Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

With the news of demise of J&amp;K Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed goes a dignified man from this world who lived the life of a true Indian Muslim to say the least. Born to a humble family in south Kashmir’s Bijbehara area of Anantnag district on January 12, 1936, he looked at the conflicted region of Kashmir through the prism of Indian ethos. 
 
Several times, he lifted the tricolor in the Valley knowing that it was life-threatening from him to do so. In a political career spanning nearly six decades, the veteran politician who entered the political field in the 1950s emerged as a rival power centre to the mighty Abdullahs, making friends with parties following conflicting ideologies to suit his political agenda. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Jammu-and-Kashmir-CM-Mufti-Mohammad-Sayeed-passes-away-at-79/articleshow/50478820.cms">ALSO READ: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passes away at 79</a> 
 
Childhood: Born in Baba Mohalla of Bijbehara, Sayeed had his early education at a local school and graduated from SP College, Srinagar. He went on to obtain a law degree and Master's degree in Arab History from Aligarh Muslim University. 
 
Late 1950s: He cut his political teeth early, having joined the Democratic National Conference of GM Sadiq in the late 1950s. Recognising the potential of the young lawyer, Sadiq appointed him as the District Convenor of the party. 
 
1962: Sayeed was elected to the state assembly from Bijbehara, the seat which he retained five years later. He was appointed a Deputy Minister by Sadiq, who by then had become Chief Minister. However, he fell out with the party a few years later and joined the Indian National Congress, a courageous but risky decision at that time given the unstinted support of most Kashmiris to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who was in jail. Considered an astute organiser and administrator, Sayeed ensured that Congress not only got a foothold in the Valley but created pockets of staunch support for the party. 
 
1972: He became a Cabinet Minister and also Congress party's leader in the Legislative Council. He was made the state Congress president a couple of years later. As he rapidly grew in stature, Sayeed saw himself as the next Chief Minister of the state. However, all hopes he might have harboured of occupying the hot seat were dashed when the then Prime Minister <keyword id="6354478" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indira-Gandhi">Indira Gandhi</keyword> entered into an accord with Abdullah and facilitated his return as chief minister after a hiatus of 11 years, much against the wishes of Congress workers in general and Sayeed in particular. 
 
Not the one to give up easily, Sayeed engineered a coup of sorts ahead of the 1977 elections as Congress withdrew support to Abdullah's government. The aim was to have a Congress Chief Minister - which would have been Sayeed - in place for elections to control the official machinery but Governor LK Jha brought the state under Governor's rule. It was the first time that Jammu and Kashmir was brought under Governor's rule. . 
 
1977: Assembly election results killed Sayeed's dream of becoming the Chief Minister as Abdullah's National Conference came to power with a thumping majority. 
 
1986: As Farooq Abdullah warmed up to <keyword id="12596" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Gandhi">Rajiv Gandhi</keyword> in 1986 to ensure his return as Chief Minister ahead of the 1987 assembly elections, Sayeed was shifted to Delhi and appointed as the Union Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation. <keyword id="222693" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-National">The National</keyword> Conference and Abdullahs have privately held the wily man from south Kashmir responsible for the intra-party rebellion against and subsequent dismissal of Farooq Abdullah by Governor Jagmohan in 1984. The power tussle between Farooq and his brother-in-law GM Shah led to a permanent estrangement and also saw the latter becoming Chief Minister with Congress support. 
Sayeed was a key player when Governor's Rule was imposed for the second time in the state in 1986. Shah's tenure also did not last long as Congress headed by Sayeed withdrew support to his government leading to imposition of Governor's rule for the second time in 1986. 
 
1987: Sayeed meanwhile quit as tourism minister in 1987 and later co-founded Jan Morcha with VP Singh, who had quit Congress over the Bofors scandal. 
 
