Sammya Mukhopadhyay

Abhinav Dutta

New Delhi, Delhi, India

Droupadi Murmu, former Governor of Jharkhand, has been declared India's 15th President, stealing a march over rival candidate Yashwant Sinha. After three rounds of counting, The 64-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party nominee crossed the halfway mark- with 2161 votes of the value of 5,77,777- becoming the first tribal president on the nation. Born in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district in 1958, Murmu served as the Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She was the first governor to complete a full five-year term since Jharkhand was formed in 2000. Also Read | Watch: Mayurbhanj celebrates as Draupadi Murmu on course to become President,The BJP was reportedly considering two candidates as the party’s presidential nominee – Draupadi Murmu and Arif Khan. Murmu’s candidature was considered because of the party’s recent focus on tribals. Murmu’s nomination is also expected to help the BJP win over some women voters. Arif Khan was said to be considered as the presidential nominee in a bid to garner some support from Muslims. Also Read | Who is Yashwant Sinha, Opposition's pick for India's next President,Draupadi Murmu belongs to the Santhal tribe. The 64-year-old’s life is rife with personal tragedies. She has lost her husband, Shyam Charan Murmu, and two sons. Murmu’s rise to political prominence came with her being elected as the councillor of Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat in 1997. In 2000, she was elected as a legislator from the same constituency. Also Read | In Draupadi Murmu, BJP finds tribal face to follow Dalit president,When the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the BJP ran a coalition government in Odisha, Murmu served as the minister in Commerce and Transport and subsequently in Fisheries and Animal Resources. ,Draupadi Murmu was up against Yashwant Sinha, the candidate representing a united opposition. Sinha was a Union Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government. He later joined the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress. On Tuesday morning, Yashwant Sinha released a statement saying he must “step aside” from party work for greater opposition unity. ,The opposition had really struggled to find a presidential candidate. Mamata Banerjee, who has been steering the discussion on having a joint presidential candidate, had first expressed the desire to nominate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar as the presidential candidate. ,However, Sharad Pawar declined the nomination. Later, Jammu and Kashmir leader Farooq Abdullah was considered a presidential nominee, who too rejected the proposal. Finally, the opposition has rested its faith in Yashwant Sinha, a former BJP leader who quit his party in December, 2021, alleging that Narendra Modi’s party was undermining democratic institutions.

{\"time\":1658413983197,\"strCount\":3774,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/draupadi-murmu-former-jharkhand-governor-is-bjps-pick-for-next-president-683965/\\\">Droupadi Murmu</a>,\\nformer Governor of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/jharkhand/\\\">Jharkhand</a>, has been <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/droupadi-murmu-elected-as-indias-first-tribal-president-beats-yashwant-sinha-706547/\\\">declared India's 15th President</a>, stealing a march over rival candidate Yashwant Sinha. After three rounds of counting, The 64-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party nominee crossed the halfway mark- with 2161 votes of the value of 5,77,777- becoming the first tribal president on the nation. Born in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district in\\n1958, Murmu served as the Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She was the\\nfirst governor to complete a full five-year term since Jharkhand was formed in 2000.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/watch-mayurbhanj-celebrates-as-draupadi-murmu-on-course-to-become-president-706733/\\\">Watch: Mayurbhanj celebrates as Draupadi Murmu on course to become President</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/bjp/\\\">BJP</a> was\\nreportedly considering two candidates as the party’s presidential nominee – Draupadi\\nMurmu and Arif Khan. Murmu’s candidature was considered because of the party’s recent\\nfocus on tribals. Murmu’s nomination is also expected to help the BJP win over\\nsome women voters. Arif Khan was said to be considered as the presidential\\nnominee in a bid to garner some support from <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/muslims/\\\">Muslims</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-yashwant-sinha-oppositions-pick-for-indias-next-president-485729/\\\">Who is Yashwant Sinha, Opposition's pick for India's next President</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Draupadi Murmu belongs\\nto the Santhal tribe. The 64-year-old’s life is rife with personal tragedies. She\\nhas lost her husband, Shyam Charan Murmu, and two sons. Murmu’s rise to\\npolitical prominence came with her being elected as the councillor of\\nRairangpur Nagar Panchayat in 1997. In 2000, she was elected as a legislator\\nfrom the same constituency.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/in-draupadi-murmu-bjp-finds-tribal-face-to-follow-dalit-president-684019/\\\">In Draupadi Murmu, BJP finds tribal face to follow Dalit president</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"When the Naveen\\nPatnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the BJP ran a coalition government in\\n<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/odisha/\\\">Odisha</a>, Murmu served as the minister in <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/commerce/\\\">Commerce</a> and Transport and subsequently\\nin Fisheries and Animal Resources. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Draupadi Murmu\\nwas up against <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-yashwant-sinha-oppositions-pick-for-indias-next-president-485729/\\\">Yashwant Sinha</a>, the candidate representing a united\\nopposition. Sinha was a Union Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/nda/\\\">NDA</a>\\ngovernment. He later joined the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress. On\\nTuesday morning, Yashwant Sinha released a statement saying he must “step aside”\\nfrom party work for greater opposition unity. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The opposition had\\nreally struggled to find a presidential candidate. Mamata Banerjee, who has\\nbeen steering the discussion on having a joint presidential candidate, had\\nfirst expressed the desire to nominate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief\\nSharad Pawar as the presidential candidate. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"However, Sharad\\nPawar declined the nomination. Later, Jammu and <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/kashmir/\\\">Kashmir</a> leader Farooq Abdullah\\nwas considered a presidential nominee, who too rejected the proposal. Finally,\\nthe opposition has rested its faith in Yashwant Sinha, a former BJP leader who quit\\nhis party in December, 2021, alleging that Narendra Modi’s party was undermining\\ndemocratic institutions. \"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Draupadi Murmu, 64, has become India's 15th president&nbsp;</li>
 <li>She is the first tribal president of India</li>
 <li>Murmu was Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021</li>
</ul>

Opoyi Central

Who is Droupadi Murmu, India's first tribal president?

DraupadiMurmu

YashwantSinha

Jharkhand

Odisha

SharadPawar

indian

Muslims

Commerce

TrinamoolCongress

MamataBanerjee

Kashmir

FarooqAbdullah

India

Yashwant Sinha, former Union minister and the Opposition’s pick for the presidential elections, made a fervent video appeal on Twitter Monday morning, before the monsoon session convened to elect the 15th President of India. Sinha, 84, was a career bureaucrat before he joined politics and eventually became the Minister of External Affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet. In the 2022 presidential elections, Sinha is up against BJP’s nominee, an Adivasi woman, Droupadi Murmu. Also Read | India elects its President: Its Droupadi Murmu vs Yashwant Sinha,“These presidential elections are happening in extraordinary times. India is confronted with several troubles in various aspects of society. But the biggest challenge before us is protecting the Constitution. Our Constitution and constitutional values are at risk today. And, these presidential polls will decide that the path in which the country will go,” Yashwant Sinha said in his Twitter address in Hindi. Sinha’s appeal is beyond partisan confines. In the video, Sinha says every member of Parliament and legislative assembly will be able to vote their conscience in the presidential elections. Contrary to usual norms, there are no party whips issued for presidential polls. As a result, electors are allowed to vote for anyone they wish to. The vote is also held in secret ballot. Also Read | Droupadi Murmu’s presidential bid a powerful symbol beyond politics,The presidential polls are underway on July 18. Votes will be counted on July 21 and the new president will take oath on July 25 after President Ram Nath Kovind remits office on July 24. ,Yashwant Sinha’s rival Droupadi Murmu has the numbers stacked in her favour. Beyond BJP, she has also received support from several regional parties, including the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD), both factions of the Shiv Sena, Andhra Pradesh’s YSRC and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal. ,Yashwant Sinha was nominated as the Opposition’s presidential candidate after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna Gandhi turned down the offer.

{\"time\":1658128815887,\"strCount\":2674,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-yashwant-sinha-oppositions-pick-for-indias-next-president-485729/\\\">Yashwant Sinha</a>, former Union minister and the Opposition’s\\npick for the presidential elections, made a fervent video appeal on Twitter\\nMonday morning, before the monsoon session convened to elect the 15th President\\nof India. Sinha, 84, was a career bureaucrat before he joined politics and\\neventually became the Minister of External Affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s\\ncabinet. In the 2022 presidential elections, Sinha is up against BJP’s nominee,\\nan Adivasi woman, <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-draupadi-murmu-683978/\\\">Droupadi Murmu</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/india-elects-its-president-its-droupadi-murmu-vs-yashwant-sinha-703788/\\\">India elects its President: Its Droupadi Murmu vs Yashwant Sinha</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“These presidential elections are happening in extraordinary\\ntimes. India is confronted with several troubles in various aspects of society.\\nBut the biggest challenge before us is protecting the Constitution. Our\\nConstitution and constitutional values are at risk today. And, these\\npresidential polls will decide that the path in which the country will go,”\\nYashwant Sinha said in his Twitter address in <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/hindi/\\\">Hindi</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"embed\",\"data\":{\"service\":\"others\",\"source\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">इस साल राष्ट्रपति चुनाव दो व्यक्तियों के बीच नहीं, बल्कि दो विचारधाराओं के बीच का चुनाव है। केवल एक पक्ष हमारे संविधान में निहित प्रावधानों और मूल्यों की रक्षा करना चाहता है। मैं सभी सांसदों और विधायकों से इस बार संविधान और उनकी अंतरात्मा की आवाज़ पर वोट करने की अपील करता हूं। <a href=\\\"https://t.co/0Zs1F5qJic\\\">pic.twitter.com/0Zs1F5qJic</a>&mdash; Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/YashwantSinha/status/1548264898064371713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">July 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"embed\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">इस साल राष्ट्रपति चुनाव दो व्यक्तियों के बीच नहीं, बल्कि दो विचारधाराओं के बीच का चुनाव है। केवल एक पक्ष हमारे संविधान में निहित प्रावधानों और मूल्यों की रक्षा करना चाहता है। मैं सभी सांसदों और विधायकों से इस बार संविधान और उनकी अंतरात्मा की आवाज़ पर वोट करने की अपील करता हूं। <a href=\\\"https://t.co/0Zs1F5qJic\\\">pic.twitter.com/0Zs1F5qJic</a>&mdash; Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/YashwantSinha/status/1548264898064371713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">July 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"caption\":\"\",\"aspectRatio\":null}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Sinha’s appeal is beyond partisan confines. In the video,\\nSinha says every member of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/parliament/\\\">Parliament</a> and legislative assembly will be able to\\nvote their conscience in the presidential elections. Contrary to usual norms,\\nthere are no party whips issued for presidential polls. As a result, electors\\nare allowed to vote for anyone they wish to. The vote is also held in secret\\nballot.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/droupadi-murmus-presidential-bid-a-powerful-symbol-beyond-politics-703847/\\\">Droupadi Murmu’s presidential bid a powerful symbol beyond politics</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The presidential polls are underway on July 18. Votes will\\nbe counted on July 21 and the new president will take oath on July 25 after\\nPresident Ram Nath Kovind remits office on July 24. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Yashwant Sinha’s rival Droupadi Murmu has the numbers\\nstacked in her favour. Beyond <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/bjp/\\\">BJP</a>, she has also received support from several\\nregional parties, including the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD), both\\nfactions of the Shiv Sena, Andhra Pradesh’s YSRC and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal.\\n\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Yashwant Sinha was nominated as the Opposition’s\\npresidential candidate after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad\\nPawar and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna Gandhi\\nturned down the offer. &nbsp;\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Yashwant Sinha tweeted a video message seeking votes Monday</li>
 <li>India is in the process of electing the country’s 15th president</li>
 <li>Yashwant Sinha was a union minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet</li>
</ul>

Yashwant Sinha says presidential polls in extraordinary times, appeals for support

DroupadiMurmu

Hindi

Parliament

RamNathKovind

NitishKumar

NationalConference

World

Aman Butani

Draupadi Murmu, the former governor of Jharkhand, was announced as the Bharatiya Janta Party's pick for the upcoming presidential elections in India. ,Party chief JP Nadda said in a press conference on late Tuesday, For the first time, preference has been given to a woman tribal candidate. We announce Draupadi Murmu as NDA's candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections, news agency ANI reported. Also Read: Explained: How does India elect its President?,The parliamentary board of the BJP considered nearly 20 candidates for the position, according to Nadda. It was decided that the nominee will be someone from east India, a tribal and woman, PTI reported. Also Read | In Draupadi Murmu, BJP finds tribal face to follow Dalit president,The Opposition collectively named Yashwant Sinha as the presidential candidate on Tuesday evening. Leaders from nearly 12 parties had been negotiating to finalise their pick. ,Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, MK Gandhi's grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi and National Congress Party's Sharad Pawar turned down nominations for the position. Shortly after the announcement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Murmu on the nomination. He wrote in a social media post, I am confident she will be a great President of our nation. Also Read: Who is Draupadi Murmu, BJP’s nominee for President of India post?,Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country, Prime Minister Modi added. Murmu, a native of Odisha, will be the first-ever tribal woman to become the President of India if she wins the election. The 64-year-old was also reportedly a front-runner before the 2017 presidential elections. However, then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind was picked as the candidate.

