* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Jason Momoa Is Done With Peace in Apple’s ‘Chief of War’ Teaser – Yahoo

    Jason Momoa Embraces Chaos in Gripping Teaser for Apple’s ‘Chief of War’

    AI Entertainment Studio Promise Inks Deal With Google, Raises Investment from Michael Ovitz’s Crossbeam – The Hollywood Reporter

    AI Entertainment Studio Promise Secures Major Deal with Google and Attracts Investment from Michael Ovitz’s Crossbeam!

    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson Did This “Humiliating” Thing to Prep for Sex Scenes – Yahoo

    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s Hilarious Preparation for Steamy Sex Scenes!

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    First Celebrities Playing in the 2025 American Century Championship Announced – El Paso Inc.

    Exciting Lineup Revealed: First Celebrities Set to Compete in the 2025 American Century Championship!

    Palm Beach Council approves Breakers plans for new Family Entertainment Center – Palm Beach Daily News

    Palm Beach Council Greenlights Exciting New Family Entertainment Center at The Breakers!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Novotech Honored with Triple Win in 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards – Morningstar

    Novotech Celebrates Triple Triumph at the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards!

    Experts Issue Warning on New TSA Technology – Men’s Journal

    Experts Sound Alarm Over New TSA Technology: What You Need to Know

    Cellino’s iPSC Manufacturing Technology Receives FDA Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Designation – Business Wire

    Cellino’s Groundbreaking iPSC Manufacturing Technology Earns FDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Designation!

    New technology adapting the study of Anatomy | Why’s Guy’s – WCIA.com

    Revolutionizing Anatomy: How Cutting-Edge Technology is Transforming the Study of the Human Body

    We Think GigaCloud Technology’s (NASDAQ:GCT) Solid Earnings Are Understated – Yahoo Finance

    Unlocking Potential: Why GigaCloud Technology’s Impressive Earnings Deserve More Recognition

    JPMorgan Chase plans to spend $18B in technology in 2025 (JPM:NYSE) – Seeking Alpha

    JPMorgan Chase Unveils Ambitious $18 Billion Tech Investment Plan for 2025!

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Jason Momoa Is Done With Peace in Apple’s ‘Chief of War’ Teaser – Yahoo

    Jason Momoa Embraces Chaos in Gripping Teaser for Apple’s ‘Chief of War’

    AI Entertainment Studio Promise Inks Deal With Google, Raises Investment from Michael Ovitz’s Crossbeam – The Hollywood Reporter

    AI Entertainment Studio Promise Secures Major Deal with Google and Attracts Investment from Michael Ovitz’s Crossbeam!

    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson Did This “Humiliating” Thing to Prep for Sex Scenes – Yahoo

    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s Hilarious Preparation for Steamy Sex Scenes!

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    First Celebrities Playing in the 2025 American Century Championship Announced – El Paso Inc.

    Exciting Lineup Revealed: First Celebrities Set to Compete in the 2025 American Century Championship!

    Palm Beach Council approves Breakers plans for new Family Entertainment Center – Palm Beach Daily News

    Palm Beach Council Greenlights Exciting New Family Entertainment Center at The Breakers!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Novotech Honored with Triple Win in 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards – Morningstar

    Novotech Celebrates Triple Triumph at the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards!

    Experts Issue Warning on New TSA Technology – Men’s Journal

    Experts Sound Alarm Over New TSA Technology: What You Need to Know

    Cellino’s iPSC Manufacturing Technology Receives FDA Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Designation – Business Wire

    Cellino’s Groundbreaking iPSC Manufacturing Technology Earns FDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Designation!

    New technology adapting the study of Anatomy | Why’s Guy’s – WCIA.com

    Revolutionizing Anatomy: How Cutting-Edge Technology is Transforming the Study of the Human Body

    We Think GigaCloud Technology’s (NASDAQ:GCT) Solid Earnings Are Understated – Yahoo Finance

    Unlocking Potential: Why GigaCloud Technology’s Impressive Earnings Deserve More Recognition

    JPMorgan Chase plans to spend $18B in technology in 2025 (JPM:NYSE) – Seeking Alpha

    JPMorgan Chase Unveils Ambitious $18 Billion Tech Investment Plan for 2025!

