News Kashmir Magazine

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 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 .

A historic ordinance to tackle sexual crimes against children has been approved by the Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra that will go long way in crushing brutal crimes.  Few days back, Governor N. N. Vohra has promulgated the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 and the Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Children from Sexual Violence Ordinance, 2018.It comes in backdrop of  rise   in violence against women in general and sexual violence in particular in various parts of the country, including the State of J&K, need was felt to carry out certain amendments in the Criminal Laws (the Ranbir Penal Code, Samvat, 1989; the Code of Criminal Procedure, Samvat, 1989; and the Evidence Act, Samvat, 1977) on the analogy of   the amendments made in the Central Criminal Law in 2018, said an official spokesman.

The Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 seeks to amend: (i) the Ranbir Penal Code, Samvat, 1989; (ii) the Code of Criminal Procedure Samvat 1989; and (iii) the Evidence Act, Samvat, 1977.

The ordinance is being seen as path breaker and is generating positive vibes .

The salient features of the aforesaid Ordinance include:

Committing rape on a woman under sixteen years of age has been made punishable with rigorous imprisonment for twenty years and may extend to life sentence, which shall mean remainder of that person’s natural life. Committing rape on a woman under twelve years of age has been made punishable with death sentence.

Gang Rape on a woman under sixteen years of age has been made punishable with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life

Gang Rape on woman under twelve years of age has been made punishable with death sentence .Investigation in such cases is to be completed within a period of two months

Trial to be completed within six months and reasons for any delay shall need to be communicated to the High Court.It has been provided that no Bail shall be granted without hearing the Public Prosecutor.

In Nutshell, in curbing the heinous crimes against children especially girls this legislation is seen as a historic measure by all voices of sanity in unison.

Forests which are also known as the Green Gold of any concerned region are vital to our existence. The decreasing forest cover due to human greed and development projects carved is making world pay a big price in form of rising temperatures and ecological imbalance.

Kashmir is famous  world over for its natural beauty. It is often called paradise on earth. Kashmir has unique gift of nature in form of its great gorgeous forests, which are throughout the year lush green and add dazzling dimensions to the natural beauty of Kashmir . But for quiet long time now, the green gold of Kashmir has been vandalized and the situation continues to remain bleak.

 

 

 

Famous for its lush green forests, the Kashmir valley is slowly losing its green cover as there is no stopping the haphazard and illegal cutting of trees and timber smuggling. Several reports from ground zero indicate that the green gold in Kashmir is openly being plundered by vested interests and the authorities seem to have turned a blind eye to the forests.

 

 

 

On account of ruthless cutting of forests, “Global warming” appears to have taken a toll on the climate patterns in Kashmir valley which has been experiencing a decline in snowfall and rise in temperature, a reality which even weather scientists have found.

 

On the other side of the spectrum , the last 3-4 decades have see massive  devastation of forests in almost every country, apart from for a few exceptions, mainly in the continent of Europe. Now, there are two kinds of countries: one, that have reversed the trend of deforestation, and, second, that be in this world with the sorry reality of declining forest cover. Sadly, we belong to the second category. The impact of deforestation is visibly destructive for us.

The need of the hour is for all the stakeholders to brainstorm in a collective manner and save the fragile forest cover of Kashmir from further destruction

In a recent important political development, the induction of Kathua MLA Rajiv Jastrotia of  BJP  as a minister in the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet during the reshuffle has triggered a fresh controversy with sane voices expressing anguish, raising question over his participation in a rally to favor the accused in Kathua minor’s rape and murder case for which BJP earlier forced two of its stalwarts to quit the state cabinet.

Even the profreedom camp who usually do not comment on cabinet reshuffles condemned the move. The joint resistance leadership of separatists JRL said that inducting another organizer of the Pro rapist rallies Ravinder Jasrotia into the government clearly shows that BJP does not believe in deviating from its politics of polarization and appeasement of certain communities for votes, even on a basic human issue like this, which is not surprising. It just reinforces the fact of how helpless the local collaborators, the PDP are and how shameless they can be to stay on for the sake of chair. It also indicates how much justice can be expected for Kathua child  from a system run by such people.

