Warns of ripple effect on all sectors
KS News Desk
Srinagar, March 8: Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the newly presented budget by the Omar Abdullah-led government saying that budget has nothing substantial to offer for common masses.
Addressing media persons, State Secretary AIP Sheikh Ashiq termed the budget an anti-people and hollow budget, offering nothing substantial for the common masses, industries, commerce, traders or transporters.
Sheikh Ashiq warned that any move to increase petrol, diesel prices, or impose a five percent hike in taxes on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) would be met with strong political resistance, as it will have a cascading effect on all sectors and burden every citizen.
Sheikh Ashiq highlighted that despite tall claims, the budget fails to address key concerns.
"There is no mention of welfare measures for industries and commerce. It is an empty budget," he said.
He said the promise of 200 free electricity units and 12 LPG cylinders has been completely ignored.
"Even the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries, who are very few in number, will see limited benefit that too with the condition," he said.
Expressing disappointment over the government's apathy towards struggling industrialists, Ashiq said there was no word for those industrialists whose units have been sick for several years.
"The long-pending allocation of newly industrial estates, including Sempora, Pampore and Kulgam besides others, despite businesses paying hefty amounts for the last four years, remains unresolved," he said.
He said the much-touted 'Mission Youth,' which once touched great heights, finds no mention in the budget.
"This clearly shows the governments disinterest in the youth of J&K," he said.
The AIP leader also slammed the government for its silence on the regularisation of daily wagers, contractual employees, Anganwadi workers, Khidmat Centre and vocational trainers.
"These workers have been serving for years in extremely difficult conditions, yet the budget offers no hope for their future," he added.
Criticizing the so-called free travel for women, Sheikh Ashiq said the state transport fleet was already insufficient.
"E-buses run only in Jammu and Srinagar. What about the majority of rural areas. How does this government expect women in far-flung regions to benefit from this scheme. This is nothing but an urban-centric gimmick," he said.
He warned the government against any move to increase petrol, diesel prices or impose a five percent hike in taxes on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).
"We have pursued extensively to ensure a decrease in ATF taxes. It was the Lieutenant Governor of J&K who, on our request, slashed ATF tax in 2021. Now, the Omar-led government is set to increase it substantially. This is unacceptable," he said .
He said such moves will not only burden the people but will also trigger a hike in the prices of essential goods and services, affecting every household and business.
"AIP will fight tooth and nail against any such hikes," he said.
He pointed out another "glaring omission" in the budget saying there was no relief for the commercial and industrial sector besides residential sectors especially poor households in the electricity amnesty scheme.
"The government talks about relief but conveniently ignores businesses, traders and industries especially poor households struggling with high power tariffs. This budget offers no respite to them," he added.
Sheikh Ashiq also urged the Government of India to ensure justice for member Parliament north Kashmir, Engineer Rashid.
"Cases were withdrawn against many individuals, including a former student leader and a sitting MLA. We welcome and appreciate this move. However, the same approach should be applied to Engineer Rashid, who should also be released. We will continue our political and legal battle for his freedom," he said.
Sheikh Ashiq reaffirmed AIPs commitment to standing by the people against this anti-people budget.
"There is no reason for people to get excited about this budget. Instead of relief, they will suffer more due to increased taxes," he said.
He said AIP will oppose every move that adds to the burden of the common masses and fight politically to ensure their voices are heard.
"AIP has made it clear that it will not allow the government to burden the people with unfair policies. The fight against fuel tax hikes and economic injustice has just begun," he said.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “About a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,” he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.“If we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,” he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeeb’s research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. “In this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,” he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. “It is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,” he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,” he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. “My parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,” he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. “Just as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.” “Young people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,” he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students – 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 students—56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. “Hundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,” said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. “We are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,” he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. “The irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,” he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for “equal work, equal pay” gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. “Promises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,” he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. “This issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Jammu, Jan 18: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology, ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma Sunday said that the remarkable achievements of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth are a powerful testament to what can be accomplished through fair opportunities, modern infrastructure and unwavering government support. Addressing the gathering during the SRIJAN initiative conference, the Minister stated that the success of young athletes clearly demonstrates that with the right ecosystem in place, the UT youth are capable of overcoming every challenge and competing confidently at national and international platforms. Highlighting the core focus areas of the SRIJAN programme, Satish Sharma said "the initiative is playing a transformative role in strengthening the sports landscape of the Union Territory by expanding grassroots sports infrastructure across Jammu, Kashmir and other regions. This is being done by ensuring transparent, merit-based selections free from any bias; integrating sports with education and skill development; promoting greater participation of girls and enhancing inclusivity and establishing sports as a dignified and sustainable career option with viable livelihood opportunities, he said0. He reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment and said that sustained efforts were underway to create international-standard sports facilities, including modern cricket stadiums in Jammu and Srinagar. He also highlighted the strengthening of Khelo India Centres, promotion of traditional sports such as Dangal and enhanced collaboration with the Union Ministry to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a national sports hub. “As Sports Minister, I assure our athletes that the government stands firmly with them. Our focus is not only on infrastructure creation but also on nurturing talent, discipline and confidence among the youth,” he said. The Minister lauded the determination, resilience and dedication of young sportspersons, describing them as the living legacy of the SRIJAN mission. He urged them to continue training with passion, remain disciplined and dream fearlessly, assuring them of full institutional support at every step of their journey. Satish Sharma expressed hope that the conference would serve as the foundation of a new era where every talented child, from the mountains of Kashmir to the plains of Jammu, is provided an equal opportunity to shine on the global stage. He concluded by reiterating the government’s resolve to make sports a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment, social inclusion and regional pride in Jammu and Kashmir. Director General, Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta and prominent persons from different fields and states along with senior officers of the Youth Services and Sports Department, were also present on the occasion.
