Ban on Seminar: ‘It is Worst State Terrorism,’ says Geelani, ‘War Like Created Situation at Venue’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

While terming the banning of Hurriyat Conference (g) proposed seminar by the government and arrest of Hurriyat (g) activists on the occasion as “worst kind of state terrorism”, Chairperson Hurriyat (g) Syed Ali Geelani condemned it in strong words.

He said, “the government is playing a very dangerous game by continuously banning the peaceful political programs and this policy is increasing the uncertainty and political instability in the state.”

Hurriyat Conference (g) had called a daylong seminar titled “Islam – The Protector of the Humanity” (Islam-Insaniyat Ka Muhafiz) on Sunday here at Tehreek-e-Hurriyat headquarters, Hyderpora, but the police cordoned off the entire area of Hyderpora and didn’t allow anybody to move towards the seminar venue.

“The police created a war like situation at and around the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat office Hyderpora and deployed hundreds of police and CRPF personals to foil just a seminar,” he said.

Terming the government actions as “anti-Islam and anti-Muslim”, Geelani said, “the scheduled seminar was an academic type of program in which selected and prominent personalities were going to speak over the world peace agenda of Islam. The main purpose of this seminar was to end the wrong notion which the anti-Islam forces are creating against the Islam and the Muslims on the international levels so by banning this international discussion, the government have started a war against the Islam.”

Syed Ali Geelani

“The Islam is the religion of peace and by placing ban over this kind of seminar, the state government have proven that they are a part of those anti-Islam forces who are conspiring against the Islam and the Muslims at international levels because today’s seminar was going to be held in a closed door room and there was no issue of any law and order disturbance due to this program and nor was it going to influence the traffic system,” he said.

While terming the government action of banning the seminar as “an act against the protection of the humanity”, Hurriyat (g) chairperson said, “the thinking of the state administration reflects the mind-set of the anti-Islamic forces and Zionists who took these kinds of immature decisions and are himself creating disharmony by banning the peaceful programs.”

Geelani also strongly condemned the role of police and said that although the job of the police is limited to the law and order “but the Jammu and Kashmir police are acting as the personal employees of the people who are at the helm of affairs and they want to suppress every such voice which is not matching the voices of their masters or who are preaching different ideologies”. “For some medals and promotions some police officers get ready to do every such legal or illegal work which pleases the rulers.”

Hurriyat (g) chairperson said, “despite the curfew like situation the Hurriyat activists held peaceful protest demonstration at Hyderpora Chowk against the banning of the proposed seminar and on the occasion the police used excessive force against the Hurriyat activists and arrested Umar Adil Dar, Rameez Raja and Jamshid Ahmad and detained them in Humhama police station while as two more youths Naseer Ahmad and Aijaz Ahmad of Sopore and a shopkeeper Firdous Ahmad were also arrested for defying the undeclared curfew at Hyderpora.”

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‘Government Decides to Revise Srinagar Master Plan’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

The PDP-BJP government has decided to revise comprehensively the existing Srinagar Master Plan in view of the “glaring discrepancies” in the draft land use plan.

According to sources, in his regard ,the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed convened a high level meeting with the top officials of the Housing and urban local bodies, SDA, LAWDA, Srinagar Municipality and officials of the Chief town planer. “During the meeting, several discrepancies and deficiencies were pinpointed by the officials in the existing land use plan,” sources said.

The Chief Minister constituted a high level committee and instructed the members of the committee to complete the draft of revised Master Plan within the month of December and submit the same to the government for approval.

Sources said that Mufti also emphasized the revised master plan (2012-2032) to be implemented from March 2016.

Sources told KNS that the CM further directed the authorities to put the draft in the public domain for 45 days. “Chief Minister said that, redoing of the Master Plan (2012-2032) has become imperative in the aftermath of the September floods,” sources said.

Sources said that the meeting took a serious view of the fact that there were several violations in the land use plan involving the illegal constructions.

Sources said that the participants of the meeting informed that rampant construction is fast turning residential areas in Srinagar into commercial hubs. “There has been widespread construction of unplanned colonies in many parts of the summer capital in violation of the Srinagar Master Plan,” the officials informed the meeting.

It is to mention here that in 2011, the then Housing ministry, which was led by a minister from the Congress in previous NC-Congress government, handed over the work of midterm revamp of the Master Plan to a Hyderabad-based firm SAI Consultants. The work was allotted through Srinagar Development Authority (SDA).