Whileas on the otherhand, Reacting sharply to the elevation of “pro-rapist” MLA Kathua Rajiv Jasrotia, who had hosted a pro rapist rally in Kathua, into state Cabinet, the Kashmir Economic Alliance Chairperson Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan said his forums would boycott events where ever Jasrotia is invited as a guest.

Pertinently, Khan who also heads the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation said it was unfortunate that to be in power the ruling PDP was rubbing shoulders with pro-rapist faces, who want release of gangsters involved in gang-rape and murdered an eight year old girl.

Undoubtedly this move has created lot of anger and resentment.

In a landmark and unprecedented decision by the Judiciary , Mushtaq Ahmad Peer, a former chairman of Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE), was on Wednesday sentenced to 16 years in prison and fined Rs 1 crore in the multi-crore cash-for-paper scam.
Sajad Ahmad Bhat, who brokered between Peer and students, was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined Rs 50 lakh by special anti-corruption judge Kashmir Yash Paul Bourney.

Two other persons who were part of the deals, Muhammad Amin Ganai and Suhail Ahmad, were sentenced to five and three years each under various offences. The sentences would run consecutively. Each of them was fined Rs 25 lakh recoverable from their assets.
Haroon Rashid Lone and Shabir Ahmad Dar, who are also part of the scam, will serve consecutively sentences of three years each and pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh each.
On the otherhand, Senior advocate Bashir Ahmad Bashir said that the judgment is unprecedented.
Pertinently, Of the total 54 accused persons in the case, 46 have been convicted and eight acquitted. Among the convicts are students and their parents who have been sentenced to one year and six years respectively.
The court said fine imposed on Peer should be recovered from his assets.
Peer was sentenced under four different offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and various provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code, carrying a sentence of five, three, seven and one year, which will run consecutively.
The broker, Sajjad Ahmad, would serve sentences of five and seven years consecutively. The fine of Rs 50 lakh should be recovered from the sale of his movable or immovable assets, the court said.
The court said that parents and guardians named Bilal Ahmad Vaid, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone, Muhammed Yousuf Dar, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Abdul Qadir Rather, Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Muhammed Shafi Bandh, Muhammed Iqbal Reshi, Fida Hussain, Muhammed Amin Mir, Altaf Hussain Shah, Jan Muhammed Dar, Mushtaq Ahmed Kenu, Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, Abdul Hamid Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Tantray, Dar Praveen, and Dr Sabina are sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of three years for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and RPC. They were fined Rs 5 lakh each.
The parents and guardians will also serve three years for fraud. Further  The court said that the case “would have not seen the light of day” if it were not for former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court MM Kumar’s “unrelenting tirade against delays and arrears in general and corruption in particular with deep sense of responsibility to the cause of justice”.
“Without the intervention of lord chief justice this case would not have been investigated and tried with so much of seriousness and promptitude,” the court said.
The court also hailed inspector Syed Afaq’s efforts for not only “cracking the scam but also remaining available during the trial”.
“I also need to put on record my whole hearted appreciation for the excellent legal support extended by the learned counsels,” the court said

Definitely this historic judgment on BOPEE Scandal is worth applauds and will serve deterrent against corrupt elements.

 

The Kathua rape and murder of a child has no doubt not only rattled our state but entire globe .The need of the hour was to raise our voice and concern , but the daily student protests are now becoming unwanted and adversely impacting their education prospectus. To add to it, the larger woes are that since some years students making protest activity a fun and making it a reason to not attend educational institutes.

Resonating the sentiment of advising the students to go back to classes many voices are taking to social media to voice their opinions. Pertinently, Works Minister and senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar on Thursday said that there was no reason for the students in Kashmir to hold protests over Kathua rape-and-murder case when the accused were already behind bars.

“What is the occasion for protests, stone pelting [over Kathua case] when case is solved, accused in jail and trial on? Shouldn’t they be attending classes instead,” Akhtar wrote in reply to a tweet of a journalist.

