Category: EDITORIAL

A tribal woman was sexually assaulted in Nishat area of Srinagar and left to die in an injured condition. Her daughter went out to look for her and found her in a pool of blood. She was shifted to a nearby medical facility where she was declared brought dead. This happening in Kashmir where we would boast that a woman, laden with jewellery wouldn’t be harmed by any one while walking on Srinagar streets even during the night. One of the accused was captured by the locals and handed over to the police which swung into action and swiftly arrested the rest of the three accused persons. Srinagar Police should be appreciated for the swift action. Such actions by Police restore the confidence of the public in the system. However, some disturbing reports pouring in suggest that the victim’s family was treated shabbily at the medical facility and staff too was not present there. This should be investigated and if anyone found guilty, action under prescribed norms should be taken.

Coming back to the horrifying incident, it has shocked every one here. Condemnations are poring in from politicians, civil society as well as religious groups with every expressing shock and demanding justice. However, condemnations aren’t going to help. Need is to wake up and ponder why such incidents are taking place. Isn’t this the same Kashmir that was recognised as the safest place for women only a few decades back. Where from has this rot come into the society. 

Something is gone terribly wrong. The constant conflict and the violence in past few decades have had an impact on the psyche of the people. Wherever violence becomes part of the society, societies start rotting. That is what has happened here. Drug abuse, drug trafficking, murders, sexual assault and such other crimes are off-shoot of the violence and may need a united response from the society. Charity begins at home so every family has to start looking inwards. Parents have a responsibility to keep a watch on their wards. The intention here is not to deny freedom to children but to keep an eye and be vigilant to notice any kind of awkward behaviour in the children. 

Secondly, civil society groups, religious leaders and other responsible citizens should remain vigilant. In Kashmir, we have Masjid Committees in every Mohalla and village. These committees should remain vigilant and be on lookout for any miscreants amongst the community. They should have close liaison with nearest Police stations and be prompt in reporting any criminal activity. The society has to wake up and wake up soon otherwise it would be too late. 

Agriculture sector is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy however its full potential was never exploited in more scientific way and that is why people here are dependent on neighbouring states for essential commodities like food-grains. The soil of the UT is very fertile and the yield per hectare could be astounding if only the farmers develop scientific outlook and then take to latest farming techniques. Fact of the matter remains that Jammu and Kashmir desperately lags behind in agriculture and allied sectors so much so that it is not able to fulfil its own needs of food. Doubtlessly the economic condition of the UT is very precarious and agriculture is the sector that could bail it out. But this is possible only if people, and the educated young lot in partic- ular, also start thinking of agriculture and related sectors as a sphere of activity to opt for a career in. Though some youth have taken lead in both agriculture and horticulture sector, majority still are looking for, not much available, government jobs.
Governments, that have been and that is, also share a lot of blame, for they never accorded agriculture kind of priority it deserved and nothing much has been done to popularize it and develop it on scientific lines. In past few years, the UT administration has taken certain steps in this regard but these need a continued push. One of the major problems confronting us is the transformation of our agrarian agricultural lands into concrete jungles. This was, and is bound to happen because when youth shy away from farming, the agricultural land of the family gets automatically relegated into a material piece of property. This land is then sold off, even if for a fortune, but it very rarely gets recycled into a state wherein it would again contribute to production of food. Of course it wouldn’t have been so had the farming and allied activities been marketed here properly.
As mentioned above, peculiar geographic location and climatic conditions of J&K make it ideal for the growth of foods of highest quality. Take, for instance, the ‘Kashmiri rice’ grown here or for that matter the Basmati rice grown in certain Jammu regions. The stuff that grows here is priceless. The varieties of rice that arrive here from other states at highly exorbitant prices, are no match to our indigenous varieties. But the rice from elsewhere is nevertheless bought and consumed here, because our local produce is too little to feed us. The appetizing flavour of the indigenous varieties of all other food materials besides the rice have been replaced by insipid leftovers from other supplying states. Reason being that the rice bowls of the state have been and are being filled by concrete which means that state loses productive land at rapid pace in comparison to the rise in population. It is the insensitive attitude and non-seriousness of cultivators as well as the lack of concern on part of the government including the couple of agricultural universities in Kashmir and Jammu which are responsible for this agrarian mess the state is in.

