No need to refer petitions on abrogation of Article 370 to larger bench: SC

The five-Judge Bench had on January 23 reserved its order on this issue

The Supreme Court refused to refer to a larger bench a batch of pleas, challenging the constitutional validity of Centre’s decision of abrogating provisions of Article 370. The apex court said that it did not find any reason to refer the matter to a larger bench.

The five-Judge Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana and comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, R Subhash Reddy, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant had on January 23 reserved its order on this issue. Opposing the plea, the Centre had said that abrogation of provisions of Article 370, which granted special status to erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, has become a “fait accompli” leaving sole option to accept the change.

NGO People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and an intervenor had sought referral to a larger bench. The NGO sought the referral on the ground that two judgements of apex court — Prem Nath Kaul versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1959 and Sampat Prakash versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1970 — which dealt with the issue of Article 370 are in direct conflict each other and therefore the current bench of five judges could not hear the issue.

China-backed Pakistan bid to raise Kashmir issue at UNSC fails yet again

The attempt failed as other member countries felt Kashmir is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan

India on Wednesday slammed Pakistan for again trying to raise the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council where it failed yet again to find any support, with New Delhi asserting that Islamabad needs to focus on the hard tasks it has to address in order to ensure normal relations with India. China, Pakistan’s ‘all-weather ally’, stood alone in the Pakistani corner to get the Security Council to focus on the Kashmir issue.

The attempt failed as other member countries felt Kashmir is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. Earlier on Wednesday, China made the fresh pitch to raise the Kashmir issue under “other matters” during closed consultations in the Security Council Consultations Room. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said: “We once again saw an effort made by one member state of the UN, fail in plain view of all others”.

“We are happy that neither alarmist scenario painted by the representatives of Pakistan nor any of the baseless allegations made repeatedly by representatives of Pakistan in the UN fora were found to be credible today,” Akbaruddin told PTI. “We are glad that the effort was viewed as a distraction and it was pointed by many friends that bilateral mechanisms are available to raise and address issues that Pakistan may have in its ties with India,” he said…

Keep reading: Kashmir Crisis

J&K restrictions: SC orders review of internet suspension within a week

Freedom of speech and expression includes right to the internet within Article 19 of the Constitution of India, said the apex court

The Supreme Court of India on Friday ordered immediate review of internet suspension in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, while pronouncing its verdict on a batch of pleas, including that of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad challenging the restrictions imposed in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) following abrogation of provisions of Article 370.

Restrictions on fundamental rights cannot be done by arbitrary exercise of power, said Justice Ramana while reading out the verdict. Freedom of speech and expression includes right to internet within Article 19 of the Constitution of India, said the apex court. SC also ordered restoration of internet services in all institutions providing essential services like hospitals, educational centres. The Bench included Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice B R Gavai.

In August 2019, the Modi government moved to amend Article 370 of the Constitution, which provided a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and also proposed the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act took place on October 31, 2019.

R K Mathur sworn-in as the first Lt Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh

The oath of office was administered by chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir high court Geeta Mittal at a simple function held at Leh.

Former defence secretary R K Mathur was on Thursday sworn-in as the first Lt Governor of strategically located Union Territory of Ladakh, which came into existence after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mathur, who will be turning 66 later this month, was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Gita Mittal at a function held at Sindhu Sanskriti auditorium at Tisuru. The warrant of appointment was read by a senior official at the function after which the oath ceremony took place.

Mathur, an IAS officer of 1977 batch from Tripura, later inspected a guard of honour of local police. A post graduate in Industrial Engineering from IIT, R.K Mathur retired as Defence Secretary in 2015 and was appointed as Chief Information Commissioner in December the same year. He completed his tenure in November last year after attaining the age of 65 years. Ahead of the swearing-in, the Union Home Ministry revoked notification of December last year of imposition of President’s rule in the undivided Jammu and Kashmir.

The Centre on Wednesday night appointed Umang Narula, an IAS officer of 1989 batch, as advisor to Mathur besides posting S S Khandare, an IPS officer of 1995 batch, as ‘Head of Police’ in Ladakh. With a population of nearly three lakh, Ladakh is strategically located as it shares borders with Pakistan as well as China.

