As per police records, the killed terrorist was a categorised terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit JeM and was part of groups involved in several terror crime cases….reports Asian Lite News
A terrorist was shot dead in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday after he refused to surrender and fired upon the security forces, triggering the encounter, police said.
Police said based on a specific input generated by police regarding presence of a terrorist in village Bargam in Awantipora area of the district, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the police, army’s 42 RR and the CRPF’s 130 Bn.
“During the search operation, the presence of the trapped terrorist was ascertained, and he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied the surrender opportunities and fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” police said.
The trapped terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Sameer Ahmad Tantray, resident of Bargam Awantipora.
As per police records, the killed terrorist was a categorised terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit JeM and was part of groups involved in several terror crime cases.
“Before joining the terror fold, he was working as a terrorist associate and involved in providing logistic support to the active terrorists in the area,” police said.
“He was also involved in pasting threatening posters of proscribed terror outfits in Awantipora and adjoining areas to threaten the law abiding citizens and keep them away from democratic activities.”
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from his possession. Police have registered case and investigation has been initiated.
Mian Bashir devoted himself completely to his spiritual responsibility, preaching hadith, tafsir and other religious teachings. Being an influential orator he left a great impression on the listeners…reports Asian Lite News
Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi was a prominent proponent of Sufism, distinguished author, social reformer, and an admired tribal leader of Jammu and Kashmir. He was a fearless maverick unafraid to challenge orthodoxy of religion and politics. His unyielding efforts and contribution towards the upliftment and empowerment of the Gujjars, Bakarwals (Goat herds) and other oppressed communities of Jammu and Kashmir earned him a Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award by the Government of India in 2008.
Tribute to J&K’s Sufi saint and social reformer Mian Bashir Larvi
Born in 1923, Mian Bashir Larvi, lovingly known as Baba Saheb, was a multi-faceted personality who continued the legacy of Hazrat Mian Abaid Ullah Larvi, his grandfather and ‘Murshid’ (teacher), and his father Hazrat Mian Nizam-ud-Din Larvi, who had migrated from Hazara region in the 1800s. He was from the Naqshbandi order of Sufi tradition, a convention in the family. Named after Hazrat Bahaud-Din ‘Naqshband’ Bukhari, the order is renowned across the world in Sufi Islam.
Following his spiritual linage, Mian Bashir Ahmed habitually visited the shrine of Sirhand Shrief in Punjab, in veneration of a celebrated mystic and theologian and a respected guide in Naqshband order the Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624). Baba Saheb worked relentlessly as a politician, spiritual leader, legislator, and emissary of peace. He was the head and Gaddi Nasheen of the revered shrine of Baba Abaid Ullah Larvi, popularly known as Babaji Saheb, at village Babanagari Wanghat in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, for about half his life.
The tribal areas of J&K were socially alienated and economically depreciated. Mian Saheb decided to bridge the gap between the tribal pastoralist nomads and political inefficiencies by joining politics to represent their cause. He was elected as an MLA in 1967, 1972, 1977 from Kangan, and 1983 from Darhal, Rajouri District. He served as a Minister in the State Cabinet in 1972 and 1977, as a Deputy Minister in 1971 and 1977, and as a Minister of State from 1977 to 1980.
No Kashmiri has witnessed a politically inclined man who has maintained his respect along with being a religious and spiritual leader. Mian Saheb was closely associated with the centre stage figures including Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Hafeez Jallandari, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Meera Behan, Abdul Gaffar Khan, and countless others.
He devoted himself completely to his spiritual responsibility, preaching hadith, tafsir and other religious teachings. Being an influential orator he left a great impression on the listeners. He was also the head of Gujjar Jirga, a local justice authority where the disputes are resolved amicably.
In the 1947, 1965, and 1971 India-Pakistan wars, Mian Saheb took up an enterprising role for peace in J&K and helped in rehabilitating thousands of people in the border areas. Mian Saheb was known as the most benevolent for his generosity and charity. His close followers swear that he has never counted money when giving to the needy. He also had the opportunity of representing the nation at United Nations, where he passionately leaded many delegations and presented India as global peacekeeper.