1989: He won the Lok Sabha election from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh as a <keyword id="123462" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Janata-Dal">Janata Dal</keyword> candidate and became Union Home Minister in VP Singh's cabinet. The high-points in the political journey of Sayeed, who would have turned 80 on January 12, was his being catapulted to the chair of free India's first Muslim Home Minister at a time when militancy broke out in Kashmir and, years later, becoming the Chief Minister of the restive state for a second time in 2015, heading a coalition with BJP, which had its first brush with power in the only Muslim-majority state. 
 
Sayeed's stint in the Home Ministry, at a time when militancy had begun to rear its ugly head in his home state, would, however, be most remembered for the kidnapping of his third daughter Rubaiya by JKLF. The militants demanded freeing five of their comrades in exchange for Rubaiya's freedom and let her off only after their demand had been met. The kidnapping and subsequent release of the militants, according to Sayeed's rivals, projected India as a "soft state" for the first time. He appointed Jagmohan as Governor despite protests by Farooq Abdullah, who resigned and the state came under Governor's rule again in 1990. 
 
1998: Towards the end of PV Narsimha Rao's tenure as Prime Minister, Sayeed returned to Congress fold with daughter Mehbooba Mufti. Sayeed won the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in 1998 general elections, while Mehbooba became Congress MLA in 1996. 
While the state was brought under <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/A-Fractured-Verdict-Paves-Way-For-Governors-Rule/articleshow/45826306.cms">Governor's Rule in 2002 and 2014</a> due to Sayeed taking time to thrash out coalition dispensations with Congress and BJP respectively, it was his manoeuvrings that saw a democratically elected government give way to administration by the Raj Bhawan in 2008. 
 
1999: With his dream of becoming Chief Minister of the state still unfulfilled, Sayeed parted ways with Congress and floated a regional outfit - Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - in 1999. Some of the things associated with the PDP are considered exemplary of Sayeed's political genius. 
The green flag and pen-inkpot election symbol of the PDP were lifted straight from the Muslim United Front (MUF) - the Jamaat-e-Islami-led conglomerate of anti-National Conference, anti-Congress parties in 1987 assembly elections. 
 
2002: Though MUF received wide public support in the Valley, it had only four seats to show. Its symbols found ready acceptance in the Valley as PDP made significant gains and won 16 seats in the 2002 assembly elections. Although way short of majority in the 87-member house, Sayeed managed to bargain with Congress and secure a three-year stint as the Chief Minister on rotational basis. Sayeed was sworn in as the ninth chief minister of state on November 2, 2002 - fulfilling a long-standing dream. 
 
2008: The wily politician, who enjoyed good relations across the political spectrum at national level, saw his PDP grow to 21 seats in 2008 Assembly elections but surprisingly decided to sit in the opposition. He withdrew support to coalition government headed by Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad in July 2008 following widespread protests over the Amarnath land allotment row that pitted the people of Hindu-dominated Jammu region against the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley. 
 
2014: The youngest party in the state continued to gain in strength as it not only won all the three Lok Sabha seats in the Valley in 2014 general elections but also emerged as the single largest party in the state elections later in the year. Sayeed became the unanimous choice for Chief Minister when PDP and BJP reached an agreement to form a coalition government and took oath on March 1, 2015. 
 
(image credits: JKPDP website)

How this two-time J&K CM rose from being a
lawyer to becoming a political powerhouse #RIPMohammadMuftiSayeed

<keyword id="6354495" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="kashmir">Kashmir</keyword> has been a political issue for the longest and as is with such politically charged situations, there are rumors abound. However, for a lot of us, the real timeline is either unknown or has become hazy over a period of time. So, here is a complete timeline of what has happened-bare facts of how the state of Jammu&amp;Kasmir has unraveled over the last seven decades. 
 
