Engineer Rashid while refuting the claim made by the State Government that people residing in different slums in Kashmir stay in the valley of Kashmir for few months and than leave has termed the same as ‘bundle of lies ‘ and warned that if no positive headway in this regard happens people of Kashmir would be forced to kick out these people who from different parts of India have settled here and created slums.According to a statement issued to KNS, as soon as the Assembly proceedings began today, Engineer Rashid appealed that government should take note of serious issue of illegal immigrants. After heated debate with BJP members over the issue, Engineer Rashid plunged into the well of House. “ From Lakhanpur to Karnah thousands of kanals of grass pastures and fertile land are being converted into illegal slums with sole motive being to demolish the ‘Muslim Majority character ‘. On one hand law enforcement agencies are after a common Kashmiris and always inquiring him if a guest comes to his home but on same parlance are blind towards the reality of illegal settlers and illegal structures built by these settlers in Kashmir. These illegal slum dwellers and settlers have most of the times criminal records and find Kashmir safe heaven as we have no record of them thus they are constant threat to society.”
Engineer Rashid while rejecting the clarification of Law Minister that there are workers and artisans living in these slums stated that all workers and artisans from outside states reside here on rent basis in houses of Kashmiris as Kashmiris do while performing jobs in outside states. “ Tomorrow in future there is a genuine fear that these illegal temporary structures would be granted permanent status and then Delhi empire with vested interests would launch a movement to grant these refugees state subject status as is done in case of East Pakistan refugees. People of Kashmir will have to fight these evil designs otherwise we are second Palestine in making,” added Engineer Rashid.Engineer Rashid lamented the criminal silence of NC and PDP over these burning issues. While commenting on the demand made by Panthers Party Member to insert word secular in constitution of J& K Engineer Rashid termed the same as absurd stating that communal forces are now wanting to turn India into Hindu state and in these circumstances how can secularism be preached especially when we are denied seen hold congregational prayers. (KNS)