Srinagar, Sept 23: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday warned that India could “resemble a banana republic” if electoral rolls continue to be altered according to the wishes of the ruling BJP, while praising two Election Commissioners for raising objections to decisions taken by the poll panel.

Speaking about reports that two Election Commissioners had raised objections on several occasions to decisions and positions taken by the Election Commission, Mufti said their dissent was important for the health of Indian democracy.

“Today they are trying to subvert the very fundamental of Indian democracy, which is the electoral process, by, you know, fudging the electoral rolls, which the two Election Commissioners have pointed out,” she said.

She said India and Pakistan, which she described as “sibling states”, appeared to be competing with each other in ways that harmed their own people and institutions.

“I feel that our both the sibling states, India and Pakistan, they are trying to undo each other, competing with each other — who can damage their people the most, who can damage their country the most,” Mufti said.

Referring to India’s description of itself as the world’s largest democracy, she said the country’s electoral process was central to that democratic identity.

“Our country India, which is seen as the largest democracy in the world and which our Prime Minister proudly talks about, ‘mother of democracy’, whenever he is abroad,” she said.

“But if it continues to be like this, you know, where electoral rolls — deletion and addition — happens at BJP’s will, then there are dangers that at some point of time our country, which is the largest democracy in the world, is going to resemble a banana republic.”

Mufti also contrasted the situation in India with developments in Pakistan, particularly the detention of the sisters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“At the same time, look at Pakistan, which goes around the world as a peacemaker, as mediator of peace, is crushing dissent within its country with an iron hand,” she said.

“Look at — I mean, detaining Imran Khan’s sisters, who are unarmed, who are protesting very peacefully, them detaining just because they are trying to stand up for their brother. What does it speak?”

She said the detention of women protesters was at odds with Pakistan’s international image.

“You are going around the world as a peacemaker and, in your home, inside your house, women who have no weapons in their hands, you are detaining them,” she said.

Mufti said the “only silver lining” she could see was that India still had officials willing to question those in power.

“The only silver lining I can see is that in India we still have people like the two Election Commissioners who have the courage and integrity to question the people in power,” she said.

She contrasted this with Pakistan, saying there were no comparable voices within the establishment willing to question what she described as the “arbitrary detention” of Imran Khan’s sisters.

“It’s a very, very sorry state of affairs,” she said.

Mufti also referred to the deletion of voters from draft electoral rolls, saying the scale of the changes made the independence of Election Commission officials particularly important.

“If we do not have people like the two Election Commissioners, I don’t want to take their name at this point of time. I don’t know what trouble they are going to go through,” she said.

“They will be ED raids now, Income Tax raids now. What will happen to them?”

She concluded by reiterating her warning about the consequences of continued changes to electoral rolls.

“But if we continue like this, I mean, there will be a time when we are going to resemble a banana republic. There will be no democracy,” Mufti said.

Srinagar, Sep 23: Police on Wednesday attached a residential property in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district under UAPA in a terror-related case.

The residential property was attached under Section 25 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in connection with an FIR registered in the north Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.

The attached property comprises a double-storeyed residential house at Namblan village in Sheeri belonging to accused Aijaz Ahmad Ganie, he said.

During the course of the investigation, the property was found, prima facie, to have been used for providing shelter and logistical support to terrorists and facilitating terrorist activities, thereby attracting the relevant provisions of the UAPA concerning proceeds of terrorism, the spokesman said.

The attachment was carried out after obtaining requisite approval from the Director General of Police, he said.

A public notice was also displayed at the property, prohibiting its sale, transfer, lease, mortgage or creation of any third-party interest, the spokesman added.

He said the action forms part of Baramulla Police’s sustained efforts to disrupt and dismantle the logistical and support infrastructure of terror networks and to proceed, in accordance with law, against persons and properties found involved in facilitating terrorist activities.

Jammu and Kashmir Bank is set to issue a recruitment notification for assistant and officer-level positions within the next few days, Managing Director and CEO Amitava Chatterjee said on Tuesday.