 
 
1947 – The British rule ended in India and the nation was divided into mainly Hindu India and Muslim-majority state of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Pakistan&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Pakistan</a>. 
 1947 – The Pakistan tribal army starts attacking the <keyword id="3744025" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kashmir-region">Kashmir region</keyword> and the Maharaja of Kashmir signs a treaty of accession with India. War breaks out between India and Pakistan over the region. 
 1948 – India raises <keyword id="64132" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kashmir-issue">Kashmir issue</keyword> in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=UN+Security+Council&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">UN Security Council</a>, which in Resolution 47 calls for a referendum on the status of the territory. It aslo calls on Pakistan to withdraw its troops and India to cut its military presence to a minimum. A ceasefire comes into force, but Pakistan refuses to evacuate its troops. Kashmir is for practical purposes partitioned. 
 1951 – Elections are held in the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir back accession to India. India feels that this makes a referendum <keyword id="6355835" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="UN">un</keyword>necessary. The UN and Pakistan say a referendum needs to take into account the views of voters throughout the former princely state. 
 
 
 1953 - Pro-Indian authorities arrest and dismiss Prime Minister <keyword id="293003" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sheikh-Abdullah">Sheikh Abdullah</keyword>, leader of the governing <keyword id="43898" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Conference">National Conference</keyword>, as he takes a pro-referendum stance and delays formal accession to India. A new Jammu and Kashmir government ratifies accession to India. 
 
1957 - The constitution of Indian-administrated Jammu and Kashmir defines it as part of India. 
 
 
 1950s - China gradually occupies eastern Kashmir (<keyword id="71796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aksai-Chin">Aksai Chin</keyword>). 
 1962 – a war starts between India and China and China defeats India in a short war for control of <keyword id="3978218" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="aksai-china">Aksai China</keyword>. 
 
1963 - Pakistan cedes the Trans-Karakoram Tract of Kashmir to China. 
 
 
 
1965 - A small war between Indian and Pakistan over Kashmir starts and ends in a ceasefire and a return to the previous positions. 
 
1971-72 - Another Indo-Pakistan war ends in defeat for Pakistan and leads to the 1972 Simla Agreement.This turns the Kashmir ceasefire line into the Line of Control, pledges both sides to settle their differences through negotiations, and calls for a final settlement of the Kashmir dispute. The Agreement forms the basis of Pakistani-Indian relations thereafter. 
 
 
 
1974 - The Opposition Plebiscite Front in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir drops demand for a referendum in return for extensive autonomy in an agreement with the Indian government. Sheikh Abdullah becomes chief minister, and his political dynasty continues to dominate the National Conference and state after his death in 1982. 
 
 
 1984 - <keyword id="6354416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword> gains control over the Siachen Glacier, an area not demarcated by the Line of Control. Pakistan has been making frequent attempts to capture the area in the following decades. 
 1987 - Disputed state elections in Indian-administrated Jammu and Kashmir give a thrust to a pro-independence insurgency centred around the Jammu and <keyword id="307591" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kashmir-Liberation-Front">Kashmir Liberation Front</keyword> (<keyword id="94546" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="JKLF">JKLF</keyword>). India also accuses Pakistan of fomenting the insurgency by despatching fighters across the Line of Control, which Pakistan denies. 
 
 
 
1990 - The insurgency escalates after the Indian Army kills about 100 demonstrators at Gawakadal Bridge. Attacks and threats lead to the flight of almost all Hindus from the Kashmir Valley area of the state. India imposes Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
1990s - The insurgency keeps on continuing, with Kashmiri militants training in Pakistan and India deploying hundreds of thousands of troops in Jammu and Kashmir. It’s the civilians that have been facing violence by both sides. 
 
1999 - India and Pakistan go to war again after militants cross from Pakistani-administered Kashmir into the Indian-administered Kargil district. India repulses the attack, accuses Pakistan of being behind it, and breaks off relations. 
 2001-2004 - Moves to boost relations between the two countries are punctuated by continuing violence, notably an attack on the parliament of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in <keyword id="41568" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Srinagar">Srinagar</keyword> in 2001. 
 