Mian Bashir Ahmad has penned a long list of books on spiritualism, mysticism, Sufism, Islamic theology, divine love, and poetry on Gujjar ethos and cultural heritage in Gojri, Urdu, and Punjabi. His most popular is the biographical account of three generations of Babaji Sahib Larvi (his grandfather) in a book ‘Mata e Faqar-o-Danish’. He also recorded his entire life in his dairies which is a historical account of his celebrated life in J&K, research and Sufi academia.
Many Gojri writers like Mian Ismail Zabi had started writing Gojri poetry in the early 1900s following Mian Saheb’s father’s footsteps. It was their family’s tradition to organize poetic events and literary gatherings at the shrine of Baba Abaid Ullah Larvi.
Not much later Mian Bashir Ahmed Larvi assembled “Neer Samundar”, a series of Gojri poetry books. It goes without saying that Gojri language and literature was officially established by Mian Bashir in J&K through radio and cultural academies.
For the Gujjar-Bakarwal tribe Mian Saheb’s life was the epitome of Godliness. Through his life he worked to educate the tribes of J&K and empowered them politically and economically. As a visionary he stressed on a community building, self-respect, and individual awareness among the tribes. His personal commitment towards the grant of Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars and Bakarwals of J&K led the Union Governments to award them this rank in 1991.
The saint passed away on 14 August 2021 at the age of 98 in his native village, leaving a deep influence in the Kashmiri society. About 50,000 people from J&K attended his funeral. He took away with him Kashmir’s turbulent history wherein he played a cataclysmal role. His body was buried at his grandfather’s shrine at Wanghat Kangan, Ganderbal. His son Mian Altaf Ahmad, a former Minister and distinguished Gujjar leader, is the new Gaddi Nasheen of the Shrine as per Mian Saheb’s wish. The death of Mian Saheb is an end of an era for J&K but his story, his legacy, his contribution and teachings is a saga of humility and nobility, and will continue to guide seekers of knowledge for generations.
The objective of the congressional reception was to celebrate and honour the success stories of their resilience and the strength despite being the victims of ethnic cleansing and genocide….reports Asian Lite News
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi called Kashmiri Pandits one of the most successful Indian-American communities, praising the community members for their contributions in America and the world, media reported.
He was speaking at a reception and private screening of the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ hosted by Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora in partnership with US India Security Council Inc at the US Capitol.
“The Kashmiri Pandit community is one of the most successful Indian American communities. The challenges that you have faced in the past and overcoming those challenges make all other challenges pale in comparison,” Krishnamoorthi was quoted as saying.
The movie – The Kashmir Files – is based on the Kashmiri Pandit genocide and ethnic cleansing. The movie depicts the humanitarian angle of the challenges that Global terrorism brings and disrupts communities and makes them rootless. It also highlights the human pain and sufferings. The movie is being screened in 16 cities in the US.
The objective of the congressional reception was to celebrate and honour the success stories of their resilience and the strength despite being the victims of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
The evening started with remarks from Congressman Raja Krishanmoorthi. He thanked the Kashmiri Pandit community for all their contributions globally but also in the US. He said that the Kashmiri Pandit community is one of the most successful Indian American community.
Dr Surinder Kaul, Co-founder of GKPD and co-host of the evening, a Kashmiri Pandit himself, said “Kashmiri Pandits have always been the Ambassadors of peace and growth. The tenets of the community -universal brotherhood, benevolence, caring and sharing and pursuit of knowledge made them contribute towards upliftment of humankind in this civilized world. They never reciprocated violence with violence, hate with hate. This piece of their genocide and ethnic cleansing has remained hidden from the world and will create awareness about the impact of global terrorism on human lives.”
Congressman Andy Barr, the US Representative R-KY 6th District emphasised on India US relationship and contributions of Indian Americans.
The Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision has paved the way for return of peace and prosperity to the Himalayan region without talking to the people who preached hatred and violence for the past three decades….reports Asian Lite News
It took 70-years for the Centre to scrap Article 370 — a temporary provision in Indian Constitution that provided special status to erstwhile J&K State. After its revocation Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a massive change as peace, prosperity and development have replaced separatism, sedition and Pak sponsored terrorism in the Himalayan region.
Article 370 was included in the Constitution on October 17, 1949. It exempted J&K from the Indian Constitution (except Article 1 and Article 370 itself) and permitted the state to draft its own Constitution. It restricted Parliament’s legislative powers in respect of J&K. For extending a central law on subjects included in the Instrument of Accession (IoA) consultation with the state government was needed. But for extending it to other matters, “concurrence” of the state government was mandatory.