Speaking during the bank’s 88th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here, Chatterjee said the bank had finalised negotiations with the agency that would conduct the recruitment examinations for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

“After 2021, the bank is going for recruitment of both assistants as well as officers. The agreement for conducting the examinations for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is being finalised, and the bank will come out with a notification in a few days,” Chatterjee said.

He said the recruitment would be carried out in accordance with the bank’s operational requirements and would also take into account the need for employees with proficiency in local languages.

“As far as the bank is concerned, we will do what we have done in the past. There is a requirement for people with local language proficiency, though the numbers will be limited,” he said.

Chatterjee said the bank’s presence across 22 states outside Jammu and Kashmir had created a requirement for personnel familiar with local languages.

“The bank is present in 22 states outside Jammu and Kashmir, and we need people with local language proficiency to serve customers there. So, the bank may decide in future to hire a few employees to support our existing staff strength,” he said.

The recruitment announcement came during the bank’s 88th AGM, chaired by Part-time Non-Executive Chairman S. Krishnan and attended by Chatterjee, members of the Board, senior management, shareholders and other stakeholders.

The recruitment announcement came during the bank’s 88th AGM, which was chaired by Part-time Non-Executive Chairman S. Krishnan and attended by Chatterjee, members of the Board, senior management, shareholders and other stakeholders.

The AGM was held under the theme “Trust, Tradition and Transformation”. Addressing shareholders, Krishnan said the bank’s future growth would have to be aligned with its wider economic and social contribution to the region.

“Our past gives us identity. Our present gives us strength. Our future gives us responsibility. Trust is our inheritance. Tradition is our anchor. Transformation is our obligation,” he said.

He also highlighted the bank’s role in supporting entrepreneurship and said its participation in Mission YUVA was significant in creating economic opportunities for a new generation of entrepreneurs.

On digital transformation, Krishnan said technology should ultimately serve the objective of improving customer experience and making banking “simpler, safer and more accessible”.

Chatterjee, meanwhile, said the bank had maintained its growth trajectory despite challenging circumstances and had recorded its fourth consecutive year of record profitability.

“Notwithstanding the challenging circumstances, your Bank maintained its growth trajectory and delivered a fourth consecutive year of record profitability. Net profit reached an all-time high of Rs 2,363 crore, registering year-on-year growth of 13.5%. The growth momentum has continued into the current financial year. By June 2026, the Bank crossed the historic milestone of Rs 3 trillion in total business,” he said.

Chatterjee said the bank’s performance reflected improvements across profitability, asset quality, efficiency and capital strength.

“These outcomes demonstrate that our progress is broad-based, with profitability, asset quality, efficiency and capital strength advancing together. For our investors, this represents a resilient and increasingly diversified franchise, supported by strong fundamentals and a clear strategy for long-term value creation. As we grow, our focus will remain on the quality and sustainability of earnings rather than growth in isolation,” he said.

On digital banking, he said investments in digital platforms, data analytics, cybersecurity and process automation were improving customer experience and operational efficiency.

“The rapid growth of up to 94% in digital transactions during FY 2025-26 demonstrates the increasing trust customers place in our digital ecosystem,” he said.

Chatterjee said the bank would continue to invest in its workforce and technology while strengthening cybersecurity and customer experience.

“As we reflect with pride on a legacy spanning nearly nine decades, we remain conscious of the responsibility that accompanies it. Our aspiration is clear: to become the ‘Bank of Choice’. Towards this goal, we will continue to invest in our people and technology, reinforce cybersecurity, improve customer experience and institutionalise a culture of innovation and excellence,” he said.

During the question-and-answer session, shareholders raised queries on various aspects of the bank’s operations, including recruitment. Chatterjee responded to the questions.

DGM and Company Secretary Mohammad Shafi Mir also read out the Auditor’s Report, comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Secretarial Audit Report. He informed shareholders that the e-voting results and Scrutinizer’s Report would be made available on the websites of the bank, its registrar and transfer agent, and the stock exchanges within two working days of the conclusion of the AGM.

The AGM concluded with shareholders appreciating the bank’s performance during the financial year 2025-26.