2010 - Major protests erupt in the Kashmir Valley of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir over the summer after a demonstrator is killed by the Indian army. The protests abate in September after the government announce measures to ease tension. 
 2011 August - Chief Minister <keyword id="19464" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Omar-Abdullah">Omar Abdullah</keyword> announces an amnesty for the 1,200 young men who threw stones at security forces during the anti-government protests in the Kashmir Valley in 2010. Indian <keyword id="64385" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Human-Rights-Commission">State Human Rights Commission</keyword> confirms presence of more than 2,000 unidentified bodies in unmarked graves near the Line of Control. Activists say many may be people who disappeared after being arrested by security forces. 
 
 
 2013 February - <keyword id="3978220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="kashmiri-jaish-e-mohammed">Kashmiri Jaish-e-Mohammed</keyword> member <keyword id="165584" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mohammad-Afzal-Guru">Mohammad Afzal Guru</keyword> hanged over role in 2001 Indian parliament terror attack, prompting protests in which two young men are killed. 
 
2013 September - Prime ministers of India and Pakistan meet and agree to try reduce the number of violent incidents at their disputed border in Kashmir. 
 
2014 August - India cancels talks with Pakistan after accusing it of interfering in India's internal affairs. The decision comes after Pakistan's High Commissioner in Delhi consulted Kashmiri separatist leaders in advance of the talks. 
 During a visit to the disputed border state of Jammu and Kashmir, India's Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> accuses Pakistan of waging a proxy war against India in Kashmir. 
 
2014 October - Pakistan and India exchange strongly-worded warnings, after a flare-up of violence across their common border leaves at least 18 people dead. 
 
 
 2015 March - India's ruling <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> party is sworn into government in Indian-administered Kashmir for first time in coalition with local People's <keyword id="155982" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Democratic-Party">Democratic Party</keyword>, with the latter's <keyword id="427966" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mufti-Mohammad-Sayeed">Mufti Mohammad Sayeed</keyword> as chief minister. 
 
2015 September - Muslim separatist leaders in Indian-administered Kashmir close shops, businesses and government departments in protest at the enforcement of a colonial-era ban on eating beef. 
 
2015 November - One person dies in violent protests following a visit to Indian-administered Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
 
 
 2016 April - <keyword id="6375812" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mehbooba-Mufti">Mehbooba Mufti</keyword>, the leader of the People's Democratic Party (<keyword id="42369" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="PDP">PDP</keyword>), becomes the first female chief minister of Indian-administered Kashmir following the death of her father and party founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. 
 
 
 2016 July - Authorities impose an indefinite curfew in most parts of Indian-administered Kashmir after the killing of popular militant by security forces of <keyword id="2931728" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Burhan-Wani">Burhan Wani</keyword>, a popular militant and top commander of the <keyword id="50913" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hizbul-Mujahideen">Hizbul Mujahideen</keyword> group, sparks violent protests. 
 
 
 
2016 August - A curfew in most parts of Indian-administered Kashmir is lifted but schools, shops and most banks remain shut and mobile and internet services remain suspended. At least 68 civilians and two security officials have died and more than 9,000 people injured in over 50 days of violence according to official tallies. 
 
2016 September - India and Pakistan exchange a war of words after 18 Indian soldiers are killed in a raid by gunmen on URI base in Indian-administered Kashmir. 
 
2016 September - India says it has carried out "surgical strikes" against suspected militants along the de-facto border with Pakistan in Kashmir but Pakistan rejects the claims. 
 
 
 
Today: the area is still living under a tension. The civilians are still scared that either the militants or the army will cause them harm. The curfew has led to the loss of lives and business. The main source of income- tourism has been at halt since August. While the nations are still fighting over the land, the leaders have forgotten the fact that there are still people living in that heaven on earth. 
 
