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Hindustan Times
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘BJP's J&K policy a failure': Mehbooba says party's agenda of alliance offers respectable solutions
Claiming that BJP's policy for J&K was an utter failure, the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti, on Saturday, said that saffron party should implement 'agenda of alliance' that was reached between PDP and BJP in 2015 when they formed a coalition government in Union territory. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti (PTI) Addressing media here, Mufti said, 'The situation in J&K has deteriorated badly under BJP. Earlier, people talked about they are silent but a volcano is boiling deep inside. Today, a small country Pakistan is competing against their economy, not tenth of ours, their army and Because you (BJP) have shunned the policy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and has adopted the policy of Nathuram Godse,' she said. The former chief minister strongly advocated a dialogue, firstly with the people of J&K and then taking it on a higher pedestal with Pakistan. 'There is still time and scope to implement 'agenda of alliance' that late Mufti Sahib reached with the BJP. It was an agenda of alliance of the people of J&K and this nation,' she said. She recalled how her father advocated opening border routes like Kargil-Skardu, Sialkot-Suchetgarh and other routes with Pakistan in a bid to make borders soft and encourage people to people contact. 'My father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sahib had a vision for J&K, and had formed a common minimum programme with the Congress when it formed the government in alliance with the BJP in 2002. 'After that, we worked out an agenda of alliance with the BJP and the only purpose behind it was to bail J&K out of the morasses,' she said. 'The agenda of alliance talked about opening cross-border roads so that caged J&K could be opened. It was for the transfer of power projects, removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and other measures to bring peace and progress to the region. What you (BJP) do? You separated Ladakh after bifurcating the state into two UTs. That was the day when J&K was ruined on the pretext of improving the situation and restoring peace,' she said. Mufti claimed that since August 5, 2019, the situation has deteriorated, especially across Jammu region. 'In the last six years, crime graph has gone up in Jammu because criminals have come here. Livelihood of the people of Jammu are being jobs, everything is being given to the outsiders,' she said while recalling that people of J&K were promised 'rivers of milk and honey,' she said. 'J&K continue to be the flashpoint between India and Pakistan with clouds of war hovering over the region,' she said. The PDP chief claimed that BJP has also realised that stern policy in Kashmir has not brought any positive change. 'In fact, this approach has pushed J&K further back. I appeal to the government to relook into the agenda of alliance and implement it,' she said. The PDP leader also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys authority like his predecessors Indira Gandhi and Vajpayee, and he should adopt a humanitarian approach rather than using J&K as a 'vote bank'.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
37 years on, Nagas remember Oinam massacre during Operation Bluebird
1 2 3 4 5 6 Imphal: Nagas commemorated the 37th anniversary of the Operation Bluebird at the Maram Union Secretariat Complex in Tahamzan (Senapati), Manipur, on Wednesday. They marked the event as the dark day of July 9, 1987, when the Indian Army's counter-insurgency operation turned into what many regard as one of the worst cases of human rights violations in northeast. The event was organised by the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and hosted by the Paomei Naha Union (PNU) with attendance from key Naga organisations, including the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Students' Federation (NSF), Naga Women Union (NWU), Naga Peoples Organisation (NPO), ANSAM and other apex Naga tribal bodies, and well-wishers from across Naga districts. Many speakers revisited the trauma of the incident, describing how in the early morning of July 9, 1987, Assam Rifles personnel descended upon Oinam village and over 30 surrounding villages, following the attack by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) on an Assam Rifles outpost that resulted in the killing of nine soldiers and looting of arms. To recover the weapons, Operation Bluebird was unleashed and an unprecedented reign of terror followed. According to testimonies shared, 27 civilians were killed, three women raped, five sexually molested, two women forced to give birth in public view, 340 villagers were tortured, 96 arbitrarily arrested and detained for weeks, 125 houses burned, 172 dismantled, 10 churches desecrated and 6 schools destroyed. NPMHR secretary general Neingulo Krome described the operation as 'a calculated and systemic assault on the civilian population'. "This brutality gave birth to the NPMHR as a cry for justice and a stand for the dignity of the Naga people," Krome said and reminded the gathering that Operation Bluebird was not just an isolated military crackdown but a historical wound that continues to fester. The operation, carried out under the draconian provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act ( AFSPA ), has since become a case study in extrajudicial killings, torture and impunity.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Suspects involved in last week blast CRPF camp held; attacks in three towns foiled: Himanta
All suspects entrusted with carrying out blasts in four major locations of Assam, including the one that occurred in Bokakhat last week, have been arrested by police and the grenades meant for the purpose recovered from them, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday (June 27, 2025). The 'key person' involved with the plan is still absconding, though police have his whereabouts and he will be nabbed soon, Mr. Sarma said. Two motorcycle-borne miscreants had lobbed a grenade at a CRPF camp at Bokakhat on June 24, injuring three police personnel who were inmates of the camp. Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Sarma said, "The plan was to carry out blasts in Bokakhat, Guwahati, Tezpur and Lakhimpur. Police have arrested all those who were to carry out these blasts." The three remaining grenades meant for the blasts and a pistol have been recovered from houses of the accused, he said. Maintaining that 'criminal-minded' people were behind the plan and attack rather than militants, Mr. Sarma said, "Further inquiry is on to determine who instigated these persons to carry out the attacks. They are giving conflicting statements at the moment." He said those arrested are apparently not members of any militant organisation, though one of them had been with the ULFA but was jailed for a long period. "These are criminal-minded people, one has been jailed in cattle lifting related case, another in drugs case, etc. Operations are still going on. One person, who was the key in this, is yet to be arrested. He is not in Assam, but we know his whereabouts," Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, added. To a question if such blast could lead to bringing back AFSPA, the Chief Minister said, "AFSPA is not related to sporadic incident. It is used in case of prolonged insurgency. It is also out of our state and we will do nothing to bring it back." The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is currently in force in the three districts of Tinsukia, Charaideo and Sivasagar.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP govt successful in bringing peace & devpt to state: Saikia
