Amarnath land row, a conspiracy by Hindu, Muslim hardliners, says Azad

Jammu, July 28 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, whose coalition government fell earlier this month over the controversial Amarnath land transfer row, has said that violence in Jammu was a conspiracy by both Hindu and Muslim hardliners to consolidate their votes ahead of state polls, which are due soon.

"I am trying to find out as I have come to know that the fundamentalists of Kashmir and the fundamentalists of Jammu had a meeting. They chalked out a plan as to what each group would do in Jammu and Kashmir so that one group benefits in Jammu and the other in Kashmir. These fundamentalists get together for their advantage because their main aim is to uproot socialism, development and secularism," Azad said.

Meanwhile, violence continued as agitators defied curfew and took to the streets on Sunday protesting against the revocation of land allotted to a shrine board.

Hundreds of irate protesters of Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti came out on the streets and shouted slogans and burnt tyres. Agitation shows no signs of abating with every passing day.

On July 11, Governor's Rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after Azad submitted his resignation without facing floor test in the Assembly.

The State Government on July 1 revoked its order of transferring land to the SASB by taking all the responsibilities of taking care of the Amarnath pilgrims. The State Assembly has been dissolved and the fresh Assembly polls in the State would be held in October as the term of the present House expires on November 2.

ANI