(image: IndiaTimes)

Kashmir: The Bare Facts of a region torn into pieces

Like her mentor and former Chief Minister of <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, MG Ramachandran,<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/All-you-need-to-know-about-the-only-Bollywood-film-Jayalalithaa-acted-in/articleshow/55830866.cms"> J Jayalalithaa</a> too passed away while in office. 
 She thus became the third Chief Minister from the state to die while in power. Both MGR and his arch rival and DMK founder, <keyword id="513498" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="CN-Annadurai">CN Annadurai</keyword> had died while in office. 
 She is also the second Chief Minister who died while holding power in India this year. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister <keyword id="427966" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mufti-Mohammad-Sayeed">Mufti Mohammad Sayeed</keyword> passed away in January while he was running the first BJP-PDP coalition government in the state. 
 According to <keyword id="56368" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Apollo-Hospitals">Apollo Hospitals</keyword>, <keyword id="42104" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jayalalithaa">Jayalalithaa</keyword> breathed her last at 11.30 pm last night. She had suffered a massive cardiac arrest the previous night. 
 
She had been in the hospital since September 2. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Jayalalithaa
becomes third Tamil Nadu CM to die while in power

As the news of the demise of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=mufti+mohammad+sayeed">Mufti Mohammad Sayeed</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=jammu+and+kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir’s</a> Chief Minister began taking momentum, people all over the country reacted with shock and sadness, at the loss of such a dignified man and an even efficient politician. 
 
However, the question on everyone’s mind seemed to overlap. Who would be the successor to the 79-year-old and take the responsibility of a state marred in controversy? 
 
The answer to that question seems to be in Mufti’s blood. 
 His daughter <keyword id="6375812" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mehbooba-Mufti">Mehbooba Mufti</keyword> is all set to take oath as the Chief Minister of <keyword id="17605" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jammu-and-kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword> on Sunday, January 10. 
 
Mehbooba is being backed by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=PDP">PDP</a>, which has been forced into unchartered terrain for the second time in over a year due to Mufti’s death. 
 
It goes without saying that Mehbooba, who joined politics ‘accidentally’ has huge shoes to fill, but the president of the People’s Democratic Party is also known to be a firebrand and come Sunday, she’ll end up being the first woman Chief minister of J&amp;K. 
 
And, thus we at Business Insider take you through the life and times of Mehbooba Mufti. 
 Mehbooba was born on May 22, 1959 in Akhran Nowpora, Anantnag District in India and is the eldest daughter of the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. She is also the President of <keyword id="42369" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="PDP">PDP</keyword>, a party that her father found in 1999. 
 
Her accident stint in politics however started in 1996 when her father, who was at the time spearheading the Congress electoral battle in Kashmir was at a loss of candidates to field. He then got his two brothers-in-law, wife and daughter to contest the state assembly elections. 
Mehbooba, who was then a law graduate was fielded from the family home turf of Bijbehara and ended up being one of the two Congress candidates to win from Kashmir. 
 
Mehbooba quickly made a mark as the leader of the opposition in the assembly, taking on the government of then chief minister Farooq Abdullah with severity. 
 
Then in 1999, when Mufti split from the Indian National Congress to form the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party, she took on the charge of being vice-president. 
 
Resigning from her assembly seat, she went on to contest the parliamentary elections in 1999 from Srinagar where she lost to the sitting member<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/15-Most-Popular-Tweets-From-Politicians-This-GeneralElection/articleshow/33731547.cms"> Omar Abdullah</a> but won the Pahalgam seat in the state assembly from south Kashmir when assembly elections were held again in 2002. 
 
And, when in 2002, Mufti became the CM of a PDP-Congress coalition in 2002, it immediately became clear that Mehbooba was the main architect of fulfilling her father’s dream. 
 
What will work in her favour is the fact that Mehbooba is able to relate to common people, particularly women, far more easily than her father. Establishing the party with hard work in the villages of south Kashmir since the late 1990’s, she’s made it a point to extensively visit common people who had suffered in the course of militancy and counter-insurgency operations. 
 
