Jammu & Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 27: Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad has categorically ruled out the possibility of entering into any pre-poll alliance with Altaf Bukhari-led Apni Party or Sajad Lone-led Peoples Conference.
In an interview with a news channel, Azad highlighted the “inherent disparities” in political agendas and regional influences as significant impediments to such partnerships.
“They have their agendas, and everyone has their own area of influence,” Azad said. “Let me tell you a political thing… alliances happen when the influence of the two parties are the same in a particular area. When one’s influence is in the south and the other’s is in the north, how could an alliance happen?”
“If I have influence on 40 homes and you have on 60, and if we make an alliance, the number will surge to 100. But if I don’t have influence on any home, and you have no influence in my area, how could we join hands?” the DPAP chief asked.
The former chief minister said emotions should not be allowed to govern decision-making processes, cautioning that unchecked emotional responses could lead to societal decline and turmoil. “This is why Allah has given us brains so that we first think and then accordingly decide what is wrong and what is right for us,” Azad remarked. (KNO)

Ganderbal, Apr 27: In the run-up to the parliamentary election in the Srinagar constituency, Mohammad Ashraf, a candidate representing the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, on Saturday reiterated the party’s commitment to reinstating the statehood status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Following a party workers’ meeting in Sub Division Kangan of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, Ashraf spoke exclusively with Rising Kashmir to outline the party’s vision and priorities.
Mir said the Apni Party’s primary goal, upon assuming power, would be to address the pressing issue of unemployment while placing a strong emphasis on developmental initiatives. “Our main motive is to bring back the statehood,” he said.
Moreover, Ashraf, echoing the sentiments of the party’s mission, criticised other political groups for using the people of Kangan solely for electoral gains. “Apni Party is distinct in its approach as it prioritises the welfare and development of the region over mere political manoeuvres,” he said.

Srinagar, Apr 27: Highlighting the party’s unwavering dedication to youth empowerment and employment generation, Waheed ur Rehman Parra, the Srinagar Central Kashmir parliamentary candidate for J&KPDP, reiterated the significance of the summer capital, Srinagar, for the party. He said Srinagar holds political, cultural, and strategic importance, making it a focal point for the party’s initiatives.

Addressing a well-attended workers’ meeting in Allochi Bagh, Srinagar, Parra said the party’s agenda will prioritise initiatives aimed at youth empowerment. These initiatives include skill development programs, support for entrepreneurship, and educational reforms designed to engage and empower the youth population effectively, he said.
The PDP leader underscored Srinagar’s rich cultural heritage, which includes its unique Kashmiri language, cuisine, and handicrafts. He pledged that the party would vigorously advocate for policies aimed at preserving and promoting Kashmiri culture. This advocacy, according to Parra, is crucial to ensure that Kashmiri culture thrives amidst the forces of modernisation and globalisation.

The meeting, organised by Adil Amin, witnessed active participation from party workers and supporters, reflecting the shared commitment towards realising the party’s vision for youth empowerment and cultural preservation, the party said.

SRINAGAR: The apex child rights body NCPCR has asked the Election Commission to initiate a probe into the alleged use of schoolgoing children for election campaigning by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti in the Rajouri-Anantnag parliamentary constituency.

The action followed a report received by the Commission indicating that children were involved in political activities related to Mufti’s campaign.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in a communication addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar raised concerns about the potential violation of election guidelines and the Model Code of Conduct by Mufti.

The letter pointed to specific activities allegedly involving school children in electoral campaigns in the Rajouri-Anantnag Parliamentary constituency.

The NCPCR said that the use of school children in such activities may contravene established norms and legal provisions, potentially infringing upon the integrity of the electoral process and the welfare of the children.

The letter urged the CEC to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. The EC has given strict directions to political parties to not use children for campaigning purposes.

SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) candidate from the Srinagar parliamentary constituency Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi Thursday said he would raise the voices in the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament if he is elected.

He also criticised abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution calling it “unacceptable”.

“In 2019, without asking us, a unilateral decision was forced upon us. August 5 is a black day for us. They took democracy away from us and with that our identity,” he said.

Mehdi, an influential Shia leader, has been a strong critic of the Centre’s decisions.

SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) candidate Ruhullah Mehdi officially filed his nomination for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, accompanied by a contingent of party stalwarts including NC President Farooq Abdullah, Vice President Omar Abdullah, Congress State President Vikar Rasool Wani, and other prominent leaders and supporters.

The filing of nominations was marked by a strong show of unity and support from within the NC ranks.

Amidst the nomination process, Omar Abdullah, in a pointed statement, took aim at the BJP’s electoral strategy in the Kashmir Valley. He emphasized that the BJP had refrained from direct contestation and instead deployed what he referred to as “A, B, C teams” in the electoral fray. Omar said, “We have seen such elections before. Now it is absolutely clear that all of them are against us. BJP has announced support to Mehbooba Mufti. Two of their leaders have announced support to Mehbooba Mufti in Rajouri, Poonch. BJP, all their A, B, C teams, Raj Bhavan are all together contesting elections against the National Conference.”

Responding to queries regarding the BJP’s alleged exploitation of religious sentiments for political gains, Omar Abdullah denounced the trend, highlighting it as a recurring theme in BJP’s electoral playbook. “When they feel that the ground is slipping from under their feet, they start talking in terms of religion again,” Omar said. The former Chief Minister alluded to recent political attacks, particularly targeting Muslims, following the first phase of voting.(KNO)

SRINAGAR: Amid tight security arrangements, voting began in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir’s Jammu constituency on Friday, with more than 17.81 lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 22 candidates.

The Jammu Lok Sabha seat is one of the 89 constituencies in 13 states and Union territories across the country where polling is being held.

The polling began at 7 am at all 2,416 polling stations across the constituency and it is going on smoothly, officials said.

Incumbent MP Jugal Kishore Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing a third straight term in the Lower House of Parliament after he won the seat in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

This is the first major poll battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories on August 5, 2019.

Voters were seen headed towards polling stations early in the morning, the officials said, adding that long queues of voters were seen at various polling stations in Jammu city.

More than 15,000 polling staff, including reserves, have been deployed while security arrangements are foolproof to ensure free-and-fair polls.

“Security and other related arrangements are in place to ensure free, fair and peaceful voting. A contingency plan has also been worked out to ensure no disruption in polling along the borders,” Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang K Pole said.

He expressed hope that the polling would remain peaceful. This is the second Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir to go to polls. Earlier, polling was held in the Udhampur seat on April 19, recording a voter turnout of more than 68 per cent.

A total of 17,80,835 voters, including 9,21,095 men, 8,59,712 women and 28 third-gender voters, are enrolled in the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency. The officials said there are 10,498 differently-abled voters and 666 voters above the age of 100 years.

A total of 2,416 polling stations, including 158 along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC), have been set up across the four districts of Jammu, Samba, Reasi and Rajouri (the Kalakote-Sunderbani Assembly segment), they added.

“More than 15,000 polling staff, including reserves, will be deployed on the polling day. Among the districts, Jammu has 50 critical booths while Samba has around 12 border polling stations,” an official said.

The officials said 10 polling booths will be managed by women, 10 by specially-abled persons and nine by youngsters. In addition to the 11 Assembly constituencies of Jammu district, the Jammu Lok Sabha seat includes the Kalakote-Sunderbani constituency of Rajouri, the Gulabgarh, Reasi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi segments of Reasi district and the Ramgarh, Samba and Vijaypur segments of Samba district.

Jammu recorded a voter turnout of 74 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Twenty-two candidates are in the fray. A direct contest is on the cards between Sharma and INDIA bloc candidate Raman Bhalla, the working president of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress.

Jagdish Raj of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and advocate Ankur Sharma of the Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal are two other prominent faces contesting the seat. Sharma defeated Bhalla by a margin of more than three lakh votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

SRINAGAR, Apr 24: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) youth president Waheed Rehman Parra and Apni Party candidate Mohammad Ashraf Mir today filed nomination papers from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency which is going to polls in the fourth phase of elections on May 13. So far, 17 candidates have filed nominations from the constituency.
Accompanied by senior party leaders, including PDP general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Parra filed the nomination papers before Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, who is the Returning Officer of the constituency.
Talking to reporters later, Parra said the PDP will raise the voice of people of Kashmir in the Parliament.
“In this election, our endeavour is that the people of Kashmir will make Mehbooba Mufti’s team successful so that we raise your voice in the biggest institution and represent your issues there,” he said.