{\"time\":1655833131792,\"strCount\":2920,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-draupadi-murmu-683978/\\\">Draupadi Murmu</a>, the former governor of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/jharkhand/\\\">Jharkhand</a>, was announced as the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/bjp/\\\">Bharatiya Janta Party</a>'s pick for the upcoming presidential elections in India.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Party chief JP Nadda said in a press conference on late Tuesday, \\\"For the first time, preference has been given to a woman tribal candidate. We announce Draupadi Murmu as NDA's candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections\\\", news agency ANI reported.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/explained-how-does-india-elect-its-president\\\">Explained: How does India elect its President?</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The parliamentary board of the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/bjp/\\\">BJP</a> considered nearly 20 candidates for the position, according to Nadda. It was decided that the nominee will be&nbsp;someone from east India, a tribal and woman, PTI reported.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/in-draupadi-murmu-bjp-finds-tribal-face-to-follow-dalit-president-684019/\\\">In Draupadi Murmu, BJP finds tribal face to follow Dalit president</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/presidential-polls-with-yashwant-sinha-in-the-race-who-will-be-bjp-oppositions-pick-683501/\\\">The Opposition</a> collectively named <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-yashwant-sinha-oppositions-pick-for-indias-next-president-485729/\\\">Yashwant Sinha</a> as the presidential candidate on Tuesday evening. Leaders from nearly 12 parties had been negotiating to finalise their pick. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Jammu &amp; Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah,&nbsp;MK Gandhi's grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi and National Congress Party's <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/with-sharad-pawar-out-who-will-be-the-opposition-candidate-for-presidential-polls-179352/\\\">Sharad Pawar</a> turned down nominations for the position.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Shortly after the announcement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Murmu on the nomination. He wrote in a social media post, \\\"I am confident she will be a great President of our nation.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-draupadi-murmu-683978/\\\">Who is Draupadi Murmu, BJP’s nominee for President of India post?</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-draupadi-murmu-683978/\\\">Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji</a>. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country\\\", Prime Minister Modi added.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Murmu, a native of&nbsp;Odisha, will be the first-ever&nbsp;tribal woman to become the President of India if she wins the election. The 64-year-old was also reportedly a front-runner&nbsp;before the 2017 presidential elections. However,&nbsp;then <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/bihar/\\\">Bihar</a> Governor Ram Nath Kovind was picked as the candidate.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>BJP chief JP Nadda made the announcement</li>
 <li>Nearly 20 candidates were considered in the parliamentary meet</li>
 <li>Opposition nominated Yashwant Sinha for President</li>
</ul>

Draupadi Murmu, former Jharkhand governor, is BJP's pick for next President

PresidentElections

IndiaNews

Opposition

JPNadda

jammu

NarendraModi

Bihar

Draupadi Murmu, former Governor of Jharkhand who belongs to the Santhal tribal group, is the Bharatiya Janata Party’s pick in the upcoming presidential elections. A leader who has had a long association with the BJP, Murmu is the only Jharkhand governor to have completed a full five-year term since the state was formed in 2000. Draupadi Murmu served as Jharkhand governor from 2015 to 2021. ,Murmu’s candidature as BJP’s presidential nominee is interesting in its politics. Once regarded as the party of caste Hindus, the BJP, since 2014, has made headway into bringing in leaders from Dalit-Adivasi backgrounds into leadership positions. If Murmu becomes President of India, she will follow Ram Nath Kovind, India’s first Dalit president. Also Read | Who is Draupadi Murmu? ,Presidential elections in India are often aimed at social messaging. In India’s parliamentary system, the president as little powers and is almost guided on every decision by the prime minister and the cabinet, barring some discretionary functions. The presidential post is often aimed at bringing in people from marginal sections and empowering them through representation in the mainstream. ,Further, as with all political decisions, the nomination of Draupadi Murmu as BJP’s presidential candidate is expected to help the party gain the support of both tribal and women voters. Ahead of its announcement of the presidential candidate, the BJP was battling accusations from the Congress for not supporting Meira Kumar in the 2017 presidential polls. Meira Kumar was a Dalit candidate who went against Ram Nath Kovind but lost. ,Following the announcement of Draupadi Murmu as the presidential candidate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President for our nation.”,“Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country,” Modi wrote in a second tweet. Born in Odisha’s Mayubhanj, Draupadi Murmu’s political career began as a councillor. She later went on to become a minister in Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal and BJP coalition. Subsequently, she served as Jharkhand governor. In the presidential polls, Murmu will be up against Yashwant Sinha. ,Yashwant Sinha, a former member of the BJP who had served as Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, had quit his party alleging that under Narendra Modi’s leadership, the BJP was undermining democratic institutions. He later went on to join Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. Sinha was a united opposition’s nominee after Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna Gandhi refused to contest the polls. A victory for the opposition in the upcoming presidential polls is unlikely.

{\"time\":1655831993892,\"strCount\":3828,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-draupadi-murmu-683978/\\\">Draupadi Murmu</a>,\\nformer Governor of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/jharkhand/\\\">Jharkhand</a> who belongs to the Santhal tribal group, is the\\n<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/draupadi-murmu-former-jharkhand-governor-is-bjps-pick-for-next-president-683965/\\\">Bharatiya Janata Party’s pick in the upcoming presidential elections</a>. A leader\\nwho has had a long association with the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/bjp/\\\">BJP</a>, Murmu is the only Jharkhand\\ngovernor to have completed a full five-year term since the state was formed in\\n2000. Draupadi Murmu served as Jharkhand governor from 2015 to 2021. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Murmu’s\\ncandidature as BJP’s presidential nominee is interesting in its politics. Once\\nregarded as the party of caste Hindus, the BJP, since 2014, has made headway\\ninto bringing in leaders from Dalit-Adivasi backgrounds into leadership\\npositions. If Murmu becomes President of India, she will follow Ram Nath\\nKovind, India’s first <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/dalit/\\\">Dalit</a> president.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read | <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-draupadi-murmu-683978/\\\">Who is Draupadi Murmu?</a>&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/explained-how-does-india-elect-its-president\\\">Presidential\\nelections in India</a> are often aimed at social messaging. In India’s\\nparliamentary system, the president as little powers and is almost guided on\\nevery decision by the prime minister and the cabinet, barring some\\ndiscretionary functions. The presidential post is often aimed at bringing in\\npeople from marginal sections and empowering them through representation in the\\nmainstream. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Further, as with\\nall political decisions, the nomination of Draupadi Murmu as BJP’s presidential\\ncandidate is expected to help the party gain the support of both tribal and\\nwomen voters. Ahead of its announcement of the presidential candidate, the BJP\\nwas battling accusations from the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/congress/\\\">Congress</a> for not supporting Meira Kumar in\\nthe 2017 presidential polls. Meira Kumar was a Dalit candidate who went against\\nRam Nath Kovind but lost. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Following the\\nannouncement of Draupadi Murmu as the presidential candidate, Prime Minister\\nNarendra <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/modi/\\\">Modi</a> tweeted: “Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving\\nsociety and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She\\nhas rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure.\\nI am confident she will be a great President for our nation.”\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“Millions of\\npeople, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships,\\nderive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her\\nunderstanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit\\nour country,” Modi wrote in a second tweet.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Born in Odisha’s\\nMayubhanj, Draupadi Murmu’s political career began as a councillor. She later\\nwent on to become a minister in Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal and BJP coalition. Subsequently,\\nshe served as Jharkhand governor. In the presidential polls, Murmu will be up\\nagainst Yashwant Sinha. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-is-yashwant-sinha-oppositions-pick-for-indias-next-president-485729/\\\">Yashwant Sinha</a>, a\\nformer member of the BJP who had served as Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led\\nNDA government, had quit his party alleging that under Narendra Modi’s leadership,\\nthe BJP was undermining democratic institutions. He later went on to join\\nMamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/yashwant-sinha-is-opposition-candidate-for-president-683660/\\\">Sinha was a united\\nopposition’s nominee</a> after Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna\\nGandhi refused to contest the polls. A victory for the opposition in the\\nupcoming presidential polls is unlikely. \"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Draupadi Murmu is BJP’s presidential nominee</li>
 <li>Murmu will be going up against Yashwant Sinha</li>
 <li>Draupadi Murmu belongs to the Santhal tribe</li>
</ul>

In Draupadi Murmu, BJP finds tribal face to follow Dalit president

Dalit

Congress

Modi

Sucharita Ganguly

Yashwant Sinha, a former Union Minister in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was declared the opposition candidate for President on Tuesday. Also read: Will never cheat: Eknath Shinde after being sacked as Shiv Sena chief,In the forthcoming Presidential elections, we have decided to elect a common candidate and stop the Modi government from doing further damage. At a subsequent meeting held today we have chosen Yashwant Sinha as a common candidate. We appeal to all political parties to vote for Yashwant Sinha, Jairam Ramesh, Congress's communications chief, stated. Also read: In Pics| Political leaders perform yoga on International Yoga Day,The declaration came just hours after Sinha announced his departure from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the party he decided to join last year, for a larger national cause. Also read: In Pics| ITBP jawans perform yoga at high-altitude terrains on International Yoga Day,I am grateful to (TMC president) Mamata Banerjee for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now the time has come when, for a larger national cause, I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step, Sinha, the former TMC vice-president, had tweeted. Also read: Rahul Gandhi to appear before ED for 5th round of questioning,The news comes after NCP head Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, and former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi rejected to run as Opposition candidates for the top job. Also read: Presidential polls: With Yashwant Sinha in the race, who will be BJP, Opposition's pick,The deadline for submitting presidential nominations is June 29. The election will be held on July 18, and the results will be announced on July 21. President Ram Nath Kovind's tenure expires on July 24, and the next president must be elected before then.

{\"time\":1655808664815,\"strCount\":3122,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/who-is-yashwant-sinha-former-bjp-leader-who-joined-trinamool-congress\\\">Yashwant Sinha</a>, a former Union Minister in the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/nda/\\\">NDA</a> government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was declared the opposition candidate for President on Tuesday.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/will-never-cheat-eknath-shinde-after-being-sacked-as-shiv-sena-chief-amid-maharashtra-political-crisis-683606/\\\">Will never cheat: Eknath Shinde after being sacked as Shiv Sena chief</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"In the forthcoming Presidential elections, we have decided to elect a common candidate and stop the Modi government from doing further damage. At a subsequent meeting held today we have chosen Yashwant Sinha as a common candidate. We appeal to all political parties to vote for Yashwant Sinha,\\\" Jairam Ramesh, Congress's communications chief, stated.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/in-pics-political-leaders-perform-yoga-on-international-yoga-day-683466/\\\">In Pics| Political leaders perform yoga on International Yoga Day</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The declaration came just hours after Sinha announced his departure from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the party he decided to join last year, \\\"for a larger national cause.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/in-pics-itbp-jawans-perform-yoga-at-high-altitude-terrains-on-international-yoga-day-683517/\\\">In Pics| ITBP jawans perform yoga at high-altitude terrains on International Yoga Day</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"I am grateful to (TMC president) <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/opposition-assemble-leaders-chuck-differences-for-the-sake-of-our-nation-332137/\\\">Mamata Banerjee</a> for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now the time has come when, for a larger national cause, I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step,\\\" Sinha, the former TMC vice-president, had tweeted.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/national-herald-case-rahul-gandhi-to-appear-before-ed-for-5th-round-of-questioning-683430/\\\">Rahul Gandhi to appear before ED for 5th round of questioning</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The news comes after <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/ncp/\\\">NCP</a> head <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/health/sharad-pawar-80-diagnosed-with-issue-in-gall-bladder-to-undergo-surgery-maharashtra-minister-215604/\\\">Sharad Pawar</a>, National Conference leader <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/were-enemies-of-bjp-pagd-chief-farooq-abdullah-631124/\\\">Farooq Abdullah</a>, and former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi rejected to run as Opposition candidates for the top job.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/presidential-polls-with-yashwant-sinha-in-the-race-who-will-be-bjp-oppositions-pick-683501/\\\">Presidential polls: With Yashwant Sinha in the race, who will be BJP, Opposition's pick</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The deadline for submitting presidential nominations is June 29. The election will be held on July 18, and the results will be announced on July 21. President <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/president-ram-nath-kovind-completes-3-years-in-office-654674/\\\">Ram Nath Kovind</a>'s tenure expires on July 24, and the next president must be elected before then.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Yashwant Sinha, former Union Minister, is opposition candidate for President</li>
 <li>He was a former Union Minister in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee</li>
 <li>The declaration came just hours after Sinha announced his departure from TMC</li>
</ul>

Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha is opposition candidate for President

AtalBihariVajpayee

WestBengal

Ajay Joseph

With the Opposition yet to pick its Presidential candidate for the Presidential polls, the BJP will hold its parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday where it's likely to finalise its pick for the elections that are all set to be held on July 18. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Karnataka to celebrate International Yoga Day, is likely to join the meeting virtually and the BJP has already formed a 14-member management team to oversee the election. Also read: President polls: With no candidates, BJP announces panel to run nationwide campaign,With just over a week left in the deadline for nominations, both sides are trying to zero in on candidates with popular support. Former union minister Yashwant Sinha posted a tweet that could intensify the speculation of him being considered as the opposition's candidate for the July 18 presidential election. I am grateful to Mamata ji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step, the 84-year-old leader said in a tweet. Also read: Who can become the President of India, and how,West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip the opposition meeting later today and her nephew and Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee is likely to attend. Three candidates have so far turned down the request to be the joint opposition's presidential candidate. NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, and MK Gandhi's grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi have so far turned down the offers. Also read: With Sharad Pawar out, who will be the Opposition candidate for Presidential polls?,The BJP had earlier decided to name its presidential candidate by the end of this week. The ruling party on its own has about 49% of the Electoral College and to elect the President, one needs to cross the 50% mark. BJP president JP Nadda and Union Minister Rajnath Singh have been entrusted the overall responsibility of coordination with NDA as well as UPA allies and other non-NDA, non-UPA allies to cobble up support to cross the halfway mark. Also read: Opposition assemble: Leaders chuck differences for the 'sake of our nation',The two leaders have been reaching out to many parties. The BJP also formed a sort of a 'crack team' which has many Union Ministers as well as senior functionaries who are also doing their own bit of coordination, speaking to various potential candidates.

{\"time\":1655793892526,\"strCount\":3222,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"With the Opposition yet to pick its Presidential candidate for the Presidential polls, the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/bjp/\\\">BJP</a> will hold its parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday where it's likely to finalise its pick for the elections that are all set to be held on July 18.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/karnataka/\\\">Karnataka</a> to celebrate International Yoga Day, is likely to join the meeting virtually and the BJP has already formed a 14-member management team to oversee the election.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/president-polls-with-no-candidates-bjp-announces-panel-to-run-nationwide-campaign-680923/\\\">President polls: With no candidates, BJP announces panel to run nationwide campaign</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"With just over a week left in the deadline for nominations, both sides are trying to zero in on candidates with popular support.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Former union minister Yashwant Sinha posted a tweet that could intensify the speculation of him being considered as the opposition's candidate for the July 18 presidential election.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"I am grateful to Mamata ji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step,\\\" the 84-year-old leader said in a tweet.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/who-can-become-the-president-of-india-and-how-680052/\\\">Who can become the President of India, and how</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip the opposition meeting later today and her nephew and Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee is likely to attend. Three candidates have so far turned down the request to be the joint opposition's presidential candidate.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/ncp/\\\">NCP</a> leader Sharad Pawar, <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/jammu/\\\">Jammu</a> &amp; Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, and MK Gandhi's grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi have so far turned down the offers.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/with-sharad-pawar-out-who-will-be-the-opposition-candidate-for-presidential-polls-179352/\\\">With Sharad Pawar out, who will be the Opposition candidate for Presidential polls?</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The BJP had earlier decided to name its presidential candidate by the end of this week. The ruling party on its own has about 49% of the Electoral College and to elect the President, one needs to cross the 50% mark.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"BJP president JP Nadda and Union Minister Rajnath Singh have been entrusted the overall responsibility of coordination with <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/nda/\\\">NDA</a> as well as UPA allies and other non-NDA, non-UPA allies to cobble up support to cross the halfway mark.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/opposition-assemble-leaders-chuck-differences-for-the-sake-of-our-nation-332137/\\\">Opposition assemble: Leaders chuck differences for the 'sake of our nation'</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The two leaders have been reaching out to many parties. The BJP also formed a sort of a 'crack team' which has many Union Ministers as well as senior functionaries who are also doing their own bit of coordination, speaking to various potential candidates.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Pm Modi is likely to join the meeting virtually</li>
 <li>Both sides are trying to zero in on candidates with popular support</li>
 <li>Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip the opposition meeting later today</li>
</ul>

Presidential polls: With Yashwant Sinha in the race, who will be BJP, Opposition's pick

President

Karnataka

InternationalYogaDay

AbhishekBanerjee

RajnathSingh

DK Sivakumar, P Chidambaram, Robert Vadra, and now, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has notched up probes into several leaders of the Congress, India’s principal opposition party. The premier Indian agency probing financial crime, the Enforcement Directorate has often been accused of being used as a tool in the hands of the government to curtail or intimidate the opposition. Over the last five years, however, the anti-graft body has seen a significant uptick in convictions. Intimidating the opposition? ,On Monday June 13, Rahul Gandhi is responding to the ED’s summons in New Delhi. He reached the Enforcement Directorate office along with supporters in what is being described as a show of strength. Chaos prevailed on the streets as police detained many Congress workers. The Enforcement Directorate will question Rahul Gandhi on the National Herald case. Sonia Gandhi has also been summoned in the case, but owing to her testing positive for COVID, she has been given more time and summoned on June 23. The Congress sees ED’s actions against the grand-old-party’s senior leaders as an act of political vendetta to stifle the opposition. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Monday morning that the police barricading the whole of Delhi “proves that the government fears us.”,“No one can oppress us, neither could the English nor can these new oppressors. We will march till the ED’s office, we will choose Gandhi’s path, we will fight for the rights of the poor. The Congress is the voice of the common man for 136 years,” he said. ,ED’s goal and role,The Enforcement Directorate was formed in 1957 to investigate foreign exchange related violations. In 2002, the agency was also given the task to investigate offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Working under the aegis of the finance ministry’s department of revenue, the agency which only worked civil cases till 2002 began investigating criminal offences. ,The last few years have seen the agency get more and more serious with probing political leaders, often from the opposition. Several Congress leaders as well has leaders of regional parties not on the best terms with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have found themselves under ED’s scanner. Relatives of such opposition leaders have also been targeted. Some examples of such leaders include former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Motilal Vora, DK Shivakumar, P Chidambaram and others. ,The tallest non-Congress leader to be questioned by ED is recent years was Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Meanwhile, former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav and Jammu and Kashmir leader Farooq Abdullah have also run into trouble with the ED. ,Soft on saffron ,While opposition parties accuse ED of targeting them, the agency also faces accusations of not taking adequate action against leaders or people associated with the ruling BJP. This, however, is not a new charge. Every government, including the UPA, has been accused of making the ED go soft on its leaders and their kin.

{\"time\":1655116275578,\"strCount\":3703,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"DK Sivakumar, P Chidambaram, Robert Vadra, and now,\\n<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/rahul/\\\">Rahul</a> and Sonia Gandhi, <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/rahul-appears-before-ed-for-questioning-in-money-laundering-case-489072/\\\">India’s Enforcement Directorate</a> (ED) has notched up probes\\ninto several leaders of the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/congress/\\\">Congress</a>, India’s principal opposition party. The\\npremier Indian agency probing financial crime, the Enforcement Directorate has\\noften been accused of being used as a tool in the hands of the government to curtail\\nor intimidate the opposition. Over the last five years, however, the anti-graft\\nbody has seen a significant uptick in convictions.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Intimidating the opposition? \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"On Monday June 13, Rahul Gandhi is responding to the\\nED’s summons in New Delhi. He reached the Enforcement Directorate office along\\nwith supporters in what is being described as a show of strength.\\n<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/bulldozers-missing-kartis-swipe-at-bjp-over-heavy-deployment-near-cong-hq-324386/\\\">Chaos prevailed on the streets</a> as police detained many Congress workers. The\\nEnforcement Directorate will question Rahul Gandhi on the National Herald case.\\nSonia Gandhi has also been summoned in the case, but owing to her testing\\npositive for <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/covid/\\\">COVID</a>, she has been given more time and summoned on June 23.\"}},{\"type\":\"embed\",\"data\":{\"service\":\"others\",\"source\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">इस भू पर लड़ा वही, जो महान है। तोड़ा उसी ने सत्ता का अभिमान है।।<a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaWithRahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">#IndiaWithRahulGandhi</a> <a href=\\\"https://t.co/YWhFKrnG5J\\\">pic.twitter.com/YWhFKrnG5J</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1536238186430611456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">June 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"embed\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">इस भू पर लड़ा वही, जो महान है। तोड़ा उसी ने सत्ता का अभिमान है।।<a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaWithRahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">#IndiaWithRahulGandhi</a> <a href=\\\"https://t.co/YWhFKrnG5J\\\">pic.twitter.com/YWhFKrnG5J</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1536238186430611456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">June 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"caption\":\"\",\"aspectRatio\":null}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Congress sees ED’s actions against the grand-old-party’s\\nsenior leaders as an act of political vendetta to stifle the opposition.\\nCongress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Monday morning that the\\n<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/bulldozers-missing-kartis-swipe-at-bjp-over-heavy-deployment-near-cong-hq-324386/\\\">police barricading the whole of Delhi</a> “proves that the government fears us.”\"}},{\"type\":\"embed\",\"data\":{\"service\":\"others\",\"source\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">Modi govt has imposed an undeclared emergency in the entire Central Delhi area. Hundreds of barricades have been put and thousands of Congress workers have been arrested since last night. Why is the Modi govt so scared? :Shri <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/rssurjewala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">@rssurjewala</a><a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaWithRahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">#IndiaWithRahulGandhi</a> <a href=\\\"https://t.co/qepJENfMSk\\\">pic.twitter.com/qepJENfMSk</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1536236928240037889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">June 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"embed\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">Modi govt has imposed an undeclared emergency in the entire Central Delhi area. Hundreds of barricades have been put and thousands of Congress workers have been arrested since last night. Why is the Modi govt so scared? :Shri <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/rssurjewala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">@rssurjewala</a><a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaWithRahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">#IndiaWithRahulGandhi</a> <a href=\\\"https://t.co/qepJENfMSk\\\">pic.twitter.com/qepJENfMSk</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1536236928240037889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">June 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"caption\":\"\",\"aspectRatio\":null}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“No\\none can oppress us, neither could the English nor can these new oppressors. We\\nwill march till the ED’s office, we will choose Gandhi’s path, we will fight\\nfor the rights of the poor. The Congress is the voice of the common man for 136\\nyears,” he said. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"ED’s goal and role\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Enforcement Directorate was formed in 1957 to\\ninvestigate foreign exchange related violations. In 2002, the agency was also\\ngiven the task to investigate offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering\\nAct (PMLA). Working under the aegis of the finance ministry’s department of\\nrevenue, the agency which only worked civil cases till 2002 began investigating\\ncriminal offences. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The last few years have seen the agency get more and\\nmore serious with probing political leaders, often from the opposition. Several\\nCongress leaders as well has leaders of regional parties not on the best terms\\nwith the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have found themselves under ED’s scanner.\\nRelatives of such opposition leaders have also been targeted. Some examples of\\nsuch leaders include former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Motilal Vora, DK\\nShivakumar, P Chidambaram and others. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The tallest non-Congress leader to be questioned by <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/ed/\\\">ED</a>\\nis recent years was Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Meanwhile,\\nformer Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav and <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/jammu/\\\">Jammu</a> and <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/kashmir/\\\">Kashmir</a> leader Farooq\\nAbdullah have also run into trouble with the ED. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Soft on saffron \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"While opposition parties accuse ED of targeting them,\\nthe agency also faces accusations of not taking adequate action against leaders\\nor people associated with the ruling BJP. This, however, is not a new charge.\\nEvery government, including the UPA, has been accused of making the ED go soft\\non its leaders and their kin. \"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Rahul Gandhi is being questioned by ED on Monday, June 13</li>
 <li>Gandhi is being interrogated for the National Herald case</li>
 <li>The ED is often accused of being controlled by the executive wing</li>
</ul>

Why India’s Enforcement Directorate stays mired in political controversy?

