Daily Times

CHANDIGARH: Hurriyat leaders have opposed the establishment of “secluded settlements” for Kashmiri Hindus, or pandits, and retired military personnel in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK).

The valley’s three known Hurriyat leaders – Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik – held a meeting on Monday evening to oppose the PDP-BJP government plans to rehabilitate the pandits and ex-servicemen. Hurriyat Spokesman Ayaz Akbar said that Mirwaiz and Malik went to Geelani’s home at Hyderpora in Srinagar and held a closed-door meeting for about 90 minutes.

“This is the first time since 2008 that all the three leaders have formed a platform to discuss any grave issue regarding Kashmir,” he said. In 2008, the three held a series of meetings to mount a joint attack after the PDP – the Congress government of the time transferred a piece of land to Amarnath Shrine Board, which manages the annual Hindu pilgrimage. The trio has now chalked out a major showdown of strength on Thursday and Friday to hold what they say is an attempt to change the demography of Srinagar.

“They propose to hold protest on Thursday (today) and yet another peaceful protest after Friday prayer against plans for creation of the separate settlement for the pandits and also establishment of Sainik colonies,” said BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh’s.

A joint statement of three leaders categorically said the time has come for the people to “rise to defend their existence, individuality, their Muslim identity and the disputed status of the Kashmir and to start an effective struggle against the dangerous plans of RSS in Kashmir”.

Reports said at least three sites have been identified for setting up the settlements for the pandits, who migrated from the valley in 1989. However, the state government denied that the settlements/colonies would be exclusively meant for them.

The Hurriyat defended their opposition, saying that the policy makers want to settle the “non-state subjects” in the IHK on one pretext or the other.

They said that India is implementing the same programme in the IHK, which Israel had implemented in Palestine and they suspected that Indian government is in close contact with the policymakers of Israel in this regard.