If Pakistan wants to tackle terror, we can send our Army: Rajnath Singh

Addressing election rallies in Haryana, the BJP leader also asked Pakistan to stop its Kashmir rant, saying no power in the world can separate Kashmir from India

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked Pakistan to wage an honest battle against terrorism, saying India is ready to help but Islamabad’s intentions are deceitful, and cautioned the neighbouring country that it will disintegrate if it does not mend its ways.

Addressing election rallies in Haryana, the BJP leader also asked Pakistan to stop its Kashmir rant, saying no power in the world can separate Kashmir from India. “I want to tell our neighbour to stop (aiding) terrorism, wage an honest battle to fight terrorism, and if they are not able to fight terrorism, they can take help of neighbour India, we will extend cooperation to them to fight terrorism,” Singh said.

“I would like to make a suggestion to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. If you are serious enough in your fight against terror, we are ready to assist you. If you want our Army, then we will send them there for your help,” Rajnath Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.

“However, Pakistan’s intentions are deceitful,” he said.

Singh hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for his statement that he will continue to rake up Kashmir issue on international forums. “I was listening to Pakistan Prime Minister’s speech. He said till the time Kashmir does not get freedom, he will continue to raise Kashmir issue on international forums. “Forget it. Don’t even think about Kashmir. You have paid the price. In 1947, you divided India into two because of two-nation theory…. In 1971, Pakistan got divided into two. I want to caution Pakistan, bring a change in your thinking or else if they keep going on like this, Pakistan will disintegrate and no one can stop this,” he warned.

India has opportunity to gain from US-China trade war: Wilbur Ross at WEFIndia has opportunity to gain from US-China trade war: Wilbur Ross at WEF

US will highlight how India can step into the breach in Beijing’s exports to Washington, Ross said

India has an opportunity to take advantage of the trade tension between the US and China, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said on Thursday at a World Economic Forum (WEF) event, even as the two sides are looking to sign a deal “quickly”.

The US will highlight how India can step into the breach in Beijing’s exports to Washington, Ross said at the session “Trading Against the Tide”, attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

“India has a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of trade dissension elsewhere. In our one-on-one meeting with Goyal, we prepared a chart about the areas where China is a big exporter to us compared to what India is exporting to us, the possible solutions, and how we change that mixture,” said Ross at the India Economic Summit, organised by the WEF and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

In an interview to Reuters on the sidelines of the event earlier, Ross said the US was looking to level the playing field. “The US is the least protectionist country of the major powers. India is, if not the most protectionist, certainly one of the most protectionist.”

Read More: India US Trade Talk

US-India trade deal very soon, says Donald Trump after meeting with PM Modi

US president says it will be great if PMs of India and Pakistan can ‘work out something on Kashmir’

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday promised a trade deal with India “very soon”, and a larger deal down the line. Asked if any trade deal was expected between the two countries, Trumap, after his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, told reporters: “We are doing very well…I think very soon we will have a trade deal. We will have a larger deal later on.”

Narendra Modi said, “As far as trade (between India and the US) is concerned, I’m happy that our Petronet has signed an MoU of $2.5-billion investment in the energy sector.” After the meeting, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was in New York for discussions on a trade deal. “He has been having discussions with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and significant progress has been made on a number of issues. The two leaders were optimistic of us reaching a trade agreement in the near future,” Gokhale said.

Modi and Trump’s bilateral meeting, and the US president’s comments on a trade deal between the two countries, came on a day when Trump warned China for its trade practices. He also slammed the World Trade Organization (WTO) for allegedly allowing China to get preferential treatment despite the size of its economy, saying the institution needed reforms. In his speech before the UN, Trump made a fresh attack against the global order, saying that “globalists” would not triumph. “The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots,” he said….

All’s well in India, says PM at ‘Howdy Modi’ rally; Trump hints about visit

Modi spoke of his govt’s decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370, and received sustained applause, and asked the audience to give a standing ovation to all members of the of Parliament

“All’s well in India,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an estimated 50,000 members of the Indian diaspora in Houston on Sunday at an event titled Howdy Modi and days after his government slashed corporate tax to address concerns of an economic slowdown.

