Jammu & Kashmir Minister Sakina Itoo raises issue of security of people from State with Punjab Governor
Jammu and Kashmir Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday (April 26, 2025) met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and sought urgent steps for instilling a sense of security among Jammu & Kashmir residents currently staying in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah deputed his Cabinet Ministers to various cities across the country in the wake of reports claiming harassment of Kashmiri students and businessmen in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
The purpose of these visits is to coordinate efforts with the respective State Governments and ensure the safety and well-being of Jammu & Kashmir residents.
"J&K Cabinet Minister @sakinaitoo met Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT of Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria (@Gulab_kataria) to discuss the issues of Jammu & Kashmir students, business community and other individuals in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack.
"@DGPPunjabPolice and @DgpChdPolice were also present on the occasion. The Minister asked both the DGPs to take immediate steps for instilling a sense of security among the students and J&K residents currently staying in Punjab and Chandigarh," the Information Department of the government of Jammu & Kashmir posted on X, without elaborating.
Pahalgam terror attack: Omar Abdullah questions Pakistan's offer to join 'neutral' probe
The government said Itoo also met the Chief Secretary of Punjab, K.A.P. Sinha, to discuss the issues of Jammu & Kashmir residents. The Minister requested the Chief Secretary to take steps to restore the sense of security among Jammu & Kashmir students and the business community currently in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Earlier, a Kashmiri student had claimed that she was harassed by some locals in Punjab's Mohali, prompting the Punjab State Women Commission to take suo motu cognisance of the incident.
The female Kashmiri student in Kharar stated that some locals abused and harassed her and her friend on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) following the attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam town.
Indus Waters Treaty was 'most unfair document' to people of J&K: Omar
Members of Mr. Abdullah's Council of Ministers have also reached other cities as well. Jammu & Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary is in Mumbai and will be available to interact with students, the business community and others.
Cabinet Minister Javed Ahmed Rana has arrived in Lucknow, the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Sports, Satish Sharma, has reached Dehradun, while Minister Javed Dar has reached Shimla.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
12 hours ago
- News18
Pakistan's Washington Outreach Against India Backfires: Public Humiliation, Zero Traction
Last Updated: Rebukes from US officials to being grilled over its human rights, Pakistan's latest diplomatic adventure opened a can of worms, leaving behind bigger mess than it set out to clean Pakistan's latest outreach to Washington, led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was meant to counter India's global campaign to expose Islamabad's role in cross-border terrorism. But it backfired. What unfolded was a series of public embarrassments — from being scolded by US lawmakers, to being fact-checked by a journalist at the UN, and being completely ignored on key agenda items like the Indus Waters Treaty. After India announced a cross-party delegation to multiple countries to build consensus against Pakistani terrorism, Islamabad rushed to mount a smaller, reactive mission focused on the United States. The aim was to challenge India's narrative, whitewash Pakistan's use of terror as state policy, and project itself instead as a victim of terrorism. But the strategy was flawed. The facts were on India's side, not Pakistan's. What followed was a series of public relations disasters for Islamabad. Let's start with US Congressman Brad Sherman. Having met the Pakistani delegation, Islamabad expected support. Instead, Sherman publicly demanded on X (formerly Twitter) that Pakistan eliminate Jaish-e-Mohammed — the terror group responsible for the brutal 2002 murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, who was Sherman's own constituent. 'Pakistan should do all it can to eliminate this vile group and combat terrorism in the region," Sherman posted. This wasn't a private remark — it was a public rebuke. But Sherman didn't stop there. He raised the continued imprisonment of Dr Shakil Afridi — the physician who helped the US locate Osama Bin Laden. 