Amarnath shrine board CEO: Why Muslim pollution is tolerable and not Hindu pollution

J&K governor lands in ‘communal fire’
Friday , June 20 , 2008, The Telegraph,
MUZAFFAR RAINA

Srinagar, June 19: The People’s Democratic Party, which is part of the government in Kashmir, today accused the outgoing governor of setting the state on fire and sought prosecution of the Amarnath shrine board CEO for “inciting communal hatred”.

“The governor is setting Kashmir on fire before leaving,” deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig said, after his party filed a case against Arun Kumar, a senior IAS officer.

Governor S.K. Sinha’s five-year term ended this month.

Protests had erupted in Kashmir over the transfer of about 40 hectares of forest land to the shrine board for building facilities for Amarnath pilgrims. The governor, as chairman of the board, had secured the transfer.

The Opposition National Conference and separatists, led by Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, opposed the transfer on grounds ranging from ecological to religious. The protests were centred on the fear that the transfer would allow building of dwellings for “settlers”.

At a news conference two days ago, board CEO Kumar asked why “Muslim pollution is tolerable and not Hindu pollution”. The reference was to the pollution caused to the Dal Lake, Wular Lake etc by local residents, mostly Muslims.

“He intended to incite communal hatred across t he state and the country…” Beig said.

The PDP is in a spot because the forest minister, Qazi Afzal, who cleared the land transfer belongs to the party. Since the protests erupted, Beig has tried to shift the blame on ally Congress, accusing it of forcing Afzal’s hand.

“Kumar is a disgrace for the shrine…” Beig said. “If he has the blessings of the governor, it is a matter of shame.”

At the same time, he tried to suggest the transfer was in public interest. “The land has been given to construct lavatories which will safeguard the environment,” he said.

Beig said the land has been “diverted temporarily” for the two months of the yatra. But the cabinet Order No. 94/7 dated May 20, 2008, he presented to reporters did not say so.

Hurriyat together

The land transfer protests have brought the rival Hurriyat factions together, five years after they split. Hardliner Geelani and moderate Mirwaiz Umer Farooq had lunch before addressing a joint news conference. At a seven-hour meeting at Geelani’s residence, they agreed to a joint agitation.

“There is a realisation that the character of Kashmir cannot be changed. A cultural aggression is being unleashed in the name of Sufism and other anti-Islamic propaganda,” Mirwaiz said.  End

Pannun Kashmir cries ‘religious cleansing’
GK NEWS NETWORK

Jammu, June 17: A Pandit organization- Pannun Kashmir- today slammed PDP for its ‘malicious’ campaign against the SASB and Amarnath Yatra.

Expressing concern over the statement of Deputy CM Muzaffar Hussein Beig, wherein he had stated that their party came under pressure of some Congress leaders compelling them to allow the transfer of land to SASB, chairman Pannun Kashmir Ajay Chrungoo describing it a ‘pan-Islamic ideology of religious cleansing.’

He said PDP has started malicious campaign against the Amarnath Yatra since 2003 and involved other separatist and secessionist groups in it.

Those seeking curtailment in the annual pilgrimage on the plea of environmental concerns were not aware of other circles threatening environment in the valley, he said.

“No questions are being raised on the Mughal Road construction that destroys green gold from Budhal to Shopian and non of the leaders whether separatist or so-called mainstream expressed their concern,” he said and added that Dal and Wullar lakes have been shrinking due to encroachment and pollution and nobody is concerned over it.

Accusing both state as well as central governments for being a mute spectator on those who openly criticized the land transformation to SASB, he said it was a government gimmick to boost the moral of the fundamental forces that were hell bent to destroy all Hindu links of Kashmir.

He also criticized the state government for failing to safeguard the religious shrines and immovable property of Pandits in the valley and held successive governments in the state responsible for providing free hand in grabbing their estates.