Srinagar, Feb 5: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone on Thursday said it has now become a matter of record that National Conference and BJP together voted against key issues concerning Kashmiris while amendments to the Governor’s Address were put to vote in the J&K Assembly.
Talking to media persons, Lone said that amendments moved to the Governor’s Address are either accepted, withdrawn or voted upon.
“So let me tell you what our National Conference brothers, along with the BJP, voted against,” he said.
Lone said one of the amendments sought to highlight the attacks on Kashmiris outside Jammu and Kashmir and the absence of any serious action by other states.
“There is no mention of Kashmiris being beaten outside. There is no mention of what action was taken. They jointly voted against even mentioning this,” he said.
He said that these were human beings harassed and assaulted.
“They kept saying there is an ‘institution’. If there is an institution, tell us how many attacks happened and in how many cases FIRs were lodged,” he asked.
PC President further said that amendments seeking mention of the regularization of daily wage workers, HDF employees, NREGA workers and Rehbar-e-Khel employees were also rejected.
“They effectively said no, we do not even want to mention them,” he remarked.
On employment, Lone said the amendment regarding the promise of one lakh jobs for youth and the demand for age relaxation in combined examinations from 32 to 37 years was also voted down.
“They said no, we won’t speak about it,” he added.
Calling it the “most amusing part,” Lone said even an amendment regarding the establishment of a National Law University in Kashmir at Ompora, Budgam, a promise made by the Chief Minister himself, was rejected.
“They voted against that too. May God let our people know what the National Conference and BJP together voted against in the Assembly,” he said.
On the reservation issue, Lone reiterated that Kashmir faces a serious imbalance in government employment.
“Kashmir’s population is 60 percent, but our share in jobs is only 28 percent. There is a 32 percent deficit, and this is not because of Open Merit, it is because of reservations,” he said.
He said that even the proposed 10 percent addition to Open Merit would not correct the mismatch by more than two percent.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “About a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,” he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.“If we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,” he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeeb’s research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. “In this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,” he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. “It is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,” he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,” he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. “My parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,” he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. “Just as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.” “Young people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,” he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students – 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 students—56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. “Hundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,” said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. “We are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,” he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. “The irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,” he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for “equal work, equal pay” gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. “Promises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,” he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. “This issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Srinagar, Jan 17: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi on Saturday strongly condemned PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti’s statement suggesting that if religious places are to be “profiled”, the process should start with temples and Hindu priests, instead of mosques and Imams. Inam Un Nabi said AIP was categorically against profiling of any religious place, irrespective of faith or community and such statements only deepen mistrust and polarisation in society. “Let it be Masjids and Imaams or temples and priests, profiling of religious institutions is unacceptable. AIP rejects it completely. Had the issue involved only temples or priests, AIP would have shown the same resentment and protest as we do for Masjids and Imaams,” he said. The AIP spokesperson said faith is a matter of personal conscience and religious belief and it should not be dragged into a culture of surveillance or administrative interference. “We do not want policing of faith. The role of the administration is to ensure peace and law and order, not to monitor religious identity or religious spaces,” Inam Un Nabi added. He appealed to all political parties to act responsibly and avoid statements that pit one community against another, stressing that Kashmir has a long history of communal harmony which must be protected. “AIP stands for dignity, equality and justice for all. We will oppose any attempt that targets places of worship, whichever religion it belongs to,” he said.
