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The Hindu
11 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
J&K L-G sacks three govt. employees day after Mehbooba's plea for political initiatives
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) approved the terminations of three more Government employees for their alleged anti-national activities in Kashmir under provisions of Article 311, which does not require departmental inquiry. The terminated employees were identified as Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable from Anantnag district; Ajaz Ahmed, a school teacher from Poonch district; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at the Government Medical College, Srinagar, who is a resident of Srinagar's Batamaloo area. 'Whereas, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available, that the activities of Malik Ishfaq Naseer, Senior Constable in Jammu and Kashmir Police Department, are such as to warrant his dismissal from service. Accordingly, the LG hereby dismisses Naseer from service, with immediate effect,' reads one of the three orders. According to officials, the terminated employees were at present lodged in jails. Security agencies accuse the terminated employees of having links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen. They are accused of ferrying weapons for terrorists and provide logistic support to terrorists in J&K. The termination came just a day after former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti called on Mr. Sinha at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar and stressed the need to initiate political processes, besides the issue of return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. Ms. Mufti had also urged release of jailed youths on the occasion of the upcoming Id ul Azha. More than 75 employees have been sacked since amended provisions of Article 311 were introduced in 2020 in J&K. All these employees, according to reports prepared by the security agencies, were allegedly involved in anti-national activities in J&K. 'In the days leading up to the sacred occasion of Eid three government employees have been terminated over alleged links to terrorism leaving their families in distress. Since 2019 hundreds of employees have been summarily dismissed without even a trial solely based on unproven allegations of so-called terror affiliations,' Ms. Mufti said. She said while this iron fist approach may create a facade of normalcy 'genuine sustainable peace can't be achieved by inflicting suffering on people'. 'Unfortunately, the elected government watches completely unmoved like a mute bystander,' she added. Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the dismissals as 'inhuman and arbitrary'. 'Invoking a law that can't be challenged, this is despotism. It's the duty of the elected government to stand up to this injustice being periodically meted out to Kashmiri's by dismissing them in such manner and safeguard their rights,' the Mirwaiz said. J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) chief Sajad Lone also criticised the L-G administration's policy of terminating employees. 'The termination of government employees is unfortunate. Time has come to stop this whole practice or retribution. This termination concept has been going on for decades. It has not helped in the past. It will not help in the future,' Mr. Lone said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Mufti gives proposal for return & rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, on Monday handed over a proposal for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stating that no political process is complete without Kashmiri said she has also sent a copy of her proposal to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This was the first formal meeting of the People's Democratic Party chief with the LG at Raj Bhawan in recent years. Mufti has proposed that the government should provide 0.5 kanal of land in their native districts to Kashmiri Pandit families, who want to return to Kashmir willingly. She also proposed that instead of nominating two Kashmiri Pandits to the J&K assembly, two assembly seats should be reserved for Kashmiri Pandits, from where they can be voted to the assembly by the common people."The issue of the dignified return and rehabilitation of our Kashmiri Pandit brethren goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience," said Mufti adding, "It is a moral imperative and a societal responsibility to ensure that our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are provided with the opportunity to return in a manner that is dignified, secure and sustainable." She has suggested that the transfer policy of Kashmiri Pandits working in sensitive areas should be relaxed and there should be an annual 'return and reconnect' summit to start consistent inter community per the Ministry of Home Affairs data presented in 2020, the number of displaced Kashmiri Pandit families had risen to 64,951, including 43,618 families in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 995 families in other states and Union Territories."Every political party in J&K, irrespective of ideology, has consistently supported the idea of their return. This proposal emphasises an all-stakeholders approach, ensuring that any policy or plan pitched is rooted in empathy, mutual trust and most importantly, the on-ground realities."
