Dozens of workers from the National Conference (NC) joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today in the Lehandajan Sallar area of Pahalgam constituency.The joining ceremony took place in the presence of Dr Shabir Siddiqui, who serves as the PDP’s constituency in-charge for Pahalgam.
This move is part of a pattern seen in recent months where grassroots workers from parties like NC and others have been shifting to PDP in different parts of south Kashmir. Such events often happen during workers’ meetings or public gatherings organised by local leaders. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Dr Shabir Siddiqui has been actively holding meetings and welcoming new members in Pahalgam to build stronger support at the ground level. For example, similar joinings have taken place in nearby areas, with groups coming together to discuss party strengthening and local issues.
Politics in Kashmir is loud, emotional, and often bitter. Public speeches are filled with sharp attacks, harsh language, and constant blame. On television debates, in press conferences, and across social media, political leaders appear locked in permanent conflict. For the common Kashmiri, the message seems clear: these leaders are sworn enemies.
But that perception tells only half the story
Behind the curtains of public politics lies a quieter, rarely discussed reality. Kashmiri politicians, despite their fierce public rivalry, are often connected by personal respect, shared culture, and long-standing relationships. Away from cameras, they attend each other’s family events, offer condolences during times of loss, and extend support in moments of difficulty. In private spaces, political bitterness gives way to human connection.
This is not unique to Kashmir; it is a global political phenomenon. However, in a conflict-sensitive region like Jammu and Kashmir, the gap between public posturing and private conduct carries deeper consequences.
In public, leaders from different parties exchange strong statements, sometimes appearing incapable of sitting together. Yet in private settings—Ramadan iftar gatherings, weddings, funerals, and informal meetings—the scene is very different. They share traditional meals like wazwan, drink tea, laugh, recall old memories, and discuss issues affecting the people. These moments are real, but they are carefully kept away from public view.
The reason is political necessity. A visible display of warmth toward rivals risks alienating loyal supporters. Political survival demands a strong image of opposition, even if personal relations remain intact. As a result, political rivalry is performed on stage, while human bonds remain hidden.
The cost of this performance is paid by the people
Many ordinary Kashmiris, with their deep emotions and trusting nature, take political rhetoric at face value. They internalize the anger they see and begin to view fellow citizens through the same lens of hostility. Political rivalry at the top slowly translates into social division at the grassroots.
This is where the danger lies
Kashmiri politicians understand the difference between political competition and personal enmity. The public, however, is rarely shown this distinction. When leaders shout in public but reconcile in private, society is left carrying unnecessary bitterness, suspicion, and division.
It is important to state this clearly: Kashmiri leaders are not personal enemies of one another. Their disagreements revolve around power, policy, and votes—not hatred. Outside political platforms, many share a sense of brotherhood shaped by common culture, history, and social ties.
Recognizing this reality does not weaken democracy; it strengthens it. Disagreement is essential in politics, but manufactured hostility should not poison social harmony. In a region that has endured decades of pain and division, people deserve honesty, not theatrical hatred.
Politics may demand loud voices and sharp words, but Kashmir’s soul lies in its humanity, warmth, and shared traditions. True unity does not always require public displays of friendship. Yet when political theatre begins to divide society, it becomes necessary to remind ourselves: enemies on stage are often brothers at heart.
Ashok Koul, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary (Organisation), J&K, addressed a VB GRAM G Program held at the Dak Bungalow, Baramulla, where he strongly reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s unwavering commitment to grassroots development, public welfare, and inclusive growth under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji.
Mohammad Anwar Khan, BJP General Secretary, Mudasir Wani, Secretary, Ghulam Hassan Dar, District President Baramulla, senior leader M M War, and other leaders also addressed the programme.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Addressing a large gathering comprising BDC Members, Sarpanchs, Ward Members, women representatives, and senior party leaders, Ashok Koul said that the Central Budget is a reflection of the BJP’s pro-people, pro-women and pro-poor ideology, which focuses on empowerment rather than empty slogans. He emphasised that women across India, including Jammu & Kashmir, are receiving unprecedented support through targeted schemes related to self-employment, health, education, housing, and financial inclusion, transforming them into active partners in nation-building.
