The Kashmir Pulse

JAMMU — Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Friday said the present government in the Union Territory would "collapse on its own," asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party would neither play a role in toppling it nor in forming it.

Speaking to reporters in Jammu, Sharma, as per the news agency KNO, termed the political situation in the UT as unstable, claiming the government was bound to fall due to internal contradictions.

Targeting the National Conference, he said the party had built its politics around Article 370 but was now sending mixed signals to the public.

Referring to recent developments, including meetings between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sharma said the party's stand appeared inconsistent.

He added that the NC's relevance and clarity had weakened over time, alleging erosion in its support base. Sharma also claimed that senior leaders, including Farooq Abdullah, had changed their tone following recent political engagements, indicating a shift in the party's position.

The BJP leader further alleged that there were backchannel attempts to engineer defections, while maintaining that his party had no involvement in such efforts.

"The government will fall on its own. The BJP will neither form it nor make it fall," Sharma said, adding that the present dispensation would not complete its full term, without specifying any timeline.

SRINAGAR — Cabinet minister Sakina Itoo on Friday said the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should be reconsidered in view of an improved security environment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters here after visiting health facilities, Itoo, as reported by the news agency KNO, said AFSPA should not continue indefinitely if ground conditions have improved. “If peace has returned and incidents like stone-pelting have stopped, then AFSPA should be withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir first,” she said.

The minister said the restoration of statehood remains a legitimate demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Statehood is our right. We are demanding what existed earlier,” she said, adding that the issue has already been taken up at the highest political level.

Itoo referred to recent engagements between the elected government and the Centre, saying Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that a formal resolution seeking restoration of statehood has already been forwarded to New Delhi.

She added that a protest programme at Jantar Mantar in the national capital is also planned to press for the demand further.

Raising concern over the administrative burden on the education sector, the education minister said nearly 14,000 teachers have been deployed for census-related duties, which has significantly impacted classroom teaching across the Union Territory. “A formal written communication has been sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha seeking intervention,” she said.

Itoo, who is also the health minister, said the under-construction Srinagar area hospital is expected to be completed and handed over within a month, after which full operationalisation will be ensured with manpower and equipment.

She later visited Gousia Hospital Srinagar, along with MLAs Ali Mohammad Sagar and Salman Ali Sagar, where she reviewed healthcare delivery and infrastructure gaps.

The hospital, she said, caters to nearly 10,000 patients every month but is facing severe space constraints.

The minister also announced an additional medical block in the adjoining area, stating that a detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared and a prefabricated structure will be taken up initially to avoid disruption in services.

"The government has initiated measures to strengthen the health sector over the past one and a half years, including the appointment of around 500 doctors, with 400 more expected to join shortly," she said.

Itoo said efforts are underway to improve accountability and responsiveness in hospitals, while acknowledging the pressure faced by frontline healthcare workers. “We are continuously working to improve infrastructure and patient care across Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

SRINAGAR — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital to review security preparedness for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, with a strong focus on ensuring a safe and smooth pilgrimage for devotees.

An unnamed official was quoted by the news agency KNO as having said that during the meeting, Shah stressed that the safety of pilgrims remains the top priority of the PM Modi-led government.

Shah directed officials to put in place a comprehensive, multi-layered security grid along the Yatra routes through close coordination between Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and other security agencies.

The meeting was attended by the National Security Advisor (NSA), Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army Chief, Director General of CRPF, and other senior officials.

During the meeting, he said emphasis was laid on integrating modern technology with traditional security mechanisms. Officials were asked to ensure extensive deployment of drones, CCTV surveillance, and advanced monitoring systems to further strengthen situational awareness and threat response capabilities.

The Home Minister also instructed that senior officers from CAPFs and the Jammu and Kashmir Police be deployed at key camp locations to maintain continuous oversight of arrangements on the ground throughout the duration of the Yatra.

Reviewing logistical preparedness, the Home Minister underlined the need for robust arrangements for registration of pilgrims, accommodation, healthcare services, and disaster management. He called for seamless coordination among departments to ensure that essential services are delivered efficiently.

In a move to streamline management and enhance accountability, Shah directed that all individuals associated with the Yatra, including local service providers, be properly registered.

He also called for the issuance of QR code-based identity cards and the setting up of veterinary camps for health checks of animals used during the pilgrimage.

The meeting also stressed that the movement of pilgrim batches should be strictly regulated in accordance with weather forecasts to minimise risks along the route.

Apart from the Yatra routes, Shah asked officials to ensure enhanced security arrangements at other major tourist locations across Jammu and Kashmir so that visiting pilgrims can travel safely and without disruption.

The annual Amarnath Yatra, which draws thousands of devotees each year to the Himalayan shrine, is set to commence on July 3, with authorities working to ensure tight security and smooth management amid challenging terrain and weather conditions.