Terming the recent press conference hosted by government spokesman “jugglery of words”, the Kashmir Economic Alliance Chairman and president Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) President Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan on Friday said the “government clarification” has raised more queries than solutions it was supposed to offer on the vexed issue. “Since last year the same spokesman has been trying to befool people through word like ‘inclusive and exclusive’ and ‘intrinsic and extrinsic’ with regard to establishment of settlements for our Pandit brethren, who have been painfully away from the homeland where we once lived in harmony. But the simple question is that is government making colonies for them or not,” asked Khan, who also heads the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation.He said the government spokesman equally gave misleading statements on the controversy surrounding construction of Sainik Colony. “Last year he termed the report as baseless whereas this year he had a new version to narrate, as if land row is writing a fiction novel,” Khan said.
Khan said ambiguous lip service on this issue of serious ramifications won’t do but that the government needs to come out with a written statement over its stand on the issue.“It needs to be a complete, clear cut documentation on whether government will allow construction of Sainik Colony, establishment of shelters for no-locals, and separate establishment of colony for our migrant brothers. Likewise if the Industrial Policy is to be reviewed, its ongoing implementation needs to be shelved forthwith, without any delay,” Khan said adding otherwise it was no less than a game plan to buy time to further strengthen the RSS roots in Jammu and Kashmir.The KEA Chairman, once again appealed the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to come clear on the government stand on this sensitive issue which is dragging Kashmir towards another 2008 like agitation.
Khan clarified that the only reason why Kashmir Inc was constantly speaking on the sensitive issue was that it doesn’t want the state to be dragged to another agitation. “We are for harmonious peace and prosperity in all the three regions of the state and thus do not want the situation go chaotic out of hands the way it happened in the past amid human rights abuse,” Khan clarified.He said an “honest statement” from the government can clear the air. “But presently it’s all jugglery of words while Kashmir is being confused though some sinister kind of grammar book.”He clarified that Kashmir Inc was not against return of Pandits to homeland but that plan to create separate colonies was conspiracy. (KNS)