Hand over Board to KPs: Ansari

Syed Yasir SRINAGAR, June 18: Veteran Congress leader Ghulam Rasool Kar today questioned the legitimacy of the land transferred to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

He demanded that before the transfer is put through it should be ascertained beyond doubt that the allottee (SASB) has the state subject status.

Kar was speaking at the condolence meeting here to remember veteran journalist P.N Jalali who expired in Delhi in March.

Kar's forthright opposition to the land transfer deal is in conflict with his party stand.

The transfer was sanctioned by the Congress lead coalition government.

The issue is snow balling into a multi-dimensional controversy.

Kar linked this move with what he described as subtle attempts at undermining Kashmir's identity as the only Muslim majority state of India.

He said that it would be dangerous and counter productive to distort the concept of Kashmiriyat and twisted to erode Kashmir's traditional identity.

He said that this plurality of identity would lead to strengthening and not weakening of the larger identity of India.

Significantly, Kar refrained from naming "our leaders" but left little to doubt that he was referring to the present leadership of the state Congress notably chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

In his speech, Hurriyat Conference (M) leader Moulana Abass Hussain Ansari said the entire control of the SASB should be given to the Kashmiri Pandits because they are the permanent state subjects of the state.

He said, "How can a governor dictate terms as a chairman of SASB when he is not a permanent state subject of the state.

He is appointed here by the government of India and is following the agenda of the Indian government," Ansari said.

The Hurriyat (M) leader said the conspiracies are being hatched to provide land to the non state subjects and the people should resist and defeat the ill designs of the Indian government.

Abass said that Indian leaders have adopted the policy of British people, who want to strengthen their illegal occupation in the name of tourism and shrine board.

He said," Ghulab Singh was once asked by the Britishers that they will construct hotels in the state for promotion of tourism.

He never allowed them, he knew that once they enter Kashmir they would occupy our land and would never leave it." Beig's statement can vitiate atmosphere: Soz KT NEWS SERVICE Jammu, June 18 Pradesh Congress Committee president and Union Minister for Water Resources Prof Saifuddin Soz today maintained that the remarks of Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig blaming Congress for ''blackmailing the PDP'' could only vitiate the atmosphere.

In a press statement, here today, Soz described as unfortunate the attempts sought to be made by certain elements to raise an unnecessary controversy over the annual Amarnath Yatra.

He said that the yatra has a history of its own in Kashmir and it was always performed with active cooperation of Kashmiri Muslims.

He said Kashmir has remained a shining example of togetherness and the hallmark of this culture is respect for religious sensibilities of all communities.

Whatever the vicissitudes of recent developments Soz said, the attitude of the people of Kashmir has not changed and there is perfect understanding for a harmonious Yatra.

"The most crucial factor in the entire process of organizing the yatra is to sustain and strengthen the tradition of cordiality and togetherness," he said.

He said that it is the responsibility of the state government to ensure full security and provision of civic amenities to the pilgrims of Amarnath.

Soz claimed that the state government agencies have been performing this role very well over a long period of time.

He urged the state government to ensure peaceful conduct of the yatra with the cooperation of the people and discharge its duty to the best of its ability.

"Against this background, one can imagine, that it was not proper for the Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig to have blamed the Congress party for what he called `blackmailing the PDP'", he said, adding, "Such remarks from an important functionary of the government could only vitiate the atmosphere."