Latest news with #OmarAbdullah
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Landmark feat: J&K, Ladakh cadets scale Mt Everest
In a moment of pride and glory for the nation, cadets from the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh (JK&L) Directorate of the NCC scaled new heights as they conquered the world's highest peak during the NCC Mount Everest expedition 2025. To commemorate this historic feat, a memento was presented on behalf of Maj Gen Anupinder Bevli, ADG NCC JK&L Directorate, to the chief minister Omar Abdullah, by group commander NCC Srinagar on Monday. (File) On May 18, junior under officer Abida Afreen and cadet Mohit Knathia, representing the JK&L Directorate, stood triumphantly atop Mount Everest (8,848.86 m), said defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. Their courageous ascent marked a landmark achievement for the NCC, reflecting the indomitable spirit of youth from the Union Territory. To commemorate this historic feat, a memento was presented on behalf of Maj Gen Anupinder Bevli, ADG NCC JK&L Directorate, to the chief minister Omar Abdullah, by group commander NCC Srinagar on Monday. The chief minister congratulated the cadets and applauded their bravery and determination. 'Their extraordinary achievement is a shining example of what our youth are capable of. This summit is not just a personal triumph but a symbol of the limitless potential of J&K's young generation,' he said, adding that their success would inspire thousands of NCC cadets and youth across the country. During the meeting, key issues related to the expansion of NCC infrastructure and youth engagement in the region were also discussed. This landmark summit underscores the NCC's mission to foster discipline, leadership, and a spirit of adventure among India's youth, particularly in challenging regions like Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
After ‘manhandling' of Omar on Martyrs' Day, NC ups the ante on L-G
SRINAGAR: A day after police personnel allegedly manhandled J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Martyrs' Graveyard, the National Conference on Tuesday demanded an apology from L-G Manoj Sinha for the incident. Senior NC leader and Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary said that whatever happened on Monday, the L-G is responsible for it, and he should apologise not only to the government but to the people. 'People have given a mandate to the Abdullah government, and he (L-G) should apologise to that mandate, the Constitution and the Indian democracy. He should apologise to the martyrs, who gave up their lives for the country's freedom,' Choudhary said. 'Whatever happened yesterday, it should not have happened. It is unfortunate. There was no attempt from our side to violate law and order.' Omar Abdullah said, adding, 'I want to tell that 'Hamari sharafat ko hamari kamzori mat samajhiye' (Our decency should not be mistaken for our weakness). We will not make any sellout with the aspirations and dreams of J&K people.'
Scroll.in
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Why climbing a fence in Kashmir might not be enough for Omar Abdullah to keep his promises
On Monday morning, followed by cameras, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah scaled the iron fence of a shrine in Srinagar's old city. In defiance of the Lieutenant Governor's orders, Abdullah made his way to the Khwaja Naqshband Sahib shrine to pray at the graves of 22 Kashmiri Muslim protesters shot dead on July 13, 1931, by the forces of Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. Just a day before, the Lieutenant Governor had put the entire Kashmiri mainstream leadership, including its legislators, under house arrest to prevent them going to the shrine to mark the anniversary of the July 13 'martyrdom'. As videos of a policeman grabbing Abdullah and trying to stop him from reaching the graves spread across social media, Opposition politicians across the country reacted sharply. 'Is this how an elected Chief Minister should be treated?' Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin said in a post on social media platform X. 'This is not just about one state or one leader. From Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, the Union BJP Government is systematically stripping away the rights of elected State Governments.' Abdullah's act struck a rare note of defiance and dissent against the Centre in a political set-up where the New Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor enjoys an overwhelming control on the administration. It underlined to the wider Indian public the powerlessness of a sitting chief minister in Jammu and Kashmir. 'The kind of traction and media interest it generated was significant,' Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former professor of law at Kashmir University said. 'From Akhilesh Yadav to the Tamil Nadu chief minister, many opposition leaders in India sympathised and showed their support to Abdullah.' But in Kashmir, the symbolism might not be enough, observers told Scroll. They pointed out a growing apprehension that the chief minister has not done enough to challenge the writ of the Lieutenant Governor administration – whether on Jammu and Kashmir's reservation policy or the question of political prisoners languishing in jails outside the union territory. 