Latest news with #JammuandKashmirNationalConference
The Print
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Rahul & Kharge write to PM Modi, urge him to fulfil promise of restoring statehood to J&K
'For the past five years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently called for the restoration of statehood. This demand is both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights. It is important to recognise that while there have been instances of Union Territories being granted statehood in the past, the case of Jammu and Kashmir is without precedent in independent India,' states the joint letter penned by Rahul and Kharge. Their push comes at a time when political tensions are rising in Srinagar, with Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clashing with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha over matters of jurisdiction—a marked shift from the relative diffidence that had characterised much of his eight-month tenure so far. With six MLAs in the 90-member legislative assembly, Congress is a member of Jammu and Kashmir's ruling alliance led by National Conference. However, of late, the ties between the two parties have been frosty with Abdullah disapproving of the Congress's allegations on EVM tampering, and the rudderless state of the INDIA bloc. Even on Monday, when various opposition parties criticised the L-G's administration for using security forces in an attempt to physically prevent Abdullah from visiting the Naqshband Sahib graveyard in Srinagar to pay tribute to those killed by the Dogra army in 1931, the Congress national leadership remained silent. The party's Jammu and Kashmir unit president, Tariq Hameed Karra, had however condemned the incident. In their letter, Rahul and Kharge did not refer to Monday's events, but reminded the PM of his promise to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, which was made a Union Territory in August 2019 along with the abrogation of Article 370, under which it enjoyed special status. Since then, the Congress has tip-toed around the demand for the restoration of Article 370—from criticising the manner in which it was abrogated at times to arguing that the Supreme Court upholding the Centre's move has effectively put a lid on the matter. The party has been consistently demanding statehood be returned to Jammu and Kashmir, which Rahul and Kharge reiterated in their letter. The two leaders mentioned that the Union government made assurances before the Supreme Court in a matter regarding Article 370, submitting that statehood would be restored 'at the earliest and as soon as possible'. A request was also put forth to include the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, which provides autonomy and self-governance to the Scheduled Tribes in the hilly regions of the Northeast. 'This would be a significant step towards addressing the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, while safeguarding their rights, land, and identity,' they said in the letter. (Edited by Shashank Kishan) Also Read: Martyrs' Day row has reopened Kashmir's deepest wounds
NDTV
14-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Omar Abdullah Calls Newspapers "Cowards" For Not Reporting House Arrest
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed anguish over the missing media coverage in local newspapers on the issue of "the entire elected government being locked up". Mr Abdullah accused some newspapers of burying the news story about several elected representatives being confined to their homes on the Kashmir Martyrs' Day, as alleged by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq as well. "Take a look at our local newspapers - both from Jammu and from Srinagar, English & vernacular. You'll be able to distinguish the cowards from the ones with guts. The cowards have completely buried the fact that the entire elected government was locked up yesterday, along with most elected representatives. The newspapers with some guts have put it on the front page. Shame on the sellouts who buried the story, I hope the size of the envelope was worth it," Mr Abdullah posted on X. Take a look at our local newspapers - both from Jammu & from Srinagar, English & vernacular. You'll be able to distinguish the cowards from the ones with guts. The cowards have completely buried the fact that the entire elected government was locked up yesterday along with most… — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 14, 2025 Earlier, Mr Abdullah came down heavily on the "unelected nominees of New Delhi" for allegedly locking up the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir. Taking to X, the Chief Minister shared pictures of police outside his residence, with armoured vehicles parked and movement restricted, as the regional parties, including the National Conference (NC), were denied permission to visit the martyrs' graveyard in Srinagar. "To borrow from the late Arun Jaitley Sb - Democracy in J&K is a tyranny of the unelected. To put it in terms you will all understand today the unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J-K," Mr Abdullah wrote in a post on X. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami also posted on X, saying, "A padlock on my gate, placed under house arrest and denied the right to pay homage to the July 13 martyrs. This day is etched in our collective memory -- a reminder of those who laid down their lives for the restoration of democracy and a better future for us all," JKNC's Sadiq alleged that several party leaders had been confined to their homes to stop them from paying tribute to the martyrs. "Since last night, I like many of my colleagues, including the party leadership at Gupkar, the Advisor to the Chief Minister, and a majority of sitting MLAs have been locked inside my home. This is not just unfortunate; it is a deliberate attempt to suppress remembrance and deny us the right to honour the martyrs of July 13. Such actions are not only unnecessary they are unjustified, deeply insensitive, and reveal a troubling disregard for history," Sadiq posted on X. After not being allowed to visit the martyrs graveyard, People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said that the "dil ki doori (distance of hearts)" between Kashmir and the rest of India would end when the Centre accepts Kashmir's heroes as its own, just as Kashmiris have embraced national figures. "The day you accept our heroes as your own just as Kashmiris have embraced yours, from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Sing, that day, as Prime Minister Modi once said, the 'dil ki doori' (distance of hearts) will truly end," the PDP chief wrote on X. "When you lay siege to the Martyrs' Graveyard, lock people in their homes to prevent them from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada, it speaks volumes. July 13th commemorates our martyrs, those who rose against tyranny, much like countless others across the country. They will always be our heroes," she added. Martyrs' Day in Kashmir was earlier an official holiday in the state; it was delisted after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Omar Abdullah calls out newspapers for
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 14 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed anguish over the missing media coverage in local newspapers on the issue of 'the entire elected government being locked up'. Abdullah accused some newspapers of burying the news story about several elected representatives BEING confined to their homes on the Kashmir Martyrs' Day, as alleged by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq as well. 'Take a look at our local newspapers - both from Jammu and from Srinagar, English & vernacular. You'll be able to distinguish the cowards from the ones with guts. The cowards have completely buried the fact that the entire elected government was locked up yesterday, along with most elected representatives. The newspapers with some guts have put it on the front page. Shame on the sellouts who buried the story, I hope the size of the envelope was worth it,' Abdullah posted on X. Earlier, Abdullah came down heavily on the 'unelected nominees of New Delhi' for allegedly locking up the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir. Taking to X, the Chief Minister shared pictures of police outside his residence, with armoured vehicles parked and movement restricted, as the regional parties, including the National Conference (NC), were denied permission to visit the martyrs' graveyard in Srinagar. 'To borrow from the late Arun Jaitley Sb - Democracy in J&K is a tyranny of the unelected. To put it in terms you will all understand today the unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J-K,' Abdullah wrote in a post on X. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami also posted on X, saying, 'A padlock on my gate, placed under house arrest and denied the right to pay homage to the July 13 martyrs. This day is etched in our collective memory -- a reminder of those who laid down their lives for the restoration of democracy and a better future for us all,' JKNC's Sadiq alleged that several party leaders had been confined to their homes to stop them from paying tribute to the martyrs. 'Since last night, I like many of my colleagues, including the party leadership at Gupkar, the Advisor to the Chief Minister, and a majority of sitting MLAs have been locked inside my home. This is not just unfortunate; it is a deliberate attempt to suppress remembrance and deny us the right to honour the martyrs of July 13. Such actions are not only unnecessary they are unjustified, deeply insensitive, and reveal a troubling disregard for history,' Sadiq posted on X. After not being allowed to visit the martyrs graveyard, People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said that the 'dil ki doori (distance of hearts)' between Kashmir and the rest of India would end when the Centre accepts Kashmir's heroes as its own, just as Kashmiris have embraced national figures. 'The day you accept our heroes as your own just as Kashmiris have embraced yours, from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Sing, that day, as Prime Minister Modi once said, the 'dil ki doori' (distance of hearts) will truly end,' the PDP chief wrote on X. 'When you lay siege to the Martyrs' Graveyard, lock people in their homes to prevent them from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada, it speaks volumes. July 13th commemorates our martyrs, those who rose against tyranny, much like countless others across the country. They will always be our heroes,' she added. Martyrs' Day in Kashmir was earlier an official holiday in the state; it was delisted after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Martyrs Day: J&K CM Omar Abdullah says curbs, house arrest of politicians 'blatantly undemocratic move'
