SRINAGAR; A delegation of Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir comprising of Shabir Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Yusuf Naqash, Abdul Rashid Dooru, Rouf Kashmiri, Sajad Ahmad and other activists today visited various areas of south Kashmir including Bijbehara, Verinag, Arwani, Kapran, Dooru and Pampore to urge people not to participate in parliamentary polls.

HCJK Leader distributing pamplets in South Kashmir

The leaders in their election boycott campaign said that freedom movement is written with sacrifices and there will be no compromise with this regard. They also said that it is our collective responsibility to safeguard the freedom movement and to refrain from any such activity that hampers the pious resistance movement.They said that by boycotting elections we want to send a clear message to world that freedom is our birth right which no one can usurp from us through force or military might. “By boycotting the elections under constitution we want to fulfill some of the responsibilities of our martyrs. This election boycott campaign is part of the martyrs’ mission,” they said.

The leaders and activists also distributed election boycott posters among masses.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson while expressing serious resentment over the alleged state terrorism in the length and breadth of the state said that police has been unnecessarily and immorally harassing the family of Abdul Hamid of Hajin, Boni Khan which is extremely condemnable. “They are harassing the whole family including their children and have sabotaged their property. It is nothing but state terrorism,” the spokesperson said and expressed solidarity with the family.

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MUMBAI; Popular search engine Google today announced the launch of a new tool that allows voters an easy access to relevant information about Lok Sabha candidates in each constituency.

The tool, 'Know Your Candidates', will allow people an easy access to relevant information about political candidates contesting from their constituency and their incumbent Member of Parliament, Google said in a release here.

It integrates publicly available information sourced from organisations such as Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), PRS Legislative Research and Liberty Institute India.

"In the last five months, we have made a concerted effort to provide our users a one stop destination for all their information needs for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"With the launch of this tool, we have added all the important information of the contesting candidates with the help of groups such as ADR and PRS Legislative Research," Google India VP and Managing Director Rajan Anandan said.

The application will provide information for each sitting Lok Sabha MP and contesting candidates such as their disclosed educational background, financial details and social media presence (wherever available).

Mapped onto Google Maps interface, citizens will be able to find the information by using pin codes of their area or by zooming on their locality on the map.

The tool will be updated regularly to provide information about all candidates as they get finalised and will be made available at least a week before the voting day in each constituency, the release added.

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SRINAGAR; National Conference chief and union minister Farooq Abdullah filed his nomination papers for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Monday.

Mr Abdullah was accompanied by his son, NC president and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and other senior party leaders.

State Congress president, Saif-ud-Din Soz also accompanied the union minister to the office of the returning officer in the Tankipora area of summer capital Srinagar.

The ruling NC-Congress alliance is jointly fighting the election in the state.

Farooq Abdullah is re-contesting from the Srinagar constituency and is challenged by Peoples Democratic Party candidate Tariq Hameed Karra and Aam Aadmi Party candidate Raja Muzaffar Bhat.

Farooq Abdullah later addressed a rally at the mausoleum of his father and NC founder, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, in the Nigeen area of the city.

JAMMU; In connection with Lok Sabha Election-2014, the general public is informed to register their complaints or grievances, if any, regarding violation of Model Code of Conduct and expenditure etc on the following Toll Free phone numbers of Election Department(ED).

Kupwara: 18001807061

Baramulla: 18001807058

Bandipora: 18001807059

Ganderbal: 18001807052

Srinagar: 18001807051

Budgam: 18001807053

Pulwama: 18001807057

Shopian: 18001807056

Islamabad: 18001807054

Kulgam: 18001807055

Leh: 18001807072

Kargil: 18001807073

Kishtwar: 18001807071

Doda: 18001807070

Ramban: 18001807069

Reasi: 18001807041

Udhampur: 18001807067

Kathua: 18001807064

Samba: 18001807063

Jammu: 18001807062/18001801077

Rajouri: 18001807065

Poonch: 18001807066

SRINAGAR; Expressing concern over "misuse" of religious places by political parties for electoral gains, a Sikh outfit in Jammu and Kashmir today appealed Election Commission of India to direct the state election authorities not to allow "exploitation of people" by invoking religion.

"We have written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner asking him to direct the state election authorities to stop the political parties from addressing people who assemble at religious places purely for religious purposes.

"Any violation in this regard is a violation of Model Code of Conduct and as such necessary action warranted under law should be taken," All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) said in a statement here.

The statement said in the past many political parties through their "sycophants" have managed to enter Gurdwaras and deliver political speeches even though the occasion and stage was not meant for that.

It asked the people to be vigilant against the politicians who might use or facilitate the usage of religious space for political reasons more so while seeking votes.

"Political parties who have exploited Sikhs for their benefit deserve no sympathy whatsoever from the community members," the release said.

"We have raised the issues being faced by Sikh community with the state government including chief minister many times but the government has always turned a deaf ear to the issues.

"The all important demand of granting the minority status to Sikhs by extending National Commission for Minority Act has been kept in back burner by the state government despite the fact the community members are facing huge hardships," the release said.

Reiterating that Sikhs have been asked to put their votes on hold until some decision is taken by the community leaders, the release, however, said directions have already been issued to the community members that they should not vote in favour of candidates of ruling coalition in the state.

ISLAMABAD; Continuing with their poll boycott campaign, JKLF leaders today visited to several educational institutes in South Kashmir's Islamabad District urging students not to participate in elections that are being held by the 'occupational' regimes in Kashmir.

In a statement issued to Kashmir Informer, JKLF stated, "A public awareness programme askling people not to participate in the Indian elections was conducted today in Islamabad, wherein several JKLF leaders led by Mushtaq Ahmad Ajmal visited to various Higher secondary schools and Government Degree College for Women Islamabad."

 "The JKLF leaders while taking to students said that the main aim of elections the main aim and objective of elections organized by India and held under Indian constitution is to prolong the slavery of Kashmiris, to legislate new tyrannical and oppressive laws against people of Jammu Kashmir and to subject Kashmiris to torture and repression .therefore participation in these election on any name and pretext cannot be termed but as enmity with Kashmir and Kashmiris." the statement adds.

Meanwhile JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik who is in Delhi has expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Ahmadullah Nadaf of Gogji Bagh. Terming the death of jenab Nadaf sahib who was a famous trader and social worker of Kashmir as a personal loss, Yasin Malik paid tribute to deceased and his family for their religious and social works. A high level JKLF delegation comprising of advocate Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Mir Mohammad Zaman, Mohammed Sideeq Shah and Imtiyaz Ahmad Bitta visited the residence of the deceased and participated in his funeral prayers. JKLF leaders expressed their condolences to the bereaved family. 

India uses elections in Kashmir and votes of Kashmiries as a tool to assert that Kashmiris want to be with India. As the dates of the Lok Sabha polls were announced, the pro-freedom groups launched a massive campaign to keep people away from participating in elections.

Besides the veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, other leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik have also called for complete poll boycott. Not only the resistance camp but religious groups including influential Jamaite-Ahilhaidth, Jamaat-e-Islami have also called for the same.

The recently formed 3rd front of Hurriyat Conference, Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) has pointed out 5 reasons why you should boycott elections that are being held in Kashmir. These are:-

(1) To be loyal to the sacrifices of great martyrs of nation.

(2) To revere the unmarked bodies buried across the valley.

(3) To ensure the secure future of our progeny.

(4) To secure the sanctity of our women and homes.

(5) Elections and freedom are contrary to each other. (to be far from elections is a call to freedom).