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Pavan K. Varma | Kashmir on the mend, but threatened by hate rhetoric

May 11, 2024
in News
Pavan K. Varma | Kashmir on the mend, but threatened by hate rhetoric
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The abysmal level of discourse in the ongoing national elections has left millions of Indians appalled. The extent of juvenile and malicious acrimony on issues that are irrelevant to the needs of the common person, has reached a new low of repugnant immaturity. I thought, therefore, that, physically at least, I should reach higher heights, and have been travelling in Kashmir for a few days, truly a paradise on earth.

After a long hiatus, Kashmir too will vote, and one of my purposes was to gauge what has changed here since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Is there pent-up resentment waiting to erupt, or are things gradually leading to an acceptance of the new reality? On the surface, there is certainly the appearance of normalcy. Is this only a sullen, frozen peace due to the overwhelming presence of our military and para-military forces, or a genuine reconciliation with what now appears to be irreversible? What exactly is the truth between the triumphant propaganda of the government, and the outright condemnation of its critics?

Some facts are incontrovertible. Kashmir has never seen such a tourism boom. In 2023, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) received a record 2.11 crore tourists, more than half of which were for Kashmir. Flights going to Srinagar are filled to capacity. In peak season, one cannot get a room for love or money, even though new hotels, including home-stays, are mushrooming. There has been a 700 per cent increase in foreign tourists too, which now number over 50,000.

With tourism, the sale of handicrafts, carpets and shawls has increased manifold. New shops have emerged, old ones refurbished, malls — still a few — are thriving, and restaurants doing brisk business. I was delighted to see the houseboats on the Dal and Nagina lakes not lying forlorn and empty but largely occupied, and shikaras dotting the waters packed with selfie taking tourists. Tourism is largely concentrated in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, but an attempt is being made to develop off-beat destinations, including those offering adventure tourism.

From what I could gather, the apple sector is also seeing a new high. Kashmir exports around 18 metric tonnes of apples, and accounts for 75 per cent of India’s total apple production. For the first time last year, a box of 15 kilos of apples sold for between Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,600 as against an average of 700 to 800 rupees in previous years.

The overall Kashmir economy grew by eight per cent post-Covid — higher than the national level. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has doubled to over Rs 2.25 lakh crores, thereby increasing per capita incomes. Land prices have increased exponentially, and several infrastructure projects initiated. Many people I spoke to were particularly happy about the opening of the Srinagar-Jammu highway that has furthered integration and halved travel time between the two state capitals. The Kashmir willow, famous for making cricket bats, is also doing well, and people recalled the recent visit of Sachin Tendulkar where he proudly bought one.

Has terrorism decreased? According to official figures, terrorist incidents have dropped to 44 in 2023 compared to 228 in 2012, the number of active terrorists has fallen to an all-time low of 31, and targeted attacks against civilians has decreased to 14 in 2023 as against 81 in 2022. However, stray terrorist acts are still a worry, especially in the Rajouri, Poonch and Kupwara sectors.

Is the ordinary Kashmir happier? Most said yes, because — especially with increased tourism — incomes have increased. Have Kashmiris accepted the abrogation of Article 370? The response is difficult to gauge, but several people told me that this is more an issue with politicians, less with the common person. Do Kashmiris still want ‘azaadi’? Most people said no. The answer of one was that Pakistan cannot provide food to its own people, how will it take care of us? Many are also aware of the deplorable state of affairs in POK.

One pervasive issue is that of unemployment. For one vacancy in the armed or paramilitary forces, there are lakhs of applications. The more educated have no jobs. Kashmir has seen little or no investment in industry, faces shrinking government jobs, and prolonged power-cuts. Even Srinagar often faces power-cuts of hours each day, and the situation is much worse elsewhere. This also affects the tourism industry, since only large hotels can run on generators. The government needs to urgently tackle these issues. I also sensed a subterranean anger against Kashmiri politicians, who, many said, have only feathered their own nests, and perpetuated family fiefdoms. There is unhappiness too with the bifurcation of the state, and the prolonged delay in holding democratic state elections.