Strong political will made a difference
From 1949, many governments were formed in New Delhi and tall leaders headed India. But no one dared to “bite the bullet” and revoke Article 370 as the people who ruled J&K after 1947 had created a notion that if this Article is done away with it would mean Jammu and Kashmir ending up in Pakistan’s lap.
After Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country for the first time in 2014 the government led by him started working on the plan to abrogate J&K’s so-called special status and to merge the erstwhile princely state with the Union of India completely.
The plan was implemented soon after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won more than 300 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 parliamentary elections and Modi returned to power with a thumping majority. The scrapping of Article 370 became a priority. The task was assigned to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, who along with his team chalked out a strategy to end J&K’s accession debate once for all.
Just within a few months after assuming power for a second consecutive term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his nod to end the controversy once for all.
On August 5, 2019, the Union Home Minister presented a Bill in Rajya Sabha to revoke Article 370 and reorganise Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, J&K and Ladakh. The Bill was first passed in the Upper House and then in Lok Sabha.
Modi, Shah
No bridges burnt
Mainstream Kashmiri leaders had claimed that once J&K’s special status is done away with, no one will be left in the Himalayan region to lift the Tricolour, and the move would trigger massive civil unrest. But their predictions fell flat as J&K didn’t witness a single protest and many people came forward to hold the Tricolour close to their hearts.
After August 5, 2019, a new dawn has broken out in Jammu and Kashmir. People have welcomed the change in status-quo and have joined the process of nation building. All confusions stand cleared. Ones who used to claim that Article 370 is a bridge between New Delhi and J&K and if it’s burnt it can have serious repercussions stand exposed.
Separatists left with nothing to sell
After abrogation of J&K special status, separatists backed by Pakistan, who sold dead bodies of Kashmiris for the past 30-years to fight the proxy war of a neighbouring country in J&K, became irrelevant as they were left with nothing to sell. The Article 370 till August 5, 2019, provided a reason to these elements to keep the conflict alive by telling the people that Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan and Azadi were possible. It allowed them to keep the accession debate alive. They left no chance to keep Kashmir burning.
The Kashmir-based mainstream politicians used Article 370 as a tool to reap the fruits of power and enjoy privileges that were offered to them as members of the ruling or opposition parties. The politics of these leaders revolved only around J&K’s special status. Other than governance they focused on everything, i.e., India-Pakistan relations, agenda of separatists and how the militants were operating. Many ministers in the erstwhile political regimes were of the opinion that peace cannot return to Kashmir till the Government of India holds talks with Pakistan, Hurriyat and the militant commanders. But the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision has paved the way for return of peace and prosperity to the Himalayan region without talking to the people who preached hatred and violence for the past three decades.
Amit Shah shows mirror to politicians
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, tried to show mirror to the leaders, who have been harping that peace has not returned to J&K even after the abrogation of Article 370.
Shah, during an interaction at the HT Leadership Summit in New Delhi said, “There was Article 370 for the last 75 years. Why was there no peace? If there is a relation between peace and Article 370, was the Article not in place in 1990? It was there in 1990 why there was no peace? Even if we include figures of targeted killings, we are not even close to 10 per cent. This means there is peace.
“I am happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 from the Constitution on August 5, 2019. Kashmir is at peace now, investment is taking place, tourists are visiting and Jammu and Kashmir is gradually looking to stand united with the rest of the country,” the Union Home Minister said.
More than anyone else the Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir helped a few political families to establish their rule and act as monarchs. It also allowed separatists to survive as they projected J&K’s special status as a platform for their so-called “freedom struggle”.
For a common Kashmiri it was nothing more than an impediment which kept him deprived of the benefits and the rights which he could have enjoyed during the past 75-years. During the past two years J&K has witnessed massive development in every sphere. The Centre’s decision to empower a common Kashmiri has helped him understand his rights and duties towards the country. A common man in Kashmir has become a biggest stakeholder in peace and is making every possible attempt to ensure that violence doesn’t return and he lives without any fear of guns, bombs and grenades.
Assembly elections in J&K UT will prove to be yet another defeat for Pakistan. After the abrogation of Article 370 Pakistan had launched a vicious propaganda about India turning J&K into a colony, but that narrative is all set to be defeated, reports Asian Lite NewsA
The process of redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir is set to get completed soon as the Delimitation Commission has almost finished the exercise.