'Leave aside the basic issue of reversing the August 5, 2019 decisions, the Omar Abdullah government has avoided addressing critical issues like release of political prisoners, the arbitrary detention of youth, dismissal of employees from government services by the LG administration…' a political science scholar in Srinagar, who declined to be identified, said. Paid my respects & offered Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqshband Sb shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me… — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 14, 2025 The Martyrs' Day promise A landmark event in the modern history of Jammu and Kashmir and the movement against the rule of the Dogras, July 13 was officially celebrated as 'Martyrs Day' for decades. That changed in 2019, when the Narendra Modi government scrapped Jammu and Kashmir's special status and split it into two union territories. During the 2024 assembly elections, the first after the erstwhile state was split into two union territories, the National Conference had promised to restore the gazette holiday on July 13. However, in December, a month after the National Conference government was elected, the Lieutenant Governor administration excluded the day from the official list of holidays. The National Conference formally wrote to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha about restoring July 13 as a public holiday, but the latter has shown no urgency to heed to the request. 'He should represent Kashmiri interests' In the nine months it has been in power, the Omar Abdullah government has taken few substantive decisions that could push into a path of confrontation with New Delhi. It has changed the academic calendar in schools, relaxed the upper age limit for open merit candidates appearing for combined competitive examinations of the union territory and announced free travel for women on government buses. That pales in comparison to the promises made by the party manifesto, from the restoration of special status and statehood, jobs and scrapping the Union territory's stringent preventive detention law. Few Kashmiris doubt the powerlessness of the chief minister in a union territory set-up, but it's Abdullah's attitude towards the Centre that has antagonised the public, critics pointed out. In January, during a tunnel inauguration event in Kashmir, Abdullah had showered praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delivering on his promise of holding Assembly elections in the union territory. 'My heart believes that you will make this happen', a gushing Abdullah had told Modi about the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. To many in Kashmir Valley, Abdullah's behaviour had come as a shock. 'Frankly speaking, nobody is expecting him to fight against Delhi and sit on a hunger strike,' said Kaiser Ahmad, a resident of Ganderbal, one of the two assembly segments from which Abdullah won elections last year. 'But he should represent Kashmiri interests before Delhi, not Delhi's before Kashmiris…He should not act like a slave before Modi and Shah.' 'We feel cheated' For months now, the Omar Abdullah government has been facing the ire of youngsters for sitting on its promise of rationalising the reservation policy. In March last year, the Lieutenant Governor administration had increased reservation for Scheduled Tribes to 20% from 10%. Those who benefitted from this step included the million-strong Pahari speaking community of Jammu and Kashmir, who populate most of the Pir Panjal region of Jammu. But in changing the policy, the share of seats open to the general category was reduced to 40%. In Jammu and Kashmir, the general category accounts for 69 % of the population, according to the 2011 census. This includes those who do not fall in Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and groups classified as Other Backward Classes. The new policy drew massive protests from the general category students, who said the policy violated the Supreme Court's 50 % cap on reservation. Ahead of the 2024 assembly elections, the National Conference had promised that the new reservation policy 'will be reviewed and any injustice and imbalance will be corrected.' One of the many who had believed in that promise was 21-year-old Subiya Mehraj, a National Eligibility Entrance Test aspirant from Kashmir. 'This was the first time I voted. Not only did I vote for the National Conference, I campaigned for the party within my family and friends. I thought they were serious about undoing the injustice done to Open Merit students,' shared Mehraj. More than half a year after she cast her vote, Mehraj is livid. 'I feel cheated. First, the government said to wait for six months for the committee [on reservation] to submit its report. Once that report was submitted, they said it has been submitted to the law department and there's no time frame when they are going to send it back.' Mehraj added: 'It looks like it's just a mere slogan for them to woo voters. But they don't realise it's about the future of lakhs of youth.' Under pressure It is not only Opposition leaders or people who have criticised Abdullah's non-confrontationist form of governance. His own party colleague and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, has been a vocal critic of the way his party's government has been functioning. 'At times, I feel that the promises that we made during the elections in terms of political agenda – forget local governance – we seem to be… not saying that we are… putting that on the backburner,' Ruhullah told The Indian Express in an interview recently. The growing criticism of Abdullah's government in addressing key issues that resonate with the people may have played a role in the chief minister's conduct on Monday, a second political observer told Scroll. 'There is pressure from society,' agreed Hussain, the former professor of law at Kashmir University.
