Amarnath Yatra continues after militant attack
Fresh batch of pilgrims left for Amarnath cave shrine on Friday, officials informed. Despite the militant attack on July 11, pilgrims are continuing their journey to visit the cave for darshan. Seven Amarnath pilgrims, including five women, were killed when militants attacked a bus carrying 56 passengers from Gujarat, in South Kashmir's Anantnag on July 11. Eighteen others were also injured. The exemplary bravery, and common sense, displayed by the Muslim driver of the bus, Salim Sheikh, prevented further tragedy. Salim steered the bus to safety despite facing indiscriminate firing. The devotees, who were on their way to Jammu from Baltal, after darshan of the lingam at the cave, were traumatised by the terror strike. The attack was the first in 17 years, after the terror strike in 2000 which took the life of 25 yatris at the Amarnath base camp at Pahalgam. The injured were airlifted in a special BSF plane from south Kashmir to New Delhi for treatment. The attack evoked a torrent of condemnation from all sections of Kashmiri society including the separatists who called the tourists and yatris, the guests of Kashmir. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met the injured at Anantnag district hospital and said she was sorry for what had happened. The residents of Anantnag came out in numbers to donate blood and provide other assistance to the injured, which was highly appreciated by the devotees and authorities. The police identified the attackers as a group led by Abu Ismail of Pakistan. Meanwhile, IG CRPF said the devotees had violated rules governing the yatra. He said the bus was plying during the curfew hours during which movement of the vehicles carrying pilgrims is not allowed and also the pilgrims had not registered themselves with the authorities. Following the attack, security arrangements were further beefed up for the the pilgrims. Despite the terror attack, the devotees continued to travel from Jammu to Kashmir. Within 12 hours of the attack, another batch of 3000 yatris had left for Kashmir from the base camp of Yatri Niwas in Jammu in a convoy of 100 buses.
GST extend to state
After weeks of protests, both houses of Jammu and Kashmir passed resolutions in favour of implementing Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the state on July 5. The opposition and traders had opposed implementation of GST on the pretext that it will dilute the autonomy of the state under the Article 370 of the Constitution. The resolutions were passed by the ruling PDP-BJP alliance that has a two-third majority in the assembly. The opposition NC and Congress and others opposed the move. The resolution in the legislative assembly was passed after Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu assured the house that implementation of GST in the state was within the ambit of Article 370. "Under no circumstances will the state government amend the Section 5 of the Constitution of J&K, which gives it special taxation powers," Drabu said. He said such a move will open a Pandora's box that will have implications on the special Constitutional position of the state in the future. He said the government is proposing that the Article 370 shall not be compromised in any way through the Presidential Order. "The exclusive powers of the state to tax and the consolidated fund of J&K shall not be impaired. Article 370 should be protected and used for development of the state and for the empowerment of people," he said, adding, "Instead, it is being used as a tool to whip up political passions and draw political mileage.'' He said no one in the house has any issue with GST per se, there might be differences with the modalities of applicability, however. "That is why we want this law to be backed by the government and legislative process to prevent any harm to the consumers and trade without compromising on the state’s special position," Drabu said. The opposition said the resolution will erode the autonomy of the state and infringe on the state's fiscal autonomy.
Concern as Srinagar boys join militancy
Two boys from Srinagar were among three militants killed in an encounter at Redbug in Budgam on July 12. Two security personnel were also injured in the encounter. The militants were identified as Aaqib Gul of Gooripora, Javaid Ahmad Shiekh of Beerwah and Sajid Ahmad Gilkar of Malaratta in old city. Massive clashes erupted when the bodies of the militants reached their homes in Srinagar. Police said Gilkar was involved in the lynching of DySp Muhammad Ayub Pandith but issued contradictory statements about the date of his joining the militancy. The statement raised doubts about police's motive. Gilkar's family said, constant torture by police and harassment forced him to go down the path of militancy. Security forces are alarmed that boys from Srinagar had joined militancy, as the capital had not witnessed major militancy related actions for a long time.