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, during his J&K visit in October this year had spelled out a clear road map for the Himalayan region by stating that delimitation will be followed by polls and then statehood would be restored.
The Delimitation Commission for J&K, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai was constituted by the Centre on March 6, 2020, under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Apart from Desai, Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and J&K State Election Commissioner K K Sharma are the ex-officio members of the panel. That apart, the commission has five associate members – National Conference MPs Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh, and Jugal Kishore Sharma of the BJP.
After the delimitation exercise gets completed some assembly seats in J&K will be reserved, first time, for the Scheduled Tribes and the number of assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir will go up from 83 to 90. Twenty-four seats of the Assembly continue to remain vacant as they fall in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).
After completing the groundwork the Commission held its first meeting with associate members in February this year but it was attended by only two BJP MPs, Dr Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore, while NC MPs, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi refused to participate, stating that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 was “palpably unconstitutional” and that till the time the Supreme Court decides the constitutional validity of this law, no decisions emanating from the Act should be implemented.
After a flip-flop, NC leaders Abdul Raheem Rather, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Nasir Aslam Wani and Sakina Ittoo met the panel members in Srinagar in July this year. But the NC associate members i.e. MPs have stayed away from the commission till date.
Despite the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party playing politics over the issue, the delimitation exercise is in its final stages and “Naya J&K” is gearing up for the assembly elections.
Another defeat for Pak in offing
Assembly elections in J&K UT will prove to be yet another defeat for Pakistan.
After the abrogation of Article 370 Pakistan had launched a vicious propaganda about India turning J&K into a colony, but that narrative is all set to be defeated.
After 1990-when the Pakistan sponsored militancy broke out in J&K-stooges of the neighbouring country in the Valley left no stone unturned to oppose the elections.
On the dint of guns they compelled people to stay away from exercising their franchise. But during the past two years the J&K scenario has changed. There is no trace of separatism and the separatists, who used to issue election boycott calls, left in the Valley. It will be after a longtime that Kashmiris will participate in assembly elections without any fear of guns and militants.
NC, PDP crumble
Parties like National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party which used to call the shots till 2014 are no more front runners as after August 5, 2019-when the Centre announced its decision to scrap J&K’s special status and divided it into two Union Territories-these parties have been grappling with number of issues. Both have crumbled under their own weight. Many leaders and grass root workers have deserted these parties. Top leaders of these parties have not been able to keep their flock together.
PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has apparently donned the shoes of separatists and is toeing their line. She is questioning each and every move of the Centre. The NC leadership is a bit less vocal but the party keeps on talking about abrogation of Article 370. Former J&K chief minister and NC vice-president, Omar Abdullah while addressing a rally in Ramban district recently vowed to fight for the restoration of Article 370 till his last breath.
“We are not fighting for ourselves and our homes but our fight is for you (people of Jammu and Kashmir) and safeguarding your interests. Our fight is for the restoration of our rights which were snatched from us on August 5, 2019 and we will keep fighting till our last breath,” he told a public rally in Gool area.
Mehbooba, Omar and Dr. Farooq Abdullah are trying to sell old wine in a new bottle. They are raising outdated slogans as everyone in J&K is aware of the fact that Article 370-temporary provision of Indian Constitution scrapped in 2019-won’t make a comeback.
On the other hand Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari and Peoples Conference led by Sajad Gani Lone are making their presence felt on the ground. During the past few months many youngsters have joined these parties with a hope to become a part of the change. Leaders of these parties are very clear with their agenda.
They want restoration of statehood and handling of J&K affairs by the local politicians. Both Bukhari and Lone don’t seem that keen on restoration of J&K’s special status. They on many occasions stated that they don’t want to promise what can’t be achieved.
Crisis in Cong favour BJP in Jammu
In Jammu scales appear to be tilted towards Bharatiya Janata Party as the Congress is in disarray due to infighting and divided leadership. More than anything Jammu people yearn to see a new chief minister from their region.
During the past 70-years no Dogra (Jammu native) was given a chance to become a chief minister as Jammu had only 37 assembly seats while Kashmir had 44.
Another factor which prevented a man from Jammu to become the J&K chief minister was that Kashmir based leaders always used to claim that J&K is a Muslim majority State and it should be ruled by a Kashmiri Muslim and not a Dogra from Jammu. After the delimitation exercise is over Jammu and Kashmir regions will get an equal number of seats in the assembly.