It has been 13 days and the terrorists who murdered innocent people in Baisaran Pahalgam are still hiding in some hell-hole and people in Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country are watching the situation with deep pain and anger. No power on earth can bring back the precious lives that were taken by group of barbarians on 22 of April but if the killer and their masters are brought to book, that will give some solace to the families of the victims who have lost their dear ones and also to the entire populace of Kashmir, who helplessly, witnessed the very soul of their identity and culture being murdered. 

NIA has taken up the investigations and people are hopeful that the perpetrators would not go scot-free and the bigger conspiracy to destabilize Kashmir again and to push the region into the ugly nexus of violence would be exposed and people behind this conspiracy would be named and shamed. Like the people of entire country, Kashmiris too are united against these terrorists and the terrorism. Unfortunately, some over-enthusiastic and ignorant elements are trying to follow, God knows whose agenda, by spreading hateful propaganda against Kashmiris. Kashmiris are aghast, Kashmiris are angry, Kashmiris are hurting. Let the entire nation do understand and appreciate this. 

Those who look at this tragic incident through the prism of economy alone are missing the broader angel. Kashmiri populace expressed its pain and anger against the attack not only because the incident may decrease the flow of terrorists to this region and thus impact the economy. No, not at all. They are protesting because their very identity has been targeted. As earlier mentioned in these columns, it was an attack on Kashmir’s culture because from ages tourists have been the part of Kashmir’s culture. It was an attack on Kashmir’s ethos of hospitality. 

Therefore, those who are trying to advocate a collective punishment of Kashmiris and also trying to incite hatred against a particular religious group are doing no good to the country instead are strengthening the agenda of the terrorists and taking it further. These elements should know that India is one of the largest democracies of the world headed by an able government and the government knows how to deal with nation’s enemies and will do so at appropriate time. Wars are not fought in TV studious or on You Tube channels. The unprofessional and TRP hungry dancing in front of cameras are doing no good. They are trying to create chaos while as governments are there to maintain order.  People of the country should say a strong no to the terrorists and also these hate-mongers within. Both are equally dangerous.

A gruesome massacre has finally united the people of Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country. From Kerala to Kupwara, from Tamil Nadu to Tangmarg, from Bangalore to Budgam this tragic incident has met the same kind of response. Condemnation, unequivocal and unapologetic condemnation. On the streets of Kashmir, Kashmir’s tradesmen, government employees, civil society members are out to protest the carnage. On the waters of Dal Lake, Shikara rowers are holding placards saying no to terrorism. In the famed Lal Chowk, the business hub of Srinagar, traders are up in arms against the terror attack. Even in the remotest areas, Keran, Kupwara, Tangmarg, Pulwama, Tral, Kulgam, people took to streets protesting against the gruesome murders. Kashmiris are aghast, Kashmiris are angry, Kashmiris are hurting. Let the entire nation do, understand and appreciate this. Please don’t look at it as something connected to religion. Yes, the perpetrators were visibly Muslims but have they ever spared the Muslims of Kashmir Valley. Who killed Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq? Who killed Qazi Nissar and who killed the tallest political leader Abdul Gani Lone. The same terrorists.

So just because the killers shared their religious faith with the majority of Kashmiris doesn’t mean everyone from that faith subscribes to the ideology of terrorism. Common Kashmiris during past three days have made it absolutely clear that the murderers neither belonged to them culturally nor socially and also not religiously. They were aliens, having no moral, religious or cultural roots. They were just barbarians, heartless and soulless humans because calling them inhuman would be an injustice to animals as they indulge in such carnages. No, never. We may have some human-animal conflicts but these are not planned and executed under some design. These are abrupt ones so calling the terrorists inhuman is insult to animals.

Having said that, while the people all over the country are angry, and genuinely so, they should not play in the hands of hate-mongers. If intention is to defeat terrorism, no step should be taken that helps terrorists and their sponsors to achieve their goal. Their goal is to destroy Kashmir’s economy and if in the backdrop of Pahalgam attack tourists stop visiting Kashmir, one of the goals of the terrorists would be achieved. Similarly, the terrorists aim was to create a edge between communities and therefore if Kashmiri traders or students are harassed in different parts of the country for the crimes committed by the terrorists, again we are facilitating victory to terrorists. Terrorists will be defeated by unity of all sections of the society. Common people are united in this battle but some miscreants are out there to spread hate. The people of the entire country have to defeat these hate-mongers too.   

Kashmiris have spoken loudly against terrorists. No, they don’t belong to us or our place. They are barbarians. They have no right to roam around freely in a civilised society. What happened at Pahalgam has shaken the very core of the Kashmiri society and people are in deep shock. They are angry too because their guests were targeted and hospitality is what Kashmiris are famous for. Those who targeted their guests have actually tried to slaughter the very soul of Kashmiri society. They are in pain and thus were on streets yesterday protesting against the terrorists, trying to share the pain of those who lost their loved ones and also of those who were injured in the terror attack. Cutting across political and other divides, Kashmiris reacted to the terror attack in one voice. No, not in our name! People have send across a strong message that they are not supporting and will never support terrorism in any form.

While people here are mourning the loss of lives, a deeper analysis of the Pahalgam terror attack hints towards a deeper conspiracy. A conspiracy that has been hatched in a calculated manner. From past five years, a process of peace and stability had been initiated in Jammu and Kashmir. After decades of violence and disturbance, people here had started breathing peacefully and also started dreaming. The entire region was abuzz with tourism related activities. Peoples’ economy was back on rails with great promise of prosperity. The enemy couldn’t see Kashmiris dreaming and to shatter their dreams targeting their economy was the plan. Attack tourists and cripple Kashmir. Besides, the intention was to target the people from a particular religious faith to divide the populace. They executed the plan ruthlessly and for the time being they succeeded. However, defeating their success is what should be response of the government. 

People have done and are doing what they needed to do. They have unequivocally condemned the terror attack and spoken loudly against the perpetrators. Adil, the pony walla from Aishmuqam has faced bulled and died while saving tourists. People from all walks of life have come out openly denouncing terrorism and that is a resounding slap on the face of the name. Now the government has to ensure that the enemy’s conspiracy is defeated. We have lost several precious lives which no one can bring back but at the same time, the government has to maintain and pursue the process of peace and stability here in the region to create a sense of security so that guests from across the country continue to visit here. Besides, while the enemy has tried to create a wedge between communities, the government should ensure that no miscreants are allowed to do mischief. The reports pouring in from different states regarding harassment of Kashmiri students and business community are disturbing. Those who are indulging in such activities are playing in the hands of the terrorists who killed tourists in Pahalgam. Safety of Kashmiris studying, doing business or residing in different parts of the country is the responsibility of the government and the ministry of home affairs should ensure that in all states and UTs, Kashmiris remain safe. 

Enemies of peace and prosperity, enemies of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat, enemies of humans and humanity have struck again, this time massacring innocent tourists in the woods of Pahalgam. Every citizen of the country is shocked, pained and angry. Kashmir is in shock as the attack was not just on its guests but the very ethos of the Valley. Known for its hospitality, Kashmir’s very soul has been slaughtered. The Kashmir, about which the poets would say, Zara Zara Hai Mere Kashmir Ka Mehman Nawaz; Rastoun Ke Patharoun Ne Bhi Diya Pani Mujhe, has been brutalized.  

Kashmir Valley which was abuzz with tourism related activities, is in deep mourning today. People are condemning the attack unequivocally. They have shut their businesses to express solidarity with the victims of terror attack and to send a clear message to the perpetrators that there is no space for terrorism here. The enemy of Kashmir and Kashmiris can’t digest peace prevailing here. The happiness of Kashmiris is heartache for the enemy and so is their economic stability and thus the attack. 

While people in length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir are protesting against the terror attack, the security agencies need to react swiftly. The barbarians who are responsible for the massacre can’t be allowed to roam free. They need to be hunted down. Such criminals have no right to live in a human society. 

While Prime Minister and Home Minister are personally monitoring the situation, the government at New Delhi need to ensure that this barbaric attack wouldn’t derail the process of peace and stability that has been prevailing in this region from past five years. The enemy is desperate to present an ugly picture of Kashmir and it is the government of the day that can defeat its nefarious designs.  

The hailstorm in southern and northern parts of Kashmir Valley have shattered the dreams of farmers and fruit growers as the storm hit hard all the standing crops and different fruit that was in flowering stage. The storm his multiple districts across the Kashmir Valley, including Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, and Kupwara. Accompanied by strong winds and lightning, the storm led to significant destruction of apple, cherry, pear, and plum orchards besides vegetables. The impact of the storm is huge and equally huge are the losses that the fruit growers are going to face. It goes without saying that horticulture sector, particularly apple cultivation, is the main economic activity that supports the livelihoods of thousands of families. Kashmir’s being the agrarian based economy, horticulture is the main source of income for thousands of families. Unfortunately, the sector is vulnerable to weather vagaries that most of the times result into huge losses to the people associated with the sector.

The Minister for Agriculture Production, Javid Ahmad Dar has directed the Heads of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments to initiate an immediate assessment of the losses caused across all districts in J&K and has instructed the concerned to dispatch the joint field teams comprising departmental officials to all affected areas in coordination with the district administrations, to evaluate the extent of the damage and submit consolidated reports for timely relief processing. He assured that Omar Abdullah-led government stands in solidarity with the farming community during this challenging time and the administration will remain closely engaged in assessing the situation and exploring appropriate measures to provide relief to the affected farmers.

Government may pay some compensation to the effected lot but that is not the long-term solution. Every now and then we see crops getting destroyed due to inclement weather conditions, the government deputing experts to assess the losses and then paying some compensation to the effected ones. A good chunk of compensation money, unfortunately, ends up in the pockets of concerned government officials. So, need is to formulate a practical and comprehensive insurance scheme, make orchardists aware about it and then implement it. Implementation of a robust crop insurance scheme is a must to provide financial protection to farmers and fruit growers against natural calamities.

While much is being said about horticulture sector in Kashmir, very less has been done to modernize the sector to meet the weather challenges. The government has never encouraged the farmers to use Hail Nets which can significantly reduce the impact of hail storm on crops. Need is that the government of the day launches a massive awareness campaign about hail protection and subsidizes the installation of Hail Nets so that even the small orchardists, who are much bigger in the numbers, are able to purchase these nets and save their crop from frequent damages. It goes without saying that unless the government subsidizes the installation of the Hail Nets, majority of the orchardists can’t afford to purchase the same.

Jammu and Kashmir is abuzz with one narrative, the one only, former RAW Chief, A S Dulat’s book wherein he says, National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah wasn’t averse to abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by Modi-led government at the centre but had a grudge that why his party, the grand old party of J&K was not taken into confidence. The statement has generated a debate all over the country, particularly, in J&K with NC’s main opponents, JKPDP and JKPC taking the lead and netizens putting the social network platforms on fire by their fierce comments, for and against Abdullah’s and their organisation, NC.

Dulat, a top-notch spy of India, is a very popular name in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Kashmir. He was heading Kashmir’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) when all hell broke out in 1990’s. And since then, in different roles in IB and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), he dealt with Kashmir all the time. The revelations made by him, true or exaggerated, indicate one thing and that is, whatever was happening in J&K from 1990 was not indigenous. It was orchestrated either from this side or the other. Actors were from here (J&K) but the directors were sitting somewhere else. The directors were either Uncles and Aunties (as claimed by JKPC chief Sajad Lone), or Colonels and Brigadiers from the other side, for which nobody is going to take the blame. 

The revelations make one more thing very clear. There is no black and white when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir polity. There are huge grey spaces, which, unfortunately, people of Kashmir miss all the time. The people are the ones who are on the receiving end. Politicians are enjoying. From 1990 to 2019, it were the separatists who ruled, though in some “in-between-interventions” mainstream politicians too had their say. From August 2019, it is New Delhi that has been calling the shots. Common Kashmiri went invisible in 1990 and till date no one has been able to trace him/her. So called mainstream politics was there on the fore front or the separatist one, but not the ordinary Kashmiri, s/he was, s/he will and s/he remains invisible. SAD!  

Common Kashmiri has been demonised, s/he has been ridiculed, s/he has been pushed to the wall. With a Kashmiri tag, you don’t get passport and employment clarification. But those who were the architects of the present chaos are having a fun life. They were from within but getting patronage from, Colonels and Brigadiers from across the border and getting ashirvad from Uncles and Aunties from Delhi. 

