News Kashmir Magazine

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

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

Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi, who triggered controversy for using a Kashmiri man as ‘human shield’, during election day protests has reportedly been arrested by the police.

Senior Journalist Nazir Masoodi tweeted : Locals caught an Army major along with a girl in a Srinagar hotel, handed them over to police station Khanyar.Police say legal proceedings have been initiated. Major is posted at Beerwah area of Budgam district.

Another Journalist Aasif Suhaf tweeted : Army Major Gogoi (who had tied a person with jeep in april 2017 during by-elections) has been caught by locals & than handed over to police along with another person & a local girl from a local Hotel at Khanyar in Srinagar, Police initiated proceedings in the case .. top sources.

Farzana Mumtaz

Taking a most important step in the direction of women empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir state , CM Mehbooba Mufti led government on Friday abolished stamp duty on the properties being registered in the name of female members of the family.  Pertinently, The move is aimed to encourage women to own the property in the turmoil hit  Jammu and Kashmir state .

Taking to Social Media Website Twitter, Mehbooba Mufti, the first women Chief Minister  of the state tweeted – “

Pleased to announce that we have abolished stamp duty on the sale of property registered in the name of females. This incentive will encourage families to register their properties in the name of their sisters, daughters, wives & mothers. Women, as of now own bare minimum immovable assets even after contributing the maximum to our society.”

In other related development, People’s Democratic Party (PD) chief spokesperson, Rafi Ahmad Mir has lauded the decision of chief minister for taking a path breaking initiative in line of empowerment of women where a blanket exemption of stamp duty on transfer of property has been granted to women.

Talking to News Kashmir, Sanam Ara, a housewife stated – “ It is a very good intiative by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Government to abolish stamp duty on the properties being registered in the name of female members of the family.  It would really prove a mile stone in the struggle for giving due rights to women.”

News Kashmir Exclusive

Within hours of getting sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and senior BJP Leader Kavinder Gupta  sparked a major controversy after he called the incident of rape of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu’s Kathua  district  a “small incident”.

Surprisingly, the minister later accused the media of misinterpreting his statement.

All the voices of sanity slammed his statement , former chief minister Omar Abdullah took to social media website twitter and said Mehbooba seemed confused about her stand on the Kathua case. Pertinently, Omar pointed out that two BJP ministers were “removed in J&K for attending a pro-rapist rally & an MLA who is reported to have attended the same rally is promoted as a minister”.

It is worth mentioning here that the Union Cabinet  approved the introduction of the death penalty for those who rape children, amid uproar over a series of high-profile cases. As a matter of fact, the change to the country’s penal code applies to those convicted of raping a child under the age of 12.

This landmark decision was taken as there  have been nationwide protests in recent weeks over the gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl at Kathua, the same episode termed small incident  by the BJP leader and deputy CM Kavinder Gupta..

“This has been a disastrous remark by the deputy CM Kavinder Gupta and he should have known very well that his induction cabinet was necessitated after his colleagues were shown exit after making communally charged and insensitive stand on kathua rape and murder of child, stated a political analyst, while talking to the News Kashmir

News Kashmir Desk

Former Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu this evening issued a statement to press as he was sacked for his statement calling Kashmir a social issue .

The complete details are as under:

“Even as I issue this statement, I have no formal or even personal communication either from the government or from the party about my being dropped from the Cabinet on 12th of March. I stand informed by the media first as a speculation then as a fact.

I deem it necessary to set the record straight.

On the PHDCCI Speech:

The speech I delivered on the 9th of March 2018 focussed on a thought that has been on my mind: the role of civil society in resolving the issue of Kashmir.

Speaking to a select gathering of Ambassadors and industrialists, who could be possible investors in peace in J&K, I tried to make the point that Kashmir was not only a political issue to be resolved by the nation state of India and the successive governments at the centre and the state, but that there is a social issue that needs to be resolved at the level of the civil society.

