The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has released the results for the Class 10 Private/Bi-Annual examinations conducted in August and September 2024. Out of the 50,935 students who appeared for the exam, only 34.69% were able to pass. There are concerns over the declining advertising revenues and the challenges faced by the media in Kashmir in covering the conflict situation in an unbiased manner.
In a united front, legislators from various parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Awami Ittehad Party, Peoples Democratic Party, and J&K Peoples Conference, have moved a resolution against the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370 and 35A. They label the move as "unconstitutional and unilateral" and call for the immediate restoration of the articles in their original form, along with the reversal of changes introduced by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The leaders urge the Union government to preserve the region's distinct identity, culture, and political autonomy, respecting its democratic and constitutional sanctity.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani called out the Congress-led INDIA Alliance for their attempts to strangle the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. She questioned whether the leaders of the alliance would stand in the way of the rights granted to tribal communities after the removal of Article 370. Accusing them of working for their own self-interest, Irani asserted that Article 370 would not be restored and their attempts to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India would not be successful.
Tensions escalated into physical altercations during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session when a banner demanding the reinstatement of Article 370 was unfurled by the brother of jailed MP Engineer Rashid. The session, the first in six years, has been marked by disputes, including the passing of resolutions opposing the revocation of Article 370 and calling for the state's unique position to be restored. The special provision, which granted Jammu and Kashmir considerable autonomy, was repealed by the Central Government in 2019, leading to ongoing conflicts within the state's government.
Social media users were delighted to see Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg getting into the Halloween spirit as he posted pictures of himself and his family dressed up in costumes. Among the photos was Zuckerberg dressed as the famous assassin from the John Wick movies, leading to a wave of memes and reactions from netizens. This comes as a break from the tech mogul's usual attire of a hoodie and jeans, making for a fun and unexpected surprise for his followers.
Devender Singh Rana, a prominent member of BJP and former provincial president of National Conference, passed away at 59. Rana was a close associate of NC president Farooq Abdullah and present Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Rana won from the Nagrota segment in Jammu region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and praised Rana's contribution towards the progress of Jammu and Kashmir.
Devender Singh Rana, a prominent BJP leader and MLA from Nagrota constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, passed away at the age of 59 due to undisclosed reasons. Rana, who had just won the Assembly election, was known for his contributions to the development of the region and for his switch from the National Conference to the BJP. His untimely demise has been mourned by politicians and leaders from all parties, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP national president J P Nadda paying their condolences.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his sorrow over the passing of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana, his former close confidante. Sharing pictures of their "fun times" together, Abdullah focused on their friendship and the work they did together. Rana's untimely death at the age of 59 has left his family, friends, and colleagues in shock. Political leaders, including Jitendra Singh, rushed to Rana's residence in Jammu to pay their respects. The National Conference also issued a statement expressing their condolences and acknowledging Rana's dedicated service to Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in Gujarat and hailed the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, along with the new Chief Minister taking oath on the Constitution. He also highlighted the importance of implementing Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution across the country. Addressing issues of militancy in North-East India, Modi stated that peace and development have been achieved through dialogue and trust, emphasizing recent agreements and ending unrest in the region.
In the recent assembly election in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, the victory of the National Conference-Congress alliance over the BJP signifies a peaceful and democratic triumph over the decades-long shadow of guns in the region. The rigged 1987 election, which led to the entry of terrorism in Kashmir Valley, still lingers in the minds of the local population. However, the recent election, which saw participation even from separatists, proves that democratic processes can prevail over extremism. The bold move of the central government to abrogate Article 370 and integrate Kashmir with the rest of India has allowed for this progress.