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
Exodus Of Kashmiri Pandits In 90s Is Bolt On Kashmir Muslim: Mehbooba Mufti
Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to advocate for political reservation for Kashmiri Pandit. She stated that this measure would empower them and address their exodus, which she described as a "blot" on Kashmiri Muslims. Mufti framed this as a step to "remove the blot" on Kashmiri Muslims, referring to the narrative surrounding the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, which has been a point of contention in the region's history. Addressing the media, she said, 'Today, we discussed a matter of vital importance to Jammu and Kashmir's social and cultural fabric: the dignified return and rehabilitation of our Kashmiri Pandit brethren. This issue goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience. It is a moral imperative and a societal responsibility to ensure that our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are provided with the opportunity to return in a dignified, secure, and sustainable manner.' She added, 'Every political party in Jammu & Kashmir, irrespective of ideology, has consistently supported the idea of their return. The shared pain of their displacement and the yearning for reconciliation bind us all in the belief that Kashmir can once again be a place where communities coexist peacefully. To facilitate meaningful progress on this front, an inclusive and phased roadmap has been attached for your consideration. This proposal emphasizes an all-stakeholders approach, ensuring that any policy or plan pitched is rooted in empathy, mutual trust, and most importantly, on-ground realities.' Mufti further urged the LG's office "to initiate a dialogue-driven process involving representatives from the community, civil society, local leaders, and relevant administrative agencies. Only through inclusive deliberations can we chart a future where no community feels alienated in their own land." Mufti also called for the inclusion of locals in the Amarnath Yatra to ensure its smooth conduct, highlighting the historical role of locals in facilitating the pilgrimage. This demand aligns with fostering local participation and goodwill in a significant religious event, which also has economic and social implications for the region. Additionally, Mehbooba demanded the release of Kashmiris without serious charges from jails, particularly ahead of Eid. She requested that prisoners held in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir be brought back to the region, likely to ease family access and address humanitarian concerns. Finally, she criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of weakening his own elected government by not addressing critical issues like the Waqf Bill and instead engaging in ceremonial events, such as welcoming a Union Minister at Tulip Garden.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mehbooba meets J&K's LG to urge for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits – ‘moral imperative and societal responsibility'
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to bring focus on the 'return and rehabilitation' of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. This is the first one-on-one meeting between Mehbooba and Sinha since the latter took oath as the lieutenant governor of the Union Territory five years ago. Highlighting that any political process will remain 'incomplete' without the return of the Kashmiri Pandit community, Mufti said: 'It is a moral imperative and a societal responsibility to ensure that our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are provided with the opportunity to return in a manner that is dignified, secure and sustainable'. Stating that their return is a collective responsibility and not just that of the government alone, she presented a paper to the LG at the Raj Bhawan Monday detailing efforts that the ruling dispensation could take for the return of Kashmiri Pandits. Mufti called Sinha's response to her presentation 'positive', saying that he had promised to go through the document and 'implement what he can'. The move from Mufti comes a day before the Mela Kheer Bhawani, at the Kheer Bhawani temple in Central Kashmir. The annual festival attracts hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. In the document, Mufti states that reintegration must be both materially grounded and socially sustainable, requiring a multi-tiered and inclusive approach. 'The return of displaced individuals must be anchored in a sense of security for government employees who play a critical role in rebuilding community confidence,' she said, urging the LG that every displaced Kashmiri Pandit family should be allotted half a kanal of state land in their district of origin, contingent upon their willingness to return. This allotment should be 'legally recognised with proper titles and records.' With a view to ensure 'political empowerment' of the community, the former CM said that the current nomination-based system should be replaced with two reserved constituencies in the J&K Legislative Assembly for Kashmiri Pandits 'residing in or originally from the Kashmir Valley'. Also calling for institutional reform, Mufti also pressed for a transformation of the current relief and rehabilitation department into an autonomous, empowered body, the 'Reconciliation and Reintegration Commission' with a broader and more holistic mandate. Mufti also said that the issue of transfer of employees working under the Prime Minister's package 'is very rigid' and should be made more flexible. Meanwhile, with Eid approaching, Mufti urged the LG to consider the release of those individuals languishing in prison for 'relatively less serious charges' and for those in prisons outside J&K, to be moved back to J&K. Mufti has also marked copies of the document to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief minister Omar Abdullah. 'This issue was a key concern of Mufti sahab (her father and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) and the PDP has made this an important part of its agenda,' she added. This is the first one-on-one meeting between Mehbooba and LG Manoj Sinha since the latter took oath on August 7, 2020.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mehbooba seeks dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits
People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday (June 2, 2025) sought the dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, saying their reintegration must not be viewed merely as a symbolic return, but as an opportunity to build a shared, inclusive and forward-looking future for Jammu and Kashmir. The former Chief Minister, who called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar, submitted an "inclusive and phased roadmap" to facilitate "meaningful progress" on the front. The PDP chief also submitted copies of the proposal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. "This issue goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience. It is a moral imperative and a societal responsibility to ensure that our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are provided with the opportunity to return in a manner that is dignified, secure, and sustainable," Ms. Mufti said in the letter. Ms. Mufti said every political party in the Union Territory, irrespective of ideology, has consistently supported the idea of their return. "The shared pain of their displacement and the yearning for reconciliation bind us all in the belief that Kashmir can once again be a place where communities coexist facilitate meaningful progress on this front, an inclusive and phased roadmap has been attached for your consideration," she said. The PDP president said the proposal emphasises an all-stakeholders approach, ensuring that any policy or plan pitched is rooted in empathy, mutual trust and, most importantly, the on ground realities. "I urge your office to initiate a dialogue-driven process involving representatives from the community, civil society, local leaders, and relevant administrative agencies. Only through inclusive deliberations can we chart a future where no community feels alienated in their own land," she added in the letter to the L.G..