She has also been elected to the Lok Sabha from Anantnag seat in 2004 and 2014. 
 
But thoughtout it all, she remained dedicated to her father, even till his last breath. Over the past week, she has been tending him day and night in the hospital, even telling the chief minister’s staff to leave the work to her, as it was her job- not theirs. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Mehbooba Mufti: All you need to know about Jammu and
Kashmir’s first female Chief Minister

In 2012, GB Pant hospital, the lone pediatric health facility in <keyword id="6354495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="KASHMIR" source="Orion">Kashmir</keyword> recorded 358 neonatal deaths from January 1 to May 18. The high neonatal mortality rate triggered uproar in the Valley prompting then Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to announce that a 500-bed <keyword id="6354493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CHILDREN" source="Orion">children</keyword> hospital will be set up in Srinagar in the shortest possible time. On May 31, 2012, Omar Abdullah led regime cleared the proposal for building the 200-bed maternity and 250-bed children hospital over an area of about 70 kanals at Bemina in Srinagar. The facility that was to come up within no time remained in limbo for nearly 10 years. The work on the hospital was initially started in 2013, but it went on at snail's pace. In 2015, when late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed came into power, he once again laid the foundation stone for a 500-bed Mother-Child Hospital. Neither the Omar Abdullah led regime nor the dispensation led by Mehbooba Mufti could complete the children hospital project. The first deadline was missed in 2014, the second in 2017, and the third in 2018. In July 2021, the J&amp;K Administrative Council headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took note of the project missing several deadlines. The Council approved the construction of an exclusive 500-bed <keyword id="2782925" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PEDIATRIC-HOSPITAL" source="Orion">pediatric hospital</keyword> at Bemina. After the Council gave its nod, the work on the facility, which was left incomplete by the former political regimes, commenced and the project is ready. It is all set to become functional from September 26 (Monday). Machinery and other equipment have been shifted to the hospital. From next week the Out Patient Department and admissions at GB Pant hospital at Sonawar in Srinagar will be closed and at the same time, admission of patients will start at children hospital Bemina. 70-year long wait ends It's after 70-long years that Kashmir is all set to get an exclusive 500-bed facility for children. For seven decades politicians, who ruled Jammu and Kashmir just made tall promises but failed to deliver. Kashmir having a population of more than one crore had just one 130-bed hospital from 1947 to 2022 for children. What an Irony! The politicians, who ruled J&amp;K till 2018, didn't focus on development and governance. They remained busy with raking up the issues which had got nothing to do with the welfare of a common man. After August 5, 2019 -- when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&amp;K's special status and divided it into two Union Territories -- the Himalayan region has witnessed massive development. The projects like building a children's hospital, which remained incomplete due to one or other reason, stand completed and have been thrown open for the public. Relentless efforts The children's hospital at Bemina had become a typical example of missed deadlines. The mega project had to wait for one decade for its commissioning. The hospital has become a reality due to the relentless efforts that were put in by the present dispensation in J&amp;K led by LG Manoj Sinha. After the Administrative Council in the Union Territory gave its nod for the hospital in July last year the officials and the executing agencies were told in clear terms that no delay would be acceptable and the results are evident. The hospital having all the modern facilities is ready. GB Pant hospital The GB Pant hospital at Sonawar had started functioning in 2007. Before 2007 the lone Children Hospital in Kashmir was located next to Lal Ded maternity hospital at Lal Mandi in Srinagar. The 130-bed GB Pant hospital used to cater to children from across the Valley. From OPD to emergency and from wards to laboratories, every section of the hospital remained congested all the time. Three to four patients used to occupy one bed in the health facility, leading to fears of the spread of infections and other communicable diseases. There was no dedicated parking space at the GB Pant hospital despite it being the lone facility for children that catered to patients from all the corners of Kashmir. The hospital was located on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and the road leading to it remained clogged with a heavy flow of traffic. Many patients requiring urgent treatment used to get stuck in traffic jams for hours. Politicians ignored the burning issue The GB Pant hospital used to hog the headlines for wrong reasons every now and then. Politicians, who ruled Jammu and Kashmir, were aware of the fact that Kashmir needs a big health facility for the children as the existing one was unable to cater to the rush. They knew that neonates and small kids being admitted in the hospital deserve better health care facilities. As the 500-bed new children's hospital is being thrown open in Kashmir, people are asking why the politicians couldn't do the same despite them enjoying power for 70-years. What stopped them from setting up the facilities that could have helped a common man? Is it that they were least bothered about the sufferings of people? Or it was simply their incompetence? Turning Point After the abrogation of Article 370, the people of Kashmir have understood that New Delhi always wanted to provide them with all the facilities but their own leaders, who claimed to represent Kashmiris and as on date are still projecting themselves as 'Messiahs (saviours)', were least interested in helping their own people. From 1990 -- when the Pakistan sponsored insurgency broke out in J&amp;K -- till 2018, Kashmir-based leaders used to claim that no development can take place in the Himalayan region till the so-called Kashmir "issue" is resolved. However, during the past three years the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proven that "where there is a will there's a way," what J&amp;K couldn't get in 70-years has got in 3-years. The 500-bed children hospital is yet another milestone aimed at making the lives of people easy and another step towards sending a message to the people of Kashmir that the country stands with them and the government is committed to provide them with all the facilities and build 'Naya Jammu and Kashmir'. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/former-vice-president-venkaiah-naidu-to-release-book-on-pm-modis-speeches/articleshow/94392168.cms">Former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to release book on PM Modi's speeches</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/doodlage-and-ecokaari-startups-are-converting-waste-into-bags-and-clothes/articleshow/94388327.cms">Fashion forward: These startups are converting waste into bags and clothes</a>