If Congress fails to set its house in order in Jammu, BJP has a chance of once again emerging as the single largest party in the region by projecting any of its native leaders as next chief minister of J&K. In the 2014 assembly elections BJP had won 25 out of 37 assembly seats in the region.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it was highly reassuring to see that the women entrepreneurs in J&K had broken into the traditional male-dominated domains, a report by Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
In her first visit to Kashmir as the Union Finance Minister after taking over in May 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this week conducted a series of meetings with women entrepreneurs in Srinagar. Amid inaugurating developmental works to the tune of Rs 165 crore, she had a detailed interaction with a group of women entrepreneurs, including four Kashmiri journalists, who have been running their own publications and printing presses.
Immediately after arriving in Srinagar by a special aircraft with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from New Delhi, Sitharaman, according to sources present in the meeting, was thrilled to learn that the valley’s female journalists were operating their own businesses in the moribund media industry, facing unprecedented stress since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
The Minister appreciated that the valley’s women journalists were operating as independent editors of sports and off-beat magazines. She asked Sinha to provide them with maximum possible support from his government including allotment of land for their printing units in a special category in different industrial estates.
The interaction included 60 women entrepreneurs working in a variety of sectors, including beekeeping, dairy, handicraft, journalism, copper works, and furniture manufacturing. It featured success stories of the women entrepreneurs who have been benefited under different schemes initiated by the J&K government.
Sitharaman praised the UT government’s efforts for creating a successful women entrepreneurship culture. She said it was highly reassuring to see that the women entrepreneurs in J&K had broken into the traditional male-dominated domains. She listened to inspiring stories of women entrepreneurs and how they rose above the challenges to benefit their society at the grassroots level.
“The land of Kashmir is the land of Maa Sharada and that absolute power-packed knowledge-driven energy is what has come out here. I appeal to you to move around the country and share your stories”, she proposed to her audience.
Later Sitharaman interacted with the operators and beneficiaries of the flagship UMEED programme in the rural development and cooperative sector. Sinha elaborated on the objectives of UMEED and asserted that a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore had been extended to 54,325 Self Help Groups (SHGs) which had enrolled over 4.5 lakh women in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sinha emphasised that his government was empowering women entrepreneurs through a slew of focused programmes such as ‘UMEED’, ‘SAATH’ and ‘HAUSLA’. “Through these programs a new confidence, a new spirit is being created by making them more capable so that half of the population could play a participatory and constructive role in the journey of J&K’s progress”, he said.
Sinha said that encouraged by the success of UMEED, the UT government had set a target of connecting one lakh additional rural women to the programme in the current year. Along with this, J&K Livelihood Mission has launched the ‘SAATH’ initiative, under which a training programme has also been started to select 500 women entrepreneurs from rural areas to expand their business.
“Since 70 percent of the population of Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on agriculture, we have started another innovative program on women empowerment in rural areas. A cadre of ‘Krishi Sakhi’ and ‘Pashu Sakhi’ with 938 women has been created in different districts of the UT, which will train 75,000 women farmers associated with agriculture and horticulture for sustainable and integrated farming. The initiative will also give impetus to the reforms in the agriculture sector, the backbone of the economy”, Sinha said.
‘UMEED Women Haat’ has been started with the aim of providing a market to the self-help group of women, through which they can not only sell their manufactured goods at one place, besides facilitating market linkages for the future. The 40 Model Clusters for women, e-Marketing platforms and ‘Digipay Sakhi’ are going to channelize the inner strength and potential of women and allow them to scale new heights.
Sitharaman, with LG Sinha, inaugurated works worth Rs 130.49 crore pertaining to Health, Education, Urban Infrastructure and Disaster Management. She also laid the foundation stone for the Union Territory Level Emergency Operation Centre and SCADA control building at Budgam, involving estimated expenditure of Rs 34.88 crore under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP).
The sub-projects are part of the JTFRP which is assisted by a credit of $250 million from the World Bank. The project was started in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the devastating floods of September 2014, which severely affected low-lying areas of Anantnag, Srinagar, and adjoining districts causing immense damage to housing, livelihoods and roads and bridges.
JTFRP has been under implementation by the Government of J&K as part of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for J&K since April 2016. The project aims at both restoring essential services disrupted by the floods and improving the design standard and practices to increase resilience.