Assam, Feb 12: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly and BJP Election Co-incharge for Assam, Sunil Sharma, addressed a massive Mahila Sammelan in Silchar, energising party cadres and women supporters ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. According to a statement issued here, addressing the Sammelan, Sunil Sharma emphasized that women are no longer passive beneficiaries but decisive stakeholders in nation-building, asserting that their rising participation is strengthening democracy and reshaping India’s socio-economic landscape. The Modi government has empowered women with opportunities, confidence and respect, and the Union Budget further strengthens this resolve, he said. Sunil Sharma highlighted the pro people and women centric initiatives of the BJP led government, stating that the Union Budget reflects the party’s firm commitment to inclusive growth, women empowerment and economic development. He emphasized that women are playing a decisive role in strengthening democracy and driving social change across the country. Expressing strong confidence in the BJP’s prospects, Sunil Sharma said that the people of Assam, especially in the Barak Valley, are fully aware of the BJP’s development-oriented governance model, which has delivered stability, infrastructure growth, welfare benefits and transparent administration. He said that the party’s deep grassroots connect and performance-driven politics have earned the trust of every section of society. Sunil Sharma categorically declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Assam for the third consecutive term with an even bigger and historic mandate. He said that the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the organisational strength of the BJP, and the tireless work of party workers have positioned the party for a resounding victory. Calling upon women to play a pivotal role, Sharma said that Mahila Shakti will be the backbone of BJP’s third victory in Assam, urging them to take the message of development, good governance and nationalism to every household. “The BJP’s victory in Assam is not just an electoral outcome, but a reaffirmation of the people’s faith in Modi ji’s policies and vision. The third term will mark a new chapter of accelerated growth and empowerment,” he added.
Srinagar, Feb 2: J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Monday submitted crucial amendments to the Lieutenant Governor's address concerning the safety of Kashmiris, regularisation of daily wagers and enhanced opportunities for civil service aspirants. According to business circulated by the Assembly Secretariat, Lone has proposed an amendment regretting the omission of condemnation regarding attacks on Kashmiri students, traders and hawkers in different states and Union Territories. Lone, who is the only opposition MLA from Kashmir to move amendments to the LG's address, has also sought the regularisation of daily wagers which remains a long-pending demand from contractual employees across Jammu and Kashmir. In a significant proposal for civil service aspirants, Lone has moved to enhance the age limit for open merit candidates appearing in the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) examination from 32 to 37 years. The amendment addresses concerns of youth who have faced disruptions and limited opportunities in recent years. The three amendments moved by MLA Handwara highlight key concerns affecting Kashmiris both within and outside the Union Territory that range from safety and dignity issues faced by the community in various states to employment security and expanded access to administrative services.
Jammu, Jan 21: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) State President Vivek Bali on Wednesday criticized PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti over her remarks on 1953 incident. Bali was referring to the statement of Mehbooba Mufti wherein she said “Those Who Divided Regions Questioning Us" while drawing parallels with 1953 and referred to the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah following his alleged support for the Dixon Plan. In an statement issued here, Vivek Bali along with his political advisor Dilawar Singh questioned Mehbooba Mufti’s intentions and political narrative, stating that such remarks were misleading and aimed at reviving old controversies for political gain. He asked why, during the tenure of the PDP-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, no concrete steps were taken to create separate districts in the Pir Panjal region or to appoint a dedicated Divisional Commissioner for the area. Bali said these demands were ignored when the PDP was in power, raising serious doubts about the sincerity of the party’s current claims. "We want a Jammu and Kashmir free from unnecessary interference. We believe in the unity of the region as it existed during the Maharaja’s time, and we do not support attempts to disturb that unity for narrow political interests,” Bali said. He accused Mehbooba Mufti of indulging in vote bank politics by repeatedly raising sensitive historical and regional issues instead of focusing on present-day development and public welfare. He added that the people of J&K do not support this kind of divisive politics and have repeatedly expressed their desire for unity, peace, and progress. “We do not want division. Any attempt to fragment Jammu and Kashmir on regional or political lines is against the wishes of the common people,” Bali said. Vivek Bali also made it clear that the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party strongly opposes any forces or narratives that seek to divide Jammu and Kashmir into separate states or regions. He said SBSP stands firmly for the unity, integrity, and harmonious development of Jammu and Kashmir, and will continue to raise its voice against politics that promote division, confusion, and instability for personal or electoral gains.