Latest news with #PeoplesConference
Hans India
20 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Hurriyat irrelevant, Kashmiris must look for place in India: Separatist leader Bilal Lone
Srinagar: Bilal Lone, separatist leader and son of slain senior separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone, said on Saturday that the separatist Hurriyat Conference is irrelevant and Kashmiris must look for their space within India. Bilal Lone is the younger brother of Sajad Gani Lone, former minister and chief of the Peoples Conference (NC). In an interview today, Bilal Lone said that the separatist Hurriyat Conference is itself responsible for becoming irrelevant, adding that the Hurriyat Conference has become non-functional. He blamed Pakistan for creating a mess in Kashmir. He said that his change of state owed itself to the motivation of the next generation of Kashmir, whom he urged to see India as India since it is a very big power. He said the present generation has a right to know the truth about what happened in Kashmir during the last 35 years. He said Kashmiris have to realise that the 'politics of exploitation' must stop. While admitting that the people of Kashmir had reposed their trust in the Hurriyat Conference, Bilal said that at present the Hurriyat is nowhere, and it is time for the people to accept the change. He said Pakistan made statements, but nothing happened in reality, so Pakistan must play a soothing role in Kashmir's progress rather than create a mess here. He claimed that he had no regret for being on the other side, opposing India, but had big regret for failing to achieve anything. Bilal Lone said his change of stand was not to become the chief minister, but he now stands for a genuine political process.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Before Martyrs' Day, Mirwaiz's blistering attack over ‘house arrest' — ‘fearing mention of martyrs in my sermon'
Ahead of Martyrs' Day on July 13, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was disallowed from leading Friday prayers at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid. The chief cleric of Jammu and Kashmir said he was confined to his house in a post on X. July 13 is marked as Martyrs' Day as a homage to the 22 Kashmiris who fell to the bullets of the Dogra army while protesting the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh in 1931. 'Disallowed to go to Jama Masjid today, put under house arrest, fearing the mention of the martyrs of 13th July 1931 in my Friday sermon,' the post said. Highlighting the sacrifice of the martyrs and 'all the martyrs since,' Mirwaiz said that it is 'etched in the collective memory of Kashmir and cannot not be undone by restrictions and bans'. 'No living nation can forget the supreme sacrifice of life of its martyrs against tyranny and injustice,' he said, appealing authorities to life restrictions to allow the public to peacefully pay homage and expressing a desire to the martyrs' graveyard in downtown Srinagar 'Inshallah if allowed as per our tradition, we will visit the martyrs' graveyard on July 13th after Zuhr prayers and pay homage to the revered martyrs,' he said. Earlier this week, both National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party expressed their resolve to visit the Mazar-e-Shuhada on July 13 with the former writing to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar for permission to visit the mazar. Formerly a public holiday in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, it was scrapped by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Entry to the mazar-e-shuhada (martyr's graveyard) has also been restricted on previous occasions. Last year, leaders such as Mufti and Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone were restricted to their residences on July 13. After the Omar Abdullah government took over the reins of government in October last year, the issue of restoring the July 13 holiday was also debated in the J&K Assembly. This year, July 13 falls on Sunday.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sajad Lone files RTI to assess job reservation impact on Kashmiris
Peoples Conference president and Handwara legislator Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday called for a 'scientific and statistical analysis' of the reservation policy, claiming that it disproportionately affects the Kashmiri-speaking ethnic group. Peoples Conference president and Handwara legislator Sajad Gani Lone. (File) Lone, in a statement, said that he has filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to gather recruitment data from the last ten government examinations. This data, he said, will help create a 'statistically scientific basis' to evaluate the policy's impact. 'We need the actual marks scored by candidates and the final selection list. By comparing a merit list without reservation with one where reservation is applied, we can quantify the damage inflicted on the Kashmiri-speaking ethnic group,' Lone said. He proposed using selection data from past ten recruitment exams as a sample set, which could be expanded later for broader statistical relevance. 'If the government introduces a revised reservation system, the party will apply it retrospectively to the same recruitment data to assess its effects,' he added. Describing the approach as rational and evidence-based, Lone said, 'Let us end all debates and decide things purely on a scientific basis. And apply remedies on a scientific basis,' he said. In a message to policymakers, Lone cautioned against letting electoral considerations overshadow youth interests. 'Let us separate votes from the future of our youngsters. Let dreams not be massacred at the altar of votes,' he said.
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
New political alliance 'Peoples Alliance for Change' launched in Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Three Kashmir-based political parties have come together to form a new political alliance named the Peoples Alliance for Change. The alliance comprises the Peoples Conference, led by MLA Sajjad Gani Lone; the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), headed by former MLA Hakim Mohammad Yasin; and the Justice & Development Front (JDF), a newly-formed party comprising former members of the now-banned Jamaat-e-Islami. The announcement was made at a press conference in Srinagar by JDF President Shamim Ahmad Thoker, who emphasised the alliance's aim to work collectively for the people of Jammu and Kashmir while maintaining consistency in political messaging. 'We must unite to serve the people,' said Thoker, stressing the importance of political unity in the region. He added, 'This alliance is the beginning, not the end. We will approach other like-minded parties to join us in our pursuit of change. This platform seeks to unite those who have endured pain and to exclude those who have inflicted it.'
New Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
J&K leaders urge centre to take humanitarian view on ailing jailed separatist leader Shabir Shah
The NC MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah, has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah in which he wrote that Shabir Shah is now 70 years old and by every humane and legal standard, he is entitled to medical treatment with dignity and fairness. 'His doctors have recommended three surgeries for serious medical conditions, which include life-threatening prostate cancer. Despite the gravity of his condition, he has remained incarcerated since 2017, without family support. Our country has legal and moral obligations, under both its Constitution and international treaties to ensure that prisoners are treated with humanity,' he said. The MP urged the Home Minister to ensure that Shabir Shah is provided with dignified medical care in a facility equipped for cancer treatment. "This process must involve his family in all medical decisions, as permitted by law. The measure of a nation is how it treats its weakest. Let us not fail that test,' he added. Peoples Conference chairman and MLA Sajad Gani Lone called for immediate medical attention and family access for Shabir Shah."Shabir Shah is not well. And getting treatment is a very basic right. I humbly stand with his loved ones in demanding that he be allowed access to proper medical facilities — and the very basic right of being surrounded by his family as he fights for his health,' he said. 'He is suffering from life-threatening ailments which require urgent medical intervention, and most likely surgery. He is over 75 years old — the best way forward would be to involve his family. He would want to be near his loved ones when wheeled in for surgery,' Lone said.