Kashmir gets 500-bed pediatric hospital

Following the controversial remarks of <keyword id="56159" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hurriyat">Hurriyat</keyword> hardliner <keyword id="314949" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Masarat-Alam">Masarat Alam</keyword>, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir government to share a report on the circumstances that lead to the release of the separatist leader from jail. Alam has over 15 cases pending against him. 
	 
	The move comes after the J&amp;K wing of BJP raised objections to the statements made by Alam while addressing press conference. “Mufti Sayeed should not try to take political mileage out of it. I was released through a normal legal procedure since my Public safety Act (PSA) detention was about to end in the next two to three days,” quoted Alam in a PTI report. 
	 
	He further added, “What difference does it make if one person is released when there are thousands languishing in jails." Alam has been held responsible for the killing of youths in the unrest that took place in the valley in 2010. 
	 
	The report also alleged that the 44-year old separatist has 15 cases pending against him that include cases under Section 120 and 121 Ranbir Penal Code (waging war against the country) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 
	 
	According to the PTI report, officials of the J&amp;K home ministry worked on Sunday as well in order to prepare the report. 
	 
	It should be noted that the recent release of Alam has strained the ties between People’ Democratic Party and BJP following Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s statement in which he applauded Pakistan, Hurriyat Conference and militant outfits for allowing smooth conduct of elections in the state.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh seeks report over release of
separatist leader Masarat Alam

Even after a high turnout that was witnessed for the first time in last 28 years, <keyword id="17605" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jammu-and-kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword> failed to get a government. Eighteen days after the results to tumultuous assembly elections were declared, political parties could not cobble up together to stake a claim. This results in the state slipping into Governor’s rule and N N Vohra taking over the reins of the administration. 
 
The Governor’s rule has disappointed people at large as they were expecting a government in place. Since Omar Abdullah, who headed the NC-Congress coalition for six years declined to continue as care taker chief minister which he could have till January 18 when the term of the Assembly would end, there was no alternative but to fill the vacuum with a spell of Governor’s rule. 
 