The high social impact of JTFRP was felt in the coronavirus pandemic response by the UT Government wherein an amount of $50 million was allocated and utilized for the COVID-19 response, by activating the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) under the project. Medical equipment worth Rs. 290 crore and 30 oxygen generating plants at a total cost of Rs 75 crore were procured thereby giving a boost to the health infrastructure to cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic.
On the occasion, Sitharaman launched two youth-oriented employment generation schemes of Mission Youth viz. Rise Together (Community Entrepreneurship Development program) and Nav Parivartan (Youth Innovation Promotion Program). She also handed over cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to students of LG Super 75 scholarship. The dream of the Prime Minister to develop each part of the country equally is fulfilled vigorously and J&K is participating in this journey in letter and spirit, she said.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Efforts of the Central Government to convert the UT from ‘terror capital to tourism capital’ are clearly visible. The resolve of the country’s leadership to bring J&K out of the quagmire of uncertainty is evident
Jammu and Kashmir is all set to become tourism capital of India as the denizens of the newly carved out Union Territory are determined to foil the nefarious designs of militants to disrupt the process of peace, prosperity and development in the region.
The Pakistan sponsored ultras last month made a desperate attempt to push back Kashmir into uncertainty and chaos by turning the gun towards members of minority communities, including the non-local labourers. The militants killed eleven civilians within a few days and made an attempt to drive out minorities and tourists from Kashmir. But the counter offensive launched by the security forces left 15 militants dead and restored the sense of security within a few days.
The unfortunate civilian killings in Kashmir led to some sort of panic in the initial days and there were apprehensions that the tourism industry may take a hit, but situation returned to normal within a few days. Hotel bookings witnessed a few cancelations but the buzz came back within no time.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration played an important role to restore the normalcy by holding cultural and tourism events and by organizing “Iconic Week Festival” in October end.
Home Minister’s J&K visit sent a clear message
The crucial J&K visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah boosted morale of the people and his assurance that the situation won’t be allowed to deteriorate proved to be a turning point.
After landing in Kashmir, the Union Home Minister flagged off the Srinagar-Sharjah flight. It was a clear message to adversaries that the Government of India won’t allow the handful of militants to take the Valley hostage.
Prior to commencement of Srinagar-Sharjah flight, the J&K Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dubai government for development of real estate, industrial parks, and other infrastructure in the Union Territory.
Highlighting significance of the MoU, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal had said that the world has started to recognize the pace with which J&K is traversing on the development bandwagon. “It is a strong signal to the entire world that the way India is transforming into a global power, Jammu & Kashmir is having a significant role in that as well,” Goyal had said.
Leadership determined to pull J&K out
Efforts of the Central Government to convert the UT from ‘terror capital to tourism capital’ are clearly visible. The resolve of the country’s leadership to bring J&K out of the quagmire of uncertainty is evident. The new era of development that commenced on August 5, 2019 — when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and divided it into two Union Territories –has led to the breaking out of a new dawn in the erstwhile State that has been a victim of Pakistan sponsored militancy for the past three decades.
Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department announced a 40 per cent discount on the room rents in hotels and houseboats to attract more tourists to Kashmir. Vice-President of Houseboat Association Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmed Pakhtoon while talking to a news portal stated that the government did the promotions in different parts of the country and held many shows including a houseboat show to promote Kashmir as a safe tourist destination.
Pakthoon said that these initiatives have helped and they are getting a lot of queries. “We are expecting a lot of tourists. We have special discounts, around 40 per cent of the discount for tourists staying in houseboats. The people around the world had a financial crunch and that’s why we are giving such offers. It will help the Kashmir tourism industry,” Pakhtoon was quoted as having said.
Kashmir gears up for winter tourism
At present Kashmir is gearing up for winter tourism, famous resorts, Gulmarg in North Kashmir and Pahalgam in South Kashmir are packed with tourists and more are likely to arrive in the coming months to enjoy the winter in the Valley. People associated with the tourism industry in Kashmir are busy making future plans as they have sniffed that the Valley is set to witness bumper tourism season in the winter. Many hotels in Kashmir are full and the advance bookings are an indication that many tourists have planned to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Kashmir.