Criticising the National Conference (NC) government, Ashok Koul stated that the recently announced budget by the NC-led dispensation in J&K has completely failed to justify the trust of the people. “The NC government has neither vision nor commitment. Its budget is nothing but a poor imitation of the Central Government’s budget, copied and pasted without originality, accountability, or concern for real public welfare,” he said. “While the BJP works with a clear roadmap for development, the NC continues to mislead people with hollow promises and recycled policies.”
Koul further said that the BJP’s strength lies in its deep-rooted connection with the grassroots, where elected representatives and citizens actively participate in shaping development priorities. He called upon grassroots representatives to act as ambassadors of Central Government schemes and ensure that benefits reach the last person in society.
Later, Koul addressed an organisational review meeting with the BJP District Baramulla team, senior leaders, and Morcha representatives, stressing discipline, coordination, and people-centric outreach. He urged party workers to intensify booth-level activities, strengthen organisational structure, and remain continuously engaged with public issues to further reinforce BJP’s presence in the district.
Mohammad Anwar Khan said that the BJP is the only party that delivers development with honesty and transparency, adding that the people of J&K have “clearly seen the difference between BJP’s performance-based governance and NC’s politics of deception”.
The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Sunday held a meeting of its Working Committee. While addressing the members, AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi urged the cadre to ensure strong participation in AIP’s upcoming Jantar Mantar programme demanding restoration of statehood and resolution of other key issues.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The meeting also demanded the immediate release of Party Supremo and MP Baramulla Engineer Rashid, along with all political prisoners and expressed concern over the lack of any provision for regularisation of daily wagers. Addressing the media, AIP State Secretary Sheikh Ashiq said the Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2026–27, presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is disconnected from ground realities and fails to address unemployment, economic slowdown and business distress. Sheikh Ashiq termed the effective withdrawal of the ₹2 per litre diesel rebate a regressive step that will burden farmers, transporters, traders and daily wage earners, leading to higher transport costs and inflation. He said the move is unjustified when the government is simultaneously seeking funds for official vehicles and Darbar Move allowances, exposing hollow claims of austerity. On employment, Sheikh Ashiq said the budget offers no credible job-creation plan and pointed out that nearly 23,000 jobs have been outsourced in the past two years, converting secure public employment into insecure contractual work. He said daily-rated and casual workers have again been pushed into uncertainty, with the budget talking of committees instead of regularisation.
Sheikh Ashiq said the budget ignores the ongoing economic slowdown, offering no stimulus, working-capital support, interest subvention, or tax relief for traders, transporters, hoteliers, artisans and small manufacturers, despite losses caused by security disruptions and natural calamities. Criticising the neglect of handicrafts, industry, and MSMEs, he said allocations are merely token and lack concrete measures such as export promotion, credit support, incentives or interest relief. He also flagged worrying fiscal indicators, including a rising fiscal deficit and weakening revenue base. While acknowledging infrastructure spending, Sheikh Ashiq said the budget focuses on long-term projects while ignoring immediate demand-side measures needed to protect livelihoods.
The meeting was presided over by AIP Vice Chairman Adv G N Shaheen and was attended by General Secretary Prince Parveez, senior leaders Firdouse Baba, Parveez Jamaal, Adv Dawood, Adv Shahnawaz, Parveez Ahmad Bhat, Khursheed Ahmad Dar, Dr Suhail, Auqib Mushtaq, Tauseef Ahmad, Zameer Dakroo, Showkat Ahmad Pandit, Riyaz Majid, Ajaz Thakur, Muzaffar Dar, Inayat Bhat, Shabir Ahmad, and Farooq Ahmad Shah. ”
Senior National Conference leader and Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi has sharply criticised the Central Government. He says the recent rise in militancy in Jammu division proves that scrapping Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 did not end terrorism, as the government had promised.