“Agreement was signed with the consulting firm in February 2012 and the Master Plan review began in March 2012.However, there was a twist in the story in 2014 when it came to the fore that the firm which was allotted the contract had been actually blacklisted by the Central government for three years,” sources said.

Sources said SAI Consultants was found to have been blacklisted since 2011 by the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, New Delhi, for poor supervision and poor project management.

Sources said that since then the government remained silent on the revision of the Srinagar Master plan.

They also said that much political and bureaucratic interference have always hurdled the revamp of the master plan.

It is also pertinent to mention here that according to the government report, around 2200 structures in Srinagar have come up in violation of master plan guidelines. “Out of these 2200 illegal structures, the report says that 1100 have come up without any permission and in gross violation of related law,” the report has said.

“The report prepared by the high level committee comprising of additional commissioner Kashmir, vice chairman Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), DC Srinagar, Chief Engineer Roads and Buildings and Special Secretary Housing and Urban Development was submitted to the previous government but no  action was taken,” sources said.

Official sources said that  there is also boom in construction of malls and other commercial buildings in Srinagar and people have been seen constructing commercial structures in flood-hit areas like Raj Bagh, Gogji Bagh, Kursu, Wazirbagh and Karan Nagar, Bypass, Bemina and other areas in violation of the norms.

However, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) in March 2015 had started a demolition drive against offenders constructing buildings beyond the permissible limits. However, the trend has continued unabated.

Sources said that scores of houses that fall on the main road have been converted into shops and commercial building.

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Girl Commits Suicide in South Kashmir

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

A girl committed suicide by hanging herself at her home in Kokernag, police said Sunday evening.

A girl (name withheld) resident of Dongibal Kokernag committed suicide by hanging herself at her home. After completion of medico-legal formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to her relatives for last rites. Kokernag police has initiated proceedings under section 174 CrPC.

Meanwhile, a residential house was damaged in fire incident in Sopore.

Fire broke out in the house of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Bhat and Ghulam Mohammad Bhat sons of Muktar Bhat resident of Umar Colony Ladoora Sopore, resulting in partial damage to the structure. Fire tenders, police and locals brought fire under control. However, no loss of life or injury was reported in the incident.

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BJP’s Confusion on Pak-Policy Doesn’t Auger Well for Peace: Omar in Doda

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

National Conference Working President and former Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah Sunday censured the PDP-BJP Government of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for failing to address the political aspirations and the basic developmental needs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying hypocrisy and broken promises had become the hallmarks of this Government’s failures within the very first year of its tenure.

“Tall, stentorian promises of ‘Ache Din’ have amounted to ‘Ache Din’ for a chosen few in terms of their personal welfare while common people have been left to fend for themselves by a brazenly insensitive and callous dispensation,” Abdullah said while addressing a workers’ convention in Doda this morning.

Omar Abdullah questioned the political agenda of the two parties, saying lack of direction and political will have compounded the perception of political uncertainty in the State whereas the Government should have tried to provide a hope of inclusive development, reconciliation and peace.

He ridiculed PDP’s now-abandoned motto “Goli Se Nahi Boli Se” and said the PDP-BJP Government rather than politically engaging with the separatist leadership with an aim to address the internal dimensions of the Kashmir Issue had chosen to tread a path of isolation, arrogance and confrontation – all contradicting the promises made in the PDP-BJP ‘Agenda of the Alliance’.

“Mufti Sahab’s Government ordered an unprecedented crackdown on normal life and undertook hundreds of preventive arrests for organizing the Prime Minister’s political rally in Srinagar – where sadly the Prime Minister snubbed the Chief Minister and categorically asked him to mind his own business as his suggestions about the Kashmir Issue were not required – rendering the PDP and Mufti Sahab absolutely irrelevant viz-a-viz the larger political process,” the NC Working President said.

While referring to the political and diplomatic stalemate between India and Pakistan in sorting out various issues and starting a comprehensive dialog process, Omar Abdullah said that the gap between New Delhi and Islamabad has widened to an extent where the two countries have to choose a neutral country like Sri Lanka to play cricket.

“If we cannot have the bare minimum amount of trust and faith to participate in sporting events in each other’s countries, how can we address the larger and graver political issues of contention between the two countries? These political issues need to be resolved and cannot be expected to remain in the realm of a status-quo for perpetuity. The human costs of conflict between India and Pakistan are way too grave and serious for us to become comfortable in a status-quoist arrangement and approach. This would not only create an atmosphere of disillusionment with the democratic institutions but would also harm the hard-earned dividends of peace in the State,” Omar Abdullah further said.

The former Chief Minister described PDP and BJP as two faces of the same  coin and said his apprehensions about their clandestine understanding were proven right when they formed the coalition government after enacting an elaborate drama about their alleged South Pole versus North Pole ideological divergence during the assembly elections. “There is no South Pole or North Pole. Both PDP and BJP come from the same stock of opportunistic politics – there are no ideological compulsions to start with so how can there possibly be any ideological compromises? They have reneged on every single statement they made to garner votes from their respective constituencies and have surrendered all their respective political demands for the petty trappings of political power – which to them is the final aim of politics.”

He wondered how BJP impetuously joined hands with PDP notwithstanding the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to allegedly “free” Jammu and Kashmir from the rule of both National Conference and PDP. “However, as soon as elections ended, they came together without any inhibition or reluctance and proved the allegations of their pre-election nexus to be accurate. The pre-election rhetoric of an elected Prime Minister has never been self-debunked, belied and abandoned in such a brazen manner”, Omar added.

The National Conference Working President said both PDP and BJP had a “one-point agenda” to oppose the National Conference as it was National Conference that represented and articulated the political aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “For achieving this common cause, a highly divisive campaign, based on inciting regional and religious passions was unleashed in the two regions to benefit the BJP in Jammu and the PDP in the Valley,” he said.

“The disenchantment among the people has reached an unprecedented level. The sense of anti-incumbency against this present Government within the very first year is much greater than the engineered, fake perception of anti-incumbency against the previous NC-led Government at the culmination of entire six year tenure – and that means something. While regional polarization and efforts to divide the people on the basis of their religions could have short-term political advantages for the ruling parties, Jammu and Kashmir will always stick to its legacy of inclusiveness, secularism and tolerance. The foundations of this legacy were laid by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah whose unflinching faith in secularism was acknowledged by his biggest adversaries. Secularism is ingrained in the political foundation and philosophy of National Conference and it will remain our guiding force for all times to come,” Omar said.

Omar recalled the “glorious journey of public service rendered by National Conference” from its rechristening as National Conference from Muslim Conference over eight decades ago. “Those giving sermons on secularism should learn its basics from the glorious, selfless history of National Conference. We have rendered unparalleled sacrifices for the cause of secularism and inclusiveness,” the NC Working President added.

The former Chief Minister elaborated over the failures of the coalition government and said development has been pushed to back-burner while public grievances were mounting unheard with each passing day. He said CAPD outlets lacked sufficient supplies and the utility services were craving for maintenance. “The promise of 24×7 power supply has turned out to be a counter nightmare with unprecedented and unscheduled power cuts haunting the people of the State at the very onset of the winter season”.

The National Conference Working President exhorted the party functionaries to wholeheartedly focus on the Party Membership Drive in their respective areas for making the party more vibrant and stronger at the grassroots level. “A strong National Conference is the only answer to this opportunistic, harmful and anti-people dispensation which has bartered all its promises for the convenience of its own political empowerment,” Omar Abdullah added.

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Ban on Seminar: Protesting Hurriyat (g) Activists Detained

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Several Hurriyat Conference (g) activists were Sunday detained after they protested against the ban on seminar which the amalgam was scheduled to hold.

Authorities early Sunday imposed ban on a scheduled seminar of Hurriyat (g) – “Islam: Protector of Humanity”.

Police and paramilitary forces were put up in huge numbers in and around Hyderpora residence-cum-office of Syed Ali Geelani.

“Our activists held protests against the ban on the seminar and some of them were detained including Umar Adil, Gazi Javaid, Rameez Ahmad among others,” one of the Hurriyat (g) activists said.

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Government is Pushing Youth to Wall, Hence Promoting Violence: Yasin Malik

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Senior separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Sunday said that the government is “pushing Peaceful youth to the wall and hence promoting worst violence”.

“Unfair and unbalanced foreign policies of the world powers have brought this world to the brink of disaster. Kashmiris are not against Indian economic growth, we are striving for freedom and against the brutal use of military might against our freedom struggle,” Malik said while addressing a gathering at Koreg Ganderbal today.

A party statement said that a grand rally was held from Beehama to Koreg in which a large number of youth, women folk, children and elders participated with great passion.