It was made in the larger context of how our society has been ravaged and has impaired real-life situations and sensibilities especially of the youth. As an example, relevant to the Ambassadors present, I quoted the case of the travel advisories of various countries, in this context, which may be politically induced but on ground are effectively acting as a social boycott of Kashmiris. This, I said, in turn engenders a political thinking that is isolationist.The need as such is for civil society institutions to get involved and make interventions in their areas of influence to resolve the social issues pervading our society.

There have been innuendoes that I said this or was made to say this with an ulterior motive. The fact is that it is a long-heldbelief and I have repeatedly said it that the engagement with Kashmir should be at various levels. When I was the Chairman of the J&K Bank, I used to lament the fact that while as around 40% of shareholding of the bank was with Foreign Institutional Investors, not a single Indian Institution was invested with the bank.

For the record, on 14thJune 2014, I delivered a keynote address in Srinagar along the same lines. An abridged version was published on 18th June, 2014 in Greater Kashmir. Only a few days back, I spoke at the Indian Econometric Conference and asked the researchers to show me a single research they would have done in J&K. I called it the “Apathy of the Academia”. The same is true for engagement at the levels of individuals, intelligentsiaand trade & commerce. Those who heard my speech or care to read it dispassionately will know that when I was talking about our aspirations and the efforts at self-discovery, I was in fact nuancing the very stand of the People’s Democratic Party before a very select audience

To the best of my understanding and knowledge, this in no way goes against the articulated and stated political position of PDP. Nor does it dent its image. It is, in fact, very much a part of the PDP’s political philosophy and agenda of reconciliation.

As for my understanding of the political ideology of PDP, it is based on my drafting of various election manifestoes, the aspirational agenda, and the all-important Self Rule document, which Mufti Sahib involved me in. Indeed, the terms and conditions based on which the current PDP-BJP alliance was formed, the Agenda of alliance, was drafted under his guidance.

On the Party statements and action:

The sequence of events that unfolded is as follows: I delivered the speech at the PHDCCI event on 9th of March in the evening.

On the 11th of March 2018on my return from Delhi, I saw a press statement of the Vice President, Mr Sartaj Madni, asserting that resolution of the political problem of J&K is the core agenda of the PDP and asking me to retract the statement I had reportedly made in Delhi.

By evening a letter from Mr.A R Veeri, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee was delivered at my residence. It asked me to explain my statement which ‘has caused a serious dent to the image of the party.’ I called VeeriSbbut he was probably unable to take my call. He had later called back as I saw a missed call from his number.

Next day morning I spoke to Veeri Sahib and he suggested that I should talk to the Party President and the Chief Minister. I called the CM residence in New Delhi and was told that CM was busy and would call me back in 10 minutes. That call never came. By early afternoon I called up the CM residence and sought an appointment. Even as I was waiting for it, it was reported on the website of the Daily Greater Kashmir that the CM had decided to drop me from the council of ministers and had written to the Governor to this effect. I finally got a call to meet the CM at 7.15 pm.

The decision to drop me did come as a surprise but what was shocking was the manner and method of communicating it. While I understand and accept the decision of the Party, to take to media before talking to me, was painful. I was not accorded the opportunity to explain the context and the content of my speech.

Notwithstanding this, I am very grateful to Mufti Sahib and Mehboobaji to have been given the opportunity to contribute in whatever small way I could in accomplishing the Party Patron’s vision of addressing the distressing situation in and around Jammu and Kashmir which has jeopardized the security, peace and prosperity of the people of the state and imperilled stability in the subcontinent.

My association with PDP dates to those years when I wasn’t even formally into politics. The rapport I enjoyed with its late founder and patron is something that I would cherish all my life. The unflinching confidence that he always reposed in me and the relationship of trust that we shared is my source of strength to endure this situation.

Not for nothing did he entrust me with the task of negotiating with the BJP and make me the pointsman for thealliance which was later continued by Mehbooba ji. Every single meeting, discussion and negotiations were done with the knowledge and consent of the Patron and the President.

If there is one thing that I feel very proud of in my political stint in Kashmir till now, it is that I was Mufti Sahib’s Finance Minister. My association with Mufti Sahabdates back to 2003 when he appointed me as an Economic Adviser to the government headed by him. It was Mufti Sahab who inspired me and indeed persuaded me to join the politics as according to him politics provides the best instrument to serve the people and bring change in their lives.

