Lakhs of people visit Kashmir says Omar Abdullah, the state's chief minister. Are you one of them too? Share your #KashmirPhotos with us!
"We saw missiles in the sky and heard bombs in our neighbourhood... We were petrified," said MBBS student Mir Khalif, his voice still trembling with fear, as he stepped out of the Delhi airport after being evacuated from war-hit Iran under Operation Sindhu.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that the government has offered to rebuild Dustgeer Sahib, the Sufi shrine that was destroyed in a massive fire this week. He was addressing the media at Shastri Bhavan in New Delhi in his monthly meeting.
The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet is unlikely to take any final call on the partial revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act as proposed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, top government sources told rediff.com.
The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet is unlikely to take any final call on the partial revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act as proposed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, top government sources told rediff.com.
The former CM of the state also lashed out at the state government saying the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party ruling alliance was a failure.
The tragedy struck the family on May 7 when they found themselves in the middle of intense Pakistani shelling at their rented accommodation in Poonch which was badly hit by the cross-border shelling.
A war of words has broken out between ruling National Conference and Opposition People's Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir over posting of pictures on a networking site, caricaturing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah and late grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah as characters of the film 3 Idiots.
Inaugurating five bridges on the Animating-Simthen-Kishtwar road, Omar underscored the need for a better road infrastructure, terming it necessary for the socio-economic well being of the people by connecting the far-flung areas.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested Friday by a police party in Leh, two days after violent protests by supporters of the movement for statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule of Constitution left four persons dead and 90 others injured, officials said.
Controversial remarks from Minister of State in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office about a debate on the relevance of Article 370 that gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir has evoked sharp reactions from state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has said its helicopters were used by top functionaries of the state including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as these had proved to be very important tools in better governance. "Choppers are important tools of effective and efficient governance where the chief minister and other ministers can attend to their office work and be with people in various far-flung areas in the shortest possible time," an official spokesman said.
Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered a massive shake up in the civil and police administration to meet the prevailing law and order challenges in the Kashmir Valley.
The name of encounter specialist Sub Inspector Shiv Krishen, arrested for alleged terror links, figured in the list of recipients of gallantry awards given by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The working committee of the ruling National Conference is holding a crucial session in Srinagar to discuss the prevailing situation in Kashmir on Thursday.
People's Democratic Party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Monday called India a "banana republic" over Afzal Guru's family not being allowed to meet the Parliament attack convict before he was hanged, a day after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said this was a "tragedy".
In a virtual snub to separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, United States Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer on Friday said he met only Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his two-day visit to the state as he was the elected representative of the people. "The purpose of the visit is that he (chief minister) is the elected leader. The chief minister is the person who represents the people here in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Omar Abdullah on Thursday asked the leaders of the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference group to hold talks with the government of India as well, after their return from Pakistan.
Making light of Sunday's incident in Srinagar in which a shoe was flung towards his son, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday said it was 'wonderful' that he has joined the elite club of former United States President George Bush, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and other leaders.
"The response to the rehabilitation policy (for militants in PoK) has been better than expected. We have received 600 to 700 applications," Omar told media persons in Srinagar.
The depiction of hijackers of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Delhi has kicked off a row with a section of viewers objecting to the 'humane' projection of the perpetrators.
The Centre on Thursday asked all states and union territories not to target people from Jammu and Kashmir for police reporting for merely being residents of the state, an issue that was vociferously raised by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The views of the chief minister were reflected by the three interlocutors appointed by the Centre for finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Omar Abdullah has urged the European Union Commission to use its influence for withdrawing the adverse travel advisories issued against visiting Kashmir.
Well known personalities from all walks of life wished Yuvraj Singh a speedy recovery after the news of the cricketer being diagnosed with cancer broke on Sunday.
The people of Kashmir just get a tantalising glimpse of all the wonderful things the Centre and the state government have in store for them, only if they would just behave. But nothing sees the light of day.
They said the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle at Botapathri near Nagin post.
Abdullah was among a host of leaders and activists who were detained on August 5 when the centre abrogated Article 370 and divided the state into two union territories -- Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah, who had meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi on Monday, said he had raised the issue of withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act in a phased manner.
'The BJP has killed public anger. They have killed people's self-respect.'
Anger erupted among CRPF jawans over absence of state political leaders at the wreath laying ceremony at Police Control Room here in memory of their five colleagues killed in a 'fidayeen'(suicide) attack.
Thousands of tourists have begun leaving Kashmir after a terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, prompting authorities to arrange for their safe return. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the exodus, while the Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered airlines to ensure there are no fare hikes and to offer extra flights from Srinagar. While many tourists are leaving, some are choosing to stay, citing the presence of security forces and their feeling of safety.
Amid a raging debate over AFSPA, a focused internal political dialogue must be launched in Kashmir to reassure the army that yet another hard-won peace will not be squandered by political lethargy, writes Ajai Shukla
Justifying his demand for the policy during the CMs' meet in New Delhi, Abdullah said: "A pragmatic policy to this effect is the need of the hour. The state government had proposed it after taking into consideration all pros and cons so that it is not misused at any level". He said the Centre and the state governments should work out the policy in a manner without hampering the national interests at any level but pave way for the militants to return to normal life.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Leh on Tuesday on his maiden visit during which he inaugurated two hydro-power projects and laid the foundation stone for the 349-km Leh-Srinagar transmission line.
In this exclusive interview with rediff.com, Geelani outlines why he rejected Abdullah's move. Geelani terms the relative calm in the valley this year as 'the silence of the graves', saying that the sentiments of the Kashmiri people are being suppressed with force.
The coalition government of the Congress and the National Conference in Kashmir is set for a massive cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday. According to sources, all NC ministers, advisors and heads of various boards have submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to allow him a free hand in the reshuffle.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced general amnesty scheme for youths involved in over 1,200 cases of stone pelting in the Valley during last summer's unrest.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed confidence that the day is not far when the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act will be withdrawn from the state very much during the tenure of his government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Leh and Kargil in his second trip to the state ahead of the polls
Scenes from the election campaign in New Delhi, Mainpuri, Bardhaman, Srinagar, Etah, Mumbai and Puri.
