J&K Awami

09/05/2026

ANC Senior Vice President Muzaffar Shah on AAP Defection, the 1984 NC Split and the Deepening Crisis Within the Ruling Party

09/05/2026

Kashmir Concern Leads Mega Plantation Drive at S.P. College Under ‘Green Campus for Clean Air’ Initiative

Srinagar, May 9: In a significant step towards promoting environmental sustainability and cleaner air, Kashmir Concern, in collaboration with TCI Cement and S.P. College, organized a mega plantation drive under its flagship initiative, “Green Campus for Clean Air,” at the college campus in Srinagar on Friday.

The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 170 students of R.P. School, Lawaypora, alongside volunteers, civil society members, environmentalists, police officers, and representatives of the civil administration. Volunteers from Team Red (NGO) played a key role in coordinating and ensuring the smooth conduct of the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Touseef Ahmed of Kashmir Concern highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.

“Collaboration is the key to combating air pollution and restoring ecological balance. Today’s overwhelming response shows that when institutions and citizens unite, meaningful change becomes possible,” he said.

The plantation drive aimed to expand green cover within the S.P. College campus, raise awareness about air pollution, and inspire students to take an active role in environmental conservation.

Among the prominent participants were SSP Traffic Ajaz Bhat (IPS), SSP Enforcement Tourism Dr. S.D. Choudary (JKPS), Tehsildar Sopore Sheikh Tariq, HoD Community Medicine GMC Srinagar Dr. Salim Khan, SDPO Zakura Ashiq Hussain, DFO SMC Forest Division Lateef Bhat, and the Vice Principal of S.P. College along with faculty members and students.

Other notable attendees included Dr. Saleem Wani, Adil Shah, Irfan Gujju, environmentalist Manzoor Wangnoo, State Awardee and social activist Sadat Nasir Aslam, Rouf Tramboo, Peerzada Fayaz, Shahid Imran, SP Qalander and Prominent Social Activist Ajaz Kashani. Besides, Creative Eco-Huts CEO Rizwan Kar was also present.

Members of Kashmir Concern included, Senior Journalist & Secretary General Azhar Hussain Tantray and Journalist & Media Incharge Fahad Amin Khan also participated in the drive along with several members of civil society.

Kashmir Concern reiterated its commitment to expanding the “Green Campus for Clean Air” initiative to more educational institutions across Kashmir, with the aim of encouraging youth-led action for a greener and healthier future.

09/05/2026

Congress Mobilizes for ULB, Panchayat Polls as Dr. Audil Farooq Mir Leads Strategic Srinagar Meet

Under the Banner of 'Har Ghar Dastak' & 'Humary Reyasat Humara Haq', Congress Unites Rights and Outreach

Srinagar, May 8: In a significant move aimed at strengthening its grassroots network ahead of the upcoming Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat elections, the District Congress Committee Srinagar on Thursday held a high-level strategic meeting at Congress Bhawan under the leadership of DCC President Dr. Audil Farooq Mir (Lasjan).

The meeting was attended by senior party leaders and functionaries including Nisar Ahmad Mandoo, Irfan Naquib, Waseem Shalla, Dr. Waleed Incharge Central Shalteng, M. Shareef Beigh, Latif Ahmad and Miss Nargis, besides block presidents and grassroots workers.

The meeting focused on organizational preparedness, public outreach, cadre mobilization and intensifying political engagement at the ward and Panchayat levels across Srinagar district.

Addressing party workers and senior leaders, Dr. Audil Farooq Mir underscored the importance of grassroots democracy and urged Congress cadres to remain closely connected with the people. He said the strength of the party lies in its workers and stressed that every ward and Panchayat must become a strong voice for public aspirations and concerns.

“Our mission is to strengthen democratic participation from the grassroots. Congress workers must actively engage with people, understand their issues and ensure their voices are effectively represented. There exists a vast chasm between the aspirations of the people and what is presently being delivered. We must emerge as the true agency of change. A credible alternative where people’s voices are heard with sincerity, their grievances addressed with dignity, and their aspirations met with humility and commitment," Dr. Audil said.

During the deliberations, participants discussed key political, organizational and socio-economic issues concerning Srinagar district. Special emphasis was laid on expanding the party’s public outreach initiatives and strengthening booth-level coordination ahead of the elections.