The PM concluded his rousing speech by inviting US President Donald Trump, along with his family, to visit India soon, and the two leaders with their hands clasped, took a round of the stadium waving at the crowd in a gesture to convey the strength of their friendship to which both had alluded to in their respective speeches.

Earlier, addressing the Indian diaspora at the NRG Stadium in Houston, the US President hinted at visiting India as early as October, while Modi seemed to endorse his support for Trump’s re-election next year, and suggesting to the Indian-American community to do the same, by declaring “abki baar Trump sarkaar”.

During his speech, the US President received loud cheers when he said India and the US were united in their fight against “radical Islamic terrorism”, which is likely to be interpreted as a message to Pakistan. Modi spoke of his government’s decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370, and received sustained applause, and asked the audience to give a standing ovation to all members of the two Houses of Parliament….

Read More : Howdy Modi

India expects to gain control over Pak occupied Kashmir one day: Jaishankar

No need to “worry” beyond a point about what people will say on Kashmir, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

It was a day of contrasting, even disputed, narratives on Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a public rally in Gujarat’s Kevadiya, Prime Minister Narenda Modi said the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel inspired his government’s recent decisions on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

In the national capital, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of India and New Delhi expects to have physical jurisdiction over it one day. In response to Pakistan’s attempts at trying to internationalise the issue, the minister said there was no need to “worry” beyond a point about what people will say on Kashmir.

However, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, a four-time legislator of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir assembly, disagreed with the government’s claims that normalcy had returned to Kashmir. Tarigami is the first politician of a mainstream political party in Kashmir to visit Delhi since the Centre imposed restrictions in the region in the first week of August. The Supreme Court had allowed him to travel to Delhi for medical treatment.

“Where is the normalcy? The clampdown is now 40-days old. Schools have remained shut, so have the shops. Internet is blocked, telephones still not functional. The government says not one person has died. Yes, true but nobody dies in a jail. We are dying slowly every day. We are feeling suffocated,” he said..

Kashmir: A month later, shopkeepers refuse to open, even as curbs are eased

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked special rights for Jammu and Kashmir on Aug 5, striking down the long-standing constitutional provisions for the Himalayan region

A month after the government withdrew Article 370 and locked Kashmir down with thousands of additional troops and made mass arrests, residents are resisting attempts by authorities to show some signs of normalcy returning in the valley.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked special rights for Jammu and Kashmir on Aug 5, striking down the long-standing constitutional provisions for the Himalayan region.

To dampen the possibility of widespread protests, India flooded the state — already one of the world’s most militarised zones — with troops, imposed severe restrictions on movements, and cut all telephone, mobile phone and internet connections. Thousands of people were arrested.

The Centre has since eased some of the curbs, although no prominent detainees have been freed and mobile and internet connections remain suspended. Officials in Srinagar say that 90 per cent of the Kashmir valley is free of restrictions on daytime movement, some landline phone connections have been restored and thousands of schools have re-opened. However, checkpoints remain in place and communication restrictions make reporting from the region difficult….

Closure of airspace with India to be decided at a time of our choosing: Pak

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal during a media briefing on Thursday said the issue had been discussed at the highest level

Pakistan on Thursday said it could order the closure of its airspace for India “at a time of its choosing”, but so far no decision has been taken yet. Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal during a media briefing on Thursday said the issue had been discussed at the highest level. “It is one of the many options that are being considered, we can exercise it at a time of our choosing. No decision has been taken as yet,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The FO spokesperson’s comments come a day after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that no decision has been taken yet to close the airspace to India and any such step would be taken after looking into each and every aspect of the move through consultation.

Qureshi said the issue did come up for discussions during the recent Cabinet meeting but the final decision would be taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan. He had dismissed reports suggesting that the airspace was being shut for India as “speculative”. Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday announced on twitter that the government was considering complete closure of airspace to India and complete ban on use of Pakistan land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan…

Read More: India Pakistan Relations

Kashmir internal issue for India, Imran Khan’s rhetoric absurd: US lawmaker

The US lawmaker has also said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric

Asserting that Kashmir is an internal issue for India, Indian-American lawmaker Ro Khanna who recently joined the Pakistani Congressional Caucus has said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric.

