KPSS concerned over forces who want to divide J

Srinagar, Aug 5 (UNI) Holding the Centre and state government responsible for the present turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) has expressed concern over the activities of forces who want to divide the state on communal lines.

KPSS President Sanjay Kumar Tickoo said the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) land row has divided the state into two conflict zones -- Jammu Province and Kashmir Province -- on the basis of regionalism and religion.

He said it was unfortunate that some of the vested interest politicians were making lives of people miserable for their ''dirty political games''.

The recent developments in the state show that sensitive issues are not properly addressed either by the state politicians or bureaucrats. It seems that these politicians are using the SASB Land transfer controversy for their vested interests by changing the state's demography by dividing it into two parts on the basis of regionalism and religion, and trying to keep Kashmir and Kashmiris in isolation, Mr Tickoo said.

He said the KPSS had in the past requested the government to hand over all religious places of the community from Keran Karnah, Uri in north Kashmir to Qazigund in south kashmir to the Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley. But, he said, the government has failed to do it resulting in this volatile situation in the state.

Mr Tickoo said due to personal reasons and vested interests, the Legislative Assembly did not pass the Kashmiri Pandits Temples and Shrine Bill.

If temples and shrines of the minority community of the Valley are handed to the locals by virtue of this Temple Bill, the controversy will automatically come to an end, he observed.

The Government of India and state government once again underestimated the role of Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley while addressing the vital and sensitive matters of the state, he underlined.

He said the KPSS wants to know from the government that when Curfew has been imposed in Jammu, how and why the unscrupulous elements are coming out on the roads.

In recent past, as all of us know, when the Army takes the charge of any disturbed areas facing law and order problem whether it may be in Kashmir, Indore, Surat or any where else in the Country, the situation normalizes within a couple of days, Mr Tickoo said.

But, the situation in Jammu doesn't seem to come to an end even when the Army has been allowed to have flag march, he noted.

''We appeal the peace loving citizens of Kashmir and Jammu to isolate those elements who are bent to divide the state on communal, regional and religious lines and allow the traffic on the National Highway so that people of this part of the country does not suffer for want of medicines mainly life saving drugs and other essential commodities,'' he added.

He said the KPSS appeals to all the community leaders from both sides of the Tunnel to ensure safety of the members of minority community and their worship places in their respective areas and join hands to bring the situation towards normalcy for the betterment of State and its citizens.

UNI BAS ATI NS1627