EnforcementDirectorate

RahulGandhi

RobertVadra

Covid

SoniaGandhi

DKShivakumar

NewDelhi

Almost two years after <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/jammuandkashmir">Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood and special status</a>, its leaders are to meet <a href="https://opoyi.com/topic/narendramodi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday</a> to discuss the delimitation exercise in the newly-formed Union Territory. This is the PM's first meeting with regional leaders and is being seen as the first step towards holding elections in the Union Territory that has been ruled by the Centre since 2018.,State parties have welcomed the move to hold the meeting saying that the Centre seems to have finally realised that normalcy in the militancy-hit state is not possible without them. The Centre, on the other hand, says that the talks are the result of a largely violence-free past 20 months.,Here's a lowdown on the meeting and its background:,What is happening now?,Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called an all-party meeting of Kashmir political leaders to discuss delimitation, an exercise that will eventually lead to state elections. This is &nbsp;the first meeting of the PM with state leaders after the August 2019 decision by the Centre to abrogate Article 370 and downgrade the state by splitting it into two Union Territories. The bifurcation was followed by some harsh rhetoric, both in the Valley and at the Centre, with trust between the two falling to an unprecedented low.,Who all are invited?,The invitees include three former chief ministers, prominent Kashmiri politicians and members of the Gupkar Alliance, including National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah, <a href="https://opoyi.com/placed-under-house-arrest-for-trying-to-visit-family-of-boy-killed-in-encounter-pdp-chief-mehbooba-mufti?ref=share_post">PDP chairperson Mehbooba Mufti</a>, Altaf Bukhari of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), and People's Conference head Sajjad Lone.,What is the agenda?,Ostensibly to discuss delimitation of assembly seats. Delimitation exercise is held from time to time to factor in changes in population over time. The objective is to redraw boundaries based on the Census data. Earlier delimitation exercises in 1963, 1973, and 1995 have been different as at that time Article 370 was in force and the state Constitution applied.,Why are these talks important?,Not only will these pave the way for the restoration of a government in the UT, it also signifies a thaw in the Centre-state ties that have remained frozen after the August 5, 2019 decision and the subsequent prolonged detention of many top leaders. Opening a channel for talks holds the key to normalcy in the state.,This is also a positive development given the rhetoric after the abrogation of Art 370 that described these leaders as 'irrelevant' to 'naya kashmir'. Home Minister Amit Shah also <a href="https://opoyi.com/anti-bjp-not-anti-national-farooq-abdullah-on-peoples-alliance-for-gupkar-declaration?ref=share_post">dismissed the Gupkar Alliance</a> as a 'Gupkar gang' that was allegedly in cahoots with Pakistan.,What do parties want?,Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) wants restoration of statehood and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. And also elections in the state.,Omar Abdullah's National Conference has also demanded the restoration of statehood and special status. And also elections in the state.,The Congress is for the restoration of statehood but is mum on <a href="https://opoyi.com/the-day-jammu-and-kashmir-lost-its-special-status-with-the-scrapping-of-article-370?ref=share_post">Article 370 that granted special status to the state.</a>,What will they settle for?,Reports suggest that while most parties are seeking restoration of statehood and bringing back Art 370, they will likely settle for elections and eventual restoration of statehood.,Background,On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370 and downgraded the state by splitting it into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.,Article 370 gave J&amp;K a constitution of its own and right to make decisions regarding all departments barring defence, foreign affairs, and communications. Any law passed by Parliament did not automatically apply to the state.,The BJP, in its poll manifesto, &nbsp;had promised the removal of J&amp;k's special status and on August 5, 2019, the Centre u<a href="https://opoyi.com/this-day-one-year-back-jks-article-370-was-revoked-state-bifurcated?ref=share_post">sed a provision within Art 370 itself to abrogate it.&nbsp;

</a>

{\"time\":1624528543381,\"strCount\":4585,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\n\\nAlmost two years after <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/jammuandkashmir/\\\">Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood and special status</a>, its leaders are to meet <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topics/narendramodi/\\\">Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday</a> to discuss the delimitation exercise in the newly-formed Union Territory. This is the PM's first meeting with regional leaders and is being seen as the first step towards holding elections in the Union Territory that has been ruled by the Centre since 2018.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"State parties have welcomed the move to hold the meeting saying that the Centre seems to have finally realised that normalcy in the militancy-hit state is not possible without them. The Centre, on the other hand, says that the talks are the result of a largely violence-free past 20 months.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Here's a lowdown on the meeting and its background:\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"What is happening now?\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called an all-party meeting of Kashmir political leaders to discuss delimitation, an exercise that will eventually lead to state elections. This is &nbsp;the first meeting of the PM with state leaders after the August 2019 decision by the Centre to abrogate Article 370 and downgrade the state by splitting it into two Union Territories. The bifurcation was followed by some harsh rhetoric, both in the Valley and at the Centre, with trust between the two falling to an unprecedented low.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Who all are invited?\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The invitees include three former chief ministers, prominent Kashmiri politicians and members of the Gupkar Alliance, including National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah, <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/placed-under-house-arrest-for-trying-to-visit-family-of-boy-killed-in-encounter-pdp-chief-mehbooba-mufti-486989/\\\">PDP chairperson Mehbooba Mufti</a>, Altaf Bukhari of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), and People's Conference head Sajjad Lone.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"What is the agenda?\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Ostensibly to discuss delimitation of assembly seats. Delimitation exercise is held from time to time to factor in changes in population over time. The objective is to redraw boundaries based on the Census data. Earlier delimitation exercises in 1963, 1973, and 1995 have been different as at that time Article 370 was in force and the state Constitution applied.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Why are these talks important?\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Not only will these pave the way for the restoration of a government in the UT, it also signifies a thaw in the Centre-state ties that have remained frozen after the August 5, 2019 decision and the subsequent prolonged detention of many top leaders. Opening a channel for talks holds the key to normalcy in the state.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"This is also a positive development given the rhetoric after the abrogation of Art 370 that described these leaders as 'irrelevant' to 'naya kashmir'. Home Minister Amit Shah also <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/anti-bjp-not-anti-national-farooq-abdullah-on-peoples-alliance-for-gupkar-declaration-580285/\\\">dismissed the Gupkar Alliance</a> as a 'Gupkar gang' that was allegedly in cahoots with Pakistan.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"What do parties want?\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) wants restoration of statehood and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. And also elections in the state.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Omar Abdullah's National Conference has also demanded the restoration of statehood and special status. And also elections in the state.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Congress is for the restoration of statehood but is mum on <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/the-day-jammu-and-kashmir-lost-its-special-status-with-the-scrapping-of-article-370-180728/\\\">Article 370 that granted special status to the state.</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"What will they settle for?\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Reports suggest that while most parties are seeking restoration of statehood and bringing back Art 370, they will likely settle for elections and eventual restoration of statehood.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Background\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370 and downgraded the state by splitting it into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Article 370 gave J&amp;K a constitution of its own and right to make decisions regarding all departments barring defence, foreign affairs, and communications. Any law passed by Parliament did not automatically apply to the state.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The BJP, in its poll manifesto, &nbsp;had promised the removal of J&amp;k's special status and on August 5, 2019, the Centre u<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/this-day-one-year-back-jks-article-370-was-revoked-state-bifurcated-434942/\\\">sed a provision within Art 370 itself to abrogate it.&nbsp;\\n\\n</a>\"}}]}

Chandandeep Kour

<ul>
 <li>J&amp;K leaders will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday</li>
 <li>This is PM Modi's first meeting with regional leaders after two years</li>
 <li>The Centre says that the talks are the result of a largely violence-free past 20 months</li>
</ul>

Anjaly Raj

Elections and trust on the table in PM's Modi's Kashmir talks

JammuandKashmir

MehboobaMufti

OmarAbdullah

AmitShah

Politics

Srinagar

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, has been hospitalised for better monitoring, reported PTI quoting his his son Omar Abdullah.,Omar tweeted, "Based on the advice of doctors to enable them to better monitor my father, he has been admitted to hospital in Srinagar. Our family remains grateful to everyone for their messages of support &amp; their prayers.",<a href="https://opoyi.com/farooq-abdullah-dances-to-aaj-kal-tere-mere-pyaar-ke-captain-amarinder-singh-joins-in-watch">Also Read|&nbsp;Farooq Abdullah dances to 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche', Captain Amarinder Singh joins in. Watch</a>,On March 30, Omar tweeted about his father being infected with the virus. He wrote, "My father has tested positive for COVID-19 &amp; is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come in to contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions."

{\"time\":1617435918686,\"strCount\":1033,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, has been hospitalised for better monitoring, reported PTI quoting his his son Omar Abdullah.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Omar tweeted, \\\"Based on the advice of doctors to enable them to better monitor my father, he has been admitted to hospital in Srinagar. Our family remains grateful to everyone for their messages of support &amp; their prayers.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/offbeat/farooq-abdullah-dances-to-aaj-kal-tere-mere-pyaar-ke-captain-amarinder-singh-joins-in-watch-512868/\\\">Also Read|&nbsp;Farooq Abdullah dances to 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche', Captain Amarinder Singh joins in. Watch</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"embed\",\"data\":{\"service\":\"twitter\",\"source\":\"https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah/status/1378237753054294016\",\"embed\":\"OmarAbdullah/status/1378237753054294016\",\"width\":520,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"\",\"aspectRatio\":173.33333333333334}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"On March 30, Omar tweeted about his father being infected with the virus. He wrote, \\\"My father has tested positive for COVID-19 &amp; is showing some symptoms. I will be self-isolating along with other family members until we get ourselves tested. I request anyone who has come in to contact with us over the last few days to take all the mandated precautions.\\\"\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Farooq Abdullah tested positive for COVID-19 on March 30</li>
 <li>His son had shared the news on Twitter</li>
 <li>Omar on Saturday tweeted, "Based on the advice of doctors, he has been admitted to hospital in Srinagar"</li>
</ul>

Farooq Abdullah, 84, hospitalised days after testing COVID positive, tweets Omar

Coronavirus

Health

Shubhangi Shah

A video of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and&nbsp;National Conference chief&nbsp;Farooq Abdullah dancing to&nbsp;the song 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche' has gone viral on social media. It is reportedly from Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh's granddaughter's wedding.,Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/biriyani-gets-a-midas-touch-the-royal-dish-comes-with-edible-23-carat-gold-leaf-in-dubai-restaurant">Biryani gets a 'Midas touch': The royal dish comes with edible 23-carat gold leaf in Dubai restaurant</a>,In the video,&nbsp;Abdullah&nbsp;can be seen grooving to the Shammi Kapoor song of the 1960s. He, then, even ropes in the Punjab CM, who can be too seen shaking a leg.,Congress national convener shared the video on Twitter.,"This video of @capt_amarinder &amp; Farooq Abdullah proves that age is, indeed, just a number!" he tweeted.,Several social media users were quick to comment on the gesture.,"Too relaxing to see such soothing mood of leaders," wrote a user.,"I feel very happy when I see this video. It's amazing," wrote another user on Twitter.,Also read:<a href="https://opoyi.com/were-enemies-of-bjp-pagd-chief-farooq-abdullah">&nbsp;'We're enemies of BJP': PAGD chief Farooq Abdullah</a>,"Everyone is cool at heart. Politics spoil them," a user wrote while commenting on the video.

