Srinagar, Jan 01: Stressing that there is no rift within the National Conference, Rajya Sabha MP Chowdry Ramzan on Thursday said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will soon meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, adding that party MP Aga Ruhullah is neither against the party nor its leadership.

Talking to reporters here after a felicitation ceremony organised following his appointment as Additional General Secretary of the National Conference, Ramzan said the party is united and focused on its objectives. He said differences, if any, are only in approach and not in intent.

“There is no rift in the party. Aga Ruhullah is young and wants things to happen quickly. That is the only difference. Our goals and direction are the same, but such matters take time to materialise,” Ramzan said.

He said he recently met Aga Ruhullah during the Parliament session and found him fully aligned with the party leadership. “I did not find him against the party or its leadership. He is committed to the same political objectives,” he added.

On engagement with the Centre, Ramzan said a memorandum of demands has already been submitted to the Union Home Minister, who has assured that the issues raised will be addressed. “The Home Minister has given an assurance, and the Chief Minister will meet him soon to discuss other related matters,” he said.

Dismissing claims of delay by the Centre, Ramzan said it has been only a short period since his meeting with Shah. “It has been just about ten days. These processes take time and there is no deliberate delay,” he maintained.

Ramzan also informed that a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs is scheduled to be held in Port Blair, where he will participate as a committee member. “Important issues will come up for discussion during the meeting,” he said.

On party organisation, he said NC workers are active across Jammu and Kashmir but emphasised the need for stronger outreach. “We need to engage more with our workers, especially in far-flung areas, understand their issues and strengthen the party at the grassroots,” Ramzan said, reiterating his commitment to further strengthening the National Conference.

Jammu, Dec 31: Leader of Opposition Shri Sunil Sharma today launched a scathing attack on the National Conference (NC) government, accusing it of institutionalising nepotism and betraying the aspirations of unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sunil Sharma said that despite tall promises made during elections, the Omar Abdullah-led government has failed to generate employment opportunities for deserving youth. Instead of opening doors for educated and qualified young aspirants, the government has resorted to re-employing retired officials through questionable administrative decisions.

He pointed out that a recently reappointed retired officer—reportedly a close relative of a senior political leader—was brought back into service through orders issued by the General Administration Department (GAD). Earlier, another retired official was similarly accommodated in the Tourism Department.

Terming these actions as “anti-youth and anti-merit,” the Leader of Opposition said the NC government has severely eroded public trust and reduced its promise of providing one lakh jobs to a mockery.

“Omar Abdullah promised one lakh jobs to unemployed youth. What has been delivered instead is blatant nepotism, where posts are handed out to relatives and favourites. This betrayal of public trust is unacceptable, and the government must immediately put an end to such unethical and corrupt practices,” Shri Sharma said.

Targeting the NC government’s welfare claims, Sharma dismissed the promise of subsidised electricity as misleading and deceptive.

“Where are the 200 free electricity units promised in the last budget session? Even under the Prime Minister’s Surya Urja Muft Bijli Yojana, nearly eight lakh registered families in Jammu and Kashmir are still waiting. This government survives on false assurances and repeated failures,” he stated.

The Leader of Opposition further said that the NC government has failed comprehensively on major fronts, including employment generation, governance, and development.

“They remain engaged in rhetoric and diversionary narratives, while development on the ground remains stagnant. Projects completed during the Lieutenant Governor’s administration are now being projected by NC ministers merely for publicity and photo opportunities,” he added.

Referring to his recent visit to Assam, Sunil Sharma expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s growing strength across the country.

“The BJP is poised to form the government in Assam for the third consecutive time, and West Bengal will follow. The people of India are choosing development, transparency, and good governance over deception,” he concluded.

Srinagar, Jan 01: National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah, on Thursday expressed hope that cordial relations with neighbouring countries would help overcome prevailing challenges, saying that with God’s grace, better days lie ahead.

Speaking to the media persons, Dr Abdullah welcomed recent diplomatic developments and said he was encouraged by India’s External Affairs Minister attending the last rites of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

He described Bangladesh as an old and trusted friend of India and stressed the need to further strengthen such regional friendships.

Commenting on the difficulties faced by Kashmir’s traditional sectors, including shawl traders and artisans, Abdullah said hardships are part of life but cautioned people against falling prey to divisive and radical mindsets.