Arabian Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Arabian Post
Centre's Contempt For Federalism Is Evident From Treatment By Police Of J&K Chief Minister
By Dr. Gyan Pathak One day after the 'locking down' of the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah, his cabinet ministers, his party National Conference legislators, along with leader from the PDP, People's Conference, and J&K Apni Party in their homes to prevent them from paying homage to Martyrs of July 13, 1931 on that day, yet another serious incident took place that amounts to attack on democracy. The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir was manhandled by Central security forces when he, along with others went to pay homage to martyrs at Naqshband Sahib graveyard in the Old City of Srinagar. The martyrs' graveyard was heavily barricaded by the Central security forces. Nevertheless, in a defiant step, leaders of the national conference paid floor tribute at the martyrs' graveyard. CM Omar Abdullah jumped a barricade, scaled the wall, and entered graveyard, followed by other leaders of his party. The graveyard contains dead bodies of 22 Kashmiris who were killed on July 13, 1931. 'These people think that we are their slaves. We are not their slaves; we are the servants of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,' Omar told reporters at the site, adding that attempts were made to block their movement. 'Which law allows them to stop elected representatives from paying tribute to martyrs? Is this democracy or dictatorship?' he questioned, asserting 'they tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped.' National Conference later posted on X, 'No restrictions can silence us; our democratic rights will prevail. We forever honour the July 13, 1931, martyrs who rose against tyranny.'Omar has also remarked, 'Unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J&K.' The question is why the Centre has denied permission to the people of Kashmir to pay homage to their martyrs? Until 2019, July 13 was officially observed as Martyrs' Day in Jammu and Kashmir in memory of the 22 civilians killed by Dogra forces under Maharaja Hari Singh's rule in 1931. It was also a holiday in the state. PM Narendra Modi led government at the Centre had abrogated the Article 370 in August 2019, annulled its special status, ended its statehood, and split it into two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Subsequently, the UT was put under administration of Lieutenant Governor, who in 2020, removed the Martyrs' Day from the list of gazetted holidays. Elections to the Assembly of the UT was held in September-October 2024, which was won by the INDIA bloc led by National Conference. Omar Abdullah became chief minister, but the state practically remains under the Central administration under Lieutenant Governor. Administration had denied permission to all political parties to visit the graveyard or hold gatherings there, citing security concerns. Nevertheless, the real concern is the fear of the Centre that giving permission may strengthened the movement of the Kashmiris who are still demanding for restoration of statehood and special status of the state as it existed before abrogation of Article 370, and also restoration of the Article 370 of the Constitution of India which gave it the special status. The administration had denied permission for the Martyrs' Day function and warned of strict action against anyone who tried to proceed towards the Martyrs' Graveyard. Condemning this, Mr Abdullah said, '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.' The action of the Central administration against an elected chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir has been generally criticized by leaders and people across the country. Opposing the 'house arrest' of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday contended that the Union government led by BJP was systematically stripping away the rights of elected State governments. He wrote in a social media post, 'At a time when there is a growing demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's Statehood, the current events unfolding there are a grim reminder of how far things have deteriorated.' It was not just about one State or one leader, Mr. Stalin said, 'From Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, the Union BJP Government is systematically stripping away the rights of elected State governments.'If this could happen in Kashmir 'it can happen anywhere, to any elected representative of the people. Every democratic voice must unequivocally condemn this.' Expressing shock, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said that what happened to J&K chief minister is unacceptable.'What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected chief minister is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful,' she wrote on social media post. PDP has said, 'When the elected CM, in manhandled by police, it's not just an insult to one individual, it's brutal assault on the very ideal of democracy in J&K. This wasn't a push, it was a deliberate humiliation of an elected government. The self-respect of the CM, his cabinet, and the mandate of the people has been crushed under the boots of a police state, acting on orders from those who treat J&K like a colony, not a constitutional unit.' RJD leader Tejashvi Yadav said, 'The manner in which the elected CM was ill-treated and manhandled, is an utterly deplorable act and is a blot on Indian democracy. The BJP should remember that they have been outrightly rejected by the people of J&K. They should desist from ruling the state and dictating the elected government through backdoor.' Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, 'If you keep imposing restrictions on every matter like this, then when the regime changes, tell me yourself, which border will you cross to escape?' CPI leader D Raja condemned Abdullah's detention as insulting. And the J&K Congress called it a 'chilling reminder of how far we've drifted from democratic values'. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, 'It is reprehensible that the unelected police and unelected administration of Delhi are trying to control an elected Chief Minister. Elected leaders are being put under house arrest… The LG of J&K has accepted that he is taking responsibility for the Pahalgam attack… If he is taking responsibility to save Delhi, to become its shield, then resign… .' (IPA Service)
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi court reserves order on Engineer Rashid's plea to attend Parliament
A Delhi court Tuesday reserved its order on an interim bail plea by Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid for attending the monsoon session of Parliament starting July 21. Rashid, who defeated National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla seat by over two lakh votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 in a 2017 terror funding case. Represented by advocates Aditya Wadhwa, Vikhyat Oberoi and Nishita Gupta, Rashid argued in court that he should either be granted interim bail or permission to attend Parliament in custody, without payment of travel costs. The lawyers also argued that Rashid had been granted interim bail in September last year for campaigning for the elections and since this bail had been extended thrice, he could not be considered a security threat. Opposing his plea, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) argued that Rashid should not be granted bail and if he is allowed to attend Parliament in custody, then he should be made to pay the travel expenses. Rashid's lawyers argued that he shouldn't be made to pay travel expenses as he was seeking to attend Parliament as his public duty and not for some personal work. After hearing the arguments from both sides, Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh reserved the order for July 21. Earlier this year, the Delhi High Court had allowed Rashid to attend Parliament on two occasions – on March 10 and February 25. The MP was arrested on August 9, 2019, four days after the abrogation of Article 370 and the removal of J&K's special status. According to the NIA, Rashid used various public platforms to 'propagate the ideology of separatism and secessionism', and was closely associated with various terrorist organisations. The agency had also alleged that he wanted to 'legitimise' the United Jihad Council (UJC), a platform of anti-India militant groups in J&K. According to the NIA, Rashid's name cropped up during the interrogation of businessman and co-accused Zahoor Watali. After being chargesheeted in October 2019, a special NIA court framed charges against Rashid and others in March 2022 under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government), and 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and for offences relating to terrorist acts and terror funding under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