'Freeing Dr Afridi represents an important step in bringing closure for victims of 9/11," he said. On water disputes, Sherman made an even more telling statement: 'China should not nick India's water, India should not nick Pakistan's water, and Pakistan's Punjab should not nick Sindh's water." That exposed the hypocrisy of Pakistan's position on water-sharing, not just regionally but domestically. Sherman then landed a final blow — highlighting Pakistan's persecution of minorities. 'Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadiyya Muslims living in Pakistan must be allowed to practice their faith and participate in the democratic system without fear of violence, persecution, discrimination, or an unequal justice system." For years, Pakistan has managed to escape serious scrutiny on such human rights violations. A direct and public critique from a senior U.S. lawmaker marks a sharp shift — and should serve as a warning. Sherman also spotlighted one of Pakistan's most suppressed issues: enforced disappearances in Sindh. 'For years, the people of Sindh have faced political repression through enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Since its founding in 2011, Pakistan's own Human Rights Commission has documented over 8,000 such cases, many of which have never been properly investigated," Sherman said. Talk about opening a can of worms. Islamabad had more to worry about than just diplomatic messaging — it now faced the international spotlight on its own governance failures. Meanwhile, the Pakistani delegation's attempt to raise the Indus Waters Treaty got no traction. Their plea to pressurize India over hydropower projects on the western rivers was met with silence. No statements. No pressers. Not even polite acknowledgement. The U.S. wasn't buying it — a clear signal that Washington no longer has time for Pakistan's grievance theatre. Then came another embarrassment. At a press conference at the United Nations, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attempted to portray India as anti-Muslim, only to be corrected by a journalist. 'Sir, I've watched briefings from both sides. Muslim military officers were conducting the briefing for India," the journalist pointed out. Caught off guard, Bhutto simply nodded and admitted, 'As far as the operations are concerned, you're absolutely right." Humbled in seconds — a symbolic moment in a trip that offered Islamabad little more than a diplomatic scolding. But true to form, Pakistan didn't retreat or reflect. Instead, it doubled down. In yet another blunder, Bilawal Bhutto defended Hafiz Abdur Rauf — the man seen leading funeral prayers after India's Operation Sindoor airstrikes targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Bhutto claimed Rauf merely shared a name with a designated terrorist. However, Pakistan's own military media wing, ISPR, released a CNIC that directly matched U.S. Treasury records, confirming Rauf's identity and his role in the Lashkar-e-Toiba-linked Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a party designated as a terror proxy by the U.S. in 2018. Few individuals, as per the US Treasury, are more integral to LeT's fundraising than Rauf. Yet Pakistan chose to defend him. Finally, in a bizarre twist, Bilawal Bhutto floated the idea of cooperation between India's RAW and Pakistan's ISI. 'I am completely confident that if ISI and RAW sat down to work together, we'd see a significant drop in terrorism on both sides," he said. A strange proposition, considering Pakistan's long record of harbouring terror outfits — 83 proscribed organisations at last count, with 45 still active. These include transnational networks like the Haqqani Network, ISKP, and al-Qaeda, alongside India-focused groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Most operate with the knowledge — if not direct support — of the Pakistani state and military. The only group that consistently targets Pakistan is the Tehreek-e-Taliban — a blowback of Islamabad's own strategic games. So far, Pakistan has used diplomatic platforms to either deny or deflect these truths. But it is becoming more and more difficult for the world to overlook Pakistan's brazen support of terror. Even the religion card is being declined. Trying to play the religion card, the Pakistani embassy even asked Malaysia to cancel all ten events scheduled by India's delegation. 'We are an Islamic country, you are an Islamic country," the embassy pleaded. Malaysia declined the request. All ten events went ahead as planned. Humiliation. Public embarrassment. Strategic disgrace. Operation Sindoor has left a giant crater in Pakistan's global image—a blemish no amount of denial, whitewashing or spin can conceal. It's karma in all its glory and it has been duly noted by the world. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 08, 2025, 18:38 IST News opinion Pakistan's Washington Outreach Against India Backfires: Public Humiliation, Zero Traction | Finepoint
India Today
21 hours ago
- India Today
Can China turn off India's tap, hit land formation?
