J & K divide

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J & K divide

The divide between the Islamist separatists of Kashmir Valley and the Hindutva Group of Jammu over the ill conceived move by the then Governor of the State Lt. Gen (rtd) S K Sinha to allot 100 acres of land to Amarnath Shrine Board led to mass protest lasting for 64 days and death of more than 30 persons and an unbridgeable gulf between these two regions as if these two regions belong two hostile States. After prolong parleys a settlement with the Amarnath Sangharsh Sammittee has been arrived at which allows the Amarnath Shrine Board to utlise the disputed land for temporary use during Amarnath Yatra without any claim to proprietary or title rights over the land. The Amarnath Sangharsh Sammittee has withdrawn their agitation. While National Conference of Farooq Abdullah has welcomed the proposal, Mehbooba Mufti of Peoples Democratic Party has opposed the proposal as unilateral. While Jammu is celebrating this settlement as their victory, Islamist separatists in Kashmir valley have reinforced their violent protest resulting in imposition of curfew in nine districts. Their demonstration is now not confined to the Amarnath land but bigger issue of Azadi which the moderate elements in Kashmir did not have the boldness to resist.The All Party Hurriyat Conference spearheading the agitations in Kashmir valley roused public feelings with Pakistani flags and anti India slogan. Their leaders even threatened to open cross border trade across the LOC to thwart the attempts of the Hindutva elements in Jammu enforcing an economic blockade. To assuage the feelings of the separatists, the Government of India is pressing Pakistan to complete necessary logistical support to open cross border trade agreed to in the Foreign Secretaries conference held in July .It is expected that limited trade would start from October. The Prime Minister has also appointed a working group to study Centre-State relations which could not finalise its report so far. However there was no agreement among the parties about the nature of autonomy they would prefer. There was divergence of views from complete independence to self rule without the supervisory power of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India. Taking advantage of the failure of the State and the Central government to effectively counteract the separatists’ demonstrations, Pakistan’s ISI could provide logistical support and arrange to send terrorists across the border to fuel trouble. Unless the situation is controlled the elections in October would be difficult to be held allowing the secessionists another plus point. source: assam tribune editorial 03.09.08

Cancel revoked order on land transfer to Amarnath board: BJP

Demanding that the Jammu and Kashmir government cancel the revoked order on land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday asked Muslim organisations across the country to support the cause.

"The revoking of land transfer order to the SASB by the government is unfortunate and shameful," BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters in Jammu.

Alleging that the government had succumbed to the separatist forces on the issue, Rajnath Singh said the state government and the Centre were equally responsible for the situation arising out of the cancellation of land to the shrine board.

The BJP president said the decision to transfer land to the SASB was taken with a view to providing facilities to the pilgrims through the board. But the state and Central government yielded to separatists' pressure after they launched an agitation in the Valley and revoked the order.

"Since the minority government in the state has no moral authority to cancel the order, the BJP demands the cancellation of the order immediately," Rajnath Singh said.

While welcoming the Muslim organisations which supported the issue, the BJP president appealed to the community to come forward and fight against the decision.

Rajnath Singh vowed to cancel the order, if the people of Jammu and Kashmir helped the BJP come to power in the state. source: rediff.com

Panthers Party moves SC against revocation of land transfer

Thursday, 03 July , 2008, 20:37

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is likely to hear tomorrow a petition challenging the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Government to revoke the transfer of land to Amarnath Shrine Board.
The petition, which was mentioned before a Bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir for urgent hearing, sought quashing of state government's order revoking the transfer of 39.88 hectare of forest land to the Board contending that the decision was taken by the minority government which has been directed by the Governor to prove its majority on the floor of the House on July 7.

The petition filed by Prof Bhim Singh, chairman of J&K National Panthers Party, also alleged that the state government has imposed the curfew in Jammu without any logic which resulted in creating anarchy and leaving the people helpless.

The imposition of curfew has taken away the fundamental rights of school going children, patients and working class, the petition said.

The petition sought a direction for the Jammu and Kashmir Government to pay a compensation to the families of those killed and injured during police firing in different parts of the state during the recent protests. source: http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14708306

VHP sees conspiracy behind land transfer row

Mumbai (PTI): The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday accused the Jammu and Kashmir and the Central governments of "conspiring" to stop Hindu pilgrimages and said the VHP will not allow that to happen in this country.

"The conspiracy is to stop the pilgrimage of Hindus in the name of preserving forest, mountain, sea shore and rivers", VHP leader Venkatesh Abdeo told reporters here today.

The Maharashtra unit of the VHP will join the nation-wide bandh on July 3 call given by its central leadership to protest against the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land transfer issue in Jammu and Kashmir, Abedo said.

He said that if the Jammu and Kashimir government did not transfer the land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, then the government should take away the Haj houses from the Muslims.
He also demanded immediate halt of Haj subsidy and all other facilities given to the Muslims.

VHP in the state also urged people to support the shutdown by keeping their businesses and offices closed. They have also requested the schools and colleges in the state to remain closed.
"People should also boycott all goods made in Kashmir as a sign of protest," Abdeo added.

For security of the Amarnath devotees and to protect the state of Jammu and Kashmir from Jehadi terrorists the government should immediately quash the special status given to the state under Article 370 and should impose military rule in the state," Abdeo said.

Abdeo further said revocation of grant of land in Amarnath was `tip of the iceberg', as the real conspiracy was to stop all the Hindu pilgrimages.