Speaking in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly during recent debates, Gurezi pointed out that violence has moved from the Kashmir Valley to areas in Jammu that were mostly peaceful for over a decade. Districts like Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, and Reasi are now seeing more attacks. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“The government told everyone that Article 370 was the main reason for terrorism,” Gurezi said. “If that was true, why is Jammu facing so much trouble now? The claim of full normalcy does not hold up when our soldiers and civilians are still at risk in places that used to be safe.”
Main Points of Criticism
Gurezi focused on three key broken promises:
Security Shift: While the Kashmir Valley has tight security, militants have moved to the Pir Panjal area and other parts of Jammu. This shows they changed tactics rather than being defeated.
Lack of Development: Remote places like Gurez still feel ignored. For example, the promised upgrade of the Bandipora-Gurez road to National Highway status has not happened, despite big talk of a development boom after 2019.
Loss of Trust: Removing J&K’s special status without local agreement has widened the gap between people and Delhi. Gurezi believes only restoring statehood and key protections can bring real, lasting peace.
The Bigger Picture
These comments come as the National Conference, which leads the current government, pushes for resolutions to bring back special status. Debates in the Assembly often turn heated, with BJP members arguing that security has improved overall. They call the Jammu incidents a sign of “desperation” from across the border, not a failure of the 2019 changes.
The situation highlights ongoing political differences: the opposition sees the shift in attacks and continued violence as proof that promises were not met, while the Centre points to progress in the Valley and efforts to handle remaining threats.
In a significant move during the ongoing Assembly Budget Session, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, has called upon Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to place the issue of “systemic harassment” of Kashmiris at the forefront of his high-level deliberations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the session, Parra stressed that while discussions on administrative matters and the restoration of statehood are critical, the immediate physical safety and dignity of Kashmiris—both within the Union Territory and across other Indian states—must not be sidelined.
The MLA outlined a multi-faceted concern, citing a “disturbing trend” of identity-based targeting. He highlighted recent incidents of hate crimes and physical assaults against Kashmiri students, traders, and laborers in states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. To press for an urgent legislative discussion on these attacks, Parra has formally moved an adjournment motion in the Assembly, arguing that such violence fosters an “atmosphere of fear and insecurity.”
Beyond street-level violence, Parra trained his focus on structural issues, criticizing what he termed “collective punishment.” He specifically pointed to the practice of “deep-vetting” and the issuance of “adverse police reports” for government jobs and passports, which he claims unjustly targets the relatives of former militants or protesters. He urged the Chief Minister to press the Home Ministry to end this “profiling.”
“The Chief Minister must use his mandate to seek a ‘healing touch’ policy from New Delhi,” Parra stated, advocating for a shift away from what he described as an “iron-fist approach” to one that restores the self-respect and trust of the youth.
In response, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has acknowledged the gravity of the concerns. His office pointed to his recent personal intervention following an assault on a Kashmiri shawl seller in Uttarakhand, where he spoke directly with Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure swift arrests. Abdullah has publicly stated the contradiction in asserting Kashmir is an “inalienable part of India” while its citizens face fear elsewhere, and has previously urged the Home Ministry to sensitize other state governments.
The issue has forged a rare consensus in the often-divided J&K Assembly, with both the ruling National Conference and the opposition PDP uniting in their demand for decisive central action to safeguard Kashmiri citizens nationwide. The coming talks between CM Abdullah and Home Minister Shah are now being closely watched for a substantive response to these cross-party appeals.
Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ashok Koul on Friday strongly condemned the assault on a minor Kashmiri shawl seller in Uttarakhand, calling the incident unfortunate and completely wrong.
Speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Koul said every citizen of India has the right to travel freely and do business anywhere in the country. He added that such incidents should never happen in a united nation.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Koul said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have already condemned the incident, and the BJP has also denounced it clearly.
“Our country is one, and these incidents must not take place,” he said.
He further said that Omar Abdullah has spoken to his Uttarakhand counterpart regarding the matter, and the BJP has also raised the issue with its state unit there.
