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Failing to secure majority support in the 87-member state assembly, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has resigned from his position on Monday.

Embarrassed Azad withdrew the confidence motion which was to be put to vote to prove his support in the house and announced his decision to resign at the end of his emotionally-charged one and a-half hour long speech on the confidence motion he moved this morning in the house.

“I am satisfied with my work. The motive I came with, I have largely achieved it. I don’t care who will be the chief minister. I don’t care whether the government survives or falls… I have shown the way,” Azad said in his speech which highlighted his government’s achievements during the last two- and-a-half years.

After the announcement Azad proceeded to Raj Bhavan to formally hand over his resignation letter to the governor N.N.Vohra.

The resignation comes as a surprise in view of Azad’s assertions over past week that he had the required majority in the house.

The one-day session of the state assembly had been convened on the instance of state governor N.N.Vohra who had asked Azad to prove his majority in the house, following withdrawal of support by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the key coalition partner on June 28.

PDP, led by former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, had on June 28 withdrawn support to the Azad-led government in the wake of massive protests in the Valley on the Amarnath land transfer issue.

Tags: Azad, Gulam Nabi Azad, J&K, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, Kashmir

All India shutdown called by the BJP-VHP on Thursday against J&K govt decision of revoking of the land donated to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has disrupted normal life in most part of the country. The protest left two persons killed while most of the rail and road transport was blocked. After the revoke of the order of transferring forestland to Amarnath shrine board, BJP-VHP demanded removal of Governor N N Vohra.

Many incidents of violence were reported by the protesters affecting road and railway transport. Along with, all markets were closed on the day. Bandh supporters stopped the Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi express at Agra. BJP supporters blocked the major highways including Delhi-Amritsar highway at Shambhu Barrier and the Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyover in Delhi. Western Express Highway in Mumbai was also blocked. Many trains were also being targeted. Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express has been stopped near Agra.

Jammu, the epicenter of the violence hit normal life in the state along with parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Assam and Jharkand. Meanwhile, in Jammu, curfew continued for the second day and pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi Shrine were among those stranded. The situation in Jammu remains tense with curfew remained in various parts of the state.

The VHP is also taking an active part in the bandh. “The forest act issue is just an excuse,” VHP general secretary Venkatesh Abdeo said. “This is a conspiracy to stop the Amarnath pilgrimage. Tomorrow it will be Vaishnodevi and Tirupati.”

The capital city was also affected largely by the bandh. There were violent incidents reported in the city in some regions. Shops were forcefully stopped in the Lakshmi Nagar area while whole market was closed in Karol Bagh too. Delhi Police assured that adequate security arrangements have been made in wake of the bandh and strict vigilance is going.

Similar scenario was viewed in financial capital Mumbai where protesters pelted buses with stones in suburban Kandivili damaging five best buses and blocked roads also. Important arterial roads at Vakola, Malad and Borivili in Northwest Mumbai and in the Northeast suburb of Ghatkopar were blocked.

In Thane, members of right wing Hindu organization were moving around the city since morning with flags in their hands forcing shop owners to down shutters. Even in Nagpur incidents of stone pelting were reported from Dighori and few places in south and eastern part of the city, said police. Some activists damaged about eight buses late last night in eastern part of city, they said.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed in most parts. Similar effects were seen in Karnataka state.

Tags: Amarnath Row, Bandh, BJP, India, India Bandh, Jammu, Kashmir, Land Deal, VHP

The order of transferring the controversial land to the Amarnath shrine board has been withdrawn by Jammu and Kashmir cabinet. The land has been transferred to the Tourism Department. The decision is taken in the meeting of the cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while discussing the Amarnath land row which has lead to much protest in the state from anti and for quarters of the deal.

Section 144 was imposed in Jammu to prevent situation getting out of hand. Situation in the state is under control but still tense. Police had to fire in the air near Baltal in Sonamarg when some people tried to block Army vehicles en-route to Leh.

The state government had already written to Governor N N Vohra, who is also the Chairman of SASB, which it was in a better position to provide facilities to the pilgrims on a larger scale following which the shrine board gave up the claim on the land - an issue which had led to a series of protests in the valley.

This was the first time that the cabinet met formally without PDP ministers, who resigned during the weekend to protest over the hand over 39.88 hectares of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

This move by the ministers also surprised the Congress as the proposal was mooted by two ministers before the state cabinet and both of them belonged to the PDP.

As a preventive measure in the state, police has restricted the movement of some of separatist leaders including Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Shabbir Shah.