It's impossible that anyone who has taken a train to Guwahati and crossed the Saraighat Bridge hasn't been left amazed by the width of the Brahmaputra. It looks like a sea. Just to imagine that the mighty Brahmaputra gushes as a stream, called Yarlung Tsangpo, in Tibet is unimaginable for millions of Indians. But that's the fact and the visual answer to the question -- can China turn the Brahmaputra tap off for India?advertisementThe idea that China, being the upper riparian country, might be capable of controlling the flow of the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra river system was brought up by Pakistan after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).That scare-mongering was promptly addressed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. But what do research data and experts suggest? Can China block or divert the flow of Yarlung Tsangpo and hit India's water supply? Diverting the flow of a high-sediment river like the Brahmaputra won't be just about the water, it would also hit soil formation downstream."If India does something like this that they stop the flow [of rivers] to Pakistan, then China can also do the same thing," Rana Ihsaan Afzal, a senior aide to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, told Geo News on May remarks caused some consternation given the fact that China is constructing the 60,000-MW Medong Dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo at the Great Bend, near the India-China rule out any possibility of China blocking or diverting water, and say a bigger worry should be that the massive dam -- one of the biggest in the world -- is coming up in a calamity-prone area in China-controlled Nilanjan Ghosh, who has studied the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River System for close to two decades, says that it has never been China's position to block the flow of the Brahmaputra, albeit it aims to build run-of-the-river dams."Any attempt to divert the flow would be counterproductive as it would result in upstream floods because of sediment accumulation," Ghosh, Vice President, Development Studies at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), tells India Today expert says China won't be able to "turn off the tap" as the Brahmaputra is primarily a rain- and tributary-fed river, and the Yarlung Tsangpo contributes just 10-15% of the entire volume of the Brahmaputra's water."The Brahmaputra gets fatter and fatter as it moves downstream," says Ghosh. China contributes only a small portion of the Brahmaputra's total water. As the river flows through India, its volume increases more than six times due to several tributaries joining in. (Image: Arun Uniyal/India Today) In January this year, Ghosh and fellow researcher, Sayanangshu Modak, published a research paper in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Water Resources Development where they used hydrological data to junk the rhetoric around China being capable of turning the Brahmaputra tap collated over the years show that the discharge of the Yarlung Tsangpo, measured at Nuxia in Tibet, to be at 31.2 billion cubic meters (BCM) annually, which then swells to an estimated 78.1 BCM as it passes through the Great Bend and exits the measuring station at Pandu in Guwahati, the Brahmaputra's annual discharge is 526 BCM, showing a six-fold volume increase. At Bahadurabad, in Bangladesh, which is just across the border with India, the annual discharge is 606 shows that since the river's entry into India, the Brahmaputra has been fed by its tributaries to grow Brahmaputra has shaped Assam for centuries by carving out banks and creating shape-shifting islands. It has caused flooding woes, but has also left behind life-sustaining fertile Majuli island on the Brahmaputra is the world's biggest riverine island, and has been at the heart of neo-Vaishnavism, spearheaded by Srimanta Sankaradeva. The Vaishnavite satras (monastries) in Majuli have been centres of cultural and art for the one-horned rhino, the twin-leaf tea buds and the xorai and gamusa, the Brahmaputra has become a marker for Assam's civilisational identity."Mahabahu Brahmaputra" is how legendary Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika refers to the mighty river in one of his ever-popular songs, which tells the story of the land it BRAHMAPUTRA FLOODS SUGGESTOriginating in the Angsi Glacier in western Tibet, the Yarlung Tsangpo travels 1,625 km in the China-controlled territory of Tibet and enters India after the Great Bend near the Namcha Barwa peak. Then, as the Brahmaputra, it flows for 918 km within India and another 337 km in Bangladesh, where it is called Jamuna, and empties into the Bay of length of the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra system in Tibet gives the perception that it is a major river with a huge water volume in agrees with Himanta Biswa Sarma's analysis of the Brahmaputra but calculates the Tsangpo's water contribution to the Brahmaputra at much lower than the 30-35% pegged by the Assam chief expert says though the river system completes 56% of its run in China, it contributes just 15% of the water in its boundary."That is why some literature suggests the Yarlung Tsangpo to be a tributary of the Brahmaputra," Ghosh tells India Today is believed that the Brahmaputra was actually formed at Sadia in eastern Assam after the merger of three rivers -- the Dihang (Siang), Lohit and Dibang."So, I don't think that, given these hydrological facts, there will be any substantial impact on India, even if China blocks the flow of Tsangpo," says Ghosh. The Brahmaputra in Assam gains significant volume of water as it flows parallel to the Himalayan foothills and is fed by many snowmelt tributaries such as the Subansiri, Kameng, and Kameng rivers.