{\"time\":1614876785415,\"strCount\":1340,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A video of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and&nbsp;National Conference chief&nbsp;Farooq Abdullah dancing to&nbsp;the song 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche' has gone viral on social media. It is reportedly from Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh's granddaughter's wedding.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/offbeat/biriyani-gets-a-midas-touch-the-royal-dish-comes-with-edible-23-carat-gold-leaf-in-dubai-restaurant-650783/\\\">Biryani gets a 'Midas touch': The royal dish comes with edible 23-carat gold leaf in Dubai restaurant</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In the video,&nbsp;Abdullah&nbsp;can be seen grooving to the Shammi Kapoor song of the 1960s. He, then, even ropes in the Punjab CM, who can be too seen shaking a leg.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Congress national convener shared the video on Twitter.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"This video of @capt_amarinder &amp; Farooq Abdullah proves that age is, indeed, just a number!\\\" he tweeted.\"}},{\"type\":\"embed\",\"data\":{\"service\":\"others\",\"source\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">This video of <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/capt_amarinder?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">@capt_amarinder</a> &amp; Farooq Abdullah proves that age is, indeed, just a number! <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">@OmarAbdullah</a><a href=\\\"https://t.co/j48MgTYVoD\\\">pic.twitter.com/j48MgTYVoD</a>&mdash; Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/SaralPatel/status/1367481561478799361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">March 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"embed\":\"<div class=\\\"others-embed\\\"><blockquote class=\\\"twitter-tweet\\\">This video of <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/capt_amarinder?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">@capt_amarinder</a> &amp; Farooq Abdullah proves that age is, indeed, just a number! <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">@OmarAbdullah</a><a href=\\\"https://t.co/j48MgTYVoD\\\">pic.twitter.com/j48MgTYVoD</a>&mdash; Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) <a href=\\\"https://twitter.com/SaralPatel/status/1367481561478799361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\\\">March 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src=\\\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\\\" charset=\\\"utf-8\\\"></script></div>\",\"caption\":\"\",\"aspectRatio\":null}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Several social media users were quick to comment on the gesture.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Too relaxing to see such soothing mood of leaders,\\\" wrote a user.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"I feel very happy when I see this video. It's amazing,\\\" wrote another user on Twitter.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/were-enemies-of-bjp-pagd-chief-farooq-abdullah-631124/\\\">&nbsp;'We're enemies of BJP': PAGD chief Farooq Abdullah</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Everyone is cool at heart. Politics spoil them,\\\" a user wrote while commenting on the video.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>In the video, Farooq Abdullah can be seen grooving to the Shammi Kapoor song of the 1960s</li>
 <li>He ropes in Punjab CM, who can be too seen shaking a leg</li>
 <li>The video of Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh's granddaughter's wedding</li>
</ul>

Farooq Abdullah dances to 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche', Captain Amarinder Singh joins in. Watch

CaptainAmarinderSingh

Offbeat

Wedding

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday tweeted that he and his family, including his father and Lok Sabha MP Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities. The National Conference vice president also posted some pictures&nbsp;showing police vehicles outside the gates of his home in Srinagar.,“This is the “naya/new J&amp;K” after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It's bad enough they've locked my father (a sitting MP) &amp; me in our home, they've locked my sister &amp; her kids in their home as well,” Omar wrote on Twitter.,Also read: <a href="https://opoyi.com/twitter-will-be-a-nicer-place-if-move-to-koo-picks-up-pace-omar">Twitter will be a nicer place if move to Koo picks up pace: Omar</a>,He also claimed that his house staff was not being let inside.,"Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren’t being allowed in and then you are surprised that I’m still angry &amp; bitter," he added in his second tweet.,PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday also claimed to be put under house arrest&nbsp;ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq, a militant&nbsp;killed in an <a href="https://opoyi.com/parimpora-encounter-omar-mehbooba-demand-bodies-be-handed-over-to-families">encounter in Parimpora</a>, Srinagar in December 2020.,"Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic),” she wrote on Twitter.

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Ayushi Goswami

<ul>
 <li>Omar Abdullah said he and his family have been put under house arrest by authorities</li>
 <li>He also posted some pictures&nbsp;showing police vehicles outside his house</li>
 <li>Mehbooba Mufti also claimed to be put under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of a militant</li>
</ul>

'New model of democracy': Omar Abdullah claims he's under house arrest

The&nbsp;Enforcement Directorate on Saturday,&nbsp;attached assets worth Rs 11.86 crore of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah and others in connection with its money laundering probe, reported PTI.,The probe was linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.&nbsp;,According to official sources,&nbsp;the agency has issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the attached properties are located in Jammu and Srinagar.,While two immovable assets are residential, one is a commercial property. Three other plots of land have also been attached by the Enforcement Directorate.&nbsp;,Omar Abdullah told PTI, "There can be no justification for ED seizures as properties are largely ancestral; the action would be fought in court of law.",According to the officials, while the book value of these attached properties is Rs 11.86 crore, their market value is about Rs 60-70 crore.,The 83-year-old NC patron has been questioned by the ED in this case a number of times, the last being in October at Srinagar.

{\"time\":1608433832017,\"strCount\":1107,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The&nbsp;Enforcement Directorate on Saturday,&nbsp;attached assets worth Rs 11.86 crore of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah and others in connection with its money laundering probe, reported PTI.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The probe was linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"According to official sources,&nbsp;the agency has issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the attached properties are located in Jammu and Srinagar.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"While two immovable assets are residential, one is a commercial property. Three other plots of land have also been attached by the Enforcement Directorate.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Omar Abdullah told PTI, \\\"There can be no justification for ED seizures as properties are largely ancestral; the action would be fought in court of law.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"According to the officials, while the book value of these attached properties is Rs 11.86 crore, their market value is about Rs 60-70 crore.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The 83-year-old NC patron has been questioned by the ED in this case a number of times, the last being in October at Srinagar.\"}}]}

Akash Majumder

<ul>
 <li>The money laundering probe was linked to alleged financial irregularities in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association</li>
 <li>While two immovable assets are residential, one is a commercial property</li>
 <li>While the book value of these attached properties is Rs 11.86 crore, their market value is about Rs 60-70 crore</li>
</ul>

ED attaches assets worth Rs 11.86 crore of Farooq Abdullah, others in money laundering case

In its last month's <a href="https://opoyi.com/hc-orders-cbi-probe-into-roshni-land-scam-in-j-k">order</a>, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court&nbsp;ordered a CBI probe into the&nbsp;allocation of land under the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act 2001, commonly known as Roshni Act.&nbsp;,After India became independent and initiated nation-wide land reforms to bring about equality in land distribution, J&amp;K was one of the first Indian states to do so. However, over time there were reports on encroachments in the state's land.,In 2001, the National Conference's Farooq Abdullah-led government enacted the Roshni Act.,Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/france-expresses-interests-to-explore-collaboration-opportunities-in-northeast-jammu-and-kashmir">France expresses interests to explore collaboration opportunities in Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir</a>,The act proposed granting ownership rights to those&nbsp;holding state land unauthorisedly, in exchange for payments as per the market rate. 1990 was set as the cut-off date. The revenue generated was to be used for&nbsp;hydro-electric projects.,A major issue with it was the cut-off date was repeatedly extended, first by&nbsp;PDP-Congress government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, which extended it till 2004.,The deadline was further extended to 2007 by Ghulam Nabi Azad government.,Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/gupkar-gang-is-going-global-home-minister-amit-shah-on-peoples-alliance-for-gupkar-declaration">'Gupkar Gang is going global': Home Minister Amit Shah on People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration</a>,The government had expected to raise&nbsp;over Rs 25,000 crore from land regularisation. However, a 2004 CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) report showed a meager&nbsp;Rs 76 crore was raised from land regularisation between 2007 and 2013.&nbsp;,Investigation revealed major irregularities in the process. According to The Indian Express,&nbsp;hundreds of acres of forest and state land was illegally transferred to influential politicians, businessmen, bureaucrats and judicial functionaries, with the quantum of the scam pegged at Rs 25,000 crore.,In 2018, the then J&amp;K governor&nbsp;Satya Pal Malik repealed the act.,Earlier this month, the J&amp;K government annulled all&nbsp;land dealing under the Act. It also asked the principle secretary (revenue) to&nbsp;retrieve all such land and remove encroachments within six months.

{\"time\":1606197439608,\"strCount\":2497,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In its last month's <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/hc-orders-cbi-probe-into-roshni-land-scam-in-j-k-451006/\\\">order</a>, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court&nbsp;ordered a CBI probe into the&nbsp;allocation of land under the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act 2001, commonly known as Roshni Act.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"After India became independent and initiated nation-wide land reforms to bring about equality in land distribution, J&amp;K was one of the first Indian states to do so. However, over time there were reports on encroachments in the state's land.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In 2001, the National Conference's Farooq Abdullah-led government enacted the Roshni Act.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/france-expresses-interests-to-explore-collaboration-opportunities-in-northeast-jammu-and-kashmir-205820/\\\">France expresses interests to explore collaboration opportunities in Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The act proposed granting ownership rights to those&nbsp;holding state land unauthorisedly, in exchange for payments as per the market rate. 1990 was set as the cut-off date. The revenue generated was to be used for&nbsp;hydro-electric projects.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A major issue with it was the cut-off date was repeatedly extended, first by&nbsp;PDP-Congress government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, which extended it till 2004.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The deadline was further extended to 2007 by Ghulam Nabi Azad government.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/gupkar-gang-is-going-global-home-minister-amit-shah-on-peoples-alliance-for-gupkar-declaration-136810/\\\">'Gupkar Gang is going global': Home Minister Amit Shah on People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The government had expected to raise&nbsp;over Rs 25,000 crore from land regularisation. However, a 2004 CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) report showed a meager&nbsp;Rs 76 crore was raised from land regularisation between 2007 and 2013.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Investigation revealed major irregularities in the process. According to The Indian Express,&nbsp;hundreds of acres of forest and state land was illegally transferred to influential politicians, businessmen, bureaucrats and judicial functionaries, with the quantum of the scam pegged at Rs 25,000 crore.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In 2018, the then J&amp;K governor&nbsp;Satya Pal Malik repealed the act.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Earlier this month, the J&amp;K government annulled all&nbsp;land dealing under the Act. It also asked the principle secretary (revenue) to&nbsp;retrieve all such land and remove encroachments within six months.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Roshni Act was enacted in 2001 by the then CM Farooq Abdullah-led government</li>
 <li>It proposed granting ownership rights to those&nbsp;holding state land unauthorisedly</li>
 <li>Quantum of Roshni land scam is pegged at Rs 25,000 crore</li>
</ul>

Explained: Jammu and Kashmir's Roshni land scam

SatyapalMalik

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched an attack on the <a href="https://opoyi.com/what-is-gupkar-alliance">People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration</a> on Twitter, alleging it of wanting foreign intervention in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;,In a series of tweets, Shah termed the alliance as "Gupkar Gang" and asked Congress leaders on their stand regarding the alliance.,He said, "The Gupkar Gang is going global! They want foreign forces to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. The Gupkar Gang also insults India’s Tricolour.",He added, "Do Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji support such moves of the Gupkar Gang ? They should make their stand crystal clear to the people of India.",In October, Farooq Abdullah's National Conference (NC) and Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formed the&nbsp;People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration.&nbsp;,Shah said that the Gupkar Alliance and the Congress want to take away the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said, "Congress and the Gupkar Gang want to take J&amp;K back to the era of terror and turmoil.&nbsp;They want to take away rights of Dalits, women and tribals that we have ensured by removing Article 370. This is why they’re being rejected by the people everywhere.",Shah added that Jammu and Kashmir will always remain a part of India. He said, "Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will always remain an integral part of India. Indian people will no longer tolerate an unholy ‘global gathbandhan’ against our national interest.",He added, "Either the Gupkar Gang swims along with the national mood or else the people will sink it."

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<ul>
 <li>Amit Shah asked Congress leaders on their stand regarding the alliance</li>
 <li>He said that the Gupkar Alliance and the Congress want to take away the rights of the people</li>
 <li>Shah added that Jammu and Kashmir will always remain a part of India</li>
</ul>

'Gupkar Gang is going global': Home Minister Amit Shah on People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration

Jammu

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday, rejected allegations of being against the country and alleged that the BJP wants to divide Indians on the basis of religion, reported ANI.,Abdullah said, “We're not nation's enemies. We're enemies of BJP. They want to isolate Hindus, Muslim, Sikhs &amp; Christians from each other. We believe in India of Mahatma Gandhi - where everyone is equal.”,Talking about the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, he said, “We're not a gang but alliance of parties. Those who call us a gang are the biggest dacoits, so they see everyone as a gang…”,He added, “We'll fight election together but we can't get one single election symbol so we'll contest on our respective symbols with joint candidates.”,Earlier, Abdullah had asserted that Congress is part of the Gupkar Alliance. PTI quoted him saying, “Where have they separated? There should be no misconception. The Congress is part of the alliance and we are fighting the (DDC) elections together.”,Talking about  exit polls predicting a big win for RJD led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar assembly elections, he said, “There is a difference between real polls and exit polls. When the real polls get over, we will talk.”,He told PTI, “We want more pilgrims to come to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and it is possible that our problems, as well as the problems of the pilgrims, will get resolved.”

