Latest news with #Statehood
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra slams J&K's ‘dual control' as undemocratic, demands full Statehood
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) said the dual control system in the Union Territory (UT) was 'damaging the very spirit of democracy.' Referring to the divided powers between the elected Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Karra, while speaking in Jammu, said, 'this arrangement was unsustainable and undemocratic.' He said people were beginning to wonder if they voted 'to find solutions or to face fresh troubles.' 'Their [the people of J&K's] trust in the democratic process is hanging by a thread,' he added. Pointing to 'growing public cynicism,' Mr. Karra cautioned that the current dual power system 'could further destabilize the political and administrative framework in Jammu and Kashmir.' 'This system is not just ineffective. It is damaging the very spirit of democracy. Unless full Statehood is restored, and elected representatives are empowered, the situation will only worsen,' the JKPCC chief asserted. Mr. Karra said that issues such as the 'cash crunch at the grassroots' and the 'non-availability of constituency development funds meant for MLAs,' highlighted the need for 'confidence-building initiatives.' 'People need a sense of stability, and the economy needs a lifeline. The government must act fast,' he added. The Congress had contested the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections together with the National Conference (NC) in 2024. However, it has stayed away from the government so far and has been demanding the restoration of Statehood.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Former Puducherry BJP president criticises CM Rangasamy for skipping NITI Aayog meeting
Former president of the Puducherry unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) V. Saminathan has criticised Chief Minister N. Rangasamy for abstaining from the recently held Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi. In a statement on Monday (May 26, 2025), he said that the Chief Minister had missed an important opportunity to raise the Union Territory's demands. He added that it was not prudent to abstain from the meeting, despite being in an alliance with the BJP. 'Even Chief Ministers of Opposition-ruled States attended the meeting. There was no point in the Chief Minister speaking about Statehood and other issues faced by the UT by sitting in Puducherry. He should speak about them at the appropriate forum. The NITI Aayog meeting was an opportunity for him to raise important subjects,' Mr. Saminathan said. The territory was lagging in several development initiatives because of the policies of the previous Congress government, he said, adding it was very important for the government to continuously engage with the Centre for the progress of the UT. Mr. Saminathan also criticised the Chief Minister for his statement asking educated youth to take up dairy farming. 'There is no farm land available for cattle rearing because of the conversion of agriculture land for real estate business,' he added.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Cryptic tweets by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, National Conference MP Ruhullah hint at friction within party
Cryptic tweets on X by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and ruling National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Syed Ruhullah, amid reports of growing ideological differences, on Sunday (May 25, 2025) gave credence to the brewing tension within the ruling party. Quoting a couplet from a local poet, Janbaaz Kishtwari, Mr. Ruhullah wrote on X: 'Either rise and become such a sukhanvar (orator/poet/speaker) who serves a purpose for the nation; Or sit in the comfort of the zanpaan (palanquin).' The NC parliamentarian's tweet on X followed Mr. Abdullah's oblique reference post. 'There are doers and there are talkers. That's why I don't talk as much as some people I know.' He did not qualify the tweet or its context further. Sunday musing There are doers & there are talkers. That's why I don't talk as much as some people I know. — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 25, 2025 These tweets assumed significance as Mr. Ruhullah reportedly expressed a dissenting voice during a meeting of the ruling NC on May 21, where it passed a seven-point resolution in favour of special status and restoration of Statehood. Sources in the NC said Mr. Ruhullah sought the party's focus towards ideological goalposts like the restoration of Article 370 rather than issues of governance. The MP told the NC meeting to pursue the election manifesto, which promised the release of political prisoners, the restoration of greater autonomy, and the safeguarding of the constitutional identity of J&K, and warned of negative consequences if the party drifted away from its foundational narrative. However, the NC refuted reports that Mr. Ruhullah left the May 21 meeting in a huff. 'Such reports are fabrications. We talked cordially in the meeting. Ruhullah didn't walk out. He left with permission from Dr. Farooq Abdullah and CM Abdullah due to a family emergency. All members, including him, supported the resolution on special status,' NC leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq. 'It's an attempt to blunt the NC resolution passed by the NC. It's done by opposition parties,' he added.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
KCR extends financial assistance to Telangana martyr's family
HYDERABAD Founder-president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao extended financial assistance for the postgraduate education in medicine to the daughter of police constable Kistaiah, a martyr, who ended his life in support of the Statehood movement to Telangana. Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao vowed to take care of the family immediately after Mr. Kistaiah's sacrifice during the Statehood movement. Accordingly, he has extended financial assistance for the medical education (MBBS) of Kistaiah's daughter Priyanka as the girl had expressed her willingness to pursue medical course initially. The immediate family members of Mr. Kistaiah — his wife, daughter Priyanka and son Rahul — met Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao at his Erravelly farmhouse on Sunday. After enquiring about the family's well-being, Mr. Rao handed over financial assistance to Ms. Priyanka on Sunday. Mr. Rao expressed his happiness and extended his best wishes when Mr. Kistaiah's wife shared information that her son's marriage was also fixed recently. He assured the family that his support would always be there.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BRS pays tributes to Nayini Narsimha Reddy
HYDERABAD The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has paid tributes to party leader and the first Home Minister of Telangana Nayini Narsimha Reddy on his 85th birth anniversary on Monday (May 12). Leading the party leaders and ranks in paying floral tributes to a portrait of the late leader, working president of the party K.T. Rama Rao, recollected how Nayini and KCR (K. Chandrasekhar Rao) had worked as comrades in arms for two decades in the Telangana movement. Mr. Rama Rao recalled how Nayini had worked for the party and the government even in his 70s. He noted how Nayini had sent his resignation letter as the Cabinet member (minister) in the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government from the US, where he was on a visit, when the party had decided to come out of the government as part of the Statehood movement in 2006. The BRS working president also hailed Nayini's role as the trade union leader who would always take the side of the workers. Party MLC and former Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary said Nayini had always practised politics with values, and how he had walked along KCR through the thick and thin of the Statehood movement.
