Since 1950 successive governments have tried various options but failed to reduce alienation amongst the people, for different reasons, of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. It is best to accept this reality and let each region charter its own path, within the framework of the Indian Constitution, says Sanjeev Nayyar.
Jaitely's statement comes amidst the escalating tension between Indian and Pakistan.
Tourism and handicrafts sectors -- the pivots of state's economy--were the worst hit due to disturbances in normal life due to strike calls and curfew over a period of 26 days since the hanging of Guru on February nine in Delhi's Tihar jail.
Gulmarg, which is emerging as a global winter tourism destination will play host to National Winter Games next month to bolster its reckoning at the international level.
"Whether we are back or away, if they put Kashmiri Pandits in isolation, they will never see peace in Kashmir."
Carrying forward their engagement process, India and Pakistan on Wednesday announced new Confidence Building Measures, notwithstanding the unhappiness in New Delhi about Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's meeting with Kashmiri separatist leaders.
The state has appointed professional Adventure and Cultural Tourist (Act) guides to familiarise visitors with the landscape, heritage and culture of the place, a popular destination for foreign tourists.
Singh also interacted with delegations representing different communities, including Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs, Shias, Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis.
Northern Railway has taken several measures for the people stranded in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, like running special trains from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu to different parts of the country and attaching extra coaches to regular services.
In a move expected to promote tourism and give a boost to the economy of militancy-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, Air Sahara will begin its daily operations between Delhi and Srinagar on Wednesday.
Kargil observed it as a 'black day' and leaders in Leh seeing it as an opportunity for development.
Several established and upstarting manufacturing companies, hotels and restaurants have laid off staff due to prolonged agitation which is showing no signs of ending.
The step has been taken to boost tourism in Ladakh and give people a window to appreciate the tough work done by Army jawans and engineers in extreme weather and inhospitable terrains, he said.
A group of 30 young girl students were allegedly made to wait for several hours at the airport in extreme cold on Sunday morning, as they were brought for a function to be presided over by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Railways will be transporting relief material free of charge to flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir and has taken a slew of measures including special trains and help desks for the stranded passengers.
Delegations of Kashmiri Pandit organisations on Friday met Union Minister Jitendra Singh seeking the Centre's intervention in allowing a pilgrimage to Kounsarnag Lak in South Kashmir, a day after locals had protested against the event.
President Pratibha Patil asserted that the country is determined to create a secure environment in J&K to defeat the divisive designs of terrorism and violence, while inaugurating the Institute of Kashmir Studies at the Kashmir University on Monday in Srinagar.
'The situation is normal now. The Kashmiri Pandits should come back.'
Dr Behera speaks about how the nationwide positive reaction to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir indicates that the very idea of India is changing. From a diverse, multicultural entity, could India be becoming a place where assimilation is more important than accommodation?
In a major move to push tourism in the hill states and counter Chinese expansion in the Tibetan region, the Railways ministry has prepared a blueprint to set up an ambitious 480 kilometre Manali - Leh railway line link criss-crossing the treacherous mountains in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
In one of the clips, an unknown person accompanying Mahajan is seen taking selfie video as they rode through water in parts of Kolhapur in western Maharashtra.
Modi said India has taken an important step forward in protecting its youth population against the disease.
"Numerous rounds of talks have taken place with the Chinese counterparts to deescalate the situation without compromising on India's stand of 'complete disengagement and immediate restoration of status quo ante'," the defence ministry said.
"There was no deviation from the Standard Operating Procedure. The weather suddenly turned bad and strong winds caused the uprooting of a tree that fell on the cable," Director, Tourism, Mehmood Shah said.
But it is open to ideas like setting up of joint consultative mechanism on various issues including tourism and health.
'There is an effort of painting the entire problem as religious one.' 'That Jammu and Kashmir is the way it is because the valley has radicalised.' 'I would be the first person to accept that there is a greater element of radicalism today than it was 25 years ago, but to suggest the entire valley of Kashmir is radicalised and everything you see on the ground is because radical Islam has suddenly taken over is not true.' Omar Abdullah, former J&K chief minister, explains why 'the situation in J&K is very worrisome.'
Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been trying to shrug off the 'communal' tag, has fielded nearly 40 per cent Muslim candidates in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls under its ambitious 'Mission 44 plus' to wrest power in the state.
'The Indian government spent Rs 506 crore on security of the separatists in the last five years.' 'These separatist leaders must know how ordinary people live. Have you ever seen Geelani's son throwing stones?' 'The separatists have encouraged people into this stone throwing business. They have destroyed Kashmir.' Jammu BJP MLA Rajesh Gupta on why separatists must not be given security.
National Panther's party chief Bhim Singh pleaded with Dr Singh to get the matter investigated.
India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand parade at Rajpath, which was witnessed by thousands of people. As part of the celebrations, tableaux,including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio among others, rolled down Rajpath. Take a look at the colourful cultural pieces.
Malik believes he can solve the problems of farmers and is sending signals to the government to give him a chance.
Measures are being taken to implement the local self-government concept after the elections, Minister for Tourism and Urban Development Ghulam Hassan Mir said.
'We have been fighting for the last 70 years on the issue of Article 370.'
"There is no alternative to dialogue, and somebody has to engage with somebody to find a way out and it stands true for J&K as well," she said.
The first batch comprising 1,160 Amarnath yatris was on Friday flagged off by the state tourism minister from Jammu base camp to the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Exuding confidence over an upbeat investment climate and a resurgent tourism industry, Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday sought fiscal incentives to speed up economic growth and greater central assistance to boost agriculture, irrigation and sma
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