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<ul>
 <li>Farooq Abdullah rejected allegations of being against India</li>
 <li>He said that the BJP is trying to divide Indians on the basis of religion</li>
 <li>He said that the PAGD is yet to decide on a symbol</li>
</ul>

'We're enemies of BJP': PAGD chief Farooq Abdullah

People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has alleged that National Conference president Farooq Abdullah was not allowed to leave his house to visit Hazratbal shrine and said that it is a "new low in curtailment of fundamental rights" of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They also condemned the recent killing of BJP workers in the Kulgam district of South Kashmir.,In a statement, PAGD spokesperson Sajad Lone condemned the state administration for putting a blockade outside the residence of Abdullah and demanded that it be removed.,No official from the administration was available for comment on the issue.,Abdullah is also the president of the recently floated PAGD – an alliance of seven mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir seeking restoration of the erstwhile state's special status as it existed on 4 August last year.,Earlier in the day, the National Conference (NC) claimed in a tweet that the administration had blocked Abdullah's residence and stopped him from offering prayers at Dargah Hazratbal on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi.,Lone said, "Abdullah was slated to go to Hazratbal in order to participate in the religious congregation on account of Eid-Milad-Un-Nabi, however (he) was barred from leaving his house." ,"We strongly condemn the actions of the state administration that are tantamount to interference in the religious rights of Dr Farooq Abdullah. This marks a new low in the curtailment of fundamental rights of the people of J-K. We demand that the blockade be removed so that Dr Farooq Sahib is able to perform his religious duties," he said.,The PAGD also "unequivocally and unambiguously" condemned the killings of three BJP workers by militants in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Thursday.,"Political differences cannot justify use of violence. Violence has always and will crowd out sanity. We will always fight aggression in all its forms irrespective of the source of aggression," Lone said.,The three BJP workers, Fida Hussain, Umer Hajam and Umer Rashid Beigh ,were shot dead by militants in Kulgam's Y K Pora area.,The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a shadow group of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the killings.

{\"time\":1604104198569,\"strCount\":2206,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has alleged that National Conference president Farooq Abdullah was not allowed to leave his house to visit Hazratbal shrine and said that it is a \\\"new low in curtailment of fundamental rights\\\" of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They also condemned the recent killing of BJP workers in the Kulgam district of South Kashmir.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In a statement, PAGD spokesperson Sajad Lone condemned the state administration for putting a blockade outside the residence of Abdullah and demanded that it be removed.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"No official from the administration was available for comment on the issue.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Abdullah is also the president of the recently floated PAGD – an alliance of seven mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir seeking restoration of the erstwhile state's special status as it existed on 4 August last year.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Earlier in the day, the National Conference (NC) claimed in a tweet that the administration had blocked Abdullah's residence and stopped him from offering prayers at Dargah Hazratbal on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Lone said, \\\"Abdullah was slated to go to Hazratbal in order to participate in the religious congregation on account of Eid-Milad-Un-Nabi, however (he) was barred from leaving his house.\\\" \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"We strongly condemn the actions of the state administration that are tantamount to interference in the religious rights of Dr Farooq Abdullah. This marks a new low in the curtailment of fundamental rights of the people of J-K. We demand that the blockade be removed so that Dr Farooq Sahib is able to perform his religious duties,\\\" he said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The PAGD also \\\"unequivocally and unambiguously\\\" condemned the killings of three BJP workers by militants in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Thursday.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Political differences cannot justify use of violence. Violence has always and will crowd out sanity. We will always fight aggression in all its forms irrespective of the source of aggression,\\\" Lone said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The three BJP workers, Fida Hussain, Umer Hajam and Umer Rashid Beigh ,were shot dead by militants in Kulgam's Y K Pora area.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a shadow group of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the killings.\"}}]}

Shivam Pratap Singh

<ul>
 <li>Farooq Abdullah was allegedly not allowed to leave his house&nbsp;</li>
 <li>No official from the administration confirmed it</li>
 <li>PAGD condemned the killings of three BJP workers by militants in Kulgam</li>
</ul>

Gupkar Alliance condemns killing of BJP workers, Farooq Abdullah's 'house arrest'

National Conference (NC) chief&nbsp;Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said&nbsp;the <a href="https://opoyi.com/political-parties-in-kashmir-give-formal-shape-to-alliance">Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration</a> (PAGD) is anti-BJP, but not an&nbsp;anti-national amalgam, PTI reported.&nbsp;Abdullah spoke after the first meeting of the alliance on Saturday, in which he was declared its <a href="https://opoyi.com/farooq-abdullah-named-president-mehbooba-mufti-his-deputy-for-peoples-alliance-for-gupkar-declaration">president</a> and&nbsp;Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehmooba Mufti, his deputy.,The meeting took place at Mufti's residence.,"I want to tell you that this false propaganda by the BJP that the PAGD is anti-national. I want to tell them that this is not true. There is no doubt that it is anti-BJP but it is not anti-national," said&nbsp;Abdullah, PTI reported.,Accusing the saffron party of trying to break the&nbsp;federal structure, the leader said, "They have tried to destroy the constitution of the country, they have tried to divide the nation, to break the federal structure which we saw what they did on August 5 last year.",The BJP-led central government on August 5, last year, abrogated Article 370 that accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. It also divided the state into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.,"I want to tell them that this (PAGD) is not an anti-national jamaat. Our aim is that people of Jammu Kashmir, and Ladakh should get their rights back. That's where our battle is, our battle is not for more than that," Abdullah said.,Abdullah said the BJP was doing propaganda against the constituents of the PAGD in Jammu and elsewhere in the country.,"They are trying to divide us (people of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh) in the name of religion. This attempt will not succeed. This is not a religious battle, this is a fight for our identity and for that identity, we are standing together," he said.,Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/no-question-of-accepting-anything-less-than-what-was-snatched-away-from-us-omar-abdullah">No question of accepting anything less than what was snatched away from us: Omar Abdullah</a>,The PAGD was formed on October 15 by the mainstream&nbsp;political parties in Kashmir. Its aim is the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state as it existed before August 5 last year and also to initiate a dialogue between all stakeholders on the issue.

{\"time\":1603544227010,\"strCount\":2510,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"National Conference (NC) chief&nbsp;Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said&nbsp;the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/political-parties-in-kashmir-give-formal-shape-to-alliance-268217/\\\">Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration</a> (PAGD) is anti-BJP, but not an&nbsp;anti-national amalgam, PTI reported.&nbsp;Abdullah spoke after the first meeting of the alliance on Saturday, in which he was declared its <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/farooq-abdullah-named-president-mehbooba-mufti-his-deputy-for-peoples-alliance-for-gupkar-declaration-247494/\\\">president</a> and&nbsp;Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehmooba Mufti, his deputy.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The meeting took place at Mufti's residence.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"I want to tell you that this false propaganda by the BJP that the PAGD is anti-national. I want to tell them that this is not true. There is no doubt that it is anti-BJP but it is not anti-national,\\\" said&nbsp;Abdullah, PTI reported.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Accusing the saffron party of trying to break the&nbsp;federal structure, the leader said, \\\"They have tried to destroy the constitution of the country, they have tried to divide the nation, to break the federal structure which we saw what they did on August 5 last year.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The BJP-led central government on August 5, last year, abrogated Article 370 that accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. It also divided the state into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"I want to tell them that this (PAGD) is not an anti-national jamaat. Our aim is that people of Jammu Kashmir, and Ladakh should get their rights back. That's where our battle is, our battle is not for more than that,\\\" Abdullah said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Abdullah said the BJP was doing propaganda against the constituents of the PAGD in Jammu and elsewhere in the country.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"They are trying to divide us (people of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh) in the name of religion. This attempt will not succeed. This is not a religious battle, this is a fight for our identity and for that identity, we are standing together,\\\" he said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/no-question-of-accepting-anything-less-than-what-was-snatched-away-from-us-omar-abdullah-399887/\\\">No question of accepting anything less than what was snatched away from us: Omar Abdullah</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The PAGD was formed on October 15 by the mainstream&nbsp;political parties in Kashmir. Its aim is the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state as it existed before August 5 last year and also to initiate a dialogue between all stakeholders on the issue.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration was formed on October 15</li>
 <li>Farooq Abdullah accused the BJP of "propaganda" over PAGD</li>
 <li>"This is not a religious battle," he said following the meeting of the PAGD</li>
</ul>

'Anti-BJP, not anti-national': Farooq Abdullah on Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration

Article370

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah was on Saturday unanimously chosen as the chairman of the recently-floated 'Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration'. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and&nbsp;Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief&nbsp;Mehbooba Mufti will be his deputy, PTI reported.,The decision was taken in a meeting at&nbsp;Mufti's residence.,The flag&nbsp;of the erstwhile state of&nbsp; Jammu and Kashmir is chosen as the symbol of the amalgam.,Communist Party of India (CPI)&nbsp;leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is the convenor of the alliance, while Sajad Lone of People's Conference has been named as the spokesperson.,The alliance was floated on October 15, following a meeting of the leaders, following Mufti's release after 14 months of detention.,The alliance will come out with a white paper within a month on governance in Jammu and Kashmir over the past one year since the abrogation of Article 370, Lone told reporters on Saturday, PTI reported.,"The white paper will not be rhetoric.","It will be based on facts and figures to present the reality to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and around the country... An impression is being given that all the corruption had happened in Jammu and Kashmir only," the spokesperson said.,Its next meeting will be held&nbsp;after a fortnight in Jammu. A convention will be held&nbsp;in Srinagar on November 17.

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<ul>
 <li>Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration was floated on October 15</li>
 <li>Flag&nbsp;of the erstwhile state of&nbsp; Jammu and Kashmir is chosen as its symbol</li>
 <li>Sajad Lone of People's Conference is its spokesperson</li>
</ul>

Farooq Abdullah named president, Mehbooba his deputy for Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration

Politcs

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Wednesday refused to comment on National Conference president Farooq Abdullah's appearance before the&nbsp;Enforcement Directorate (ED)&nbsp;but said institutions have a right to act according to the Constitution and laws, PTI reported.,"The Constitution and laws have given rights to institutions to act and I do not have anything more to say on this," he told reporters, according to PTI.,Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/farooq-abdullah-appears-before-ed-in-jkca-money-laundering-case-again">Farooq Abdullah appears before ED in JKCA money laundering case again</a>,The 83-year-old former Union minister on Wednesday, the second time this week, was questioned by the ED&nbsp; in connection with a money-laundering probe into an alleged multi-crore scam in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).,After the questioning on Monday,&nbsp;Abdullah had said he was not worried and would cooperate in the probe.,ED officials said Abdullah's statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as in the past. He was questioned for the first time in the case in July last year in Chandigarh.

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<ul>
 <li>"The Constitution and laws have given rights to institutions to act," he said refusing to comment anymore</li>
 <li>On Monday, Abdullah had said he was not worried and would cooperate in the probe</li>
 <li>He was questioned for the first time in the case in July last year in Chandigarh</li>
</ul>

LG Manoj Sinha refuses to comment on ED summons to Farooq Abdullah

ManojSinha

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned former
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah in connection with alleged
misappropriation of Rs 43 crore when he was the chairman of J&amp; K Cricket
Association, a move his son and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah
decried as "political vendetta." &nbsp;,50-year-old Omar slammed the move as a "political
vendetta" for the formation of the People's Alliance for Gupkar
Declaration.,He tweeted, "The party will be responding to this ED
summons shortly. This is nothing less than political vendetta coming days after
the formation of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration. To set the
record straight no raids are being conducted at Dr Sahib’s residence.",He added that the party "will be responding to
this&nbsp;Enforcement Directorate summons shortly." ,The case
Farooq Abdullah is being questioned for is based on an FIR filed by the CBI, as
per PTI report. The FIR named former Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association
office-bearers Mohammed Saleem Khan and Ahsan Ahmad Khan.,The Central
Bureau of Investigation further filed a charge
sheet naming Farooq Abdullah, Mir Mazoor Gazanffer, Bashir Ahmad Misgar and Gulzar
Ahmad Beigh over 'misappropriation of funds" amounting to Rs 43.69 crore.
,The money was siphoned from grants given by Board of Control for Cricket in
India to promote the game in the state between 2002-11, reported PTI.,The ED further said that their probe revealed that JKCA had received Rs 94.06 crore from BCCI in three
different bank accounts during financial years 2005–2006 to 2011–2012.