In 2020, the early snowfall in Kashmir had led to a high influx of tourists into the Valley. Thousands of visitors from different parts of the country had visited Gulmarg to celebrate natural Christmas amidst snowfall. This year also upper reaches of the Valley have received early snowfall and it has multiplied the hotel bookings.
Process to build ‘Naya J&K’ irreversible
After the recent surge in violence the Central Government has sent a clear message that it is committed to the safety, security of life and property of the people of Kashmir and non-locals in the Valley.
More than 70 per cent of Kashmir’s economy is dependent on the horticulture and tourism sectors. Militants by targeting non-locals had made an attempt to hit both these vital industries. They wanted to create fear psychosis and recreate a situation like 1990, when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave the Valley after selective killings, threats and intimidation. At that point of time the members of the majority community couldn’t do much due to the fear of reprisal but this time around when the ultras turned their guns towards members of the minority communities, people of Kashmir in one voice condemned these cold blooded murders and drove home a point that such dastardly acts cannot be tolerated.
From a common man to political and religious leaders everyone raised his voice against the target killings. The attempt of ultras to label every Kashmiri as a terrorist didn’t materialize. Kashmir has fought back and has given a befitting reply to terror sponsors that their agenda has no takers in the Valley. The government too has ensured to keep things on track. The derailment predicted by the adversary has not happened as the situation has remained well under control. Message is clear that J&K has changed and the process to build “Naya J&K” is irreversible.
These terrorists were hired by the terror organisations active in J&K …reports Asian Lite News
A total of 117 terrorists have been recruited by terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir till now in 2021, sources in the Central Reserve Police Force said on Wednesday.
These terrorists were hired by the terror organisations active in J&K, they added.
The officials in the force said that a total of 48 battalions of the CRPF have been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir so far. Out of that, 22 battalions have been deployed exclusively for Srinagar while 22 for the rest of Kashmir.
They also said that the process of deployment of additional five companies in Jammu and Kashmir is under process and that it will be completed soon within a few days.
In the Left Wing Extremism area, the officials said that three Maoists in Bijapur in Chhattisgarh were apprehended while one Maoist surrendered.
The officials also said that the absconding CRPF Constable Avinash Kumar, who was caught by the Jharkhand Police for allegedly supplying weapons to the Maoists, has been suspended and a departmental enquiry has been initiated against him. He was absconding for the last four months after he went on leave and did not report to duty. Kumar was one among three people arrested by Jharkhand’s Anti-Terrorist Squad for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to CPI (Maoist) cadre and other suspected criminals in the state on November 16.
The officials also said that 150 personnel of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed at the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala for crowd management. The Kerala government had requested the CRPF for the deployment.
The force also said that around 50 women CRPF personnel have been deployed at the Union Territory of Lakshadweep for handling of the law and order situation. This will be an additional deployment of security personnel as one company is already deployed in the UT.
All efforts are being made to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir, after the delimitation process gets over, BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh and in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Telangana interacts with Santosh Kumar Pathak
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh.
Here are some excerpts of the interview:
The BJP is going to contest elections in Punjab for the first time without the support of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)? How will the BJP be able to fight against Congress, SAD and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)?
Yes, this time the BJP will contest forthcoming Assembly elections in Punjab on its own. We have been contesting elections continuously since 1952. We fought earlier under the banner of Jana Sangh and from 1980 with the poll symbol of the BJP and in 1992 also as a party, although the circumstances were different then. This time we are ready to give a tough fight to the Congress, SAD and the AAP, including all opposition parties. We have made preparations right to the booth level of all 117 Assembly seats.
Amarinder Singh is constantly speaking about the possibility of a possible alliance with the BJP, with the latter calling him a nationalist leader. When will the BJP make the final decision about an alliance with Amarinder Singh?
It is for the BJP high command to decide what kind of alliance the party will have with Amarinder Singh. Punjab is a border state, its peace and security is of utmost importance. The BJP will take a decision at an appropriate time.
On Sunday, a delegation of Punjab BJP leaders met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded the reopening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. How big is this an issue for Punjab?
Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was opened even earlier because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which the Sikhs all over the country have been demanding for the last seven decades. Along with this, the Prime Minister has taken many remarkable steps for Punjab and Sikhs, so the Punjab BJP delegation thanked him and urged him that before celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on November 19, the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor must be reopened again so that with full enthusiasm and reverence, the Sikhs can visit the Gurudwara and pay their respects. The 1984 riots accused were penalised only after the Modi government made efforts and Sikhs got justice. We also thanked PM Modi for this.
