MUMBAI
It doesn’t matter who you are when it comes to Kashmir. What happened to King Khan in US, Vivek Oberoi faced same in the valley. The actor felt the heat in autumn when he was asked to show his identity proof in Taj Vivanta. Thankfully Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar intervened. The scenic beauty apart, the frisking made Vivek to feel that he is in conflict ridden part of world. Hotel authorities like various security agencies operating in valley termed the process as ‘protocol ‘, besides ‘security measure’. Next time Vivek, come with identity proof.
SRINAGAR
After portraying a heart-wrenching picture of Kashmir in his first novel ‘The Collaborator’, critically acclaimed and nominated for Guardian First Book Award, British based Kashmiri writer Waheed Mirza talks about love, war and politics in his second novel, ‘The book of Golden leaves’. This work of fiction is a love story set in the tumultuous decade of downtown, Srinagar, where Waheed has spent his childhood. Talking about his work while the first book reading of his new novel, Waheed said, “anything about Kashmir includes politics.”
The interesting part is that book according to Waheed was first competed, before he got hold of the beautiful artwork, the cover page, which is a 120-year-old artwork by the author’s great grandfather Mirza Ali.
BEERWAH
Internal party bickering apart, family dispute of its leaders is worrying the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The family feud of NC’s youngest law maker Aga Syed Ruhullah may cast shadow on Omar’s game plan of grapping the maximum Shia votes from Central Kashmir. This all started when cracks developed in the influential family of Aga’s and Ruhullah finally served divorce notice to his wife, also his cousin. The decision was ‘untimely’, at least for Omar who is testing his luck from Beerwah. Ruhullah’s uncle Aga Syed Hassan may now decide to ask his supporters and his brother Aga Syed Abdullah (including his supporters) to vote for the PDP, swaying a significant chunk away from Omar.
REASI
There is no limit to be innovative. When the roads seem to be distant dream and means of transport an alien entity, an application from the Headmaster of Government High Scholl Serundwan, Reasi is what buzzes social media. Without commenting on its authenticity, the headmaster has asked ‘from the candid Chief Education officer’ for some interesting requisition – two helicopters: one for himself and another for the staff. The repeated dismissal of his requests made possibly the headmaster to talk out of its world option.
DOORU
The desperation is so huge that parties to make mark in valley have lost the track. This happened in South Kashmir’s Dooru where 25 -year-old Supreme Court lawyer Suhail Malik figured in candidate list of BJP and Peoples Conference. Suhail finally settled for PC, which he says have “local appeal”. BJP refuted his candidature saying it was ‘printing error,’ but party has no answer why the name was still on the party’s website.
Malik, son of a television broadcaster, has no previous political experience. The appearance of his name in two parties’ lists has become the subject of discussion on social media, with many noting how serious the BJP has been about choosing its candidates.
Four ministers of the Congress-NC coalition government, 16 former ministers and sitting legislators are among the 175 candidates, who are in the fray for 18 Assembly constituencies going to polls in the second phase on December 2 in Jammu and Kashmir
Out of 5,000 sanctioned VDCs, 4,122 VDCs have been constituted in different districts of Jammu and Ladakh division, according to a state Home Ministry official.