Dr. Audil Farooq Mir also highlighted the party’s ongoing mass contact programmes, including “Har Ghar Dastak – Ghar Ghar Dastak” and “Humary Reyasat Humara Haq,” stating that these campaigns are aimed at directly connecting with the people and amplifying public concerns at every level.

“We are not merely carrying out outreach campaigns rather we are standing shoulder to shoulder with our people and forcefully amplifying their concerns. Congress workers must intensify public engagement at every street, locality and Panchayat level to safeguard the rights and aspirations of the people while further strengthening the party’s grassroots base across the region,” he said.

The meeting concluded with a collective resolve to further strengthen the Congress party’s organizational structure and intensify people-centric political activities across Srinagar in preparation for the forthcoming electoral process.

06/05/2026

Regional Faultlines, Leadership Clashes Put NC–Congress Coalition at Crossroads

Srinagar, May 06: The alliance between the National Conference and the Indian National Congress in Jammu and Kashmir remains formally intact as of early May 2026, but mounting internal dissent has pushed it into a visibly fragile phase.

While no official announcement has been made to end the coalition, multiple Congress leaders from the Union Territory have conveyed to Rahul Gandhi that “all is not well,” warning that continued alignment risks reducing the party’s independent political relevance.

Signals from within Congress suggest a growing divide between those advocating strategic continuation of the alliance to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party and those pushing for an immediate withdrawal, citing marginalisation and unilateral decisions by NC leadership.

The Congress camp in J&K is now split into two broad positions. Leaders from central Kashmir and those aligned with the broader INDIA bloc argue that staying in the alliance helps maintain a united opposition front and strengthens pressure on the Centre for restoration of statehood. They see NC as the dominant regional force and view the coalition as a tactical necessity.

On the other hand, a strong anti-alliance faction, led by J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra and supported by several Jammu-based leaders, has openly criticised the arrangement.

Their concerns stem from being sidelined in key decisions, particularly the Rajya Sabha elections, and what they describe as NC’s “high-handed” functioning. A recent delegation to Rahul Gandhi reportedly urged the High Command to reconsider the alliance, warning that continued subordination could erode the party’s grassroots base.

At the same time, the National Conference itself is witnessing early signs of internal strain. Senior leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has publicly challenged government policies, particularly on reservation issues, even staging protests against decisions of the administration led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. This marks a rare instance of open dissent within the party’s senior ranks.

Further friction is visible in statements by influential leaders like Mian Altaf Ahmad, who has raised concerns over unemployment and the neglect of Gujjar–Pahadi communities. These developments point to emerging factional narratives centred on representation, policy priorities, and leadership style.

Underlying these tensions are deeper regional imbalances. Critics within both parties argue that governance remains heavily Kashmir-centric, leaving Jammu-region concerns underrepresented.

Additionally, differences are emerging over political focus, with the NC leadership prioritising the demand for restoration of statehood, while some within the party push for more immediate governance outcomes.

The coming weeks will be critical. Key indicators include any formal statement from Congress leadership on reviewing the alliance, shifts in NC’s stance toward coalition dynamics, and further public dissent from senior leaders on either side. Floor-test scenarios, by-election strategies, or policy disagreements in the coalition could serve as tipping points.

For now, the alliance survives on paper—but politically, it stands at a crossroads, shaped as much by internal contradictions as by external pressures.

04/05/2026

Congress Sole Guardian of J&K’s Statehood, Will Not Join “Compromised” Govt: Dr. Audil Farooq Mir

Slams BJP, NC, PDP for Compromised Politics & Broken Promises; Says Congress Will Not Legitimize a Diluted Mandate

Srinagar, May 4: Congress DCC President Srinagar, Dr. Audil Farooq Mir (Lasjan), on Monday issued an unequivocal declaration that the Indian National Congress remains the sole credible and consistent force standing between Jammu and Kashmir and the systematic erosion of its democratic foundations.

Speaking with measured precision, Dr. Audil cast the current political moment as an unambiguous contest between integrity and opportunism. While rival formations have serially repositioned themselves to accommodate transient political interests, he argued, Congress alone has remained constitutionally anchored, unyielding in its commitment to the aspirations, dignity and democratic rights of the people.

Dr. Audil underscored a definitive moral boundary, asserting that Congress has unequivocally prioritized principle over power. By refusing to enter the J&K government, the party has honored its core policy mandate over the allure of office.

"Regardless of how long the road to statehood may be,' he stated, 'Congress remains unshakeable. We refuse to legitimize a compromised setup through a desperate grab for portfolios.'"