“Kashmir is an internal matter for India’s democracy and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric and not escalate to a war or conflict,” Congressman Khanna told members of the Indian-American community during an interaction in Freemont, California recently.

“Imran Khan’s rhetoric of war with India is absolutely ridiculous,” Khanna, the two-term Democratic Congressman representing Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives, was quoted as saying by local India Post in its latest weekly edition. During the interaction, the Kashmiri-American community appreciated his support in democratic resolution of the conflict and upliftment of communities from poverty and terror.

Meanwhile, in a tweet earlier this week, Congresswoman Ilhan Abdullahi Omar expressed her concerns over alleged human rights violations in the Kashmir Valley. She urged for an immediate restoration of communication, respect for human rights, democratic norms, and religious freedom and de-escalation…

SC refers all petitions on Article 370 to 5-judge Constitution Bench

SC also issued notice to the Centre on plea by Kashmir Times Executive Editor seeking a direction for relaxing restrictions on internet, landline, and other communication channels

Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday referred all petitions challenging the scrapping of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, to a five-judge Constitution Bench. The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and others and said that the five-judge Constitution Bench would hear all the petitions related to abrogation of Article 370 in the first week of October.

The apex court also issued a notice to the Centre on the plea by Kashmir Times Executive Editor, Anuradha Bhasin, seeking a direction for relaxing restrictions on internet, landline, and other communication channels. The SC sought a detailed response from the Centre within 7 days.

Further, the Supreme Court refused a request from the Centre to appoint an interlocutor for Jammu & Kashmir. In another development, the Supreme Court also allowed CPM leader Sitaram Yechury to visit J&K and meet his party leader and former MLA, Yousuf Tarigami.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, “We will permit you to go, you are the general secretary of a party. Don’t go for anything else.” The apex court also said that Yechury’s visit should only be to meet Tarigami as a friend, and not for any political purpose….

BJP plans nationwide campaign on Article 370 move, ropes in prominent faces

The party has started working on organising a ‘Jan Jagran Abhiyan’ (public awareness campaign) on the matter and will hold indoor meetings at state and district levels across the country

The BJP will carry out a nationwide campaign on the Union government’s decision to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution, and will reach out to 2,000 prominent personalities from the fields of film, sport and academia among others.
The party has started working on organising a ‘Jan Jagran Abhiyan’ (public awareness campaign) on the matter and will hold indoor meetings at state and district levels across the country, a party leader told PTI.
With assembly elections in four states around the corner, the party is keen to keep the emotive issue alive among the masses as it seeks to draw maximum political mileage following the decision which, it believes, has popular endorsement. At the same time, the party also wants to check the opposition’s propaganda on the issue.
Small indoor meetings at Article 370 different locations across the country with 500-1000 opinion makers at the district level, and 35 big indoor meetings having gathering of 2,000 people will be held at capitals of all states and Union territories in the country, the party leader said

Will do best to mediate: Trump to take up Kashmir with PM Modi at G7 Summit

 India has made it clear to the US that Kashmir was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and there was no role for a third party

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would discuss the tense situation in Kashmir with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they meet at the G7 Summit in France during this weekend.

“I will be with Prime Minister Modi. I’ll be with him over the weekend in France. I think, we are helping (resolve the tense) situation (between India and Pakistan), Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House.

The development came a day after Trump spoke separately to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan in his bid to ease fresh Indo-Pak tensions after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality….

PM Modi raises Imran Khan’s ‘extreme’ anti-India rhetoric with Donald Trump

According to a government statement, Modi and Trump had a 30-minute telephonic conversation

Alluding to recent statements by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told US President Donald Trump that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region were not conducive to peace.

According to a government statement, Modi and Trump had a 30-minute telephonic conversation. “In the context of the regional situation, the prime minister stated that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace,” it stated. Narendra Modi, the statement said, highlighted the importance of creating an environment free from terror and violence, and eschewing cross-border terrorism without exception.

