Category: Official News

Jammu, The Indian National Congress in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir has openly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government for undermining the rights of the people in the region. This statement comes amidst growing discontent over the federal government’s policies affecting local governance and autonomy.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the IIOJK Congress working president, Raman Bhalla, made these remarks during public meetings in the Sunderbani area of Rajouri. Bhalla accused the Modi administration of betraying the local population by stripping away their statehood and eroding their rights to land, employment, and local governance.

Bhalla highlighted several issues currently plaguing the region, including significant increases in living costs and record-high unemployment rates. He criticized the central government’s decision to downgrade the former state to a union territory, which he claimed insulted the local populace by denying them assembly elections for over five years and governing the territory through appointed bureaucrats rather than elected officials.

Moreover, Bhalla voiced concerns over the deliberate delay of assembly elections by the Indian government, suggesting that it stems from fears of electoral defeat. He affirmed the local demand for the restoration of statehood, declaring it a rightful claim that the people of Jammu and Kashmir intend to secure.

Lahore, Today, a group of 2,400 Indian Sikh pilgrims crossed the Wagah Border into Lahore to begin celebrations for Khalsa Janam-din and Vaisakhi Mela 2024, two of the most significant events in the Sikh calendar.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the pilgrims were warmly received by notable figures including Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and Rana Shahid Saleem, Additional Secretary Shrines. The welcome party also included prominent Sikh leaders such as Sardar Mampal Singh, Sardar Tara Singh, and Satwant Kaur.

Kulvant Singh, the group leader, and Amarjit Singh, the deputy party leader, expressed their appreciation for the hospitality provided by the government of Pakistan and the Evacuee Trust Property Board. They highlighted the spiritual importance of visiting significant Sikh shrines in Pakistan, underscoring the deep cultural and religious connections that draw Sikh pilgrims to these sacred sites.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board has ensured comprehensive arrangements for the pilgrims’ security, health care, and comfort, under the oversight of board Chairman Arshad Farid Khan. The Gurudwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, one of the primary venues for the celebrations, has been festively decorated, mirroring the joyous mood of the occasion.

Festivities are set to peak with the main event of the Vaisakhi Mela on April 14 at Gurudwara Panja Sahib, followed by events at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, among other significant locations. The 10-day pilgrimage will conclude on April 22, after which the pilgrims will return to India.

Jeddah, During an Eid Milan party organized by the Kashmiri community in Saudi Arabia, attendees voiced significant concerns regarding the restrictions on religious practices and civil liberties in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The community highlighted specific bans on key Islamic observances and the cancellation of Eid holidays at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the event was led by Muhammad Farooq Rahmani, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter and Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League. Community leaders Sardar Waqas Inayat and Raja Pervez briefed Rahmani on the activities undertaken in Saudi Arabia to advocate for Kashmir.

The gathering called on the United Nations and human rights organizations to intervene and help lift the severe restrictions imposed on the Kashmiri people. Rahmani provided an update on the troubling developments in the region, accusing the Indian government of undermining the Kashmiri livelihoods, altering educational systems, and seizing Islamic endowments.

He further highlighted the cultural and religious erosion in the area, stressing the urgent need for a resolution based on the right to self-determination. Rahmani also drew parallels between the struggles in Kashmir and Palestine, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

The meeting concluded with a session with Khalid Majeed, the Consul General of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia, where Rahmani discussed the ongoing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and acknowledged the supportive role of the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

New Delhi, In a move reflecting ongoing diplomatic tensions, Canada has significantly reduced the number of Indian staff employed across its missions in India. This decision follows a decrease in Canadian personnel in the country, necessitating adjustments to the missions’ operational capabilities.

According to Kashmir Media Service, a spokesperson for the Canadian High Commission confirmed the staff reductions, explaining that the decision was aligned with the lower number of Canadian staff available to manage the missions. The reduction comes amid escalating diplomatic strains following allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government was involved in the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Najar in Canada last year.

The move highlights the growing diplomatic rift between Canada and India, rooted in accusations and counter-accusations following Najar’s assassination, which has impacted bilateral relations and now affects the operational dynamics of Canada’s diplomatic missions in India.