KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Terming the proposed Sainik Colonies and industrial policy as a ploy to facilitate the entry of non-state subjects in Jammu and Kashmir and thus change the demographic character as well as the disputed nature, Chairperson Hurriyat Conference (m)Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the real agenda of the government which is being run from Nagpur is to facilitate the entry of non-state subjects into Jammu and Kashmir whether it is through the onslaught of Sainik colony, settling of west Pakistan refugees, giving permanent homes to non-state slum dwellers or through the industrial policy.
Mirwaiz was addressing a gathering protesting against the “anti-Kashmir” policies of the government outside the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar after Friday prayers.
Mirwaiz termed the new industrial policy both dishonest and controversial, with a purpose to subvert industrial growth and self-reliance of the valley entrepreneurs and allot large chunks of land in Kashmir to non-state subjects on the pretext of investment.
Mirwaiz said that in the light of past experience it appears that the purpose of outsiders after grabbing the land is not the development of industry or employment to the local youth but their aim is to benefit from incentives in crores that they get from the state exchequer (actually the money of the Kashmiri tax payer) after getting the land.
Mirwaiz said that there are glaring examples of such practices especially in Jammu and Kathua industrial units which were ostensibly set up with the purpose of increasing industrial production and employment for youth in Jammu and Kashmir, however, that ended up existing in paper only while the land owners grabbed incentives worth crores on them.
He said earlier also in Kashmir land was allotted to non-state subjects at places Zainakote and Lethpora for the establishment of industrial units which never took off and these people have sublet the allotted land to forces and are enjoying rentals from them.
Mirwaiz said that instead of addressing the brazen inequality that exists with regards to industrial policy between Jammu region and Kashmir region where 95% of incentive goes to Jammu and only 5 % to Kashmir division, matters are being deliberately worsened for the Kashmir entrepreneurs by such sinister policies.
He said four different versions in this regard have come from four mouth pieces of the coalition government giving rise to grave suspicion. Mirwaiz warned the government that they were closely watching the whole situation and were well aware of the RSS agenda that the Govt was following in this regard.
Mirwaiz said a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits had come to meet me and the meeting was very positive. Mirwaiz said that it has been agreed upon between the resistance leadership (including myself, Geelani Sahib and Yasin Malik Sahib) that a group would be formed among these parties that will initiate a process of dialogue and deliberation with the Kashmiri Pandits across the board to understand their concerns as well as the assurances they needed with regard to their return to the valley. He said from our side we ask them to meet the Pandits living here and see for themselves that they are most secure living side by side with other communities rather than in separate colonies.
Mirwaiz also condemned the restrictions, house arrests and detention of several resistance leaders and activists and described it as frustration of the government. Mirwaiz also demanded a fair probe in the killing of the Bemina youth Tanveer Sultan.