The need of the hour is to guide the innocent students and not to exploit their emotions for politics, the trilateral responsibility of civil society, government and parents to ensure that our young students get maximum time in schools, colleges and universities is paramount and we need to fulfill this duty aptly. Students should with calmer head go back to classes.

The basic crux  that we hold dear to our heart as being citizens of  a democracy is that we live in a nation governed by laws and rule of law is supreme.

But the attitude shown by the Kathua Magistrate’s Court Bar Association who lodged a protest against the seven accused being chargesheeted for the rape and murder of an 8-year-old Asifa is shameful .

Not only this they blocked the office of the Crime Branch to prevent the police from filing the chargesheet.  While we all are aware about the fact that a chargesheet is merely a charge, it is not proof of guilt or innocence.

Sane and rationale voices state that If the Kathua Lawyers  thought the accused were innocent, it is an argument that ought to have been taken up in court. The law after all presumes innocence. It is no excuse to block a chargesheet. It is no excuse to prevent the police from doing their jobs and resorting to hooligan tactics.

On the otherhand, About the horrific rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua, Union minister VK Singh recently  tweeted demanding “justice For Ashifa”, and added, “we have failed her as humans”. “We have failed Ashifa as humans. But she will not be denied justice,” tweeted Singh.

The demand of the time is that communal, hooligan thoughts and methods are shun and government does everything to ensure Justice to Asifa and give exemplary punishment to culprits  who committed this heinous crimes.

The significance of airports in development of a nation is paramount. Airports play a considerable role in economic development, and the most important cargo they move is people. Airports are much more than places to catch planes, attend an in-transit business meeting, or do some duty-free shopping; they are among the largest investments a city and region make.

On the otherhand, Efficient logistics is critical for countries like India to harness trade and facilitate greater & faster integration with both the domestic as well as world economy. Keeping all this in mind 56 new airports will become functional in the next few years, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Shri Suresh Prabhu said at the two days Global Logistics Summit being held in New Delhi.

The Minister further said that by bringing all the stakeholders together it will create the right platform to improve logistics and connectivity which are vital for increasing intra-state and international trade flows.

As a matter of fact, Indian logistics industry is estimated at around US $ 215 billion in 2019-20, growing at over 10 % annually. In the last decade or so, significant improvements in Railways, Roads, Highways, Inland Waterways, Aviation, Ports and Coastal Shipping have taken place. India has improved its ranking in the Logistics Performance Index (prepared by the World Bank) from 54 in 2014 to 35 in 2016. To keep up with the growth in demand for logistics services, it is important to develop a consistent approach to logistics across infrastructure, services and different modes of transportation.

Definitely the prospect of seeing many airports in future in India has raised hope of fast economic growth in the country .

Silk production is key component of Indian economy and has been the integral part of our civilization. The exquisite products of silk form the pride of the country at global markets.

In a heartening development, India will be self-reliant in the production of silk by 2020, said the Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani in a media interaction . The Union Cabinet’s decision approving the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry will help increase the production of Bivoltine silk (high quality) by 62 percent by 2020. The Minister further said the aim of the government is to increase the number of people engaged in the silk sector from 85 lakhs to one crore in the next three years. She said, 50 thousand people will be trained in this sector. Smt. Irani told media that an inter- ministerial committee of related ministries will be set up under the Textiles Ministry to disburse a sum of Rs. 1000 crores for development of Research & Development.

On the otherhand, Seed production units will be equipped and strengthened, besides increasing the production capacity to cater to the increased demand for silk in the future. Elaborating further the Minister said that under Digital India, web-based solutions will be provided to farmers engaged in seed production and other allied activities. Farmers and seed producers will get all subsidy by Direct Benefit Transfer.

The minister informed that market development is a very important area and 21 cocoon testing centres are being set up in the main silk producing states of the country. Apart from this, 19 basic silk seed farms, 20 silk worm seed production centres, 131 chawki rearing centres and 500 acres of land is being set aside for improved varieties.

But Worryingly  in Kashmir once the booming silk production is crashing .