Review forest land transfer to SASB: CPI(M)

Srinagar, Jun 17 (UNI) Demanding review of the forest land transfer to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), the Communist Party of India (M) said it was necessary keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue because of unfortunate controversies.

''We also appeal to all the political parties to desist from politicising the issue on sectarian lines,'' CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami said in a statement here today.

He said Kashmir has historically remained a repository of the core values of pluralism and tolerance. These values of humanism and tolerance of Kashmiri ethos remained intact even during the recent troubled times when despite provocations, Amarnath Yatra continued on traditional lines with active support of the local population.

Mr Targami said Muslim family of Maliks of Batagund, Phalgam continued to remain associated with the Holy Cave and Yatra...they are still the virtual custodians of the Holy Cave.

He, however, said it was unfortunate that the Holy Cave and Yatra, which symbolize the core values of Kashmiri ethos, are appropriated by the vested interest, ranging from state institutions to petty political groups, to carry out their nefarious designs.

The electoral and ideological calculus of these groups is now fairly established and exposed, he said, adding the core values of pluralism and tolerance basic to the identity and culture of the Kashmir are becoming causality.

He added at the top of it the transfer of forest land in ecologically high fragile and sensitive areas is bound to further damage the environment and the ecology of the state.

It hardly needs to be mentioned that forests have already suffered massive damage, due to negligence of the state governments from time to time and we cannot afford further vanadalisation of this wealth, he underlined.

Mr Targami said keeping in view the potential of the controversy and the role communal forces are playing, it is urgent that all facts basic to this controversy are brought before the bar of public opinion.

He said the statements of the senior cabinet members in the coalition government are facilitating polarisation of people along communal and regional lines.

It is important for the coalition partners to understand that after sharing principal offices of the government they can not escape the collective responsibility of the decisions they have taken, he added.

UNI BAS ATI RAI1534