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<ul>
 <li>Enforcement Directorate quizzed former J&amp;K CM Farooq Abdullah on Monday</li>
 <li>Son Omar Abdullah called the move a 'political vendetta'</li>
 <li>Farooq is being questioned in connection with alleged misappropriation of funds</li>
</ul>

As ED quizzes Farooq Abdullah in cricket association case, son Omar alleges 'vendetta'

Omar Abdullah has been one of the most articulate and passionate voices emanating from the Valley in favour of the restoration of the erstwhile status of Jammu and Kashmir. He and his father Farooq Abdullah have always held the tricolour aloft even in the most trying of times. Jailed for 8 months under the Public Safety Act, Omar Abdullah sounds hurt, bitter and let down, as he passionately argues for the restoration of the status in his wide ranging interview to Javed M Ansari for Opoyi. Q1. The alliance has come together to fight for the restoration of the special status, which is a matter that is in the Supreme Court, so how else are you going to fight for this restoration?. Omar: We will fight it primarily in the Supreme Court, we believe we have a very strong case and when the issue comes up before the apex court we are more than confident that we will carry the day. Secondary, we will also keep it alive in the public domain and explain all aspects of it to the people of the state, specially to the people in Jammu, Leh and Kargil. We will continue to raise this issue in Parliament, talk to like-minded parties and disabuse some of them of the misgivings that they may have on the issue. Q2. How do you react to the act that some of your allies like the Congress actually voted in favour of the abrogation in Parliament?. Omar: That is the surprising part and that is something for the Congress party to explain to its conscience. What was snatched away from us is the legacy of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. What we are fighting for is what was given to us and created for us by Jawaharlal Nehru. The Congress strangely is disowning that legacy. Even yesterday the state Congress unit stayed away from the meeting though they were signatories to it initially. However, there are many people in the Congress leaders like Mr Chidambaram, who have been very vocal and strong in their support for us, as have the DMK Chief MK Stalin and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Q3. The National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have announced an alliance to seek the restoration of J&K’s special status. In the end, isn’t this just political posturing because who are you asking? The same Modi government that changed the special status in the first place?. Omar: We have no expectation of changing the BJP’s thought process. That’s not our intention at all. However, we do believe and history is a testimony to the fact that no government or party remains in power forever. We are in it for the long haul, and there is absolutely no question of ever giving up what was ours or accepting what was snatched away from us on 5th August 2019. Also Read| Bitter rivals for decades, the Muftis and the Abdullahs join hands for a 'united' cause. Q4. Farooq Abdullah has sought China’s help for restoring Article 370. Do you agree with him? . Omar: That was not his formulation, these linkages were drawn up by others. He just sought to reflect what the people on the ground have been saying. Nobody here is advocating a role for China. Q5. Both you and your father have been the loudest pro Indian voices in the state, yet you were held under the draconian Public Security Act (PSA). Did you ever think you would be seen as the ‘enemy of the state’?. Omar: Never did I ever imagine that I would be considered an enemy of my people, my state and my country. Just look at the grounds that were cited for booking me under PSA. My ability to get people out and participate in the electoral process was cited as grounds for my detention. How on earth can you expect anybody in the future to persuade people to participate in elections. They just didn’t think this through, the idea was to make us feel humiliated. It hurt, not just for what happened to us but for what was done to the state to its people and leaders like Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba. It hurts that my country has gone back on the sovereign commitment, it hurts that the entire state was put in a lockdown and denied basic human rights. Q6. Do you now feel more Kashmiri and less Indian?. Omar: Have never seen the two as mutually exclusive. The fact is that I am a Kashmiri and an Indian. Q7. The new alliance with Mehbooba Mufti has also sought a political dialogue with all stakeholders. Who are these stakeholders and do they include Pakistan?. Omar: The primary stakeholders are the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Let's begin with them first. As far as the part of the question is concerned it's in the domain of the government of India. Q8. What are the political demands that the dialogue should address?. Omar: We are very clear that it has to be the restoration of our status. Q9. Isn’t it a plain fact that the change of status has left you with virtually no political space? Honestly, aren’t you finding it difficult to find issues that will resonate with the people who think that the mainstream parties are responsible for what has been done to Jammu and Kashmir?. Omar: Nothing resonates with the people more than the restoration of what was taken away from them. This is by far the biggest issue before them. The people in Ladakh are agitating about the restoration of their rights, in Jammu, people want protection of their Dogra identity, there is no shortage of issues. Q10. The mood on the street is a difficult one to navigate. When will you start reaching out to the people? So far, you have only had closed door meetings. Omar: We have never stopped moving out. We have been holding meetings and have deliberately kept the gathering small because of security concerns and on account of the pandemic. It would be highly irresponsible on our part to put people at risk by asking them to gather in large numbers. Q11. You and your father met PM Modi just before August 5 last year when the state’s fate was changed. Will you ever trust the PM again?. Omar: What transpired at the meeting is a conversation for another day. I have never said that I do not trust him, what transpired is for a conversation in the future. It's not about a trust deficit. I know it is a political issue, that is why I am not trying to change the BJP, I know I cannot. Q12. You were once a minister in the BJP-led NDA under (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee. Mehbooba too shared power with the BJP. Will you ever join hands with the BJP again?. Omar: I never give a categorical answer to a hypothetical question. However, I would be very surprised if the NC is ever a part of an NDA alliance. Q13. You have in earlier interviews said that you are hurt and have become less trusting. How deep is your personal wound?. Omar: Deep enough to say that it hurts even to talk about it. Sure it wasn’t pleasant, watching Mehbooba ji in jail for 14 months, watching so many of the political leaders and workers in jail, watching our people suffer. The hurt was not about me or my father but about all of us, it was about the entire state. Q14. Will this alliance at some stage turn into an electoral alliance as well?. Omar: There are no elections on the anvil. Hence, it is not even on the agenda. This is a political alliance for the restoration of our status and our rights. #OmarAbdullah #Article370 #JammuandKashmir #People's Alliance #NationalConference #MehboobaMufti #FarooqAbdullah .

Javed M Ansari

<ul><li>Jailed for 8 months under the PSA, Omar Abdullah sounds hurt, bitter and let down</li><li>What we are fighting for is what was given to us and created for us by Jawaharlal Nehru, said Omar Abdullah</li><li>I know it is a political issue, that is why I am not trying to change the BJP: Omar</li></ul>

No%20question%20of%20accepting%20anything%20less%20than%20what%20was%20snatched%20away%20from%20us%3A%20Omar%20Abdullah

People

Political parties in Kashmir, on Monday, gave formal shape to their alliance formed after revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir last year, reported PTI.,ANI quoted&nbsp;National Conference president Farooq Abdullah saying, "We have named this alliance as People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration. Our battle is a constitutional battle, we want the government of India to return to the people of the State the rights they held before 5th Aug 2019."

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<ul>
 <li>The alliance was formed after revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir last year</li>
 <li>The alliance is named 'People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration'</li>
 <li>Mehbooba Mufti met Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, at her residence in Srinagar</li>
</ul>

PDP, NC form People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in Kashmir

Adversity does things to people. It also compels political opponents to join hands. This is precisely what is happening in Jammu & Kashmir, with signatories to the Gupkar declaration comprising disparate political parties, including the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP, meeting in Srinagar on Thursday. The meeting comes close on the heels of Mehboba’s release from her 14-month detention. The Gupkar declaration was issued on August 4, 2019, a day before the abrogation of article 370  and the signatories included 6 pro India parties, including the NC and the PDP. Between them the two parties have dominated the political landscape of the state for several decades. The parties, some of them bitter enemies, signalled their resolve to sink their differences and work united to protect and defend the identity, autonomy and special status of J&K. Soon thereafter the three former chief ministers  Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti along with with scores of other leaders were put behind bars.  . Since their last meeting much water has flown down the Jhelum. The whole political scenario has undergone a radical change. Article 370 was abrogated and the state was divided and turned into a UT. Mass protests have failed to materialise, in part due to the massive mobilisation and deployment of security forces and also on account of a disillusionment with the current crop of Kashmir’s political leaders. In a way Kashmir’s mainstream leaders have found the ground slipping away under their feet. The local populace has little faith in them and the Centre has done little to help them either. Their dilemma was best summed up by former chief minister when he commented that "we  don’t really know where we stand, the people in the valley are angry with us for bring pro India while the rest of the country thinks we are with the militants." This in many ways also sums up the difficult situation that Gupkar signatories find themselves in.  Many Kashmir watchers believe that the current situation has left them with no role to play. They are looked at with suspicion from both sides. These parties have set themselves an ambitious agenda of trying to get the special status of J&K restored. From the situation on the ground and given the mood at the Centre, that at best appears to be a mirage. The BJP-led central government considers the bifurcation of the state and the abrogation as one of the biggest moments, hence there is very little likelihood of it ever agreeing to revert to the status quo. Farooq Abdullah has always worn his pro India allegiance on his sleeve and has never been afraid to shout about from the roof tops, but given the current situation even he has now resorted to statements that China will help restore article 370 to the state.  . It will be interesting to note if the leaders of tomorrow’s meeting can come up with any substantive apart from the optics. The dice at the moment appears heavily loaded against them.  . #MehboobaMufti #FarooqAbdullah #OmarAbdullah #JammuandKashmir #Article370 .