(Image: Arun Uniyal/India Today) advertisementDerek J Grossman, a national security and Indo-Pacific analyst with Rand Corporation, says Pakistan cannot count on China to turn off the tap as monsoons feed the Brahmaputra."China has little control over the water flow of the Brahmaputra River, according to Indian government officials. One reason is that monsoons are the primary source of water. Another is that Beijing can only halt roughly 30 percent of the flow. Pakistan can't count on China," says one should remember, is a cold desert with very little precipitation. It is the glaciers that give birth to the rivers India, the Brahmaputra has been linked with devastating annual floods, which are a result of the water drained into it by over two dozen tributaries in the monsoon – the town where experts argue that the Brahmaputra is formed – is the town where Bhupen Hazarika was born, and a good part of it was engulfed by the Brahmaputra as it changed course after the earthquake in rebukes the Brahmaputra, referring to it as Burha Luit, in one of his songs, for flowing silently, deaf to the wails of the numerous people on its banks. "...Burha Luit tumi boa kiyo (Why do you flow)," he BLOCKING OF BRAHMAPUTRA FLOW WON'T HIT SOIL FORMATIONExperts have suggested that the Brahmaputra is an antecedent river that is older than the the Brahmaputra, in its age-old wisdom, flows silently, taking away land, like in Sadia, the sediment it carries is crucial to soil from the perspective of soil formation and fertility, China's blocking of the Yarlung-Tsangpo wouldn't impact to the 2016 book -- River morphodynamics and stream ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau -- by Chinese experts, the annual suspended sediment load of the Yarlung-Tsangpo near Nuxia in Tibet is around 30 million metric tonnes (mmt), much lower than the 735 mmt of sediment load at Bahadurabad in stream-like Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet cannot carry the sediment load, and it is the powerful Brahmaputra that does the heavy-lifting of the sediment load not just in India but to form the fertile Jamuna floodplain in average width of the Brahmaputra is 5.46 km, according to the Assam Water Resources website. In areas where it forms a braided system due to sediment deposition, the width extends to up to 18 km. Satellite images show the Yarlung Tsangpo (top) in Tibet as a narrow, fast-flowing river cutting through the plateau, while in the Assam plains the Brahmaputra (bottom) spreads out and swells into braided channels, often accommodating islands as large as Majuli and the one with the Dibru-Saikhowa National The scale of the two images is not uniform, and they are presented only for visual comparison, not to exact proportions. (Image: Google Maps) INDUS WATERS TREATY SUSPENSION AND CHINA'S DAMSThe Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) that India kept in abeyance after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack is very different from the treaty that India has with China on the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra the IWT is a water-sharing treaty under which India gave the rights to water use of the western rivers of the Indus Rivers System to India, the pact with China on Yarlung-Brahmaputra is just for sharing of information, and not China could do worst is stop sharing hydrological data with India, but even that won't matter much, according to Ghosh."India has an MoU with China for hydrological data from three stations [in China]. Even if China stops sharing data, it won't matter because the information isn't helping much anyway due to the wrong choice of stations [agreed on] by the Indian government at the beginning of the millennia," he tells India Today says no one should draw parallels between the Indus Water System and the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River System because of the difference in the nature of the two."The Indus System is largely fed by glacial and ice melt. It has around 45% to 55% normalised melting index (NMI). While the contribution of glacial and ice melt of the Brahmaputra is barely 10-12%," says this means is that the bulk of the water in the Indus River System is added upstream, which isn't true in the case of the Yarlung-Brahmaputra. While India has the advantage of being the upper riparian state in the case of the Indus system, China doesn't enjoy that in the case of the Pakistan, an agrarian economy, is completely dependent on the Indus River System for its agriculture and power generation, India, according to Ghosh, barely taps 25% of the renewable water flow of the while Pakistan might love to believe that its "all-weather friend" China might be able to turn the tap off on India and hurt it, this isn't true going by the hydrological and meteorological Brahmaputra has historically been associated with Assam's resilience. The Saraighat rail bridge that one uses to travel to Guwahati is a reminder of was the crucial Battle of Saraighat, led by legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, on the Brahmaputra that led to the defeat of the Mughal forces and the end of the siege of Brahmaputra nurtures Assam. It is formed in Sadia and China cannot weaponise its waters against India.
