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The Quick Update, Lal Chowk, Srinagar (2026)

28/08/2026

“Everything Here Is Directed by Centre”: Altaf Bukhari Takes Sharp Dig at J&K Parties

Claims If Anyone Hollowed Out Article 370, It Was Congress

Srinagar, August 28: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday launched a sharp attack on the ruling dispensation and rival political parties, alleging that the political affairs of Jammu and Kashmir have historically remained heavily influenced by the Centre.

Addressing a workers’ convention at Tral Bajwani, Bukhari said there was “no fear of anyone” and asserted that successive governments in J&K could not function independently of the Central Government.

“Whatever runs here has been directed by the Centre,” Bukhari said, alleging that political parties resort to “character assassination” when they perceive a rival leader or party to be gaining traction among the people.

Taking aim at Congress, he alleged that the party had “ridden on our backs since 1947” and accused it of having played a role in weakening Article 370. He further claimed that the National Conference’s presence in government was linked to Congress support, suggesting that an understanding between the two parties existed behind the scenes.

Using a metaphor to describe the relationship between the ruling party and opposition, Bukhari said: “You pick up the instrument, and I will play the tabla,” alleging that political parties often work in tandem despite occupying opposing positions.

The Apni Party chief also raised the issue of prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir and appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to engage directly with the region’s youth. He said the matter needed to be adequately presented before the Centre and expressed hope that a positive solution would emerge.

Bukhari further criticised the elected government in J&K, alleging that it had failed to deliver on its promises and address the “core issues and emotional concerns” of the people.

He said that with the Centre having remained occupied with elections across the country over the past several months, he expected its attention to now turn towards Jammu and Kashmir.

“We are communicating directly with the Centre and will follow it up,” Bukhari said, expressing hope that the concerns raised would receive serious consideration and a favourable response.If you want, I can also make this more hard-hitting and sensational, or produce 6 powerful headlines with a news-channel style punch.

28/08/2026

Aga Ruhullah to Quit NC and Step Down as MP Srinagar on November 3

Srinagar, August 28: In a major political development, Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has announced his decision to resign from both the Lok Sabha and the primary membership of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC), citing deep ideological differences with the party leadership.

Ruhullah said he will formally submit his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah on November 3, coinciding with the 26th death anniversary of his father, late Aga Syed Mehdi. He also plans to hold a public rally in Budgam on the same day, where he will release his resignation letter and explain the reasons behind his decision.

The announcement comes days after Farooq Abdullah challenged Ruhullah to resign from the Srinagar seat and seek a fresh mandate if he believed his 2024 victory was primarily the result of his personal credibility rather than the NC's organisational support. Ruhullah accepted the challenge, saying he could not turn down a request from the veteran NC leader.

At the heart of Ruhullah’s decision is his strong disagreement with what he describes as the NC leadership’s departure from its electoral commitment to fight for the restoration of Article 370 and Jammu & Kashmir’s constitutional rights. He has accused the party of shifting its focus towards statehood while failing to pursue the broader constitutional agenda promised during the 2024 elections.

Ruhullah has maintained that his political position is driven by conviction rather than political expediency, saying he does not want to remain associated with what he terms “lies and betrayal.” He has also been a persistent critic of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the issue, arguing that the NC leadership has moved away from its stated ideological position.

Before formally stepping down, Ruhullah said he intends to complete pending commitments, including the disbursement of MPLADS funds and efforts to mobilise political support for the restoration of J&K’s constitutional rights.

He has also indicated that, following his resignation, he could consider contesting the ensuing Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election as an independent candidate, after consulting the people. If the resignation is formally submitted and accepted, the Srinagar parliamentary seat will fall vacant, setting the stage for a potentially significant electoral contest in Jammu & Kashmir.

27/08/2026

Former SMC Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Passes Away Due To Major Heart Attack

Srinagar, August 27: Former senior bureaucrat, politician and Commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Ghazanfar Ali, passed away at around 10:00 PM on Thursday at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar.

According to his family, Ghazanfar Ali had suffered a major heart attack on May 18, following which he was admitted to the ICU at SMHS Hospital. He underwent treatment for several weeks and was subsequently discharged.

However, his health condition deteriorated on Thursday, and he breathed his last at the hospital, leaving his family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers in profound shock and grief.

His demise has been widely mourned, with condolences pouring in from across the social and public spheres. Those who knew and worked with him have remembered him with deep respect and paid tribute to his contributions to public life and administration.

The family has been receiving an outpouring of condolences from relatives, colleagues, friends and well-wishers following his passing. (KNB)

27/08/2026

“Youth Cannot Wait Forever”: Inam-un-Nabi Calls for Fixed Timelines on J&K Vacancies

Flags J&K’s Acute Job Crunch Amid 94,546 Applicants for Just 960 Posts

Anantnag, August 27: AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, while addressing a youth interaction programme at Keherbal, Anantnag, called for a predictable and time-bound government recruitment process, stressing that vacancies must be filled within a fixed timeline alongside a sustained push to create private-sector employment and attract investment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to the latest JKPSC figures, Inam said 94,546 applications were received for just 960 posts during 2025–26, translating to nearly 99 aspirants for every available post. He noted that applications had risen by around 52 per cent compared with the previous year, while more than 3.11 lakh applications had been received over the past five years.