{\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Adversity%20does%20things%20to%20people.%20It%20also%20compels%20political%20opponents%20to%20join%20hands.%20This%20is%20precisely%20what%20is%20happening%20in%20Jammu%20%26amp%3B%20Kashmir%2C%20with%20signatories%20to%20the%20Gupkar%20declaration%20comprising%20disparate%20political%20parties%2C%20including%20the%20National%20Conference%20and%20Mehbooba%20Mufti-led%20PDP%2C%20meeting%20in%20Srinagar%20on%20Thursday.%20The%20meeting%20comes%20close%20on%20the%20heels%20of%20Mehboba%u2019s%20release%20from%20her%2014-month%20detention.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The%20Gupkar%20declaration%20was%20issued%20on%20August%204%2C%202019%2C%20a%20day%20before%20the%20abrogation%20of%20article%20370%20%26nbsp%3Band%20the%20signatories%20included%206%20pro%20India%20parties%2C%20including%20the%20NC%20and%20the%20PDP.%20Between%20them%20the%20two%20parties%20have%20dominated%20the%20political%20landscape%20of%20the%20state%20for%20several%20decades.%20The%20parties%2C%20some%20of%20them%20bitter%20enemies%2C%20signalled%20their%20resolve%20to%20sink%20their%20differences%20and%20work%20united%20to%20protect%20and%20defend%20the%20identity%2C%20autonomy%20and%20special%20status%20of%20J%26amp%3BK.%20Soon%20thereafter%20the%20three%20former%20chief%20ministers%20%26nbsp%3BFarooq%20Abdullah%2C%20Omar%20Abdullah%20and%20Mehbooba%20Mufti%20along%20with%20with%20scores%20of%20other%20leaders%20were%20put%20behind%20bars.%20%26nbsp%3B\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Since%20their%20last%20meeting%20much%20water%20has%20flown%20down%20the%20Jhelum.%20The%20whole%20political%20scenario%20has%20undergone%20a%20radical%20change.%20Article%20370%20was%20abrogated%20and%20the%20state%20was%20divided%20and%20turned%20into%20a%20UT.%20Mass%20protests%20have%20failed%20to%20materialise%2C%20in%20part%20due%20to%20the%20massive%20mobilisation%20and%20deployment%20of%20security%20forces%20and%20also%20on%20account%20of%20a%20disillusionment%20with%20the%20current%20crop%20of%20Kashmir%u2019s%20political%20leaders.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In%20a%20way%20Kashmir%u2019s%20mainstream%20leaders%20have%20found%20the%20ground%20slipping%20away%20under%20their%20feet.%20The%20local%20populace%20has%20little%20faith%20in%20them%20and%20the%20Centre%20has%20done%20little%20to%20help%20them%20either.%20Their%20dilemma%20was%20best%20summed%20up%20by%20former%20chief%20minister%20when%20he%20commented%20that%20%22we%20%26nbsp%3Bdon%u2019t%20really%20know%20where%20we%20stand%2C%20the%20people%20in%20the%20valley%20are%20angry%20with%20us%20for%20bring%20pro%20India%20while%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20country%20thinks%20we%20are%20with%20the%20militants.%22%20This%20in%20many%20ways%20also%20sums%20up%20the%20difficult%20situation%20that%20Gupkar%20signatories%20find%20themselves%20in.%20%26nbsp%3BMany%20Kashmir%20watchers%20believe%20that%20the%20current%20situation%20has%20left%20them%20with%20no%20role%20to%20play.%20They%20are%20looked%20at%20with%20suspicion%20from%20both%20sides.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"These%20parties%20have%20set%20themselves%20an%20ambitious%20agenda%20of%20trying%20to%20get%20the%20special%20status%20of%20J%26amp%3BK%20restored.%20From%20the%20situation%20on%20the%20ground%20and%20given%20the%20mood%20at%20the%20Centre%2C%20that%20at%20best%20appears%20to%20be%20a%20mirage.%20The%20BJP-led%20central%20government%20considers%20the%20bifurcation%20of%20the%20state%20and%20the%20abrogation%20as%20one%20of%20the%20biggest%20moments%2C%20hence%20there%20is%20very%20little%20likelihood%20of%20it%20ever%20agreeing%20to%20revert%20to%20the%20status%20quo.%20Farooq%20Abdullah%20has%20always%20worn%20his%20pro%20India%20allegiance%20on%20his%20sleeve%20and%20has%20never%20been%20afraid%20to%20shout%20about%20from%20the%20roof%20tops%2C%20but%20given%20the%20current%20situation%20even%20he%20has%20now%20resorted%20to%20statements%20that%20China%20will%20help%20restore%20article%20370%20to%20the%20state.%20%26nbsp%3B\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"It%20will%20be%20interesting%20to%20note%20if%20the%20leaders%20of%20tomorrow%u2019s%20meeting%20can%20come%20up%20with%20any%20substantive%20apart%20from%20the%20optics.%20The%20dice%20at%20the%20moment%20appears%20heavily%20loaded%20against%20them.%20%26nbsp%3B\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23MehboobaMufti%22%20data-user-id%3D%22ygo08d0Ov4u9%22%20href%3D%22/topic/mehbooba-mufti%22%3E%23MehboobaMufti%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23FarooqAbdullah%22%20data-user-id%3D%22yoCB0eFGFMfq%22%20href%3D%22/topic/farooq-abdullah%22%3E%23FarooqAbdullah%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23OmarAbdullah%22%20data-user-id%3D%22ldHgGh18qUH0%22%20href%3D%22/topic/omar-abdullah%22%3E%23OmarAbdullah%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23JammuandKashmir%22%20data-user-id%3D%22JDgoc52QaiFQ%22%20href%3D%22/topic/jammu-and-kashmir%22%3E%23JammuandKashmir%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Article370%22%20data-user-id%3D%22S5oxOQ9ANsIi%22%20href%3D%22/topic/article-370%22%3E%23Article370%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B\"}}],\"rawState\":\"Adversity does things to people. It also compels political opponents to join hands. This is precisely what is happening in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, with signatories to the Gupkar declaration comprising disparate political parties, including the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP, meeting in Srinagar on Thursday. The meeting comes close on the heels of Mehboba’s release from her 14-month detention.The Gupkar declaration was issued on August 4, 2019, a day before the abrogation of article 370 &nbsp;and the signatories included 6 pro India parties, including the NC and the PDP. Between them the two parties have dominated the political landscape of the state for several decades. The parties, some of them bitter enemies, signalled their resolve to sink their differences and work united to protect and defend the identity, autonomy and special status of J&amp;K. Soon thereafter the three former chief ministers &nbsp;Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti along with with scores of other leaders were put behind bars. &nbsp;Since their last meeting much water has flown down the Jhelum. The whole political scenario has undergone a radical change. Article 370 was abrogated and the state was divided and turned into a UT. Mass protests have failed to materialise, in part due to the massive mobilisation and deployment of security forces and also on account of a disillusionment with the current crop of Kashmir’s political leaders.In a way Kashmir’s mainstream leaders have found the ground slipping away under their feet. The local populace has little faith in them and the Centre has done little to help them either. Their dilemma was best summed up by former chief minister when he commented that \\\"we &nbsp;don’t really know where we stand, the people in the valley are angry with us for bring pro India while the rest of the country thinks we are with the militants.\\\" This in many ways also sums up the difficult situation that Gupkar signatories find themselves in. &nbsp;Many Kashmir watchers believe that the current situation has left them with no role to play. They are looked at with suspicion from both sides.These parties have set themselves an ambitious agenda of trying to get the special status of J&amp;K restored. From the situation on the ground and given the mood at the Centre, that at best appears to be a mirage. The BJP-led central government considers the bifurcation of the state and the abrogation as one of the biggest moments, hence there is very little likelihood of it ever agreeing to revert to the status quo. Farooq Abdullah has always worn his pro India allegiance on his sleeve and has never been afraid to shout about from the roof tops, but given the current situation even he has now resorted to statements that China will help restore article 370 to the state. &nbsp;It will be interesting to note if the leaders of tomorrow’s meeting can come up with any substantive apart from the optics. The dice at the moment appears heavily loaded against them. &nbsp;<a class=\\\"mention\\\" data-mention=\\\"#MehboobaMufti\\\" data-user-id=\\\"ygo08d0Ov4u9\\\" href=\\\"/topic/mehbooba-mufti\\\">#MehboobaMufti</a> <a class=\\\"mention\\\" data-mention=\\\"#FarooqAbdullah\\\" data-user-id=\\\"yoCB0eFGFMfq\\\" href=\\\"/topic/farooq-abdullah\\\">#FarooqAbdullah</a> <a class=\\\"mention\\\" data-mention=\\\"#OmarAbdullah\\\" data-user-id=\\\"ldHgGh18qUH0\\\" href=\\\"/topic/omar-abdullah\\\">#OmarAbdullah</a> <a class=\\\"mention\\\" data-mention=\\\"#JammuandKashmir\\\" data-user-id=\\\"JDgoc52QaiFQ\\\" href=\\\"/topic/jammu-and-kashmir\\\">#JammuandKashmir</a> <a class=\\\"mention\\\" data-mention=\\\"#Article370\\\" data-user-id=\\\"S5oxOQ9ANsIi\\\" href=\\\"/topic/article-370\\\">#Article370</a>&nbsp;\",\"time\":1602690103879,\"strCount\":3049}

<ul><li>Mehbooba Mufti was released from detention on Tuesday night after 14 months</li><li>National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah met her on Wednesday</li><li>The NC chief has called for a key Kashmir meeting on Thursday&nbsp;</li></ul>

Bitter%20rivals%20for%20decades%2C%20the%20Muftis%20and%20the%20Abdullahs%20join%20hands%20for%20a%20%27united%27%20cause

Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, India

National Conference president Farooq
Abdullah and NC vice- president Omar Abdullah visited the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti at her
residence on Wednesday, reported ANI.&nbsp;,Mufti was released from detention on Tuesday night after a
period of 14 months as the Union Territory administration revoked the Public
Safety Act charges against her, more than a year after she was detained
following the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state.,Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/will-take-back-what-was-snatched-illegally-mehbooba-mufti-after-being-released-from-detention">'Will take back what was snatched illegally': Mehbooba Mufti after being released from detention</a>,"Mehbooba
Mufti was released yesterday after more than 14.5 months of detention. There
was no political motive, we just came to see her," said Omar
Abdullah after his visit.,Mufti's release comes two days before the
Supreme Court was to hear the matter related to her detention.,The Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday ordered
that the PSA against Mufti had been revoked with immediate effect. Her
detention period had been extended for a period of three months on July 31 this
year.,Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/welcome-out-omar-abdullahs-message-for-mehbooba-mufti">'Welcome out': Omar Abdullah's message for Mehbooba Mufti</a>,Mehbooba, 61, who was initially put under
preventive custody on August 5 last year and later booked under the stringent PSA
on February 6, was shifted to her official residence on April 7 after it was
declared a subsidiary jail by the authorities.

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<ul>
 <li>Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah visited Mehbooba Mufti&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Omar Abdullah said that there was no political motive behind the visit</li>
 <li>Mufti was released from detention on Tuesday night</li>
</ul>

'No political motive, just came to see her': Omar Abdullah after visiting Mehbooba Mufti

PoliticalLeaders

Gargi Kaul



Summing up the mood in the Valley, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah has said that Kashmiris no longer trust the Central government and would rather have Chinese 'come in'. "The emotional bond is gone, they wiped it out," the 82-year-old National Conference leader said in an interview on Wednesday.,Abdullah, who was in detention for eight months following the scrapping of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, said in an interview to news portal The Wire, "To be honest, I wonder if you will find anybody who will call themselves an Indian, they don't feel Indian... Because they can no longer trust, the unity of the Muslim majority state with India was on trust. Today, when China is advancing, they would rather have Chinese coming in.","Kashmir went against the current to join Gandhi's India, not Modi's India, because there was trust... today there are security personnel in every street, where is the freedom?" he asked.,The Article 370 that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated on August 5, 2019, and the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories -- Ladakh and Jammu &amp; Kashmir. This was accompanied by the detention of all mainstream political leaders and complete communication and commercial lockdown.,Commenting on the developments in August, 2019, Abdullah said that it had left him 'deeply shaken and upset'. Abdullah, seen as the most prominent pro-India face in the Valley, added that by putting me under detention, the Centre had branded him as a traitor' and Kashmiris, on the other hand, saw him as a 'servant of India',Talking about his meeting with PM Modi days ahead of the abrogation, Abdullah said that Modi did not say a word about Articles 370 and 35A. The former Chief Minister emerged from that meeting believing the two Articles were not in danger.

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<ul>
 <li>"I wonder if you will find anybody (in Kashmir) who will call themselves an Indian," Farooq Abdullah has said</li>
 <li>"They (the Kashmiris) would rather have Chinese coming in," he said in an interview</li>
 <li>He said the abrogation of Article 370 and the developments that followed have 'deeply shaken' him</li>
</ul>

Kashmir went against the current to join Gandhi's India, not Modi's India: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir
chief minister Farooq Abdullah, speaking in the Lok Sabha for the first time
since his release from detention, on Saturday called on the government to hold
talks with Pakistan to end border conflicts. ,Abdullah argued that if India can hold talks with
China to alleviate recent border clashes, it can do the same with Pakistan to ease
the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.,Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/lok-sabha-floor-leaders-mull-curtailing-of-session-due-to-rising-covid-19-cases-among-mps">Lok Sabha floor leaders mull curtailing of session due to rising COVID-19 cases among MPs</a>,“Border skirmishes have been rising and people are
dying. A way has to be found to deal with this. Except for talks. As you are
talking to China to attempt that it withdraws (from Ladakh border), we should
also talk to our (other) neighbour to find a way to get out of this situation,”
Abdullah said.,He also expressed delight over the Indian Army
launching an investigation into the killing of three men in an encounter in
Shopian district. ,“I am happy that the Army has admitted that three
Shopian men were killed mistakenly. I hope the government gives a hefty
compensation,” he said. ,According to PTI, officials on Friday said that the Army
had found “prima facie” evidence that its troops “exceeded” powers under the
Armed Forces Special Powers Act during the encounter in July. The Army has
initiated disciplinary proceedings into the matter.,Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://opoyi.com/farooq-abdullah-calls-for-probe-into-exodus-of-kashmiri-pandits">Farooq Abdullah calls for probe into exodus of Kashmiri Pandits</a>,Abdullah further slammed the government for lack of
progress in the Union Territory, saying that the blocking of 4G by the
authorities is against the interest of the students and traders of Jammu and
Kashmir. ,Abdullah was one of numerous leaders from the erstwhile
state that were put under detention following the abrogation of Article 370 by
the Union government last year, splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
He was released from detention in March this year.

{\"time\":1600520802950,\"strCount\":2190,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir\\nchief minister Farooq Abdullah, speaking in the Lok Sabha for the first time\\nsince his release from detention, on Saturday called on the government to hold\\ntalks with Pakistan to end border conflicts. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Abdullah argued that if India can hold talks with\\nChina to alleviate recent border clashes, it can do the same with Pakistan to ease\\nthe prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india/lok-sabha-floor-leaders-mull-curtailing-of-session-due-to-rising-covid-19-cases-among-mps-628161/\\\">Lok Sabha floor leaders mull curtailing of session due to rising COVID-19 cases among MPs</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“Border skirmishes have been rising and people are\\ndying. A way has to be found to deal with this. Except for talks. As you are\\ntalking to China to attempt that it withdraws (from Ladakh border), we should\\nalso talk to our (other) neighbour to find a way to get out of this situation,”\\nAbdullah said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"He also expressed delight over the Indian Army\\nlaunching an investigation into the killing of three men in an encounter in\\nShopian district. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“I am happy that the Army has admitted that three\\nShopian men were killed mistakenly. I hope the government gives a hefty\\ncompensation,” he said. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"According to PTI, officials on Friday said that the Army\\nhad found “prima facie” evidence that its troops “exceeded” powers under the\\nArmed Forces Special Powers Act during the encounter in July. The Army has\\ninitiated disciplinary proceedings into the matter.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/wires/presstrustofindia/farooq-abdullah-calls-for-probe-into-exodus-of-kashmiri-pandits-593183/\\\">Farooq Abdullah calls for probe into exodus of Kashmiri Pandits</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Abdullah further slammed the government for lack of\\nprogress in the Union Territory, saying that the blocking of 4G by the\\nauthorities is against the interest of the students and traders of Jammu and\\nKashmir. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Abdullah was one of numerous leaders from the erstwhile\\nstate that were put under detention following the abrogation of Article 370 by\\nthe Union government last year, splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.\\nHe was released from detention in March this year. \"}}]}

Shubham Banerjee

<ul>
 <li>Farooq Abdullah spoke in the Parliament for the first time since his release from detention earlier this year</li>
 <li>He said the government should hold talks with Pakistan, like it is doing with China</li>
 <li>Abdullah further slammed the government for lack of progress in the Union Territory</li>
</ul>