The brutal Hindutva and dictatorial stance of India has been completely exposed in the present mass protests in Kashmir. The humanity, has died in India but is alive and thriving in Kashmir as we are serving the amarnath pilgrims, attending to the injured and upholding our Rishi tradition. Our humanity is alive, but it seems to be dead in the land of Ram and Gandhi.”

 

 

Even the voices among mainstream polity are aghast .MLA Langate Er Rasheed , while talking to News Kashmir Magazine on the situation stated that  “While from US State Department to UN Secretary General everybody is showing its concern and seeks peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute, New Delhi is busy in finding excuses to justify its terror on streets of Kashmir. It is unfortunate that not only PM Narendar Modi but all political parties including Congress, are running away from the problem and are not only trying to present J&K issue as a law and order problem but are busy in scoring political points over each other. However they know better, whether it is armed struggle of 1989, Amarnath land row of 2008, situation after the rape and murder of Asia and Neelofar in 2009, unrest of 2010 or now the killing of Burhan Wani and other incidents from time to time,  all these incidents do just act like triggers to give an outburst to the anti-India and pro-Aazadi sentiments among masses. Rather blaming Pakistan, GOI should understand that world community doesn’t need India’s or Pakistan’s permission to speak for the sufferings of Kashmiri people and sooner or later world community will have to force and facilitate a peaceful settlement. ”

In nutshell, Humanity in kashmir has been brutalized to large extent by the nature of atrocities committed against masses.

News Kashmir Bureau

Clean, safe drinking water is becoming scarce in the once water rich valley of Kashmir. The water woes are getting more aggravated in this holy month of Ramadan. People throughout the length and breadth of the Kashmir valley are complaining about the scarcity of potable water and many areas are witnessing protests as a result.

Pertinently, Downtown areas of Srinagar city are specially hit by this water scarcity and even once water sufficient areas are getting low volumes of water. The other areas like Batmaloo,Iddgah, Rawalpora have also  been facing dire problems with reference to drinking water.  In many areas of Kashmir the water supply schemes are taking much time to mature.

Even the rural areas like Pattan, Tral, Tangmarg etc are hit by this acute water scarcity.

In worrying statistics, more than 40 per cent of the rural areas in Jammu and Kashmir do not have access to proper drinking water facilities but the state government has guaranteed that all such habitations will be covered by 2020.

Pertinently,  state has 15,798 rural habitations, out of which 8,535 habitations (54 per cent) are fully covered and are being provided drinking water at 40-55 litres per consumer daily, Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Farooq Ahmad Andrabi said at the Legislative Council recently .

As a matter of fact, the water crisis has reached the Assembly as recently  PDP MLA from Sonawar, Muhammad Ahsraf Mir, said that people in his constituency are “crying” for drinking water.

 

“People in my constituency are facing immense problems because of water scarcity. They have been continuously complaining about it, but the government is not addressing the issue,” Mir said.

 

Mir said that the officials in PHE are giving wrong information to the government and especially to the minister concerned about availability of water and water supply schemes.

 

“Strict action should be taken against these officers for misleading the minister and the government,” he said, adding, “The information provided about water supply schemes and pipeline is totally baseless. The officers have said that Rs. 10 lakh have been spent for pipes, but only less than Rs. 1 lakh has been spent so far,” he said.While replying to the legislator, Minister for Rural Development Abdul Haq Khan assured that action will be taken against the “erring” officials.

Representatives from several other constituencies have raised the issue of scarce water in their areas.

Abdul Ahad, a commoner while talking to News Kashmir states- “ We the people from Downtown are facing thirsty Ramadan on account of lack of water supply which is giving rise to multiple problems as we all know that water is life. The concerned authorities should wake up and ensure quality and uninterrupted water supply to us.”

Undoubtedly, people throughout the valley are facing acute shortage of water which is making life more difficult especially in the fasting month of Ramadan.

News Kashmir Analysis

Violence has started to revisit the already turbulent valley of Kashmir. Series of acts of violence have followed one another indicating that the summer 2016 is going to be full of unrest in Kashmir valley. A glance at recent violent acts hint that graph of violence is running at a very high pace in Kashmir .

In the month of May several cops and militants were killed in attacks and encounters. June has witnessed much more deadly violence. A Jammu and Kashmir Police sub-inspector and a constable were killed on Saturday the 4th June when militants  attacked a police party in Anantnag district in a sensational attack .