Parra said that the PDP is the only party which has raised the voice of people in the last five years. “Our endeavour is to take this voice to New Delhi, Parliament and to the people of the country,” he added.

Asked about National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah’s jibe that PDP is the ‘C’ team of the BJP, Parra said, “We do not want to lower the political discourse. We also appeal them to balance the discourse. The people here are in distress, they have no interest in such arguments and accusations. They want to know what we can give them.”
“We hope we will win all three seats,” he added.

Apni Party provincial president Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir, also filed his nomination papers for the Srinagar Parliamentary seat today.
After filing his nomination papers, Mir appealed to people to use their votes wisely and reject the traditional parties in these elections.
“I urge people to use their vote wisely and elect Apni Party candidates who are committed to working for the peace, prosperity, and development of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the time for people to reject traditional parties and their leaders, who have been deceiving them for years and decades through deceptive political narratives and false promise,” he told reporters.
“Over the past, these parties kept people busy with emotional slogans like ‘Raishumari’, ‘Autonomy’, ‘Self-rule’, and so on. While keeping people busy with emotional sloganeering and unattainable goals, the leaders of these parties created empires for themselves. They created their family rule here, making the future of their young generations secure. Therefore, it is important people reject these exploitative politicians by the power of their vote,” he added.

The last date for filing nominations for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is April 25, while it goes to polls on May 13. So far, 17 candidates including 14 Independents have filed their nomination papers.
NC candidate Aga Ruhullah is filing his nomination papers tomorrow.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth president and a contestant from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency Waheed Parra Wednesday said that the party will try its best to represent sentiment of youth in the Parliament democratically.

Parra who filed nomination for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat today, told Kashmir News Service (KNS) exclusively that our effort in this election is to reach every household of Jammu and Kashmir and seek votes and confidence of people who have been left unattended from last five years.

He said PDP represents youth of Jammu & Kashmir and their aspirations, and assures people of the region that we will become your voice.

He appealed voters to give us an opportunity to serve your sentiments in the Parliament. “Give us a chance and see how PDP will represent people in New Delhi’s Parliament,” he said.

Parra asserted that people of Jammu and Kashmir are craving and have urge to connect with PDP as this is only party who flagged up their concerns in odd and even. “After August 05, 2019 no political leader dared to speak up for their people. Every one remained tight lipped, and it was only Mehbooba Mufti who took a stand and stood for people,”, he said.

“PDP will try its best to represent people’s sentiment democratically,” Parra added.

He continued that many elements were thinking for boycott, but I appeal to my people especially youth to vote whosoever they want to elect. “Your vote is inevitable for change,” he added. (KNS)

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Srinagar constituency, Waheed-ur-Rahman Parra, is the poorest candidate in fray with a house valued at a mere Rs 32 lac and a monthly earning not exceeding Rs, 40,000.

However, his opponent from Apni Party Muhammad Ashraf Mir is much richer than Parra having almost Rs 31 Crore net worth.

The poll affidavit Parra has submitted before the Returning Officer in Srinagar reveals that he has not been able to earn anything from the year 2020 to 2022 for being under detention.
Parra, in his poll affidavit, has declared that FIR No 05/2020 at NIA Jammu Police Station and FIR No 31/2020 at CIK Srinagar Police Station are registered against him.

The sections under which Parra has been charged include: Section 18, 19, 20, 23, 38, 13, 17, 18, 39, 40 of the UAPA Act (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), UAPA read with 7/25 of the Arms Act, Section 120/B, 3/04 of ES Act, Section 121/A, 124/A of IPC (Indian Penal Code).

In 2022-23, his income was Rs 4,51,270, while in 2023-24, it was Rs. 4,70,310. His monthly earnings are not more than a mere 39 thousand rupees. He has Rs. 1 lac cash in hand.

He doesn’t have any savings or fixed deposits. However, he has ancestral land valuing approximately Rs 2 crore.

He has immovable assets worth 18 lac and an ancestral house in Pulwama valuing Rs 32 lac. Furthermore, as per the affidavit, he has completed a Master’s in International Relations (Peace and Conflict Studies) from the Islamic University of Kashmir.

On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party candidate for the Srinagar Parliament constituency, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, in his poll affidavit, has declared details of both movable and immovable assets, including those of his spouse and dependents.