Sajad Hameed
I want a relationship of dignity and love with people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have faced pain and suffering... before Delhi, my family was living in Allahabad. Before that they were living in Kashmir...”
“I understand you. My family has taken the water of Jhelum. Your customs and your thinking... which we call kashmiriyat... is also in me,” the Congress leader, said, vowing to fight and defeat “the ideology of fear and hatred (spread) by the BJP and RSS.”
Gandhi said his visit — Tuesday was the second and final day — was a homecoming of sorts.
Addressing J&K party workers in Srinagar — where he opened a new office for the party — Gandhi said: “My message to you (Congress workers and the people of J&K) is that I have brought respect and love for you... this new office is a new beginning. I tried coming earlier but was stopped at the airport itself. Aaj aaya hoon, jald waapis bhi aoonga (Today I have come, and will return soon)”.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, making his first visit to Srinagar since the government scrapped special status for J&K in August 2019, and split it into two union territories, has demanded restoration of J&K’s statehood and the conduct of a “free and fair” Assembly election.
At A Glance
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RAHUL SPEAK
“Ghulam Nabi Azadji asked me to raise the issue of Kashmir in Parliament. But I want to tell you we are not allowed to speak there. There are many issues like Pegasus, corruption and unemployment I want to raise but we are not given a chance to speak.
“Today it is not only J&K but every institution, like the judiciary, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, that is being attacked. The media is not reflecting the truth... they are being suppressed, threatened. They are scared. They fear losing jobs if they report facts.
“I fight against Narendra Modi and we will continue to fight against his divisive ideology, the ideology that divides India.
“They (BJP) are assaulting all the institutions, they are assaulting judiciary, Assembly, LS and RS.”
Only 2 persons bought 2 properties post Art 370
Since the abrogation of special status, the administration has formulated a new definition of domicile for J&K. According to that definition, a person residing there for at least 15 years will be eligible to be a permanent resident of the Union Territory
New Delhi: Only two persons have purchased as many properties in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated ending the special status given to the erstwhile state, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai’s written reply came in response to a question on whether many people from other states of the country have purchased and are also interested to buy properties in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the removal of Article 370.
“As per the information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, two persons from outside Jammu and Kashmir have purchased two properties in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since August, 2019,” he said.
ON A RELIGIOUS TOUR
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday visited the Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir and the Hazratbal shrine. Gandhi spent over half-an-hour at the temple and offered prayers, he said. Immediately after leaving the temple complex, the former Congress president visited the nearby shrine of Mir Baba Haider to pay obeisance there.
Gandhi then visited the Dargah Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar and prayed there as well, he added. He inaugurated the Congress Bhavan at MA Road in the heart of the city. “He interacted with party leaders and workers at the party office,” the Congress leader added.
Quick Read
Army dedicates Tricolour to nation
The army on Tuesday dedicated to the nation a 100-foot-tall National Flag at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg as part of the celebrations of 75 years of independence.
“As part of 75 years of Independence, a 100-feet tall National Flag was dedicated to the nation at Gulmarg in a modest ceremony today (Tuesday). The ceremony was presided over by Army Commander, Northern Command, Lieutenant General Y K Joshi,” Srinagar-based PRO Defence Colonel Emron Musavi said.
10 civilians hurt in grenade attack
Ten civilians were injured on Tuesday in Srinagar in a militant grenade attack. Police said 10 civilians were injured when militants hurled a grenade at the security forces in Hari Singh High street market in Amira Kadal area of Srinagar city.
Terror funding: 2 held, Rs26L seized
Two persons were arrested on the charge of terror financing in Poonch after nearly Rs26 lakh was recovered from them. On a specific information, a police team along with Army men raided several locations in Kanga Bhrooti village near the LoC on Tuesday and seized Rs25,81,500. They arrested Mohammad Shakeel and Mohammad Alyas. The money was meant for terror financing, the officials said.
Journalist nabbed with grenades
Security forces on Tuesday arrested a journalist from Lal Chowk area in Srinagar and recovered 2 grenades from him, police said. The journalist, Aadil Farooq, works at a local news agency. A resident of Khrew Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Farooq was arrested near Macca Market, Lal Chowk in Srinagar, a police official said.
