Speaking at a summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the era of terrorism in India is over. He noted how during the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, people felt unsafe in their own homes, but now, terrorists do not even feel safe in their own houses. This change is due to the decisive actions taken by the Indian government, as seen in the recent merger of Kashmir with India in 1947.
Srinagar, the capital city of Indian-administered Kashmir, turned into a vibrant hub of celebrations as the Sikh community came together to mark the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. The festivities were graced by the presence of top officials from the police, administration, and Kashmir's chief cleric, who stressed the importance of communal harmony and mutual respect. The celebrations also served as a reminder of the centuries-old unity in diversity prevalent in the valley and the enduring message of peace and compassion espoused by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
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.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting the Constitution by showing a "fake" copy of it. He also claimed that the BJP will never allow Congress to implement reservations for minorities. Shah alleged that Congress was "hell-bent" on snatching reservations from OBCs, tribals, and Dalits and "planned to give it to minorities." He also warned Gandhi that even his fourth-generation cannot bring back Article 370 in Kashmir. Additionally, Shah attacked the JMM-led government in Jharkhand, calling it the "most corrupt government" in the country.
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.
Following an encounter in the Khanyar area of Central Kashmir, top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Usman Bhai was killed on Saturday. Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi revealed that Usman was involved in the killing of Inspector Manzoor and was wanted in several militancy-related cases. The encounter began when a joint team approached the suspected area and the militants opened fire, leading to a fierce gunfight. The operation is still ongoing at the time of this report.
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.