“Behind every application is a young person carrying hopes, aspirations and the expectations of a family that has invested years and resources in their education. Our youth must not lose heart because opportunities remain limited. Their talent and potential are far greater than the number of vacancies available today,” Inam said.

He emphasised that government employment alone cannot absorb the rapidly growing pool of educated youth. “Jammu and Kashmir needs a predictable recruitment calendar, timely filling of vacancies and a serious, sustained push for private investment, entrepreneurship and employment generation,” he said.

Inam urged young people to remain hopeful, continue pursuing their ambitions and make the most of every available opportunity, while assuring them that the concerns and aspirations of youth must remain at the heart of political and policy discourse in Jammu and Kashmir.

27/08/2026

Sujit Kumar, IPS, Assumes Charge as Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone

Srinagar, August 27: Senior IPS officer Sujit Kumar formally assumed charge as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, on Wednesday, succeeding Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IPS.

Kumar joins the Kashmir Zone leadership with extensive administrative and operational experience, having served in various capacities across all three police ranges of the Kashmir Zone. He has also previously headed the Central Kashmir Range, giving him considerable familiarity with the region’s policing landscape and operational requirements.

Prior to his latest assignment, Kumar was serving as IGP Security, Jammu and Kashmir, where he handled responsibilities related to the security apparatus of the Union Territory.

His appointment places an experienced officer with extensive field exposure at the helm of the Kashmir Zone, as he takes charge of one of the J&K Police’s key operational formations.

27/08/2026

50-Metre No-Junk-Food Zone Around J&K Schools, FDA Directs Strict Enforcement

Srinagar, August 27: The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has directed the School Education Department to ensure strict enforcement of food safety regulations across all government and private schools, including a ban on the sale, marketing and advertising of junk food within school premises and within 50 metres of school gates.

In a communication to the Directors of School Education, the FDA called for effective implementation of the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020, aimed at protecting schoolchildren from unsafe, unhealthy and nutritionally poor food.

Under the regulations, schools must ensure that food products high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or sodium are neither sold nor offered within school premises. The restrictions also cover an area extending 50 metres in every direction from school gates, prohibiting the sale, marketing or advertising of such products to schoolchildren.

The FDA has further directed that food services operating within school campuses must be registered or licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and comply with prescribed sanitary and hygienic standards. Such facilities are also required to maintain Food Safety Display Boards and appoint Food Safety Supervisors wherever applicable.

The regulations also require schools to designate appropriate meal times to promote healthy eating habits and provide safe drinking water free of cost to all students.

School authorities, including principals and headmasters, along with the bodies managing the institutions, have been tasked with conducting regular inspections of food premises and closely monitoring the quality, safety and hygiene of food served to children.

To strengthen monitoring at the institutional level, schools may also appoint a Health and Wellness Ambassador or constitute a Health and Wellness Team to serve as a nodal mechanism for ensuring the availability of safe, balanced and hygienic food.

The FDA has accordingly called upon the School Education Department and school authorities across Jammu and Kashmir to ensure strict and effective compliance with the regulations, putting the health and nutritional well-being of schoolchildren at the centre of food safety enforcement.

27/08/2026

“Helpless Youth Being Blackmailed”: Junaid Matto Accuses ‘Political Party’ of Offering Absolution from Old Cases for Allegiance

Srinagar, August 27: Former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Matto has accused that a particular political party is attempting to exploit vulnerable youth in Srinagar by using their old cases as leverage to induce them to join the party.

Matto claimed that young people with previous cases, who are periodically rounded up following incidents they have no connection with, are being approached with an assurance that their cases could be absolved if they join the said political party.

Describing the alleged practice as a form of political blackmail, Matto asserted that the “Faustian bargain” is being made by the political party, not by the helpless youth, who he said are being placed under pressure and offered relief from their legal troubles in exchange for political allegiance.

Calling the alleged conduct shameless, Matto questioned the ethics of using the vulnerabilities and fears of young people as a means of expanding political influence.

26/08/2026

“Burn Your Manifesto in the Hamam”: PC's Muneeb Quraishi Slams NC Over Electricity, Jobs and Broken Promises

Srinagar, August 26: Peoples Conference spokesperson Muneeb Quraishi launched a blistering broadside against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing the National Conference government of abandoning its election promises, pushing the common man deeper into economic distress and becoming increasingly disconnected from the realities confronting Kashmir’s households and youth.

Training his guns on the government’s 2024 election manifesto, Quraishi said the promises of 200 units of free electricity and removal of smart meters had given voters hope but had now turned into a source of public anger.

“Power is not permanent. This chair will not last,” Quraishi said, warning Omar Abdullah that political authority was temporary and that governments were ultimately answerable to the people.

