Srinagar, July 15, KNT: Spiralling prices of essential food items have become a growing concern across Kashmir, with consumers alleging…
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Srinagar, July 14, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape lost one of its most recognizable and outspoken voices on Tuesday…
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Srinagar, July 13, KNT: Days after accusing the BJP of attempting to topple the National Conference government by allegedly offering…
Read More »![Omar Alleges Bid to Split NC, Claims MLA Offered ₹20–30 Crore to Defect Srinagar, July 11, KNT: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to destabilize the National Conference-led government, alleging that one of his party's legislators from the Jammu region was offered between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore, a ministerial berth and political assurances to defect in what he described as a failed bid to engineer a split in the ruling party. Addressing a gathering after paying tributes to Begum Akbar Jehan at Naseem Bagh, Omar claimed the offer was allegedly conveyed through a Supreme Court lawyer associated with the BJP, who, according to him, assured the legislator that statehood would be restored if he switched allegiance. Declaring that the National Conference would not succumb to pressure or inducements, the Chief Minister warned the BJP against attempting to enter government through what he termed "the back door", asserting that the party's patience should never be misconstrued as weakness. Turning his attack towards the Centre, Omar questioned why an elected government was being forced to stage a protest in New Delhi nearly two years after assuming office merely to seek restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. He said he had deliberately adopted the path of dialogue instead of confrontation, despite being aware that the approach would invite political criticism within Jammu and Kashmir. "I staked my political credibility on the assurance that the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be honoured. I believed dialogue would succeed where confrontation would not. Unfortunately, our patience has been rewarded with continued delay," he said. The Chief Minister as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust reminded the Centre that it had assured the Supreme Court that statehood would be restored after the completion of delimitation and Assembly elections. Both processes, he said, had concluded, yet the commitment remained unfulfilled. Questioning the delimitation exercise, Omar alleged that Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed a politically motivated exercise designed to benefit the BJP. Despite what he termed an attempt to tilt the electoral balance, he said the electorate had defeated those designs by handing the National Conference a decisive mandate. "Our victory has become our punishment," he remarked, questioning why elections were held if the intention was to continue governing Jammu and Kashmir through Raj Bhavan instead of respecting the mandate of an elected government. Escalating his criticism, Omar alleged that the Centre had responded positively to political demands from Ladakh while ignoring similar concerns raised by the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. He claimed that while Ladakh was being engaged on constitutional safeguards, Jammu and Kashmir continued to be denied even routine administrative powers, including the appointment of officers. The Chief Minister said he had repeatedly raised the issue of statehood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah but was consistently told that restoration would take place at an "appropriate time." "What is this appropriate time? Tell us what more remains to be done. If the appropriate time means the formation of a BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir, then say so openly before Parliament and the people," he said. Rejecting criticism over the National Conference's decision to invite political parties and civil society members for the proposed July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar, Omar asserted that the struggle for statehood transcended party politics. "Statehood does not belong to Omar Abdullah or Dr. Farooq Abdullah. It belongs to every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. That is why we have invited everyone to join this movement," he said. [KNT]](https://newsagencyknt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Chief-Minister-Omar-780x470.png)
Srinagar, July 11, KNT: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to destabilize…
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Srinagar, July 10, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday launched a sharp attack…
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Srinagar, July 9, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday questioned the National Conference’s…
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Jammu, July 6, KNT: The investigation into the controversial procurement of books for government school libraries in Jammu and Kashmir…
Read More »![PCC Asks DC Pulwama to Shut Down Illegal Brick Kilns, 18 Brick Kilns Face Regulatory Violations, 7 Listed Without Consent Pulwama, Aug 8, KNT: Pollution Control Committee has asked Deputy Commissioner to shut down illegal brick kilns in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. The latest status of brick kilns operating in south Kashmir's Pulwama district has revealed serious regulatory concerns, with 18 units listed either without consent, with expired Consent to Operate (CTO), or under a “Refused” status. The status details show that seven brick kilns are listed as operating “Without consent”, indicating that the units do not have the required regulatory consent to operate. The seven units are Dar Brick Kiln (415) at Alliepora Shahoora, LBK changed into Bhat Brick Kiln (151) at Nownagri Pulwama, Kamran Brick Kiln 777 at Parigam Newa, Budshah Brick Kiln at Audoora Pulwama, JKB Sanzan (151) at Astapora Sanzan, 417 Brick Kiln changed into 7HH at Achan Litter Pulwama, and Five Star Brick Kiln at Wahipora Pulwama. The list further shows eight brick kilns with expired CTOs, meaning their consent to operate has lapsed. These include Hilal Brick Kiln, Allie Brick Kiln, Bashir Ahmad Magray, Sunflower Brick Kiln, Jalal Brick Kiln, Magray Brick Kiln, Thoker Brick Kiln (A-No) and Shahoorа Brick Kiln (ATM). Another three units have been marked “Refused” in the consent status. These are Mir Brick Kiln at Hastikhud Zadoora Newa, Gulmour Brick Kiln at Tumchinowpora and Dar Brick Kiln at Tumchinowpora. The status as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust also contains brick kilns holding valid CTOs, indicating that the regulatory violations are not uniform across the district. The findings assume significance in view of the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee's direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, to initiate action against brick kilns operating without the requisite permissions and in violation of environmental regulations. The presence of multiple units with expired or refused consent, besides those listed without consent altogether, raises serious questions over their continued operation and the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement in the district. The concerned authorities are now expected to verify the operational status of these units and take action against those found functioning without valid statutory consent. [KNT]](https://newsagencyknt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Brick-Kiln-780x470.jpg)
Kulgam, July 6, KNT: The regulatory status of brick kilns in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has come under serious scrutiny…
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Srinagar, July 5, KNT: The Harkaar IVF and Maternity Centre at Tengpora in Srinagar, where a 35-year-old woman allegedly died…
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Srinagar, July 3, KNT: Tension gripped the Mirza Bagh Residential Campus of the University of Kashmir at Sadrabal on Friday…
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