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 The special provision, which granted Jammu and Kashmir considerable autonomy, was repealed by the Central Government in 2019, leading to ongoing conflicts within the state's government.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.
Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati '1008' has spearheaded a movement for the protection of cows in India through his ongoing 'Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra'. In a recent event in Jammu, he stressed on the sacred significance of cows in Sanatan Dharma and urged the country to recognize them as Rashtra Mata. The event was attended by hundreds of devotees and local residents, and Shankaracharya praised the efforts of Gopal Mani for his dedication to the cause. The movement has gained momentum and the next leg of the journey will continue in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
In yet another tragic incident, two non-local labourers were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district. The attack occurred while the labourers were working on a key infrastructure project, and it is the second such attack on non-local workers in the past two days. The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has strongly condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the victims' loved ones. This incident highlights the ongoing security concerns in the region and the need for heightened safety measures for non-local workers.
The National Conference (NC) leader, Omar Abdullah, took oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with five other ministers, the NC government made efforts to ensure equal representation from both Jammu and Kashmir provinces. In his first address, Omar made it clear that his government will work towards bridging the gap between people and the administration, and prioritizing balanced political representation. Despite facing criticism for not including the Congress in the government, senior Congress leaders and other political leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi guaranteed his support and cooperation for the progress of Jammu and Kashmir under Omar's leadership.
Senior National Assembly leader Nasir Aslam Wani was officially appointed as an advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday. This appointment was finalized by an order issued by the J-K General Administration Department and comes as Omar Abdullah was sworn as the first Chief Minister of the newly formed Union Territory. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and Congress alliance won the Assembly elections, with Omar Abdullah leading the government once again.
Shubham Khajuria of Jammu & Kashmir made history by becoming the first batter in 22 years to score a double-century in the Ranji Trophy. His impressive knock helped J&K to a commanding position against Maharashtra in their match in Srinagar. The last player to achieve this feat for J&K was Ashwani Gupta in 2002.
As Jammu and Kashmir gears up for its first Assembly election post the abrogation of Article 370, the focus is on the Budhal Assembly constituency in the Anantnag district. With four candidates vying for the seat, the contest is likely to be closely fought. The seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribes, will see a total of four candidates from different political parties and backgrounds. Stay tuned for the updates on September 25 when the polling takes place and October 8 when the votes will be counted.