They (Kashmiris) have paid a huge price. They have suffered a lot. At some stage, their victimization needs to end. They are humans. Treat them as humans. This is what the Government of India has to think about. Hanging the sword of adverse Police remarks on the heads of Kashmiris is what makes them feel like second class citizens. They have already given too many Agni Parikshas, for God’s sake stop throwing them into the pyre for their entire lives.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) posted a statement on social networking site Facebook saying said it have produced a charge-sheet against 22 persons for withdrawal of fraudulent payments by way of making insertions and tampering with the revenue records in Budgam. Interestingly, the FIR about the case was registered in 2009 and it took the Bureau almost 25 years to produce a charge-sheet against the people responsible and several of the government officials involved have already retired from the service and even one of the beneficiary has already passed away. It reminds one of a famous couplet of famed Urdu poet, Mirza Ghalib: 

Hum Ne Mana Ki Tagaful Na Karo Ge Lekin,

Koun Jeeta Hai Tere Zulf Ke Sar Hone Tak.

“We know, you will not delay the things by intention, but these will get delayed and how many of us will be surviving then,” roughly translated.

Corruption is the menace that hampers the progress and development of any society in the world. When the corrupt practices become a normal, the society as a whole is destined to fail economically and rot morally. Deserving get neglected and those not deserving are benefitted thus disturbing the equilibrium of the society. Corruption breeds injustice and injustice triggers unrest which in no way is good for any healthy society. This menace, unfortunately is wide-spread all over the country, Jammu and Kashmir being no exception. 

The UT administration has been, time and again, asserting that it has waged a full-fledged war against corruption but there will always remain some ifs and buts which the administration needs to take care of. Corruption has all along been rampant in Jammu and Kashmir, so rampant that unfortunately it has, by and large been accepted by the populace as something inevitable. This acceptance has, in a way, provided a social sanctity to this menace. The situation has reached a stage where the most corrupt are the most respected ones. 

It feels good to read that the UT administration is committed to curb the menace but it goes without saying that the task is not so easy. The main organization that deals with the menace – Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) – needs to be strengthened. The administration should identify the upright and honest officials with integrity to run this organization. The administration needs to have ample circles of checks and balances to ensure the organization that is assigned to fight corruption, doesn’t have any scope for any corrupt practices within. The above mentioned case indicates how non-seriously the charges of corruption are being taken by the concerned agencies. Had it not been sow, why the agency should take more than two decades to file the charge sheet.

That said, the society, as a whole, should raise its voice against corruption in public life and offices. Like drug abuse, corruption too is eating up the very vitals of our society. Thus it is the responsibility of the society to raise voice against this menace. The religious and social leaders have to take lead in this fight. 

The recent increase in US tariffs on Indian goods by 27% has sparked concerns among apple and walnut growers in Kashmir. This move by is a retaliation for India’s existing high tariffs on US products. The primary fear in Kashmir is that the Indian government might be pressured to lower its import duties on American apples and walnuts to secure a favorable trade deal with the United States. Kashmir’s apple and walnut industry has already faced numerous challenges in recent years, including political unrest, natural disasters like floods and hailstorms, and adverse weather conditions. Now the reduced tariffs on US apples could be another blow to an already struggling industry. The Kashmiri apple growers are anxiously awaiting a response that will safeguard their industry and livelihoods. If the tariff rates form US imports are reduced, markets would be flooded by US apples pushing the horticulture sector of the Kashmir to the wall.

The influx of cheaper American apples could force Kashmiri growers to lower their prices to compete, potentially reducing their profit margins significantly. Economic Hardship for Growers: The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGU) fears that this price undercutting could devastate the local market and push small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of Kashmir’s agricultural economy, out of business. It may be recalled here that horticulture sector, particularly apple and walnut, contributes significantly to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. If this sector is weakened, it will leave Kashmir’s economy topsy-turvy.

Besides the people affiliated with horticulture sector, almost all the main political parties and civil society groups have been expressing concern about this grave issue. KVFGU has already approached the central government with their concerns. They have been appealing Modi-let government not to lower tariffs on American apples and walnut but instead requested an increase in tariffs to protect domestic growers.

Agriculture and horticulture sectors are the backbone of Kashmir’s economy besides handicrafts. Those affiliated with horticulture sector have been facing losses due to weather vagaries. Now that the Srinagar Jammu highway has been upgraded to the satisfaction of fruit growers otherwise, a few years back, cherry, apple and other fruits would perish due to road blockades. With the promised railway connectivity, the fruit growers here were expecting a flourishing business but the sword of uncertainty is hanging over the heads of growers with the apprehensions of lowering tariffs on US apples and walnut. New Delhi should take the apprehensions of fruit growers into account and take every step to save this industry and also those affiliated with this industry. Lowering tariffs would be a death blow to horticulture sector and thus destroy Kashmir’s entire economy.