He said that certain elements are pursuing dangerous paths with questionable intentions.

Issuing a strong warning, the NC chief said attempts were being made to impose authoritarian systems and extremist ideologies. Drawing a parallel with history, he said such ideologies do not last forever and will eventually come to an end, just as Nazism did. (KNC)

Srinagar, Jan 01: Light snowfall occurred in the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley during the last 12 hours as the plains were lashed by rain on Thursday.

The revellers had a great time in Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam tourist resorts, where snowfall occurred on the New Year’s Eve. The tourists could be seen singing and dancing to welcome the new year.

Scores of tourists also gathered at the city centre, Lal Chowk in Srinagar, braving the winter chill to usher in the new year.

Hotels, lodges and guest houses are completely sold out in the Valley this time, giving renewed hope to thousands of locals connected with the tourist industry that 2026 will be peaceful and bring good fortune to the people. The tourist flow to the valley suffered immensely following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. Now, with the winter tourism reviving, the people in the valley are praying for more snowfall.

The residents of Srinagar and other towns and cities in Kashmir missed the traditional snowfall on New Year’s Eve, dampening the spirits of children, who had planned snow-related sports and activities to celebrate the moment.

Srinagar city had 2.2 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg minus 5.5 and Pahalgam 0.4 as the minimum temperature.

Jammu city had 10.7 degrees Celsius, Katra town 8.7, Batote 5.7, Banihal 3.9 and Bhaderwah one degree as the minimum temperature.

The 40-day-long period of intense winter cold, locally called the ‘Chillai Kalan’, started on December 21, 2025 and will end on January 30, 2026.

If J&K misses a heavy snowfall during this 40-day-long period, then people may face serious problems in irrigation for agriculture, horticulture, and even in meeting the drinking water needs. Heavy snowfall in Chillai Kalan replenishes the perennial water reservoirs in the mountains, which sustain the various water resources of Jammu and Kashmir during the summer months. Already, various rivers, streams, springs, wells and lakes are running at their lowest due to a lack of sufficient rain/snow this winter. December 2025 has recorded a 28 per cent deficit in rainfall.

Budgam, Jan 01: Continuing its relentless efforts to crackdown on financial frauds and scams, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) has filed a chargesheet against two accused for cheating a woman aspirant by providing her with a forged appointment order for government job in Agriculture department, officials said on Thursday.

They said the chargesheet has been filed against the accused before the Court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Chadoora, Budgam in connection with FIR No. 43/2021 registered under Sections 420/511, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. They identified the accused as Showkat Ahmad Hajam S/o Mohd Akbar Hajam R/o Wagoora, Tehsil Chadoora, District Budgam and Irshad Ahmad Ahanger S/o Ghulam Mohd Ahanger R/o Ratnipora, District Pulwama.

An EOW spokesperson said in a statement that the case stems from a communication received from the Deputy Director, Agriculture, alleging that a woman attempted to join the Directorate on the basis of a fake and invalid appointment order. It was reported that on 30.11.2019, a woman visited the office with a photocopy of a purported official communication bearing No. Agri/ESstt-NG/2018-19/8451-53 dated 22.11.2019. On verification, the communication was found to be fake and fictitious, having not been issued by the Directorate. Further scrutiny revealed that the appointment orders quoted therein, viz; Order No. 385/Estt. of 2019 dated 26.04.2019 and Order No. 16/Estt. of 2019 dated 29.01.2019, were also forged.

During investigation, he said, it was established that accused Irshad Ahmad Ahanger had obtained the aforesaid fake and forged communication from co-accused Showkat Ahmad Hajam. The said forged order showed three persons as selected/appointed as orderlies in the Agriculture Department, Kashmir Division. On the basis of this fake order, one lady from Pathan, Pulwama was cheated and induced to believe that she had been legitimately appointed, pursuant to which she attempted to join the Agriculture Department, Kashmir at Srinagar on 30.11.2019.

Investigation further revealed that the accused persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy to prepare and use forged appointment orders with an intention to cheat aspirants of government employment. Although no monetary transaction or wrongful gain/loss could be established, the act constituted an attempt to cheat, attracting Section 511 IPC, the statement reads.

Accordingly, the statement further reads, upon completion of investigation, the chargesheet has been filed before the competent court of law for judicial determination.