The prime minister recalled his meeting with Trump in Osaka on the margins of G-20 summit in end-June. “The PM expressed the hope that the commerce minister of India and the US trade representative would meet at an early date to discuss bilateral trade prospects for mutual benefit,” the statement read..

Talks with Pakistan now will only be about PoK, says Rajnath Singh

The local administration, which is currently under Centre’s control, tightened restrictions in some parts of Srinagar and across Kashmir on Sunday, following incidents of violence in the last 24 hours. In the Jammu region, the administration cut off low-speed (2G) mobile internet services in five districts on Sunday to check rumour mongering. The move came within 24 hours of services being restored.

Addressing a public meeting in Haryana’s Kalka ahead of flagging the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign for the Assembly polls in the state, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said no dialogue with Pakistan was possible until stops aiding and abetting terrorism. He said if talks are held with Islamabad they will be only on Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Now it (Pakistan) is knocking every door and approaching various countries for help. Have we committed any crime? And they are trying to threaten us. However, America, perceived as the most powerful country in the world by people, has snubbed Pakistan, telling them to initiate a dialogue with India,” the defence minister said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday tweeted his concern about the “safety and security of India’s nuclear arsenal” under the control of the “fascist, racist Hindu supremacist” Narendra Modi government and urged the international community to take notice. His comments come two days after Rajnath had indicated India could relook at its “no-first use” policy on nuclear weapons…

Article 370 was a tool to spread terrorism, says PM Narendra Modi

We want an elected Assembly in J&K, a new government, new energetic people to become legislators and ministers, Modi told the nation in a televised address

Current Affairs: With several parts of the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh under curfew and a communication blackout, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday indicated that restrictions would be relaxed, and assured people of the region that his government was making efforts so that they face no difficulty in celebrating the upcoming festival of Eid.

Attacking Pakistan, which has termed India’s move as “unilateral and illegal” and strongly protested by downgrading diplomatic ties, Modi said Pakistan used Article 370 as a “tool to spread terrorism”. “In last three decades, over 42,000 people lost their lives,” he said, adding, “we will rid J&K of terrorism and separatism under new measures.”

In the nearly 40-minute address to the nation at 8 pm, the PM said Jammu & Kashmir would not remain a Union Territory for long and soon have an Assembly. He said the Ladakh region will remain centrally governed in consultation with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. Modi promised better facilities to the J&K’s government servants, particularly its police force….

No change in our policy on Kashmir, India and Pakistan should talk: US

The US policy has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and it is up to the two countries to decide on the pace and scope of the talks on the issue

Kashmir conflict: The United States on Friday said that there is no change in its policy on Kashmir and called on India and Pakistan to maintain calm and restraint.

“No”, replied State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus when asked by reporters if there has been any change in America’s policy on Kashmir. The US policy has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and it is up to the two countries to decide on the pace and scope of the talks on the issue.

“And if there was, I certainly wouldn’t be announcing it here, but no, there’s not,” Ortagus said in response to a follow up question. She said the United States supports dialogue between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.

“It’s something that we’ve called for calm and restraint by all parties. We want to main peace and stability, and we, of course, support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues of concern,” the US State Department spokesperson said.

India had on Monday revoked provisions of Article 370 to take away Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and bifurcating the state into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Ortagus said the US was working closely with the two South Asian countries....

India scraps Article 370, UN chief flags ‘tense situation in region’

The Narendra Modi government on Monday revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is following with concern the tense situation in the India-Pakistan region and urges all parties to exercise restraint, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said here on Monday. “We are following with concern the tense situation in the region… We urge all parties to exercise restraint,” Dujarric said at the daily press briefing, adding that the UN is also aware of reports of restrictions in Kashmir in India.

Dujarric was responding to a question on whether the Secretary General has any comment on India’s decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status and the Pakistan’s response that this is a violation of UNSC resolutions calling for a UN-organised plebiscite.

The Narendra Modi government on Monday revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Rajya Sabha approved the resolution abrogating Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir and a bill to bifurcate the state into two union territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with Home Minister Amit Shah saying the controversial provisions were responsible for poverty and lack of development in the state….