Geelani-led Hurriyat kicks off campaign against land lease

Srinagar, Nov 20 (UNI) The Hurriyat Conference (Geelani faction) today kicked off its statewide campaign to protest a Jammu and Kashmir government decision to lease out land at Gulmarg and other world famous tourist resorts in the state to outsiders.

As part of the programme, the amalgam faction organised a day-long seminar -- ''Jammu and Kashmir Is Again On Sale'' -- here.

Banners against the decision were also seen in Lal Chowk area, the nerve centre of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

''Jammu and Kashmir Ek Baar Phir Neelam Ho Raha Hai...Kyon? (Jammu and Kashmir Is Again On Sale...Why?)'' read the banners in English and Urdu.

The seminar was addressed among others by Hurriyat (breakaway) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of Faith) chief Asiya Andrabi.

At the seminar, the speakers condemned the proposed move by the government to lease out prime land at all the world famous tourist resorts in the state, starting with Gulmarg, to outsiders.

''It is a serious matter....If ignored, the coming generations will encounter severe hardships and the history will not forgive us,'' they added.

Mr Geelani blamed the mainstream parties for the decision. ''The National Conference, in order to appease its bosses in New Delhi, sold the land to outsiders, and now the Peoples Democratic Party and the Congress are following the suit with the sole purpose of making New Delhi happy,'' he added.

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