Tags: Amarnath, BJP, Hurriyat, Jammu, Jammu Band, Kashmir, Police, Shiv Sena

In the fresh protest against the decision of hand over of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board by BJP and Shiv sena activists, 70 protesters were arrested during the clash which left 9 people injured.

Protesters were throwing stones to show their anger and also attacked houses of State Health Minister and senior Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma and People’s Democratic Party legislator Shanti Devi as said by official sources. However, there was no major incident reported so far.

Ten activists were arrested in Jammu and 60 arrested in Kathua district. Police baton charged over 1,000 BJP activists to resort traffic on Tawi Bridge.

Effigies of Governor Vohra, CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and former deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig were also burnt during the agitation.

Transport system was also affected due to the protest. Pathankot-Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked at six places in Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur districts, where protestors put up barricades, thereby stranding over 2,000 vehicles.

It was reported that BJP and Shiv Sena activists clashed with police at Ragunath Bazaar, City Chowk, Bikram Chowk, Muthi, Kathua, R S Pura, Udhampur, Nagrota, Bari Brahamana, Vijaypur and Samba areas in Jammu district during the bandh.

“The situation is under control. There is no major incident reported from anywhere in Jammu region. Some preventive arrests were made,” Inspector General of Police Jammu K Rajindra said.

Tags: Amarnath, BJP, Jammu, Jammu Band, Kashmir, Police, Shiv Sena

A bandh has been called in Jammu on Thursday over the Amarnath row which resulted in protests escalate since Tuesday over the issue of transfer of forestland to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Violence has been spiraling out of control on Thursday, the fourth consecutive day of protest. So far, three people have died in the protests and more than a 150 injured. The issue could even see the fall of the state government with the PDP threatening to pull out of the coalition.

State Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday said the cabinet decision allowing this deal should be “reviewed and subsequently revoked” to uphold ‘Kashmiriyat’.

“The particular cabinet decision allowing this land transfer should be reviewed and subsequently revoked in order to bring peace to the state and uphold Kashmiriyat,” Karra told reporters. He also said that it was not a ‘Quranic’ verse which cannot be repealed.

Sri Amarnath Shrine Board office should be moved out of the Governor house and an amendment should be made for removing the Governor as the head of the Shri Amarnath Shrine board. He added.

The overall situation in the Kashmir valley remained tense in the wake of spontaneous strike crippling normal life. Security forces lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the mobs in different parts of the city. The row, which has taken on communal colors, now threatens the ruling coalition.

The row between coalition partners Congress and PDP over transfer of 39.88 hectares of forest land in Anantnag district to the Amarnath Shrine Board has snowballed into a major controversy forcing Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to stop construction activity on the land and call an all-party meeting on the issue.

There after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has denied any construction on the land till a decision is taken on the issue at an all-party meeting and said, “There will be no constructions on that land until we arrive at a consensus.”

The unconvinced PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayed said, “What will all-party meeting do when you have already taken a decision.”

“You can review what has to be done. Whatever modification are needed, it cannot be done through violence on streets,” said New state Governor N N Vohra.

Tags: Amarnath Yatra, Jammu, Kashmir, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board

In protest against President Pratibha Patil`s five-days visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Shops and business establishments in the state remained closed on Saturday after a shutdown call is issued by hard-line faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).

President Patil is visiting the state during her five day tour and meets soldiers and officers of the army in forward areas on Friday.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Chairman of the APHC, had termed Patil’s visit “a deep rooted conspiracy to mislead the international community.” Geelani objected on Patil’s visit to “a disputed territory” accompanied by India’s military might.

“Geelani had called for this shutdown because the President is here. They should understand that Kashmir is still a disputed area. Since they are coming here like this with military force,” said Imran, a resident.

Addressing the troops at Baramulla, Patil congratulated them for performing their duties along the Line of Control (LoC) with alertness, dedication and bravery.

This is the first visit by President Patil to J-K After assuming the highest office in the country. She will return to New Delhi on June 1. From Jammu she will travel to Himachal Pradesh also to participate in official functions.

During her visit she is expected to go Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar to deliver the convocation address. She is also scheduled to inaugurate the Institute of Kashmir Studies at Kashmir University in Srinagar.

On Sunday, President Patil is also expected to inaugurate the university complex at Bhadarwah.

Tags: Gilani, India, Jammu, JnK, Kashmir, President

An opened unprovoked heavy fire by Pakistani troops on Monday on a forward Indian post in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir killed an army jawan. This is the third ceasefire violation along the Indo-Pak border and second along the LoC in less than a fortnight.

The firing continued for over 10 minutes killing an army jawan who belonged to the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles, before Indian troops took up positions, but observed restraint.