News18
a day ago
- News18
Operation Sindoor, Global Respect, Waqf Reform: Modi Govt 3.0's Biggest Feats In 1 Year In Office
Last Updated: PM Modi's third term has brought a period of remarkable political dynamism, typified by decisive policy clarity, an undeniable rise in global stature, and firm political control As the Narendra Modi-led NDA government completes the first year of its third consecutive term, it reflects on a foundation of significant policy decisions and strategic initiatives. Modi took office as the Prime Minister for the third time on June 9, 2024, following another decisive victory in the Lok Sabha elections. The past year has witnessed a continued focus on transforming the country into Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and asserting its role on the global stage—from strategic military action and social welfare reforms to significant economic relief and proactive global diplomacy. A Bold Stride in National Security: Operation Sindoor One of the defining moments of the Modi government 3.0's first year has undoubtedly been Operation Sindoor. Launched on May 7, 2025, the precision strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were a direct response to the devastating Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, which claimed 26 lives. Lauded as a decisive military and non-military action, Operation Sindoor effectively neutralised terrorist threats and targeted terror infrastructure across the border, while leaving the Pakistani forces with a bloody nose. Beyond the kinetic action, Operation Sindoor showcased a multi-dimensional approach. India also implemented non-military measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. The move, with its significant impact on Pakistan's water-dependent economy, underscores India's 'new normal" of zero tolerance in addressing terrorist acts. Prime Minister Modi frequently invoked the symbolism of 'sindoor" (vermilion), connecting the military action to Indian values and a pledge of justice, while highlighting India's indigenous defence capabilities. The operation's success has become a central theme in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's narrative, marking the first anniversary of the third straight term in power. Global Diplomacy and 'Viksit Bharat' Vision The Modi government 3.0 has maintained a strong focus on diplomacy, aiming to solidify India's position as a leading international power and 'Voice of the Global South". India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam has said that India is now poised to displace Germany from the third rank in the next 2.5 to 3 years. India continues engaging with various global blocs and nations to further economic and social development, enhance national security, and elevate its global stature. Strengthening ties with major powers like the United States in defence cooperation, trade, and technology transfer remains a priority. India is deepening engagements with countries in the Indo-Pacific region through forums like the Quad. Emphasis remains on improving bilateral ties with South Asian neighbours and enhancing engagement with Southeast Asian nations. The government is actively pursuing foreign direct investment (FDI) by liberalising norms in sectors such as defence, railways, and insurance, and simplifying tax structures to attract global capital, aligning with the vision of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy. Reforming the Waqf Act: A Step Towards Uniformity and Transparency To improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India, the Modi government 3.0 ensured the successful passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to address the longstanding issues within the Waqf Act of 1995. The move reflects both the government's long-term ideological agenda and its stated goals of reform and transparency. For years, there have been widespread allegations of mismanagement, encroachment, and corruption concerning Waqf properties across India. With over 870,000 Waqf properties, making the Waqf Board the third largest landowner in India after the Armed Forces and Indian Railways, the scale of potential mismanagement is immense. The government's primary stated objective with the amendment is to bring greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency to the administration of these vast assets. By introducing provisions for digitising records, ensuring regular audits, and streamlining the registration process, the government aims to curb illegal occupation and misuse of Waqf lands, which it claims have prevented the proper utilisation of funds for charitable purposes. A major change is the increased role of the central government and state officials in the management of Waqf properties. The law now empowers the district collector to conduct surveys of Waqf properties and determine ownership in cases of uncertainty, especially concerning government land claimed as Waqf. This shifts power from the Waqf Boards to a government-appointed officer. The central government now has more power to make rules regarding Waqf registration, accounts, and audits, allowing for greater oversight of financial matters. The amendment also significantly impacts the concept of 'Waqf by user", where properties were recognised as Waqf based on long-term usage for religious or charitable purposes, even without formal documentation. This remains a contentious point. One of the most debated aspects of the amendment is the change in the composition of the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards. The amended Act mandates the inclusion of non-Muslim members in these bodies. Previously, all members (barring the union minister in charge of Waqf) were required to be Muslim. The government frames this as a move towards 'inclusivity" and greater transparency, arguing that Waqf properties serve a broader public purpose. The law also aims to ensure representation from different Muslim sects (Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Agakhani) and mandates the inclusion of at least two Muslim women members on the Boards, which the government highlights as a step towards 'social justice" and empowerment within the Muslim community. The amendments have sparked new legal challenges, with several Muslim organisations and opposition MPs moving the Supreme Court against the law. For the Modi government, the Waqf Act amendment aligns with its broader vision of promoting a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and reducing what it perceives as 'appeasement" policies. Empowering the Middle Class: Income Tax Relief and Social Security A cornerstone of the Modi government 3.0's agenda has been substantial relief for the middle class, a key demographic for the government. The union budget 2025-26 announced that no income tax will be payable on annual incomes up to Rs 12 lakh under the new tax regime. For salaried taxpayers, this limit extends to Rs 12.75 lakh, incorporating a standard deduction of Rs 75,000. This represents the largest increase in income tax exemption since 2005, significantly easing the financial burden on middle-income earners and encouraging consumption, savings, and investment. Beyond income tax, the government introduced several initiatives for the middle class and vulnerable sections. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) now includes all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income, providing health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year. A unified pension scheme ensures a guaranteed pension of 50% of the average basic pay for government employees with 25 years of service. top videos View all The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) targets to construct millions of new houses, including a new scheme to assist weaker sections and middle-class families in achieving home ownership in urban areas. The limit for Mudra loans, which support small entrepreneurs, has been raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, empowering young people and small businesses. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : gdp Narendra Modi Operation Sindoor pakistan terror Waqf Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 08, 2025, 09:10 IST News india Operation Sindoor, Global Respect, Waqf Reform: Modi Govt 3.0's Biggest Feats In 1 Year In Office