The greatest resentment is against the perceived policy of the BJP against Muslims. People are aware that the Narendra Modi government has not a single Muslim, either in the Cabinet or in Parliament. If the Prime Minister (PM) himself insinuates that Muslims are “infiltrators”, you cannot expect the Muslims in Kashmir — or for that matter anywhere in India — to feel an integral part of the country — as they, indeed, are. While there are fringe extremists on both sides of the religious spectrum, when senior ruling party leaders make incendiary statements against Muslims, or condone and overlook openly communal statements and events targeting them, it is bound to impact the sense of inclusion of India’s only Muslim majority state. Such a policy also provides a convenient propaganda handle to Pakistan, and reenergises the sleeper terrorist units it has sponsored within India. If only PM Modi had actually followed his initial slogan of Sabka Saath and Sabka Vishwas, he would have been seen as a statesman, and not just a successful political leader. But since he has come to power, the policy of minority exclusion has only gathered more divisive momentum. This can be clearly seen in the speeches being made in this round of national elections, where the PM’s narrative has almost completely congealed into Hindu-Muslim venom. Whether we accept it or not, to make Kashmir not only physically but emotionally a part of India, such a milieu is a big impediment. Especially now, when increased prosperity and normalcy are helping in healing the wounds of history in Kashmir.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : DeccanChronicle – https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/columnists/pavan-k-varma-kashmir-on-the-mend-but-threatened-by-hate-rhetoric-893596

Tags: newsPavanVarma
Previous Post

Teachers With Postal Votes Missing Out on Exercising Franchise: Poll Duty

Next Post

Kishan Reddy on a Weak Wicket in Secunderabad

Feld Motor Sports Wins Two Telly Awards for SMX Content – SupercrossLive

Feld Motor Sports Wins Two Telly Awards for SMX Content – SupercrossLive

May 21, 2025
New BS in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology degree program prepares students for diverse careers – Oakland University

Unlock Your Future: Explore the New BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Degree!

May 21, 2025
Los Alamos Faith And Science Forum 2025 Summer Series – Los Alamos Daily Post

Explore the Intersection of Faith and Science: Join the 2025 Summer Series in Los Alamos!

May 21, 2025
🧪 Science with Sarah: Cloud in a jar ☁️ – KSAT

Create Your Own Cloud in a Jar: A Fun Science Experiment with Sarah!

May 21, 2025
Simple lifestyle changes to avoid prostate cancer – Times of India

Simple lifestyle changes to avoid prostate cancer – Times of India

May 21, 2025
Ask the Developer Vol. 18: Mario Kart World — Part 4 – Nintendo

Revving Up the Fun: Dive into Mario Kart World – Part 4!

May 21, 2025
Trump Is Slowly but Surely Killing U.S. Economy, Experts Warn – The New Republic

Experts Warn: Trump’s Policies Are Gradually Undermining the U.S. Economy

May 21, 2025
Jason Momoa Is Done With Peace in Apple’s ‘Chief of War’ Teaser – Yahoo

Jason Momoa Embraces Chaos in Gripping Teaser for Apple’s ‘Chief of War’

May 21, 2025
Attendance improves in rural NYS schools with on-site health clinics – Cornell Chronicle

Boosting Attendance: How On-Site Health Clinics are Transforming Rural NYS Schools

May 21, 2025
Justice Department ends police reform agreements and halts investigations into major departments – CNN

Justice Department Shifts Gears: Police Reform Agreements and Major Investigations Come to a Halt

May 21, 2025

Categories

Archives

May 2025
MTWTFSS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
« Apr    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (627)
  • Economy (640)
  • Entertainment (21,554)
  • General (15,224)
  • Health (9,682)
  • Lifestyle (645)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (643)
  • Politics (648)
  • Science (15,864)
  • Sports (21,151)
  • Technology (15,630)
  • World (630)

Recent News

Feld Motor Sports Wins Two Telly Awards for SMX Content – SupercrossLive

Feld Motor Sports Wins Two Telly Awards for SMX Content – SupercrossLive

May 21, 2025
New BS in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology degree program prepares students for diverse careers – Oakland University

Unlock Your Future: Explore the New BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Degree!

May 21, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version