Hurriyat, JKLF unite to blast ‘Sainik Colonies’, other state moves

Kashmir's separatist political parties on Wednesday displayed a rare unity to target the Jammu and Kashmir government over the alleged establishing of a Sainik Colony, separate townships for Kashmiri Pandits, and an industrial policy favouring them, even though the state government has stated that it has no plans to construct any such colony in Kashmir and will revise the industrial policy.

The hard-line Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik met in Srinagar at the residence of Geelani.

"The meeting thoroughly discussed establishment of Sainik Colonies, separate townships for the Kashmiri Pandits, induction of the New Industrial Policy, and construction of shelters for non-state labourers. It was decided that pro-freedom organisations will jointly resist implementation of the RSS agendas and a disciplined and an effective course of action will be formulated in this regard," a Hurriyat spokesman said after the meeting.

"Geelani and Malik unanimously agreed that a do or die situation has been created for the Kashmiri nation," the Hurriyat spokesman said. He said if resistance is not shown, Kashmiris would be rendered homeless like Palestinians.

"Both the leaders stated that the policy makers of India want to change demography of Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible and for this purpose a new communal government will use its entire force and machinery," the spokesman alleged.

"The People's Democratic Party is extending every possible support to the RSS as this party has sold entire Kashmiri nation for being in power. Miss Mehbooba Mufti and few of her ministers are absolutely lying to the people and they are keeping the public in the dark with regard to the dangerous policies of New Delhi," the spokesman said.

On the same issue last week National Conference president Farooq Abdullah asked chief minister Mehbooba Mufti not act like "pliant, puppet leaders who connived against the state's political rights to remain in power".

"There is a larger, more sinister plan to destroy Article 370 by rendering it irrelevant," Abdullah had said referring to issue of establishing of Sainik Colony in Srinagar, industrial policy and extending National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to the state.

However, the J&K government has maintained that it has no proposal to establish Sainik colony in Kashmir.

The government has assured to review the industrial policy that allows granting of land on lease to non-local entrepreneurs, and has put previous policy passed in the three months of Governor's rule in abeyance.

The government has also accused the NC working president Omar Abdullah of trying to set "Kashmir on fire, destroy its tourism industry and economy" by issuing "proactive" statements on Sainik colony and industrial policy issues.