What is the biggest issue for the BJP in the Punjab Legislative Assembly elections? With what promise will you seek votes from the public?
Mafia Raj is the most serious issue in all areas of Punjab. There are drug mafia, sand mafia, transport mafia, etc. The law and order situation in Punjab has completely collapsed. The economy of Punjab is in bad shape. There is no development in agriculture or industry, trade. All these issues will be part of our campaign.
While removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and reorganizing the state, it was promised that Legislative Assembly elections will be held at an appropriate time, what is the preparation for this?
The removal of Article 370 has been welcomed by all. Democracy has been strengthened. On the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted in lakhs and have shown faith in the policies of the government. Preparations are afoot to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir soon. The matter of delimitation is already being looked into by the Election Commission. After the delimitation work is completed, the central government will take a decision on it soon.
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh.
But the same question is being asked again and again that when will the Legislative Assembly elections be held in J&K?
Elections will be held soon. As we told you, the central government wants to hold the elections as soon as possible.
What will be the target of the BJP in the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir? Will you contest elections alone or join other parties as well?
A. It is too early to say anything on this. Let the elections be announced first, then the party will see what to do.
The way terror incidents have increased in recent days, what do you see is the motive behind the targeted killings?
This is a conspiracy of Pakistan and ISI to spread terror in the Kashmir Valley and Indian security forces will deal with it effectively. Jammu and Kashmir has moved from terrorism to tourism. People have realized that for so many decades Abdullah, Mufti and Congress have fooled them.
Pakistan will be defeated in its nefarious design. The Modi government is continuously working on the eradication of terrorism and taking the UT to the path of development and ensuring security to all. Terrorists killed 2,081 people during 2004-2014 while 239 civilians were killed during 2014 to 2021, which is again a testimony of peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir.
The opposition parties keep raising the demand for full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir again? As BJP in-charge, what do you have to say on this?
All such people should understand that J&K has moved on. A new chapter of development and progress is being written. The decision about restoring the statehood will be taken at the right time.
It has been a common complaint of the people of Ladakh that the pace of their development is very slow. How far have you been able to resolve the grievances of the people there?
Ladakh remained neglected for decades due to the policies of Abdullah and Mufti. Ladakh region was never respected, but now new development works are taking place and people of Ladakh are feeling proud of it. The Centre will make Ladakh a developed region where people will find new avenues of development and progress and connectivity.
Terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) and Al Badra are under pressure to get maximum infiltration done before the onset of heavy snowfall in Kashmir….reports Asian Lite News
After security forces choked the known routes of infiltration from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to Jammu and Kashmir, the intelligence agencies have now sounded an alert that the terrorists were now trying to explore new passages to sneak into the valley, sources said.
According to the sources, terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) and Al Badra are under pressure to get maximum infiltration done before the onset of heavy snowfall in Kashmir.
Citing intelligence input, the sources also said that LeT commander Arif Hazi who is incharge of the Kotli village in PoK, has been given responsibility to explore the new routes of infiltration and facilitate terrorists’ entry to Jammu and Kashmir.
Security forces have identified as many as eight routes from where these militants might try to infiltrate and the Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified patrolling on these adjoining areas on Line of Control (LoC), an official said.
The official added that a majority of the new routes also connect to areas in Jammu.
According to the sources, these outfits have full logistical support from Pakistan’s intelligence wing Inter-State Services (ISI) and it was learnt that Hazi was assigned the responsibility from them.
The intercepted conversations also revealed the presence of Afghan mobile SIM cards. But it was yet to be ascertained whether Afghan terrorists were present in PoK or if only the SIM cards were being used.
The security forces are pro-active and have been able to prevent infiltration bids to a large extent and Athat is why the terrorists’ handlers in PoK have been under pressure, a senior official in the security grid said.
After Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the Union Territory on October 23-25, the security apparatus have been fully activated and maximum alert on the border areas and hinterland as well.
The security forces have also identified the number of ultras and Over Ground Workers (OGWs). who have been providing support to these terrorists, that sneaked into the Kashmir Valley and are hiding in the forest because of the continuous operations against them.
According to the sources, around 35 terrorist were identified by the agencies last week but the number could be more than that.
