Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Friday hit back at the BJP’s objections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s resolution on statehood, arguing that the political and constitutional relationship between J&K and India cannot be divorced from the commitments and assurances surrounding the events of 1947. Lone said, the BJP was “making noise” because it had no substantive argument against the resolution, insisting that Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India must be understood in the context of the promises and constitutional arrangements that accompanied it. “Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India because of the events…
Author: KNO
The Legislative Assembly on Thursday defeated a Private Members’ Bill seeking mandatory enrolment of children of public representatives and government servants in government educational institutions. The Bill, moved by MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad, sought leave to introduce legislation aimed at making government schooling obligatory for children of “public men and public servants”. The government, opposed the Bill, with the concerned Minister saying that while she respected its intent, mandatory enrolment in government schools was not feasible. The Minister said infrastructure in government schools was being upgraded and acknowledged that some schools still required improvement. She said the remaining schools…
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved a scheme to provide six free LPG cylinders annually to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. The announcement, triggered uproar in the House with BJP members shouting slogans of “Jhooti Sarkaar” and “Yeh dhokha hai.” Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the Government had promised 12 free cylinders to every household during elections and has now restricted it to six cylinders for AAY families only. “Two years ago you announced 12 free cylinders for every household. Today the…
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday said checking of books is a regular process and that any banned books should not be kept in government schools. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to Sheetal Nath Temple near Kral Khud, Dulloo was asked about reports of 42,000 books being banned and whether more books would be listed. “This is a regular process. If there are any banned books, they should not be kept in government schools,” he said. Dulloo also described Sheetal Nath Temple as an important part of Kashmir’s shared heritage, saying it was the collective responsibility…
The Higher Education Department has removed over 4200 ‘objectionable’ books from the shelves of colleges and libraries of Jammu and Kashmir. The government in the Legislative Assembly informed that 4249 books have been withdrawn from circulation excluding the banned books including 3996 from Kashmir and 253 from Jammu division respectively. It also said that a total of 21,81,582 books and publications have been examined till date including 9,32,941 in Jammu and 12,48,641 in Kashmir. The house was further informed that 518 copies of 19 titles formally banned under S.O 203 have also been removed. The government in a reply to…
The autumn session of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly began with uproarious scenes on Monday, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators staging noisy protests over power tariff hikes and the demand for regularization of daily‑wagers. As soon as the obituary references were concluded, BJP lawmakers stood up and raised slogans demanding justice for daily‑wagers and National Health Mission (NHM) employees, while also protesting against the government over electricity supply and tariff. Shouting slogans such as “Jo Sarkar Na De Sakhe Bijli Pani, Woh Sarkar Nakami” (A government that fails to provide power and water is incompetent), “Insaf Karo, Daily‑wagers…
by Sajid Raina Fishermen communities in Kashmir continue to face low incomes, limited education, inadequate infrastructure and weak institutional support despite the region’s extensive aquatic resources, according to a review of existing research. The review, titled “Socio-Economic Status of Fishermen Community in Kashmir: A Review”, examines the demographic characteristics, education, occupations, income patterns, housing conditions, gender participation, fish marketing systems and constraints faced by fishing households in the Valley. It draws on previous studies, government reports and other published literature on fisheries and fishing communities in Kashmir. A study of the fishing community around Dal Lake, cited in the review,…
by Sajid Raina Two peer-reviewed studies published in 2026 have warned that Kashmir Valley faces a serious earthquake risk due to active faults, accumulated tectonic strain, liquefaction-prone soils and vulnerabilities in its built environment. According to a review published in the Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy in January, Kashmir Valley lies in a seismically active region formed by the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, with a network of active faults including the Himalayan Frontal Thrust, Main Boundary Thrust, Main Central Thrust, Main Mantle Thrust, Kishtwar Fault and the Balapur Fault beneath the valley. The review…
Better demand for Kashmir apples in major markets across the country has brought smiles back to the faces of fruit growers, with quality produce fetching significantly better returns than last year and raising hopes of recovering at least part of the losses suffered during the previous season. Apple harvesting has picked up in low-lying areas of Kashmir, while harvesting in higher belts is yet to begin. At present, Kulu and early Delicious varieties are being harvested, while harvesting of traditional Delicious varieties is expected to begin in around 15 days. Growers and traders said the market response so far has…
The body of a nine-year-old boy, who had drowned in Madhumati Nalla near District Police Lines (DPL) in Bandipora, was recovered on Monday after a five-day search operation, officials said. An official SAID that the body was recovered following sustained joint search efforts by teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, civil administration and local volunteers. The boy had drowned on September 10 and remained untraced since then. He said the body was retrieved after five days and would be handed over to the family after completion of legal formalities. The deceased was identified as Momin Ahmad (9),…