"He further dismantled the narrative of government benevolence, noting that these elections were neither a gift of the Central Government nor a voluntary act by the Election Commission. Rather, they were a forced concession, extracted solely through the unwavering mandate of the Supreme Court of India."

In a biting critique aimed at the National Conference, Dr. Audil dismissed the legitimacy of those who traded their ideological footing for 'personal perks and administrative ease.'

'Those who diluted their stance for the sake of comfort are in no moral position to interrogate the Congress party. They would be better served accounting for their own failures and explaining why their lofty election promises remain unfulfilled, while they enjoy the spoils of a diluted mandate.'

Reframing the terms of the debate, Dr. Audil elevated the demand for statehood beyond the realm of routine political discourse, characterising it as a fundamental constitutional imperative. The denial of full statehood, he argued, is not administrative inertia but a sustained and deliberate injustice that strikes at the structural core of democratic governance and regional sovereignty.

Directing pointed criticism at the Bharatiya Janata Party, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party alike, Dr. Audil indicted all three for a pattern of strategic inconsistency, political expediency and successive compromises that have compounded public disillusionment and deepened institutional uncertainty.

His most incisive condemnation, however, was reserved for the BJP-led Centre, which he held directly accountable for what he termed the calculated dismantling of constitutional safeguards. The downgrading of J&K's status and the protracted suppression of statehood, he contended, are not procedural oversights but they represent a deliberate and ideologically motivated subversion of democratic principle.

Issuing a call for politics grounded in conviction rather than convenience, he drew a sharp distinction between leadership and mere incumbency:

"True leadership demands courage. The audacity to stand firm when capitulation is expedient, the conviction to speak truth to power when silence is profitable and the resolve to place the people unequivocally above personal ambition."

Reaffirming Congress's irreversible commitment, Dr. Audil declared that the party will neither retreat nor equivocate. The struggle, he asserted, will endure until full statehood is restored, constitutional dignity is reclaimed, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir secure the empowered democratic future that is not a political concession but their inalienable right.

Indian National Congress - Jammu and Kashmir

01/05/2026

'Every detainee is a family waiting in hope': Muzzafar Shah appeals amnesty for jailed Kashmiris

Demands Comprehensive Undertrial Review; Calls for Legal & Humanitarian Aid for Prisoners Beyond High-Profile Releases

Srinagar, April 30: Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference Senior Vice President Muzaffar Shah on Friday welcomed the release of Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid and AAP legislator Mehraj Malik, but cautioned that justice in Kashmir cannot remain confined to high-profile political figures while thousands of lesser-known detainees continue to languish behind bars without meaningful legal support or timely judicial relief.

Shah said the release of prominent political detainees should serve not merely as isolated gestures of clemency, but as the beginning of a broader humanitarian and constitutional reconsideration of detention cases across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly involving undertrials, economically disadvantaged prisoners, and young detainees held for prolonged periods under stringent laws.

In a strongly worded appeal, Shah drew attention to what he described as a deeply entrenched disparity within the justice system, where influential individuals are often able to secure experienced legal representation and expedited judicial intervention, while ordinary detainees from remote villages and economically distressed families remain trapped in prolonged incarceration with little access to competent legal aid.

“Similar consideration must be extended to all detainees from Kashmir, especially those who remain outside public visibility and lack the resources required to defend themselves,” Shah said, stressing that justice loses its moral legitimacy when access to it becomes dependent upon social status, political relevance, or financial capacity.

He urged the Bar Association and members of the legal fraternity to assume what he termed a constitutional and humanitarian responsibility by extending legal assistance to prisoners who have neither the means nor the institutional support necessary to pursue their cases effectively. According to Shah, the legal profession must recognise that the credibility of justice is measured not by its accessibility to the privileged, but by its ability to reach the abandoned and voiceless.

Shah further observed that many detainees in Jammu and Kashmir have spent years in prison without the timely resolution of their cases, particularly those booked under laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). While such laws were framed for exceptional circumstances, he suggested that their frequent and prolonged application has contributed to a growing sense of alienation and despair among ordinary families.

For many detainees, he argued, incarceration itself has become a form of punishment independent of conviction, as repeated delays, procedural complexities, and prolonged undertrial detention continue to erode both individual dignity and public faith in institutions.