Srinagar, Feb 10: JK Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone on Tuesday delivered a critical assessment of the recently introduced Jammu and Kashmir budget during his address to the Assembly. He called it the first budget under complete political oversight since 2018. He characterised it as a typical bureaucratic budget lacking the distinctive political imprint that usually accompanies an elected government's fiscal proposals. "When politicians come, when there is an elected government, there is a mark of politics on the budget. That mark is not visible," Lone said. He questioned why the ruling party's manifesto promises had not been translated into concrete budgetary allocations. He suggested this disconnect would become a recurring point of contention from the opposition over the next five years. "So if the mark of the manifesto is there, why is it not in the budget? This is a question that the opposition will ask you repeatedly, for the next five years," he said. Lone pointed to weak execution of previous budgetary assurances, highlighting a significant gap of 13,000 crores between budget estimates and revised estimates. He observed that capital investment had decreased substantially. "In the whole world, people have a problem with money; here, it seems there is a problem with spending. We don't seem to have the capacity to spend money," Sajad Lone said. The budget's composition troubled Lone, with 70 percent allocated to revenue expenditure and only 30 percent to capital expenditure. "This means that long-term assets will not be built, and this reflects a weak internal revenue base," he said. He detailed the territory's financial dependence, noting that of the total receipts of 1,27,000 crores, only 31,800 came from internal tax and non-tax sources while central assistance amounted to approximately 42,000 crores, centrally sponsored schemes 13,000 crores, and borrowing 14,000 crores. "So this limits our fiscal autonomy. When all the money is coming from outside," Lone said. The legislator reserved his sharpest criticism for what he termed the "great rebate grab" surrounding the six cylinder announcement. He methodically broke down the mathematics, explaining that the manifesto had promised 12 cylinders for economically weaker sections. "The exact words in your manifesto are 12 cylinders for economically weaker sections. So, no, thank you will not last long. I think you will have to change it," he said. Lone said there are two lakh AAY families and 14 lakh BPL, now called priority households. "So since when did the poor BPL become economically strong? I didn't understand this. They are also economically weak," he said. He calculated that the manifesto promise would have cost 1,680 crores annually or 8,500 crores over five years, but the government was delivering only 120 to 130 crores annually. "So against a promise of 8,500 crores for five years, what you are paying is 360 crores. Sir, this is pure mathematics, no theory, no history. If I am wrong, I would love to be corrected," Lone added. JKPC President described the funding mechanism as taking from one set of poor to pay another. "Where did this money come from? The money came from reducing the rebate on diesel, which is normally used in public vehicles, in public transport. That will bring in about 250 crores from there. So you took 150 from the pocket of the poor, gave 150 or 120 to other poor people, and 130 still stayed with the government," he said, He called it "a new kind of justice and lamented that no government had ever levied taxes on the top 5 percent of earners in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, the promise of free education up to graduation was diluted, with 14 lakh families excluded from the benefit. "So it is a very diluted version of what you promised. Sir, CM Sahab, if you think that instead of 100 you are happy with 5, then fine," Lone said. On employment, Lone challenged the claim of 7,500 jobs created last year, estimating that hardly 2,000 went to Kashmir. He defended his past work on the 3 percent reservation bill. "I am proud of it. I passed the 3% reservation bill in this very hall." He clarified that when he spoke of 60 percent of the population including Pahari brothers, Gujjar brothers, and Kashmiri Pandit brothers having only 25 percent of jobs, this included all these communities. "When I say district and divisional recruitment, I mean it for Pahari and Gujjar brothers living in Kashmir Valley. If you think they want to compete in the general category, it would be better if you ask them," Lone said. The outsourcing of 24,000 jobs drew particularly fierce criticism. "Sir, you didn't do this, to be very honest with you. This was done by the Babus. The system of Babus is centralised, outsourced. May God outsource their jobs too, those who outsourced these jobs, then they would know what it's like to outsource a poor person's job," Lone said. He questioned why the current administration continued this policy. "If you were against everything in the Governor's rule for the last five years, then why are you doing the same today?" Lone warned that outsourcing cannot work in places without Western-style social security nets. "Where it works in the West, there is a social security net. "The government even provides money for children's diapers and milk. This is a societal disaster," he said. He traced a troubling progression from permanent jobs to contractual positions to outsourcing, questioning how private companies could be trusted with quality recruitment when government institutions themselves had suffered major scandals. "The government is about learning curves. It is hire and fire; they can keep anyone, how will the government run?" he said. "Where you said you would create one lakh jobs, forgive me, you converted 24000 government jobs into private ones. So, sir, don't give us 1 lakh, but at least don't make them private. Stop converting government jobs into private ones. This is an economic disaster and a societal disaster. It will wreak havoc in society," Lone