Soon after this violent episode, the South Kashmir Bijbehra township was rocked by deadly attack   when  Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were killed in a militant  attack in Bijbehara .

 

As the details followed three jawans of Border Security Force (BSF) were killed and seven others were injured when their convoy was attacked by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’sBijbehara .Three civilians were also injured in the attack considered to be as a guerrilla attack on the security forces.

 

In a latest episode on 15th June , there were two grenade attacks by militants within a span of 10 minutes in Shopian district of Kashmir this evening, resulting in injuries to two civilians.

 

The first attack took place at 5.30 pm when militants threw a grenade at the police station building complex in Shopian town, a police official said.

 

The grenade exploded in the compound of the police station without causing any damage, he said.

 

In the second attack, the militants threw a grenade at Batapora chowk, about 200 metres away from the police station, resulting in injuries to two civilians.

 

The injured persons have been admitted to District Hospital for treatment, the official.

The chain of violent events has been witnessed in every region of Kashmir since past few months. Recently,  a  soldier was killed and at least four militants killed in an encounter in border area of North Kashmir  .

Lamenting these killings, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has some time back stated that such violent incidents hamper peace efforts between India and its neighbour.

“If we create a conducive atmosphere, only then will the two countries be able to talk. If incidents like this and Pathankot happen then Pakistan should also think about it. They (Pakistan) are fighting this menace in their country. They say they have affection for the people of Kashmir, but what sort of affection is this,” she asked.

Ajaz Ahmad, a political watcher states –“the periods of violence have hit the valley of Kashmir from time to time and it is this atmosphere of uncertainty that has kept the Kashmir under boil. We should understand that unsolved political issue of Kashmir is keeping the situation continuously volatile and turbulent. Confidence building measures with reference to solving political issue of Kashmir are need of the hour.”

Gauging the scale of violence of past few months in Kashmir the challenges for recently formed government of PDP BJP seem to be getting more tough and pronounced.

 

 

News Kashmir Exclusive

Brands and items represent a nation on global radar. Despite volatile situation Kashmir has been known for producing great crafts as Kashmiri Handicrafts holds a rich history of craftsmanship and the residents of this valley have skillfully nurtured their cultural heritage. But over the time fake products being sold in the name of Kashmiri handicrafts has ruined the image of Brand Kashmir. Even the recent controversy revolving around Khyber Milk ruined the reputation of Kashmir’s Corporate and branding sector. The Health and Medical Education Department, in its order No HD/Legal/Drug/MR-56/2016 dated 06-04-2016 had  ordered that no milk or milk product of the company be available for human consumption till these products are declared safe by a referral laboratory in Kolkata.

 

One cannot reflect on this issue without having a glance of golden legacy.Pandit Anand Koul, a noted writer giving an account of the development of these crafts writes, “Zain-ul-Abidin turned Kashmir into a smiling garden of industry inculcating in the hearts of the people sane conceptions of labour and life and also implanting in their minds the germs of real progress. He introduced correct measures and weights and made artisans and traders take solemn oaths (which in those halcyon days one could not easily break) not to kill their golden goose by cheating and swindling. He thus promoted commercial morality and integrity and industrial righteousness-qualities which constitute the backbone of a people’s credit and reputation. It was through these virtues that the Kashmiris successfully carried on shawl and other trades at a period when Kashmir was an isolated country and communications with outside world were very difficult.”

Lateef Ahmad , an expert voice states –“Handicrafts items fetch good foreign exchange revenue to the Jammu and Kashmir and over five lakh persons are engaged in handicrafts and handloom sectors the state. Painfully enough, the issue of fake craft products has been taken seriously by the government and only few solutions to this problem have also been proposed.

Expert voices have been demanding that GI registration of handicrafts has already helped many states. Tamil Nadu has the third largest number of registered GIs for handicrafts and handlooms after Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. According to these voices the need of hour is to bring more Kashmiri crafts under GI. Once GI registration is received for all major handicraft products, it will help to build up “brand Kashmir” of handicrafts across globe.

 

 

On the otherhand recent controversy in which the government has issued orders for implementing the judgment of Judicial Magistrate Budgam and ordered Controller Drug and Food Control Organisation to “remove milk and milk products manufactured by Khyber Agro Farms Private Limited ‘immediately’ has also raised many questions on the practices adopted by the corporate houses of Kashmir.”

Be it the issue of fake items sold in name of Kashmiri Handicrafts or the Khyber Milk controversy of recent times serious questions are being raised about business culture of Kashmir and amid all this Brand Kashmir is taking a hit.

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