“Pakistani troops resorted to heavy and unprovoked firing on our forward posts in Mendhar in Poonch sector around 0800 hours today,” a senior army officer said.

“They (Pak army) have violated the ceasefire by resorting to heavy firing on our positions,” the officer added.

On May 9, Pakistan resorted to heavy firing and burst grenades while targeting a BSF post and a patrol party along the International Border in Samba sector of J&K, violating ceasefire which came into force on November 16, 2003, for the first time.

On May 14, Pakistani troops again shelled Indian posts using 60 mm and 82 mm mortar shells in Tangdhar belt of Kupwara sector along the LoC in north Kashmir. This was the second incident of ceasefire violation.

Taking a serious note on the incident, army authorities deployed in Mendhar lodged a strong protest with their Pakistan counterparts.

Army authorities conveyed to Pakistani commanders that firing on the Indian post was started from the Pakistani side, the army officer said.

He also told that they have also been asked to hold a flag meeting to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, according to television reports, Pakistan Army has denied charges of opening unprovoked firing on a forward Indian post that killed an Army jawan. The Pakistan Army stated such charges made by the Indian Army as “baseless”.

On Tuesday, Indo-Pak talks will going to be resumed and the issue is expected to be raised by India.

Tags: Border, India, Jammu, Kashmir, Pakistan, Soldier

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and ruling People’s Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed asked to allow a dual currency in the state using Pak currency along with the Indian currency after it becomes a free economic zone.

Addressing a public rally at Budha; in Rajouri district on Saturday Mufti said, “Like Europe which has one currency, we want the currency of both the countries run in Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control.”

“As in Europe where people travel to nearly 40 countries on single passport and without any visa, we want people to travel on both sides of Kashmir without any restrictions. We want Jammu and Kashmir to become a model for SAARC nations which will have one economic zone,” he added.

He said the system was prevalent in Nepal and other European countries. “Why can’t it be tried in the state as well to bury differences with Pakistan?” he asked.

A few days back his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, PDP chief, had also suggested dual power-sharing arrangement between India and Pakistan for undivided Kashmir as an amicable settlement to the issue. She was presenting her paper on “Prospects for Kashmir and Indo-Pak relations” at the Pugwash Conference in Islamabad during her visit in Pakistan.

She had even suggested creation of a regional council for undivided Jammu and Kashmir, saying that this can be formed by re-designating the Upper House of the state legislature as a regional senate with members drawn from areas of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

National Conference president Omar Abdullah said Sayeed’s statement was typical of the PDP. “PDP keeps floating such ideas and when one is rejected another is floated. PDP is catering to its supporters in the Valley and doesn’t care about the sentiments in the Jammu region,” he said.

Congress party however didn’t accept the suggestion. “Issues like currency are a Central subject and PDP leaders shall not speak on it, especially when infiltration was going on in the state and many more militants were still waiting across the LoC for an opportunity to sneak into the state,” said a senior Congress leader.

Tags: Jammu, Kashmir, Mufti, Rajouri

Kashmir Singh is back to his nation after spending 35 long years from Pakistan jail. He was released from the Lahore Central jail on Monday around 9 pm (IST) and reached the Attari border to reunion with his wife and other members.

Now 67, the 32 year old Kashmir Singh was arrested in Pakistan in 1973 and sentenced to death in an espionage case. He had spent nearly 35 years there. Many other Indians are imprisoned in Pakistan jail. Another similar Indian Sarabjeet Singh is also passing his painful time in jail. Kashmir Singh admitted that he met Sarabjit Singh.

On Monday, Paramjit and Shishpal were joined at Attari by the sisters of Indian prisoner on death row Kirpal Singh, Dalbir Kaur, Jagir Kaur and friend Gurmeet Sandhu. “We will talk to Burney when he comes here with Kashmir and plead for our brother’s release,” they said.

He was pardoned by President Pervez Musharraf on February 28, was given a lingering farewell on the Pakistani side of the border before he finally made his way into India. There was heavy media persons gathered at Attari border assuring the kin of Kashmir Singh for his return.

Pakistan’s human rights activist Asma Jehangir, who was in Amritsar to hold talks with various religious leaders, demanded the abolishing of capital punishment. “We will begin a campaign against death penalty after the formation of a new government,” she said.

“I have no wishes left. I have got everything now. I thank President Pervez Musharraf and Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney,” Singh said as he arrived at the border.

Singh thanked Pakistan people and the Government and said that this is now a new life for him. He asked similar steps for Pakistani prisoners in India.

Tags: India, Kashmir, Kashmir Singh, Pakistan