said. While not expecting the Chief Minister to produce funds overnight, Lone emphasized that budgets should set an economic tone. "One thing that should attract investors—let's go to J&K, it's the next investment destination. Sir, we are one of the most regulated economies in the country. It's like the Soviet Union. NOC culture," he said. He explained that these permissions had become channels for corruption. "The problem is that our CM Sahab, with due respect, has never applied for permission. He doesn't know that this NOC is money. Even if all the papers are there, you still have to give; if not, you have to give four times more," Lone said. He said that this centralization intensified over the last five years as bureaucrats sought to maintain control. "They have done IAS and they think they are the most intelligent, nothing will happen without them. Ask us first." Lone urged the government to review and dilute orders from the past six years that centralized NOCs. He questioned government involvement in homestays. "Why do you have to see? What does the government have to do with homestays? Is the government a housekeeper? Is the government going to see if the room is clean or not? Market forces will decide that if the homestay is good, the person will come again," he said. Despite acknowledging some positive developments like e-office implementation, he said that the tendency toward centralization and high regulation would deter investors. "We are a highly over-regulated economy; that was my assessment that they would fix it, but it didn't happen," he said. The legislator identified tourism and horticulture as potential gold mines if properly recognized. He also made a plea to correct economic misstatements made in the house, noting, "When you want to check a traditional economic theory of whether a country is backward or developed, you look at how many people are in agriculture. The more there are, the more backward it is. The fewer there are, the more it is a high-income country." Throughout his speech, Lone maintained that Jammu and Kashmir desperately needs reform. "I would appeal to all of you that we desperately need to deregulate and decentralize our economy, because otherwise, no investors would be coming here," he said.
Srinagar, Feb 9: Pandemonium broke out in the Legislative Assembly on Monday over the implementation of the Special Assistance Scheme for Capital Investment (SASCI) in Jammu & Kashmir after the Peoples Democratic Party MLA alleged that it was a “death trap” for the Union Territory. Participating in the budget discussion, PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para claimed that SASCI was a death trap for Jammu & Kashmir. “SASCI is the most dangerous thing you are doing to Jammu & Kashmir. You are putting Jammu & Kashmir on sale. It is not NABARD or any other such scheme,” Para said. He demanded a House committee should be constituted examine the matter. Para’s remarks were strongly opposed by National Conference MLAs, who rose to counter him. This led to heated exchanges between the two sides. Amid the commotion, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accused Para of keeping the microphone in his pocket. As the Speaker failed to restore order in the House, he adjourned the proceedings at 1:14 PM until 2:30 PM.
Srinagar, Feb 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department participated in the three-day OTM Mumbai-2026. The event was held from February 5 to 7 of 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre. The participation proved to be a remarkable success and emerged as one of the major highlights of the event. The pavilion achieved exceptional visibility and impact as the continuous guidance, tireless efforts, and day-to-day involvement Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajad, played a pivotal role in making the participation highly successful. The other visiting officers including officials from J&K Tourist office Mumbai also remained actively engaged throughout the event, interacting extensively with exhibitors, trade professionals, and stakeholders. The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Pavilion, with its mesmerising and aesthetically captivating design, stood out as the centre of attraction at OTM Mumbai-2026. In addition to the pavilion, J&K Tourism branding at the International Pavilion and exclusive lanyard branding created significant buzz across the venue. The overall presence was so impactful that it gave the impression that OTM Mumbai-2026 was predominantly dedicated to the promotion of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism. The pavilion witnessed an impressive footfall, attracting a large number of national and international exhibitors, travel professionals, and tourism stakeholders. Many international visitors even enquired about the geographical identity of Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting the strong global curiosity and interest generated by the pavilion. Numerous travel and tourism stakeholders visited the pavilion and held meaningful interactions and meetings with the visiting officers. The pavilion further showcased interactive exhibitor engagements, trade meetings, and a virtual reality (VR) experience for visitors. The display of Kashmiri classical musical instruments and traditional handicrafts such as Paper Machie added immense cultural charm and authenticity, enhancing the overall appeal of the pavilion. All co-exhibitors representing Jammu and Kashmir Tourism expressed high satisfaction with the Department’s well-planned marketing strategies, the beautifully designed pavilion, and the disciplined and professional networking environment maintained throughout the event. The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Pavilion remained the centre of attraction and recorded a very encouraging response. "It is strongly hoped that this successful participation will translate into significant tourism growth for Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming season," the official handout reads.
