Srinagar, Jun 19: BJP Minority Front National President Jamal Siddiqui today said Islam is a religion of peace and Sufi sect its soul.

According to a press release he was addressing a gathering here. Siddiqui is on a two-day visit to attend the programs organised on the completion of 11 years of Modi government. He paid obeisance at Hazratbal and Dastagir Sahib (RA) shrines. He prayed to make India a world leader and developed India. During his stay in Srinagar, he also visited the Gurudwara.

A minority chaupal was also organised. Dialogue was held with sajjadanashins, sufis and intellectuals under the “Sufi Samvad” campaign.

Srinagar, June 19: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone, V K Birdi today chaired a security review meeting at Conference Hall of PCR Kashmir to review the security arrangements for Muharram, International Yoga Day and other upcoming events.

The meeting was attended by IG CRPF Srinagar, JD SIB Srinagar, DIsG of Kashmir Zone, CID Kashmir, SSB Srinagar, CRPF South/North Srinagar, BSF; SSsP of Kashmir Zone, PCR Kashmir, Traffic City, Railways, Traffic Rural, APCR, CID CIK, Security, DC SB Srinagar; SP PC Srinagar, SP CID SBK, SP Telecom and other officers.

At the onset of the meeting, participating officers briefed the chair on the security arrangements planned for the smooth and peaceful conduct of Muharram processions, and other significant events. The security measures related to the management of mourning processions, crowd control, traffic regulation and maintenance of law & order during the period were also discussed. IGP Kashmir also reviewed the arrangements for the International Yoga Day and took stock of the security and logistical preparations for the event.

IGP Kashmir directed the officers to ensure foolproof security arrangements to ensure peaceful conduct of the events. He also directed the officers to increase surveillance upon ANEs and mischief mongers and also increase vigil during night processions. The officers were directed to hold coordination meetings with all the stake holders, seeking their cooperation for the smooth conduct of all the events. He also directed the district heads to devise comprehensive security strategies and route plans in their respective districts so as to prevent any untoward event.

The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from all the officers to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the forthcoming events.

Srinagar, June 19: PDP leader Waheed Para said on Thursday that the Jammu and Kashmir government’s handling of the reservation issue has disillusioned students and shattered their trust in the system.

“Six months ago, the J&K government promised to resolve the reservation issue through a subcommittee report. That deadline has passed, leaving thousands of students heartbroken and disillusioned, their trust in the system shattered and their futures put on hold,” Para said in a longish post on X.

The opposition MLA from Pulwama said the National Conference (NC) government in the Union Territory has the power to strike down the BJP-imposed policy with a single administrative order, but the ruling party that had promised to reverse the BJP’s damage is now complicit in continuing it.

“This is a deliberate denial of justice. These students have already endured violence, lockdowns, and lost opportunities. Now, as they seek fair representation and rationalised reservation, the government is pushing them further to the margins.

“If this is their response to a pressing youth issue well within their control to solve, then what should we expect on Article 370, statehood, or the Wakf Amendment Bill which requires them to speak truth to power?” he asked.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader said ignoring merit is not just a political issue but a national-security concern.

“Erasing merit in Kashmir is not just a political issue but also a national security concern, given that J&K is a border state where the youth are vulnerable to militancy, radicalism, and cross-border influences. If the Kashmiri youth are not offered hope, it will only empower subversive elements, further destabilising a generation and future. The government’s inaction risks pushing these young people into a corner, forcing them to choose between studying and preparing to face the world or fighting against a system that has failed them,” he added.

Para said the government must act now with the urgency that this issue demands.

“It cannot continue to hide behind excuses while the students’ futures hang in the balance. Rationalisation of reservation and proportional representation represent the only fair path forward, and it must be implemented without further delay,” he said.

The PDP leader said he stood with the students without affiliations and unions, “feeling their pain, sharing their concern. Their struggle is genuine, and we will fight alongside them until justice is served”.

In an earlier post, Para said the cabinet sub-committee exists to stall the government’s stand on merit.

The sub-committee, formed in December last year following student protests, was scheduled to submit its report to the government at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday.

However, the government has maintained a stoic silence on whether the report was submitted or not.

The head of the sub-committee, Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Ittoo, announced last week that the report was completed within the time-frame of six months and that it would be placed before the cabinet at its next meeting.

Para said it was unfortunate that how some student sold out merit for petty favours.

“Unfortunate how some students who indulged in this false process sold out merit for petty favours,” he added.

The existing reservation policy, which as enacted after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, provides only 30 per cent vacancies for general category candidates, who account for nearly 70 per cent of the population.

Srinagar, June 19: The first batch of nine Kashmiri students, who were stranded in Iran amid the ongoing regional conflict, returned home on Thursday, marking the beginning of the much-awaited evacuation effort.

Among the returnees is a student named Saba, a resident of Safa Kadal in Downtown Srinagar, who was received by her relieved family members. she said, “I’m feeling happy that I’ve finally reached home. I came along with eight other students from Iran.”

However, she also voiced her disappointment over the lack of air travel arrangements from Delhi to Srinagar. “After a long and exhausting journey, we expected better support from the government, but we were asked to travel in SRTC buses,” she said, criticising the Omar Abdullah-led government for not providing direct flights for the returning students.

Earlier, the Office of the J&K Chief Minister had stated in a post that CM Omar Abdullah had taken note of the transportation issues and directed the Resident Commissioner to coordinate with JKRTC for arranging deluxe sleeper buses for the evacuated students. “The government is making arrangements for their smooth journey home,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) also acknowledged the intervention, stating, “While our primary demand remains connecting flights, we appreciate the prompt response and intervention by the CM’s advisor Nasir Aslam Wani Sahab, who ensured that sleeper buses were arranged.”

Families of other stranded students in Iran continue to wait for further updates, urging the administration to expedite the evacuation process. (JKNS)