Not only the people had voted for a change, that was reflected in results and looked forward for better governance, but people particularly in Kashmir had pinned hopes for a speedy rehabilitation process for flood victims. Kashmir had seen severe floods in September, affecting nearly a million people. A proper government was need of the hour to address their requirements. 
 However, the fractured mandate that these elections threw up temporarily blocked the road to formation of a government. Not only were the seats divided among many parties but the clear division on the communal lines also played a significant role in this delay. As Jammu preferred <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>, this marked the beginning of the end of a fragile unity of a state that is diverse in nature. In contrast, Kashmiris have voted for all from <keyword id="42369" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="PDP">PDP</keyword> to NC and Congress. Regional aspirations must have played a role in Kashmir but not the religion. Even as people were outraged on the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during Congress-led UPA, the Sopore constituency where from he hailed ironically returned a Congress candidate to the Assembly. 
 Out of 87-member house, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as the single largest party with 28 followed by BJP with 25, <keyword id="43898" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Conference">National Conference</keyword> 15, Congress 12 and others seven. Both NC and Congress extended support to PDP to form the government to keep BJP away and this could be possible with the support of few independents. Reports suggested that both BJP and NC had a “failed” round of negotiations in Delhi two days after the results were declared. But both parties denied the same. 
 
For PDP, the situation turned piquant. On the one hand they maintained that they couldn’t trust NC and going with Congress, according to a PDP insider was “against the mandate of people”, but on other they had to walk on a razor’s edge to deal with BJP. 
 
Both PDP and BJP are ideologically poles apart. BJP’s integrationist agenda for Kashmir is diametrically opposite to PDP’s Self Rule. Still they had opened up back channel communication and even exchanged papers for stitching up an alliance. PDP’s patron and old hoarse of Kashmir politics Mufti Mohammad Sayeed weighed more on having BJP alliance and to give time to mature it was not his worry. By exploring this option he wants to carry along the Jammu region, which has overwhelmingly voted for BJP. “There would be a vacuum if we would go with NC or PDP as there would be zero participation in the government from Jammu as no elected member could join cabinet from the Hindu dominated belt” a senior PDP leader explained. So the motive was to seek more time to find a middle road. 
 
But Omar Abdullah’s decision to call it a day halfway prompted the Governor to recommend his rule. The talks between PDP and BJP have not been called off and BJP has not refused to discuss three crucial points of Mufti’s agenda viz resumption of dialogue with Pakistan and separatists, keeping Article 370 off the table, strengthening cross LOC CMB’s and withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas. Sources say that structured dialogue may begin next week. 
 
However, the fact is that the state is in a chaotic situation where the administration has to be manned by a few bureaucrats. The successful elections, which always are a challenge in Jammu and Kashmir, had rekindled the hope for a stable government but it worsened those prospects and a commoner in Kashmir is fuming that why political parties could not put their inherent acrimony behind and move forward to give them a government they deserved. With Governor’s rule in place, only worry now is that Delhi is not repeated in Jammu and Kashmir. No one wants a re-election in the state. 
About the author: The writer is a senior journalist and Editor of Rising Kashmir, Srinagar. 
Disclaimer: This is the author's own opinion.

You Searched For "Mohammad Mufti Sayeed death" and got 7 results

How this two-time J&K CM rose from being a lawyer to becoming a political powerhouse #RIPMohammadMuftiSayeed

Anushree Singh

Kashmir: The Bare Facts of a region torn into pieces

HASAN BABAR

Jayalalithaa becomes third Tamil Nadu CM to die while in power

Poulomi Das

Mehbooba Mufti: All you need to know about Jammu and Kashmir’s first female Chief Minister

Poulomi Das

Kashmir gets 500-bed pediatric hospital

IANS

Union Minister Rajnath Singh seeks report over release of separatist leader Masarat Alam

BI India Bureau

A Fractured Verdict Paves Way For Governor’s Rule

Shujaat Bukhari

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides