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NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
On 'Boycott Kashmir' Trend, Omar Abdullah's Big Appeal To Centre
Omar Abdullah was cycling on Tuesday in Pahalgam. On Wednesday, he was on a Gondola (cable car) ride in Gulmarg. The aim, he says, is to revive the tourist season, which suffered a body blow due to the deadly terror attack in the picturesque Pahalgam. The visits by Mr Abdullah were also a counter to the "don't go to Kashmir" narrative and the "boycott Kashmir" campaign being run by some. "Terrorists also want this, that you don't go to Kashmir. Those people are enemies of this country. They are not only enemies of Kashmir, they are enemies of the country. Of India. They are enemies of India who are running such a campaign. Because they are doing the same work as the terrorists did on April 22," the Chief Minister told NDTV. "This Boycott Kashmir campaign is to strengthen the hands of those people. And if these people want to do this, then let them do it. But I would like the central government to use its agencies and identify which people and which forces are running the boycott Kashmir campaign and take the strictest action against them," Mr Abdullah said. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Abdullah, 55, took his council of ministers and the whole administrative set up to a picturesque resort in north Kashmir's Baramulla district for a meeting aimed at negating the perception of fear in the Valley. This came a day after a meeting of the council of ministers at a resort in south Kashmir's Pahalgam. Having met tour operators, the Chief Minister said that they want to promote Jammu and Kashmir and especially Kashmir. "Tourism should gradually get a revival and this is our hope and this is our effort," he said after meeting tour operators from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. The Chief Minister said he was hoping that there would only be 20 tour operators in the meeting, but that number rose to 70. "We have come to thank the tourists who are associated with our tourism industry, to boost their morale and to send a message that the April 22 attack will not derail us from our mission," the Chief Minister underlined. On April 22, terrorists attacked holidaymakers enjoying picturesque Pahalgam, in a lush valley beneath snowcapped Himalayan peaks. Survivors said the attackers separated the men, asked several about their religion, and shot them at close range. All 26 killed were Indian nationals, except one from Nepal. Most were Hindus. One was a Kashmiri Muslim who gave horse rides for tourists. "The terrorists want that there should be no progress here; they want that the environment should remain spoiled. They don't want the tourists to come here. But God willing, we will succeed," he said. Asked if he was satisfied with the efforts and the tourist revival has begun, Mr Abdullah said,"There is still a lot to do. We have taken the first two steps. This is just the beginning. We will continue to do more." Mr Adbullah met the tourists with warm handshakes and smile, sought feedback about their Kashmir visit and happily posed for photographs and selfies with them. The chief minister appealed to the tourists to promote the Valley as a safe and peaceful destination. "Met tourists at Gulmarg and was pleased to hear their encouraging feedback. Their joy and appreciation reflect the growing confidence in Kashmir as a welcoming and vibrant destination," he posted on X.
The Wire
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
39 Assaults, 19 Acts of Vandalism, 42 Incidents of Harassment Against Muslims Since Pahalgam: Report
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Video Watch | 39 Assaults, 19 Acts of Vandalism, 42 Incidents of Harassment Against Muslims Since Pahalgam: Report Minal Saeed Khan 37 minutes ago According to an APCR report, these incidents were neither random nor isolated. At a time when unity and solidarity were the need of the hour, the nation witnessed increased communal polarisation. Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Donate now New Delhi: A report by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) reveals that in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, a total of 184 anti-Muslim hate incidents took place in India – starting from April 11 till May 8. The report states that in at least 106 of these incidents, the Pahalgam attack – in which 26 civilians were killed – allegedly acted as a triggering factor. In these incidents, 316 people have been affected either physically or psychologically. According to the APCR report, these incidents were neither random nor isolated. At a time when unity and solidarity were the need of the hour, the nation witnessed increased communal polarisation. The most number of these incidents are reported to be from Uttar Pradesh, where 43 such incidents took place, followed by Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh, a 15-year-old Muslim boy was assaulted by a group of men while on his way back from school. He was also forced to urinate on a Pakistani flag. An FIR was later registered against Raju, a book shop owner; Nitin, a grocery shop owner; and an unidentified man under various sections of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, provoking breach of peace and criminal intimidation. In another incident in Bhopal on April 26, Railway Head Constable Nazar Daulat Khan was brutally thrashed by a group of intoxicated Hindu youths. According to reports, the police officer was on patrol around 2 am when he noticed a group of young men consuming alcohol inside a parked car on the station premises. When he approached the group and asked them to leave, the situation quickly turned violent. The attackers, after noticing Khan's Muslim name, allegedly hurled verbal abuses at him, targeting his religious identity. The confrontation escalated with the group physically attacking Khan, punching him, and tearing his uniform. Several Kashmir students were also targeted and assaulted in their hostels in Chandigarh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. In Dehradun, Hindu Raksha Dal and other right-wing elements have allegedly issued written threats to several colleges, demanding the expulsion of Kashmiri Muslim students and setting a chilling ultimatum. Footage of other incidents of Kashmiri Muslim vendors getting attacked also surfaced on social media. One such incident happened in Mussoorie, where two Kashmir shawl vendors were heckled by members of the Bajrang Dal. In another incident in Mussoorie itself, a group of Kashmiri shawl vendors were asked to vacate overnight, leaving goods worth Rs 12 lakhs. Several acts of vandalism targeting property owned and managed by Muslims occurred across the country. These involved the destruction of madrasas, and Muslim-owned shops, carts and stalls. A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Balmukund Acharya vandalised a mosque in Rajasthan during a rally, while another mosque in Uttarakhand was attacked with stones by Hindutva groups. In Kashmir, houses of suspected militants were demolished, in violation of the Supreme Court guidelines. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Rahul Gandhi Meets Pahalgam Victim Lt. Narwal's Family Amid Online Abuse Against Himanshi From Pahalgam, Voices that Ought to Shame the Sectarian Zealot An Open Letter to the Terrorists Who Attacked Pahalgam BJP Videos on X List Terror Attacks in UPA Years as Govt Says 'No Space for Politics' Eight Questions to the Narendra Modi Government After a Terror Attack, an Operation and a Ceasefire Missing Police in Pahalgam: Who is Responsible for this Biggest Breach of Public Security? Rebuked by Kashmiris, Let Not Pakistan's General Munir Succeed in Other Parts of India In This New Phase of India-Pak Relations, Bludgeoning Kashmir Is Not the Answer 26 Killed In Pahalgam Terror Attack About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - No pass for Pakistan-sponsored terrorism
On Apr. 22, in the valley of Pahalgam, where newlyweds and vacationing families were capturing moments of joy against the backdrop of another Indian summer, sudden barbaric violence shattered the calm as four terrorists sponsored and supported by Pakistan mercilessly executed 26 innocents. They tore apart families — husbands from wives, siblings from one another, parents from their children — executing them with chilling precision. Adding to the horror, the perpetrators sought to infuse their carnage with a sectarian veneer, demanding victims declare their religious affiliations. This attempt to communalize the atrocity was thwarted by an act of profound courage — a local Kashmiri Muslim, in defiance of the terrorists' divisive intent, sacrificed his life to shield the tourists. This brutal act of terror only fills up the catalogue of terrorist attacks sponsored by Pakistan against India. Reasi in 2024, Pulwama in 2019, Uri and Pathankot attacks in 2016 and the 2008 siege of Mumbai — where 166 lives, including six Americans, were killed — form a grim list that defies comprehension. Terror in Pahalgam brings another spotlight on the nature of the Pakistani state and its parentage of syndicate of terrorist proxies operating from its soil. Pakistan prides itself in harboring and defending proscribed terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and their front organizations like the Resistance Front which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. While Pakistan leaders' posture on the global stage, proclaiming victimhood and demanding joint investigations to deflect allegations of complicity, they simultaneously shelter and embolden terrorist figures at home. It is incredible how well their strategy of hoodwinking and denial has worked for them. It worked for Pakistan when they sheltered Osama bin Laden. It worked for them when they knowingly and falsely declared dead 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Sajid Mir, the man behind the Mumbai attacks. It worked for them when they orchestrated the release of Ahmed Saeed Omar Sheikh, a terrorist India was forced to release in a hostage exchange, who went on to murder Daniel Pearl. And sadly they continue to persist with it. The recurrent pattern is unmistakable: Whenever inconvenient truths surface regarding Pakistan's entanglement with terrorist organizations, its officials deftly concede a measure of historical complicity, thereby deflecting scrutiny from contemporary accusations. This rhetorical sleight-of-hand, a calculated maneuver, consistently yields dividends, shielding the state from accountability. History, as the adage warns, condemns the ignorant to its repetition. From its inception, the Pakistani state — most notably its military, which has systematically prevented any elected prime minister from completing a full term — has fixated on the territorial conquest of Kashmir, purely on religious grounds. In moments of domestic turmoil — be it political missteps, economic collapse, or ideological discord — the military apparatus invariably redirects the national gaze toward Kashmir, conjuring the specter of an existential Indian threat. This manufactured bogeyman serves the singular purpose of subduing the Pakistani populace, ensuring their acquiescence to the military's agenda. More than 40,000 people, civilian and security forces have lost their lives in India due to terrorism. As a respected and responsible member of the comity of nations, India has never sought a violent solution to any conflict. But we cannot choose to not act when terrorists unleash such horror. We do not stand alone today when we say there is zero tolerance for terrorism. After the terror attack, India undertook measured and non-escalatory strikes against these terror apparatuses operating in Pakistan. In response the Pakistan Army, in its usual war mongering manner, has sought to escalate the situation by carrying out strikes against Indian civilian and military infrastructure. It has chosen to stand with the terrorists. India does not seek an escalation. Our war is against terrorism. It is not against the people of Pakistan. Vinay Kwatra is India's ambassador to the U.S. and its former foreign secretary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
No pass for Pakistan-sponsored terrorism
On Apr. 22, in the valley of Pahalgam, where newlyweds and vacationing families were capturing moments of joy against the backdrop of another Indian summer, sudden barbaric violence shattered the calm as four terrorists sponsored and supported by Pakistan mercilessly executed 26 innocents. They tore apart families — husbands from wives, siblings from one another, parents from their children — executing them with chilling precision. Adding to the horror, the perpetrators sought to infuse their carnage with a sectarian veneer, demanding victims declare their religious affiliations. This attempt to communalize the atrocity was thwarted by an act of profound courage — a local Kashmiri Muslim, in defiance of the terrorists' divisive intent, sacrificed his life to shield the tourists. This brutal act of terror only fills up the catalogue of terrorist attacks sponsored by Pakistan against India. Reasi in 2024, Pulwama in 2019, Uri and Pathankot attacks in 2016 and the 2008 siege of Mumbai — where 166 lives, including six Americans, were killed — form a grim list that defies comprehension. Terror in Pahalgam brings another spotlight on the nature of the Pakistani state and its parentage of syndicate of terrorist proxies operating from its soil. Pakistan prides itself in harboring and defending proscribed terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and their front organizations like the Resistance Front which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. While Pakistan leaders' posture on the global stage, proclaiming victimhood and demanding joint investigations to deflect allegations of complicity, they simultaneously shelter and embolden terrorist figures at home. It is incredible how well their strategy of hoodwinking and denial has worked for them. It worked for Pakistan when they sheltered Osama bin Laden. It worked for them when they knowingly and falsely declared dead 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Sajid Mir, the man behind the Mumbai attacks. It worked for them when they orchestrated the release of Ahmed Saeed Omar Sheikh, a terrorist India was forced to release in a hostage exchange, who went on to murder Daniel Pearl. And sadly they continue to persist with it. The recurrent pattern is unmistakable: Whenever inconvenient truths surface regarding Pakistan's entanglement with terrorist organizations, its officials deftly concede a measure of historical complicity, thereby deflecting scrutiny from contemporary accusations. This rhetorical sleight-of-hand, a calculated maneuver, consistently yields dividends, shielding the state from accountability. History, as the adage warns, condemns the ignorant to its repetition. From its inception, the Pakistani state — most notably its military, which has systematically prevented any elected prime minister from completing a full term — has fixated on the territorial conquest of Kashmir, purely on religious grounds. In moments of domestic turmoil — be it political missteps, economic collapse, or ideological discord — the military apparatus invariably redirects the national gaze toward Kashmir, conjuring the specter of an existential Indian threat. This manufactured bogeyman serves the singular purpose of subduing the Pakistani populace, ensuring their acquiescence to the military's agenda. More than 40,000 people, civilian and security forces have lost their lives in India due to terrorism. As a respected and responsible member of the comity of nations, India has never sought a violent solution to any conflict. But we cannot choose to not act when terrorists unleash such horror. We do not stand alone today when we say there is zero tolerance for terrorism. After the terror attack, India undertook measured and non-escalatory strikes against these terror apparatuses operating in Pakistan. In response the Pakistan Army, in its usual war mongering manner, has sought to escalate the situation by carrying out strikes against Indian civilian and military infrastructure. It has chosen to stand with the terrorists. India does not seek an escalation. Our war is against terrorism. It is not against the people of Pakistan. Vinay Kwatra is India's ambassador to the U.S. and its former foreign secretary.
Economic Times
07-05-2025
- Economic Times
Hina Khan says alcohol should not be used as a ‘Free Get Away Card' in Srinagar rape-murder case
Hina Rejects Alcohol as a Justification Criticism of Selective Outrage Reflection on Pahalgam Attack The Nishat Incident and Police Action Television actor Hina Khan has spoken out strongly against the justification of a brutal sexual assault and murder of a 45-year-old woman in Nishat, a town near Srinagar in Kashmir. The case, which has shocked the region, has also triggered polarising commentary around religion, alcohol use, and cultural narratives. Hina Khan, known for being vocal on social issues, took to social media to address the disturbing discourse surrounding the a series of posts shared via Instagram Stories, Khan expressed her dismay at those suggesting that alcohol consumption could be used to explain or lessen the severity of such crimes. She pointed out that equating alcohol with criminal behaviour was nothing short of deflection. "A rapist blames everything else than Himself. Don't act like that criminal. Don't use Alcohol to give the Criminal a 'Free Get Away Card'," she wrote, denouncing the use of alcohol as a to Khan, alcohol does not transform a good man into a rapist, and she stressed that morally upright individuals have the capacity to handle alcohol without resorting to violence. She added that such claims diminish the responsibility of the perpetrators and distort the narrative around sexual who hails from Kashmir, also took issue with attempts to shield the accused due to shared religious or regional backgrounds. "It's high time we call out what's happened without mincing words just because it's done by a Kashmiri Muslim and blame alcohol for your so-called agenda," she said, pushing for an honest reckoning irrespective of the identity of the another post, she spoke out against what she termed as hypocrisy. "Let the victims at least be the Victims. Don't hog on to their victimhood to justify your motivations and ambitions. Please stop this hypocrisy.. it's the mindset not the alcohol," she wrote, clarifying that while she is not advocating for alcohol consumption, she opposes using it as the central issue in the conversation around a violent also recalled the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, including tourists, and left many injured. In the aftermath, she had issued an apology to the victims and fellow Indians, saying, 'And as a Muslim, I want to apologise to all my fellow Hindus and my fellow Indians. People who lost their lives.' She revisited that sentiment, urging fellow Muslims, especially in Kashmir, to refrain from engaging with hate or trolling in the name of community defence."Can we coexist for heavens sake.. let's take the first step.. let's be humans first... I am not asking anyone to apologise, it's a personal choice.. I did it coz I felt it.. but, if you can't say anything good, positive then at least ST** and sit down,' she incident that sparked Khan's reaction involved the alleged sexual assault and murder of a woman from the Gujjar-Bakerwal community. Her family, who had migrated from Reasi to Nishat, reported that she was attacked while grazing goats near Water Works was later declared brought dead at the hospital. Police have arrested four individuals in connection with the case and launched an investigation. The case has triggered widespread outrage and demands for strict punishment.
