Jammu and Kashmir Archives - Page 10 of 15

Post Article 370 abrogation, violence has reduced in Kashmir: Kashmiri activist

22Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Post Article 370 abrogation, violence has reduced in Kashmir: Kashmiri activist

Violence in Kashmir has considerably reduced in the Valley ever since the Indian government scrapped Article 370 which had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir, said Kashmiri activist Javaid Trali.Trali was speaking at a webinar organized under the University Dialogues series hosted by Democracy News Live with a panel of international experts on Asian security."We look forward to some positive movement to the situation here," he said, adding that the Indian government must now start the political process.Satoru Nagao, Fellow Hudson Institute, said restoring peace in Kashmir (like India's Northeast) is an important issue because it is only then the infrastructure can improve and “a country like Japan can help”.The webinar was held to mark the situation emerging in the past one year fol

Engineering testing lab ensures quality machinery for farmers in J&K

22Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Engineering testing lab ensures quality machinery for farmers in J&K

In order to boost agricultural production in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has set up an agriculture engineering testing lab for the testing of agriculture machinery at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) at Shalimar in Kashmir.“The Ministry of Agriculture inaugurated the centre last year. Here we check whatever machinery and equipment in the state or are being used in the neighbouring states, to see if they comply with specifications. We certify the machines regarding these norms,” said Prof. Nazir Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST.“Earlier, whatever machines used to come, they used to be provided to the farmers and its durability used to be less. With this testing centre, we are testing the q

Whatever you’re following, follow it by heart: Kashmiri youth who cracked UPSC 2019

22Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Whatever you’re following, follow it by heart: Kashmiri youth who cracked UPSC 2019

One of the 16 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) who qualified for India’s most prestigious civil services has encouraged the youth in Kashmir to follow their heart to attain success in whichever field they choose.Aftab Rasool, who cracked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Exam 2019 with 412-rank, is a former policeman's son who hails from Trehgam in Kupwara."My parents supported me throughout. For me, it is all about my parents, who were praying for my success day in and out. Their prayers have yielded results today. For me, cracking civil services was a dream come true. My message to Kashmiri youth is whatever you are following, follow it by heart. Work hard and be dedicated," Rasool said.Rasool also urged the "talented" youth in the Valley to explore their talent."I wo

‘Political absurdity’: India slams Imran Khan over new ‘political map’

21Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

‘Political absurdity’: India slams Imran Khan over new ‘political map’

Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s new “political map of Pakistan” that counts Jammu and Kashmir and Junagadh in Gujarat as its territories, India has called out Pakistan PM’s obsession and termed the act as an “exercise in political absurdity.”“We have seen a so-called “political map” of Pakistan that has been released by PM Imran Khan. This is an exercise in political absurdity, laying untenable claims to territories in the Indian state of Gujarat and our union territories of Jammu Kashmir and of Ladakh,” the Government of India said in a statement.India’s foreign ministry also slammed Pakistan for their malafide intentions and said it confirms the reality of “Pakistan’s obsession with territorial aggrandizement supported by cross-border terrorism.”“These ridiculous asserti

Farooq Abdullah, Mir demand probe into Kashmiri Pandit exodus

21Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Farooq Abdullah, Mir demand probe into Kashmiri Pandit exodus

Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits, said former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah demanding a probe by retired Supreme Court judges into the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in early 1990s.Replying to questions during a webinar, Abdullah said he was of the firm belief that Kashmir is incomplete without Pandits and that he would support any mechanism to bring them back honorably.Nearly 60,000 Kashmiri Pandit families are registered as migrants after the onset of militancy in the Kashmir Valley in early 1990s. Abdullah chose to blame the then former Governor Jagmohan for the exodus and said that he “took them away” on the false promise of ensuring their return within three months.Meanwhile, questioning the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and establishment of I

Article 370 abrogation impact: Four lakh domicile certificates issued in J&K

21Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Article 370 abrogation impact: Four lakh domicile certificates issued in J&K

As a consequence of the abrogation of Article 370 and with it, Article 35A, over 4 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir have been issued domicile certificates, giving them the legal rights of a citizen of getting jobs and availing education.A total of 3, 68,500 domicile certificates were issued in Jammu and 79,300 in Kashmir Valley.Among the 4 lakh people, Bhola Ram (57) in Jammu, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for giving him "justice and dignity".The laws introduced eight months after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 have led to fear in the Valley among residents as they believe that it could trigger floodgates for outsiders to settle in Jammu and Kashmir and alter the Muslim majority character of the region.With domicile certifi...

Kashmiri girl wants to preserve traditional Urdu calligraphy art

19Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Kashmiri girl wants to preserve traditional Urdu calligraphy art

At a time when everyone is busy typing on their smartphones, a young Saima Bhat from Kashmir wants to preserve the age-old traditional Kashmiri art of calligraphy.Originally from Anantnag district and currently residing in Srinagar’s Raj Bagh area, Bhat wanted to pursue the Urdu calligraphy art since childhood.She did her higher education from Kashmir University and then when her parents wanted her to study medicine, she took calligraphy.“My family wanted me to pursue medical studies while I wanted to learn calligraphy. After my higher education from Kashmir University, I took up the Urdu calligraphy course in the Art, Culture and Languages academy, which is a government institute in Srinagar,” said Bhat.“During my training period, I was offered various jobs including teaching opportunity

Thank PM for appreciating our efforts: J-K’s Dooru Municipal Committee Chairman

18Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Thank PM for appreciating our efforts: J-K’s Dooru Municipal Committee Chairman

On the unexpected mention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio programme, ‘Mann ki Baat’, the Municipal Committee Chairman of Dooru in Kashmir's Anantnag district expressed gratitude for appreciating his district’s work in containing coronavirus.Mohammed Iqbal Ahanger, Municipal Committee Chairman said that it was a joyous day for him. "It was totally unexpected that Prime Minister Modi would mention about our district and the contribution of my team. I am thankful to him for appreciating my work of sanitization and fumigation," Ahanger said."I am also thankful to my team for acknowledging my leadership and helping me with their efforts to bring out the best. I am glad that they followed the lead of their captain," he added.In the recent edition of 'Mann ki Baat', Prime Minister Mo

Construction of new playground in full swing at J&K’s Wakura village

18Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Construction of new playground in full swing at J&K’s Wakura village

To boost sports activities in Jammu and Kashmir and channelize the energy of the youth in the right direction, construction of a new playground is in full swing at Wakura village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.Chairman of Block Development Council Wakura, Ghulam Mohd Malik said that the playground will play a vital role to boost sports activities and help youths of the district to show their hidden talent in overall sports."It has been eight months that I have become chairman of the block. I felt that the youth in this area are good at sports and they are in need of a good playground. The playground is being constructed for an amount of Rs 13.24 lakhs," Malik said.Malik said funds are being released regularly since Jammu and Kashmir became Union Territory after the abrogation of

Kashmiri woman wins laurels at national level painting competitions

17Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Kashmiri woman wins laurels at national level painting competitions

With the return of peace in the Jammu and Kashmir, 24-year-old Shafiya Shafi, who hails from downtown Srinagar, has showcased her talent at the national level with paintings depicting the life of women.Being a contemporary and mural artist, Shafiya started her career after completing her Masters in Psychology from Kashmir University."I was inclined towards painting since childhood. I started taking part in competitions during college. It became a motivating factor for me and I started painting. It was later converted into a profession," she said."My paintings depict the struggle of women in her life. Success stories don't come out of their comfort zone. This is true as I faced a lot of struggles in my life. In Kashmir, parents don't focus much on careers in arts and I had faced struggles i...