He also highlighted the often-overlooked suffering of families whose relatives are lodged in prisons outside Jammu and Kashmir, including in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Shah noted that many families lack the financial means to undertake long and costly journeys to meet imprisoned relatives, leaving them suspended in uncertainty and emotional anguish for months or even years.

“The burden of detention is not borne by prisoners alone,” Shah said. “Entire families are condemned to live in anxiety, deprivation, and silence while waiting for justice that may never arrive in time.”

Calling for a comprehensive review of detention cases, Shah appealed to the judiciary and relevant authorities to adopt a more humane and equitable approach toward individuals accused in minor cases or subjected to prolonged undertrial incarceration. He urged authorities to consider bail, remission, or amnesty in deserving cases, particularly where continued detention no longer serves the interests of justice.

According to Shah, Kashmir’s prolonged history of political turmoil, conflict, and institutional distrust has already inflicted profound psychological and social damage upon ordinary citizens. In such a climate, he argued, selective relief granted only to politically visible individuals risks reinforcing public perceptions of inequality before the law.

“A just society is ultimately judged by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens,” Shah remarked, asserting that meaningful reconciliation and public confidence cannot emerge through symbolic gestures alone, but through consistent and impartial justice extended to all sections of society.

He maintained that restoring faith in democratic and judicial institutions requires more than rhetorical commitments; it demands visible measures that acknowledge the suffering of ordinary families and ensure that justice is neither selective nor inaccessible.

“Justice cannot operate on the basis of prominence or privilege,” Shah said. “If healing and reconciliation are to carry any meaning in Kashmir, they must begin with humane decisions that recognise the pain of those families who continue to wait, unheard and forgotten.”

Awami National Conference

30/04/2026

PDP's Zaffer Mir receives the Bar Association Chadoora delegation pushing for Addl. District & Sessions Court

Writes to Hon’ble Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh urging immediate redressal of the longstanding demand

Srinagar, April 29: A deputation from the Bar Association Chadoora on Wednesday called on senior PDP leader Zaffer Mir (Lasjan), apprising him of the pressing need for the establishment of a Court of Additional District & Sessions Judge at the Sub-District Headquarters Chadoora, a demand that members of the legal fraternity said has long been ignored at the cost of justice for lakhs of citizens.

The deputation presented before Zaffer Mir a compelling case rooted in ground realities. Chadoora, they emphasized, serves as a major administrative and judicial hub catering to a population of over 4.5 lakh inhabitants spread across more than 186 villages and halqas falling under three tehsils, including Chadoora, BK Pora, and Charar-i-Sharief.

The region, they noted, generates a substantial and consistently rising caseload that independently justifies the establishment of a dedicated Additional District & Sessions Court.

Acting swiftly on the representation, Zaffer Mir has written to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Arun Palli, urging immediate consideration of the demand.

In his communication, Zaffer underscored that the existing judicial infrastructure is woefully inadequate to meet the growing legal needs of the region, resulting in delays, inconvenience, and a mounting financial burden on litigants, particularly those from remote and rural areas.

Zaffer pointed out that despite heavy case pendency and significant annual filings, Chadoora continues to remain without an Additional District & Sessions Court, forcing litigants to travel long distances to Budgam in pursuit of justice.

He described this as a structural bottleneck in justice delivery, one that directly undermines the fundamental principle of timely and affordable justice.

Criticizing the government’s continued inaction, he said the neglect of Chadoora reflects poor governance, weak representation, and an absence of political will, resulting in the region lagging behind in essential judicial infrastructure.

Zaffer drew sharp attention to the disparity, questioning why areas such as Sumbal, Handwara, and Sopore have been provided with Additional District & Sessions Courts, while Chadoora, which serves three major tehsils with a comparable or even higher caseload, remains deprived.

“There cannot be unequal judicial infrastructure in regions with comparable or even higher caseloads and population,” he asserted, demanding that the authorities act without delay to ensure access to justice for the people of Chadoora and adjoining areas.

Zaffer assured the Bar Association of his full and unwavering support in pursuing the matter, reiterating that the establishment of an Additional District & Sessions Court at Chadoora is not merely a demand but a necessary step towards ensuring equitable and efficient justice delivery in the region.

The Bar Association expressed gratitude to Zaffer Mir for his prompt response and expressed hope that the intervention would yield results at the earliest.

J&K Peoples Democratic Party

30/04/2026

MP Baramulla Er. Rashid breaks down in tears while meeting his critically ill father at SMHS Hospital.

28/04/2026