When I was asked by the Party President to contest 2014 Assembly elections from Rajpora constituency, it was an honour and I was overwhelmed by the support extended by the people of the area to PDP’s inclusive and progressive policies resulting in my maiden election as an MLA from the area. I assure the people of the area that I will continue to work for them. I am very grateful to them for their love and affection.

I must thank Mehbooba ji for reposing trust in me which helpedthis Government to set offso many pioneering initiatives in the specific area of public expenditure management and generally in the fronts of economic development. I bear no ill will against anyone. That’s simply not my way of being.

I am committed to work for the welfare of the people of the state in whatever capacity I am in now. At a personal level, for me and my family, it is Dejavu! And since God has been kind to me there is no reason for me not to trust in his benevolence this time round. I stand by my choices, political or otherwise. And firmly believe that he knows best!”

Srinagar, 05 March: Jammu and Kashmir Young Journalists Association
(JKYJA) is observing its 6th anniversary today. It was on this day in
2012 that the working body of young journalists from the state was
constituted. JKYJA is the first association of young working
journalists.

The idea of forming an association that takes care of the young
journalists in the field came about as a result of difficult situation
that the young scribes face in conflict ridden Kashmir, said the
founding President  Ajaz Ahmad War.

“It is an extremely difficult job for young, unprotected journalists
to work in a conflict zone like Kashmir and their limb and life are at
risk,” said War. “While all the journalists are equally susceptible to
the vagaries of conflict, the younger generation is more prone to be
at the receiving end. So, it was mandatory for us to form a body of
young working journalists, so that their problems and grievances could
be addressed.”

JKYJA Vic President Bilal Furqani said that the formation of such an
organization was the need of the hour and it is meant to take care of
the requirements of young journos and address their problems.

General Secretary of the organization Rameez Makhdoomi said that JKYJA
is doing an exemplary job and raises various issues at different
platforms to address the grievances of young scribes.

At a function held at the head office, Organizer Majid Kapra impressed
upon the members to strengthen the body further, so as to guarantee a
better future for young journos.

Treasurer Bilal Bhat urged the need to make the association more
vibrant by organizing various activities across the state.

SRINAGAR, Feb 22, 2018: People’s Political Party (PPP), Chairman and senior leader, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Engineer Hilal Ahmad War has expressed deep sorrow and pain on the 27 Th anniversary of Kunan- Poshpora mass rape. Mr. War stated that “It gives me immense pain to state that about 27 years ago, our wounded paradise the valley of Kashmir witnessed one of the worst ever human rights violations in the human history committed by the Indian army known as the infamous Kunan-Poshpora mass rape. The honor of large number of women of this village on 23 February 1991 was chastised and molested by the occupying forces.”

Hilal Ahmad War has asked State Government to reopen the Kunanposhpora mass rape case so that the perpetrators’ of this heinous crime are punished in order to meet the ends of justice. He appealed the people and Tradesmen of Kunanposhpora to observe complete shutdown onFebruary 23 in the adjoining areas of Kunanposhpora, Kupwara as a mark of protest against this inhuman and heinous crime.

It is pertinent to mention here that on the intervening night of February 23 and 24, 1991, An Army Battalion of the 4th Rajasthan Rifles, 68th Brigade of Indian Army cordoned off the village, the men were taken to a field for an overnight interrogation and the women were gang-raped in their homes without any consideration for their age and marital status. The age of the victims ranged from 13 to 80.

Engineer Hilal also deplored the lack of justice and condemned the Indian State for failing to nail the demons behind this gravest crime and called for the international community intervention into this grave matter. This heinous crime should have been taken up by International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the criminals should have been tried and punished according to the International humanitarian law.

PPP Chief also urged upon the world human rights defenders to wake up from their deep slumber and highlight these tragic episodes. He said that we can show our solidarity and sympathy towards to victims of Kunan-Poshpora in form of unified voice by forging unity among all the Human Rights Organizations of South-Asia in particular in order to punish the culprits of Kunan-Poshpora Mass Rape.