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday alleged that several homes were "locked" from the outside, central forces were deployed as "jailers," and bridges in Srinagar were blocked to "stop" people from visiting a "historically important" graveyard. Ahead of July 13 Martyrs Day, several Jammu and Kashmir politicians were allegedly placed under house arrest(ANI) In a post on X, the JK CM said the graveyard contains the graves of those who "laid down their lives to give Kashmiris a voice" and criticised the administration's actions as "undemocratic". "In a blatantly undemocratic move homes have been locked from the outside, police & central forces deployed as jailers & major bridges in Srinagar blocked. All to stop people from visiting a historically important grave yard containing the graves of people who laid down their lives to give Kashmiris a voice & to empower them. I will never understand what the Law & Order government is so afraid of," Abdullah wrote. In another post, Abdullah compared the July 13 incident to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and said the sacrifices of those who stood up to British rule should not be forgotten. "13th July massacre is our Jallianwala Bagh. The people who laid down their lives did so against the British. Kashmir was being ruled under the British Paramountcy. What a shame that true heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims. We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today but we will not forget their sacrifices," he said. The JK Chief Minister's earlier tweet claiming that people were being "stopped" from entering the martyrs' graveyard was in response to a post by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq, who also alleged that several party leaders were confined to their homes to prevent them from "honouring' the martyrs of July 13. "Since last night, I like many of my colleagues, including the party leadership at Gupkar, the Advisor to the Chief Minister, and a majority of sitting MLAs have been locked inside my home. This is not just unfortunate; it is a deliberate attempt to suppress remembrance and deny us the right to honour the martyrs of July 13. Such actions are not only unnecessary they are unjustified, deeply insensitive, and reveal a troubling disregard for history," Sadiq posted on X.
India Gazette
13-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Blatantly undemocratic move": JK CM Omar Abdullah slams curbs on visit to martyrs' graveyard
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 13 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday alleged that several homes were 'locked' from the outside, central forces were deployed as 'jailers,' and bridges in Srinagar were blocked to 'stop' people from visiting a 'historically important' graveyard. In a post on X, the JK CM said the graveyard contains the graves of those who 'laid down their lives to give Kashmiris a voice' and criticised the administration's actions as undemocratic. 'In a blatantly undemocratic move homes have been locked from the outside, police & central forces deployed as jailers & major bridges in Srinagar blocked. All to stop people from visiting a historically important grave yard containing the graves of people who laid down their lives to give Kashmiris a voice & to empower them. I will never understand what the Law & Order government is so afraid of,' Abdullah wrote. In another post, Abdullah compared the July 13 incident to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and said the sacrifices of those who stood up to British rule should not be forgotten. '13th July massacre is our Jallianwala Bagh. The people who laid down their lives did so against the British. Kashmir was being ruled under the British Paramountcy. What a shame that true heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims. We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today but we will not forget their sacrifices,' he said. The JK Chief Minister's earlier tweet claiming that people were being 'stopped' from entering the martyrs' graveyard was in response to a post by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq, who also alleged that several party leaders were confined to their homes to prevent them from honouring the martyrs of July 13. 'Since last night, I like many of my colleagues, including the party leadership at Gupkar, the Advisor to the Chief Minister, and a majority of sitting MLAs have been locked inside my home. This is not just unfortunate; it is a deliberate attempt to suppress remembrance and deny us the right to honour the martyrs of July 13. Such actions are not only unnecessary they are unjustified, deeply insensitive, and reveal a troubling disregard for history,' Sadiq posted on X. (ANI)