Guwahati: Establishment of peace in the state, following almost all the militant outfits joining the mainstream, and the subsequent withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from 24 districts and one sub-division, are significant achievements of the present state govt, said BJP's state president .Saikia, who is also a Lok Sabha MP, described the four years of the present BJP govt in the state as successful. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He stated, "In recent years, several major peace accords have been signed between the BJP-led Assam govt and the central govt, including the Karbi, Adivasi, Dimasa, and Ulfa peace agreements, since 2023. These agreements have opened the path for peace and progress in Assam."He added that the Assam Police's strict actions will play a decisive role in curbing future jihadi activities. "The govt's zero-tolerance policy on drugs and corruption has continued through a statewide crackdown by the crime and anti-corruption branch," he added that the border disputes with neighbouring states had long disturbed the peace and obstructed the northeast's progress. Tackling the complex issues of constitutional and traditional boundaries, CM Sarma, with the Centre's guidance, has taken historic steps to resolve decades-long disputes and restore peace to the achievements on the completion of the four years of the present govt on Saturday, he said that during the recently concluded budget session of the Assam assembly, the Assam Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was unanimously passed. Through this, the 'panchayati raj' system at the grassroots will become more empowered and reiterated that public healthcare has been a priority and commitment for the BJP-led govt. By strengthening healthcare infrastructure, the Assam govt has placed public health at the top of its agenda. "With the establishment of the first AIIMS in the Northeast, Assam is set to become a state with 24 medical colleges in the coming years," he state President also mentioned that various economic indicators, including GSDP growth, per capita income, economic development rate, fiscal strength, and poverty reduction, reflect Assam's steady rise. "Over the last nine years, the state's economy has stabilised. The state budget has consistently grown from Rs 66,142 crore in the last Congress budget (2015–16) to Rs 43,891 crore in 2024–25," he added that while the Congress govt could spend only 63% of the allocated budget in 2015–16, the BJP-led govt has increased budget utilisation to 85% in the 2024–25 financial year. President Saikia emphasised that the remarkable transformation of Assam over the past four years has been possible due to the spirit, resilience, and trust of the people in the BJP govt.
Express Tribune
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
British MP highlights rights violations in IIOJK
A crucial debate on human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir was held in the UK House of Commons, led by Sarah Smith MP. The debate highlighted the repression under Indian occupation, drawing attention to arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses. Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK and All Parties Kashmir Alliance UK, congratulated Sarah Smith MP for bringing the issue to the UK Parliament, stating that the discussion exposed the "brutal face of Indian occupation in Kashmir." Opening the debate, Sarah Smith MP criticized India's occupation forces, stating that they continue to enforce "repressive policies, including arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, and other serious abuses." She highlighted that laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, and the Public Safety Act obstruct justice, impede accountability, and deprive victims of their rights. Amnesty International also raised concerns, stating that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act gives Indian forces "de facto legal immunity" for human rights violations, while the UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor stressed that "states must respect human rights obligations and be held accountable for violations." Amnesty's review of habeas corpus petitions revealed a sevenfold increase in Public Safety Act cases after 2019, disproportionately affecting Muslim-majority areas like Srinagar over Hindu-majority Jammu. Several MPs called for the UK to condition its trade agreements with India on improvements in human rights in Kashmir Imran Hussain MP highlighted 70 years of suffering, persecution, and oppression faced by Kashmiris. He condemned enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and what he described as the world's largest military occupation. Ayoub Khan MP questioned the UK's stance on human rights, asking, "How can we claim to champion human rights while turning a blind eye to atrocities in Indian occupied Kashmir?" He compared Kashmir's situation to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, criticizing Western inaction. Tahir Ali MP challenged India's democratic claims, asking, "If India is the world's largest democracy, why does it refuse international observers in Kashmir?" He condemned extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and the use of pellet guns against schoolchildren, asserting that Kashmir is not a bilateral issue but a matter of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. A number of British MPs, including Andy McDonald, Stella Creasy, Yasmin Qureshi, Jim Shannon, Harpreet Uppal, Gareth Snell, Wendy Morton, and Paul Waugh, participated in the debate, raising concerns over human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The debate reinforced growing international concern over occupied Kashmir and called for greater accountability, transparency, and global intervention to address the ongoing human rights crisis.