On the demand for a separate Jammu state, Koul firmly rejected any such proposal. He said the party believes Jammu and Kashmir is one entity and will remain united.
“There is no proposal to divide Jammu and Kashmir. Statements by a few individuals do not reflect the party’s stand,” he said, adding that the BJP will not allow any division of the region. ( Meia Agencies)
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, on Sunday inaugurated the newly constructed multi-storey bus stand at Thandi Khui here. The state-of-the-art facility, built at a cost of ₹18.53 crore, is set to significantly enhance passenger convenience and regional connectivity.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Abdullah emphasized the project’s role in modernizing public infrastructure. “This bus stand is not just a building; it is a vital asset that will improve the daily commute for thousands, boost local commerce, and provide a dignified travel experience for the people of Samba and surrounding areas,” he stated.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The new bus stand features separate arrival and departure gates, dedicated parking zones for buses and private vehicles, passenger waiting halls, ticketing counters, and administrative offices. It is designed to streamline transport operations and reduce congestion in the town center.
Mr. Abdullah was accompanied , Mr. Nasir Sogami; District Development Council Chairman Samba, Mr. Keshav Dutt Sharma; and MLA Vijaypur, Mr. Chander Parkash. The dignitaries collectively highlighted the project as a testament to the government’s focus on developmental works in the region.
“This project addresses a long-pending demand and will serve as a growth catalyst for the entire district,” said DDC Chairman Keshav Dutt Sharma.
The bus stand’s construction was completed by the Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC) and is expected to become a major transit hub, improving connectivity to Jammu, Kathua, and other parts of the region.
The Patiala House Court on Saturday granted custody parole to jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh. This will allow him to attend the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament.
The order was passed by Prashant Sharma, an Additional Sessions Judge. The court allowed Rashid, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, to take part in the Budget Session of the Lok Sabha starting January 28. He will remain under custody during his visits. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Engineer Rashid is an undertrial in a terror funding case. The court also clarified that the issue of who will pay the travel and security expenses during his custody parole will depend on the final decision of the Delhi High Court, where his appeal is still pending.
In November 2025, the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict on Rashid’s plea. He had requested a change in the condition that required him to pay nearly ₹4 lakh towards travel and police deployment costs for attending Parliament.
Justice Vivek Chaudhary rejected the plea, while Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani allowed it. Due to this difference, the matter was referred to Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya for further administrative directions.
Rashid’s lawyer argued that forcing an elected MP to pay daily custodial travel costs, including police salaries, limits his right to represent his voters. He said that while Rashid is ready to pay reasonable expenses, adding police salaries goes beyond the Delhi Prison Rules.
However, the Delhi Police defended the charges. They said the amount covers security arrangements, logistics, and deployment needed to escort an undertrial MP safely to Parliament.
Engineer Rashid is the chief of the Awami Ittehad Party. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from jail and won by a huge margin. He defeated Omar Abdullah, Vice-President of the National Conference, by more than two lakh votes.
Rashid is the sitting MP from Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency. He continues to remain in judicial custody while facing allegations in a terror funding case.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday stressed the importance of rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits, saying their return is crucial for restoring Kashmir’s beauty, harmony, and social balance.
Speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), Choudhary referred to the long-standing position of senior National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the issue.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“Dr Farooq Abdullah has always said that if Kashmiri Pandits are rehabilitated in Jammu and Kashmir, there is no doubt that the beauty and harmony of Kashmir will return,” Choudhary said. He added that the return of Kashmiri Pandits is essential for rebuilding trust and strengthening brotherhood in the region.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the centuries-old tradition of communal harmony in Kashmir can only be fully revived when Kashmiri Pandit families return to their homeland with dignity, security, and confidence.
He emphasised that lasting peace and social unity in Jammu and Kashmir depend on inclusive rehabilitation efforts that address the concerns and aspirations of displaced communities.
Choudhary’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions on reconciliation, rehabilitation, and long-term peace in the Union Territory, with political leaders repeatedly calling for concrete steps to facilitate the safe and honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits.
