Headlines
Pandit townships, a bid to fiddle with Article 370: Mirwaiz
Srinagar, April 15
Moderate Hurriyat
Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday said separate
townships for migrant Kashmiri Pandits is an attempt to fiddle with
Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and
Kashmir.
He described the plan of townships as "hidden agenda" of Hindu-nationalist outfit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
"We
will welcome the return of our Pandit brethren. We will help in
building congenial atmosphere for their dignified return, but will not
allow Kashmir to be divided on religious lines," Mirwaiz said.
"We
will talk to Pandit representatives and seek their opinion about this
issue," he said, adding that RSS and its like-minded groups want to
create polarisation in Kashmir.
"They (RSS) want to give impression as if Kashmir issue is a Muslim versus Hindu problem, which it isn't," he added.
The Hurriyat chairman said the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits is a humanitarian issue and should be treated as such.
"Many
people say Article 370 should not be made applicable to 'composite
townships' for the Pandits and people from corporate sector should be
roped in to provide facilities there. It is a well-knit conspiracy and
we won't allow it to succeed," he added.
Mirwaiz, also Kashmir's
chief Muslim preacher, said the RSS has recruited over a 100 clerics to
create sectarian discord in the state.
"Nearly 150 RSS and
BJP-backed so-called Ulemas are actively working here to divide Kashmir
Muslims and damage Islamic character of the state. They are backed by
20-40 NGOs. Government apparatus is mobilised for their work", he said.
"We
also share the problems faced by Muslims in India and their concerns
regarding rise in Hindutva politics. We express our solidarity with
them", Mirwaiz, who was accompanied by heads of various religious
groups, said.
He condemned the killing of a youth at Tral, and
termed the incident as "shameful and an extra judicial killing". He
demanded an impartial investigation into the killing.
Police on Tuesday said the youth was killed in cross-fire at the Kamla Top forests of Tral.