NC govt’s dichotomous policies

Before and after coming into power, Omar Abdullah had quite often advocated the need for setting up of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The proposal though flawed, instilled a ray of hope among masses that the government led by National Conference (NC) would try to heal the wounds inflicted on people […]

Regulate Stone-Crushers

In brazen violation of rules governing environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir, over 600 stone crushing units in the State are breaching measures mandatory to minimize pollution levels. While these highly polluting units have been flouting norms with impunity for the past many years, the environmental watchdog, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), is watching […]

Tuition Twists

That private coaching has become such a rage in Kashmir – a phenomenon unheard of in advanced societies- is a direct reflection of the state of academics in schools and colleges whose students feel compelled to take supplementary tuitions in order to make the grade in examinations. As a matter of fact, schools and colleges […]

Pandits’ Return

Migrant Pandits have rightly rejected the government’s idea of outsourcing their rehabilitation in the Valley to a society. But several organizations claiming to speak on behalf of the displaced community continue to pursue the demand for “a separate homeland with constitutional guarantees” within the Valley.  Their self-styled leaders, especially those who subscribe to the RSS […]

No longer a constructive endeavour

The noble and constructive endeavour of politics, an effective tool to serve humanity and uplift the society, has come to connote a criminal demonstration in south Asia enacted by the men devoid of any moral character. It entails a serious deliberation to figure out as to what has made the noble souls of today abhor […]

Killer Roads

According to official averages, three persons are killed and twenty-five injured per day in road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Shockingly, 3,595 persons have lost their lives in 19,444 road accidents during the past three years. The number of injured during the same period stands at 28,246. The data further reveals that in the year […]

Political, Not Administrative – (II)

Picking up from where these columns left off on Tuesday, another priceless gem from the Cabinet Sub Committee report on new administrative units depicts the government’s tearing hurry, and implicitly its motives, in ramming more government down the throat of the cash-starved state. According to the document, the Mushtaq Ganai Committee submitted its report to the […]

Fortune’s Favourite

As the wag said, there is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. Not that Dr Farooq Abdullah has ever been averse to being talked about, but this little thing about Arvind Kejrival’s list must have been a little disconcerting, particularly when the coming seasons demand vehement […]

Take Hill Councils Call

The row over new administrative units in Jammu and Kashmir has almost been settled. But a long-pending demand of the people of the Pir Panjal and the Chenab Valleys remains still unaddressed. The creation of new units was opposed by several quarters in Jammu. According to them, the National Conference was trying to create the […]

Dubious Distinction

Jammu and Kashmir has the dubious distinction of having the maximum number of unemployed youth in India. According to data furnished by official sources, there has been a 400 per cent increase in the number of unemployed youth during the past five years. Curiously, 6.11 lakh registered unemployed youth in J and K constitute 5.30 […]