Taking a swipe at the promised 200 free units, he said the public had instead been confronted with rising electricity bills. He alleged that bills in non metered areas had climbed from around ₹1,040 to ₹1,200, ₹1,300, ₹1,400 and even ₹1,500 while consumers in metered areas were facing their own mounting burden.

Quraishi also questioned the reported 6.8 percent tariff hike, saying an additional few hundred rupees might appear insignificant to those in power but could be decisive for a struggling household or small business.

His attack went beyond electricity, turning into a sweeping indictment of the government’s handling of unemployment, daily wagers, reservations and the economic distress facing ordinary Kashmiris.

Quraishi accused the administration of making promises to daily wagers without delivering a credible path to regularisation, saying thousands of workers continued to live with uncertainty while supporting families and raising children.

He also questioned the fate of the committees promised on reservation rationalisation, arguing that delays had compounded the frustration of young people who had spent years preparing for competitive examinations only to find themselves pushed beyond the age limit.

“People are dying, sir. These daily wagers are human beings with needs, aspirations, children and dreams,” Quraishi said.

In one of his sharpest attacks, Quraishi contrasted what he described as the “VVIP Gupkar lifestyle” with the daily struggle of ordinary Kashmiris, alleging that the political establishment had become insulated from the realities of unemployment, inflation and economic hardship.

He challenged the Chief Minister to leave the official convoy and visit ordinary neighbourhoods around Lal Chowk to see firsthand the conditions of middle class, lower middle class and poor families.

“Please step out of your echo chambers and look at the conditions outside,” he said.

Quraishi also took a pointed dig at Omar Abdullah’s recent diplomatic engagements, questioning the government’s focus on geopolitics while pressing domestic issues, particularly unemployment and economic distress, remained unresolved.

Addressing Omar directly, Quraishi said the Chief Minister should remember that political power was neither permanent nor beyond scrutiny.

“If you cannot do anything, at least do not lie,” he said, accusing the government of making promises it could not fulfil and warning that the political leadership would eventually be judged by the consequences of its decisions.

Calling himself an ordinary Kashmiri before being a Peoples Conference spokesperson, Quraishi said the anger he was voicing reflected the frustration of a generation facing shrinking opportunities, unemployment and uncertainty.

He ended with a stark appeal to the Chief Minister to introspect over the direction of Jammu and Kashmir and the future being left behind for its younger generation.

“We are human beings. Please do not mock us,” Quraishi said, urging the government to confront the realities on the ground rather than remain insulated from them.

26/08/2026

Those who deny Climate Change must witness Nepal's devastation.

26/08/2026

“Politicians React to a Mic Like an Addict Seeing a Hookah”: Mehbooba M***i’s Light Hearted Take on Politics During Informal Interaction with J&K’s Media Fraternity

“Wherever I Am Wrong, Correct Me & Wherever I Do Right, Encourage Me”

Srinagar, August 26: PDP President Mehbooba M***i on Wednesday held an informal and candid interaction with members of Jammu and Kashmir’s media fraternity at The Lalit Palace, Gupkar, marking three decades since she entered electoral politics.

Beginning on a lighter note, M***i said politicians have an almost instinctive reaction to a microphone, joking that they respond to it “like an addict seeing a hookah.” She then turned reflective, recalling that she contested her first election in September 1996 and has since travelled a long and eventful political journey.

Looking back at the past 30 years, M***i acknowledged the significant role played by the media in shaping her political career, saying journalists had at different times “brought me down, lifted me up, and made me fall.” She thanked the fraternity for standing by her, praising her when they believed she had done well and criticising her when they felt she had gone wrong.

M***i also recalled the early years of her political career when social media was absent and political reporting involved journalists travelling with basic cameras and accompanying political figures on foot. She fondly remembered several journalists who had covered her journey during those years and said many of those professional associations had evolved into relationships of trust and familiarity.

She acknowledged that working as a journalist has become increasingly difficult, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, and said the media continues to operate under challenging circumstances. She stressed that journalists must retain the courage to question politicians and hold them accountable.

Describing the interaction as an opportunity to step away from the routine of questions and answers, M***i said she wanted to sit with journalists not as a politician delivering a speech but as someone sharing a long personal and political journey with people she considers her own.

She said she had learned considerably from the media’s criticism and feedback and urged journalists to continue correcting her whenever they believed she was wrong while acknowledging her efforts whenever she did something right.

Reflecting on the passage of time, M***i invoked the saying, “Much has passed, only a little remains,” and said she had spent a substantial part of her life alongside the media fraternity. She expressed hope that journalists would continue to remain partners in her journey for however long the future holds.

M***i said praise from family members, relatives and political associates often comes naturally, but appreciation from journalists carries a different value because it comes from people whose responsibility is to question, scrutinise and critically assess public life.

Concluding her remarks, the PDP president thanked members of the media fraternity for attending the gathering, expressing particular gratitude to journalists who had travelled from Jammu to participate in the informal interaction.

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