JKLF CHIEF SAYS PANDITS HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE IN VALLEY, BUT SEPARATE COLONIES WON’T BE ALLOWED
SRINAGAR: Kashmiri separatists on Friday mounted an attack on Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government saying any plans to establish “separate townships for Kashmiri Pandits, colony for ex-servicemen and providing land to non-state subjects” won’t be allowed.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik said that his party would fight any attempt to establish separate colonies for Pandits and ex-servicemen of the state.
He said that Pandits have a right to live in the Kashmir Valley like others. “They are like our brothers and sisters. But we won’t allow the government to settle them behind the walls of hatred on the pattern of Israel,” Malik said while addressing a press conference.
“There are already about 10,000 Pandits living with their Muslim brethren in Kashmir. But composite colonies will be opposed tooth and nail,” he said.
On Thursday, the government confirmed its plans to set-up townships for the Pandits who migrated from the Valley in early 1990s.
Government spokesperson and education minister Naeem Akhtar said that the government was keen to get Kashmiri Pandits back with “respect and dignity”.
Malik was also aghast over the government’s new industrial policy and opposed establishment of any Sainik Colony in the state.
He said that his party would oppose any Sainik colony whether that was for army men from the state or outside. “Even if we have to give our blood to stop these policies we will not hesitate to do so,” he said.
New industrial policy of the state allows non-state subjects to get land on lease for establishing industries in the state.
Malik said that new industrial policy was similar to establishing East India Company which later subjugated the whole country.