Indian Army rejects Shehla's charges.
The Indian Army on Sunday rejected Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement leader Shehla Rashid's allegations regarding situation in Jammu and Kashmir and termed them "baseless".
"Allegations levelled by Shehla Rashid are baseless and rejected. Such unverified and fake news are spread by inimical elements and organisations to incite unsuspecting population," the Army stated. In a series of tweets, Rashid had on Sunday said, "People are saying that Jammu and Kashmir Police has no authority on law and order situation. They have been rendered powerless. Everything is in the hands of paramilitary forces. One SHO was transferred on complaint of a CRPF man. SHOs carrying batons. Service revolvers can't be seen on them."
In another post, she wrote, "Armed forces are entering houses at night, picking up boys, ransacking houses, deliberately spilling rations on the floor, mixing oil with rice, etc."Rashid also claimed that in Shopian, four men were called into the "Army camp and "interrogated" (tortured).""A mic was kept close to them so that the entire area could hear them scream, and be terrorised. This created an environment of fear in the entire area," she wrote.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday said that over 190 primary schools will re-open today in Srinagar, besides restoring "full functionality" of government offices across Kashmir valley.
"We have a plan of reopening over 190 primary schools in Srinagar district alone," Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Rohit Kansal said while addressing a press conference.He said the process of easing of prohibitory orders and providing relaxations continued on Sunday as well. Kansal said the relaxations were provided in 50 police stations on Sunday as against 35 police stations on Saturday, and the duration in the relaxation was increased from six hours to eight hours.
1. What did Shehla Rashid allege?
)
Some of the things that people coming from Kashmir say about the situation:
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) August 18, 2019
1) Movement within Srinagar and to neighbouring districts is more or less permitted. Local press is restricted.
2) Cooking gas shortage has started to set in. Gas agencies are closed.
3) Gas stations open after 7 pm. Petrol & diesel is available in the city area. On highways, filling stations are open in some places.
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) August 18, 2019
4) Supplies available so far. You find baby food with difficulty. People have started running out of medicines now.
5) People are missing interview notifications because of total communication blackout. I've personally sent people to the homes of some candidates whose interview notices have arrived. Their friends can't download it for them, because that requires an OTP that comes via text.
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) August 18, 2019
6) People who had satellite TV could watch the news till now. D2H subscriptions are expiring, and the only way to recharge is from outside the state. I've myself recharged D2H connections for a few people.
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) August 18, 2019
7) Officials going to different districts to review healthcare facilities
8) People are saying that J&K Police has no authority on law & order situation. They've been rendered powerless. Everything is in the hands of paramilitary forces. One SHO was transferred on complaint of a CRPF man. SHOs carrying batons. Service revolvers can't be seen on them.
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) August 18, 2019
9) Armed forces are entering houses at night, picking up boys, ransacking houses, deliberately spilling rations on the floor, mixing oil with rice, etc.
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) August 18, 2019
10) In Shopian, 4 men were called into the Army camp and "interrogated" (tortured). A mic was kept close to them so that the entire area could hear them scream, and be terrorised. This created an environment of fear in the entire area.
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) August 18, 2019
(Image-PTI)
2. Normalcy returning to Kashmir
)
The situation seems to be returning towards normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources told Zee Media that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba have devised a better strategy to ensure normalcy in the region. The schools in the region will reopen on Monday.
Senior IPS officer and advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, K Vijay Kumar, told Zee Media that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government announced abrogation of Article 370, they formulated an effective strategy to tackle the situation in the region.- Manish Mishra
(Image-PTI)
3. When Shehla Rashid asked opposition leaders to move UN on EVM row
)
On counting day eve, Shehla Rashid had done a long tweet thread on how opposition leaders need to approach the EVM row.
Full text of her tweets are:
Full text of Shehla Rashid's tweet thread:
As a member of the opposition, I feel that we lack clarity on what we are fighting against. If we are alleging EVM fraud, then all of us should boycott elections till EVMs are abolished. If we're agitated about movement of EVMs near strongrooms, then we should demand repoll.
Lack of seriousness about our own allegations will harm the cause. When we say EVM fraud, we feel relatively helpless. If we are talking about replacement of EVMs, then what we are alleging is rigging. This calls for a demand to hold fresh polls, and we should be serious about it.
I see only BJP demanding fresh polls in Bengal where they allege booth capturing, etc. Why hasn't the opposition demanded fresh polls where alleged rigging has occurred? There's a difference between MCC violation, EVM fraud, and rigging. Each calls for different measures.
It's our institutions at stake. Appeal to all big opposition leaders to take this seriously, call for joint meetings and take a decision. This is about the democratic process! Our protest can't be outcome based.
Whether these leaders are in govt at the centre or not, they represent us. They represent a huge part of the democratic mandate. It's sad to see that our national leaders aren't taking themselves as seriously as they should. Why don't we invoke UN and other int'l bodies?
I'm sorry, but EVM rigging can't be part of election rhetoric merely. This is not an election issue. It's an existential issue that is threatening the health of our democracy. Opposition leaders need to take united decisions and FIGHT this out, if we believe our own words.
Haven't said this till now, but the EVM rigging conference in London was a joke, and it sabotaged the genuine concerns regarding EVMs. Yes, EVMs can be hacked, but what are your workers doing? Where are your experts? Why not take @ECISVEEP collectively to courts and int'l media?
Unfortunately, political parties within themselves do not have a clear stance on EVMs. They haven't called any internal party meetings to arrive at one position regarding EVMs. Ask them in private and they'll say something different. I'm sorry, but democracy is non-negotiable.
Also, these episodes show the need to work on ground, at local and regional levels, have a strong cadre that is vigilant and aware. Realised this long back, hence the move from national stage to regional politics. We need to leave Delhi & strengthen our parties at regional levels.
Even if we really have lost, not all is lost. There's still the obligation upon us to fight for our political and democratic rights.
Rashid tweeted:
Even if we really have lost, not all is lost. There's still the obligation upon us to fight for our political and democratic rights.
— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) May 22, 2019
-end of thread-
