The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A Delhi court has reserved its order on the bail plea of Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, who is currently in jail in a 'terror' funding case. The court is expected to pronounce its order on September 4.

Rashid, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019, has been in jail for his alleged involvement in a 2017 'terror' funding case. He was granted custody parole on July 5 to take the oath of office after winning the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla constituency in Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA had filed a charge sheet against several people, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, in the case. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after pleading guilty to the charges.

Rashid's bail plea was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh during an in-camera hearing on Wednesday. The judge had earlier issued a notice to the NIA and directed it to file its response by August 28.

SRINAGAR — Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said Rs 3,694 crore has been allocated this year for the ongoing railway projects in Jammu and Kashmir, while the “dream project” Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is nearing completion and will be inaugurated soon.

Addressing media in Delhi, the minister, as per the news agency KNO said that new projects are also being taken up and detailed project reports (DPRs) are being prepared.

He said work on the Baramulla-Uri railway line, two other lines, developing four terminals from Budgam to Baramulla section, and four new stations, including Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Udhampur station is underway.

Regarding USBRL, he said the project is almost complete with only a 17 km section (Tunnel T1) between Katra and Reasi under construction. The minister said that the Chenab bridge and railway line up to the Sangaldan section have already been made operational.

"Sangaldan to Reasi section has also been completed, and the commission of the Railway safety certificate has also been received. The project is a dream come true and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi very soon,” he said.

NEW DELHI — Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena has accorded sanction to prosecute author Arundhati Roy and a former professor in Kashmir under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event here in 2010, Raj Niwas officials said on Friday.

The FIR against Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain was registered following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi, they added.

There was no immediate reaction from Roy and Hussain.

The FIR in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on October 28, 2010.

“Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in the Central University of Kashmir, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case,” a Raj Niwas official said on Friday.

Last October, the LG had granted sanction to prosecute them under section 196 of CrPC for the commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code: 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).

Roy and Hussain had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of ‘Azadi – The Only Way’ on October 21, 2010 at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, here.

“The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India,” said the official.

Those who delivered speeches at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the Conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain and Varavara Rao.

The complainant filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, New Delhi, which disposed of the complaint on November 27, 2010, with the directions to register an FIR. Accordingly, an FIR was registered and an investigation was carried out, they said.

SRINAGAR — The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised to take steps towards forming the government, with plans to officially stake their claim on Friday, following a series of strategic meetings and endorsements.

In a key meeting held in Delhi, NDA leaders unanimously named Narendra Modi as the leader of the alliance. Sources revealed that all NDA parties pledged their support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), solidifying Modi's position as their leader.

The decision comes after the BJP-led NDA secured an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha elections, winning a total of 292 seats, with the BJP alone claiming 240 seats, reaffirming its dominance in Indian politics. Despite the victory, the Congress-led INDIA bloc remains a formidable opposition, securing 234 seats.

In anticipation of the new government, President Droupadi Murmu dissolved the 17th Lok Sabha on Wednesday, acting upon the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet. This paved the way for the transition to the new administration.

As the NDA prepares for government formation, a meeting is scheduled for June 7, where NDA MPs will convene to formally elect Narendra Modi as their leader, further cementing his leadership role ahead of staking their claim.

"We acknowledge that government formation is a meticulous process requiring careful coordination," stated an NDA source. "It's crucial to ensure thorough preparation, which is why we've scheduled the official claim for Friday."

The unity within the NDA is evident as they gear up to establish the new government, with allies actively seeking key portfolios in the upcoming cabinet.

The swearing-in ceremony for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term is expected to take place on the evening of June 8 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where new cabinet members will also be sworn in, marking the official commencement of the new government's tenure.