In his speech, Malik said, “today after seven months we are getting a chance to meet our people directly and after witnessing the passion and love for freedom struggle today we are absolutely overwhelmed. Through today’s peaceful rally and public meeting, people of Kashmir have delivered a message to India and to the international community as well that Kashmiris are diligent enough to take their freedom struggle forward against all odds.”

He said, “an atmosphere of fear and terror has engulfed Jammu Kashmir especially Jammu, Doda, Baderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri pooch and other areas. This fear psychosis is because of RSS and other fascist forces that in their pursuit to get power and are hell bent upon dividing these areas on communal lines and are creating problems for Muslims living in these areas.” “Unfortunately Kashmiri pro-Indian rulers for their lust of power are giving these fascists a free hand and impunity because of which their ill activities are growing day by day.”

Strongly condemning the “reign of terror” unleashed against peaceful youth in Kashmir, arrests, torture, restrictions and other oppressive measures taken “by the so-called rulers”, JKLF chief said, “police and other agencies have made the lives of Kashmiri youth hellish. Peaceful Youth are being subjected to oppression like we were prior 1988. Police oppression forced youth of this land to resort to an armed struggle and rulers by repeating same oppressive measures are pushing youth to the wall and hence promoting violence.”

Castigating the “unethical, inhuman, power, economy and trade based foreign policies of the world powers”, Malik said, “these unfair, unbalanced  and changing policies of the world powers have brought this world to the brink of disaster today and have confounded the world order completely .These world powers for their personal gains, economic benefits adopted unfair foreign policies because of which today whole world especially Muslim world is facing anarchy and destruction and this fire has engulfed the regions from Europe to Africa and America to Asia.”

He questioned, “when will international community and the world powers realize their mistakes and change their policies based on economic interests and benefits and start efforts to resolve the issues that are posing a constant threat to the world peace.”

“Without solving issues like Kashmir that are posing a threat to world peace and stability even economic development will also remain a daydream. Whole world knows that Jammu and Kashmir issue is a dangerous issue and a constant threat to the peace, prosperity and stability of the south Asian region but world powers for their trade and economic benefits and interest with India seem to maintain criminal silence,” he said. “India and the rest of the world should know that without permanent peace and stability trade and economy will also keep suffering.”

Stressing upon the need of resolving Jammu and Kashmir issue, Malik said, “this only can guarantee the permanent peace and prosperity of the whole South Asian region.”

Referring to India, Malik said, “Kashmiris are not against the economic growth of India, we are only striving for our freedom and future and against the forced occupation of our land. We want India to grow but as anyone grows big his responsibilities also grow. While growing economically, India should remember Roman Empire, USSR, British Empire about which it was said that sun does not set on British Empire.”

He said, “these powers ruined themselves by suppressing the freedom of small nations and countries. History bears witness to the fact that military might and oppression never pays and no nation striving for its freedom has ever been defeated by oppressive measures. Instead of this oppressors had to face the repercussions of their tyranny in the end.”

Addressing people on the occasion, Malik said, “Kashmiris have and are constantly rendering valuable sacrifices for their freedom but we need to safeguard these sacrifices. Real face of every pro-India party and politician has been exposed before us now. We all know that their only job is to strengthen the illegal military occupation of Indian on Jammu Kashmir and provide legal cover to Indian forces and army here, so we all should remain away from their hypocritical politics and refrain from participating in their meetings and rallies.”

“Our uprightness and continued struggle and valuable sacrifices will never go in vain and one day Jammu Kashmir will also stand as a respected independent nation among the rest of nations,” he added.

The JKLF statement further said, “at many place women showered flower petals, Sheerni and sweets on the participants of the freedom rally and welcomed Yasin Malik by singing traditional Kashmiri songs. Raising slogans in favour of freedom, JKLF, leadership and resistance the participants of this rally after passing through many villages and travelling many kilometers reached Koreg where JKLF leaders including advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt Spoke to the people.”

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Around 5 Dozen Employees Suspended in Central Kashmir

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Ensuring delivering of services to common masses, district administration of central Kashmir’s Budgam district has put around five dozen employees under suspension for remaining absent from duty.

Reports and officials said that around 58 employees engaged in various government departments were placed under suspension.

Mir Altaf Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Budgam, in a surprise inspection of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Education, and Employment Departments Saturday found 58 employees absent.

Altaf immediately directed action under the rules of law against the absentees.

He directed the officials of the district administration to ensure attendance of the employees and called for redressal of public grievances.

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