Delhi plotting to change Kashmir demography, warns Geelani

‘ModiGovt seeking 16,800 kanals from Omar Abdullah to set up 3 cities in Valley for non-locals’

The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, Sunday accused the Government of India of hatching a conspiracy to change demography of Kashmir by planning to set up three cities for non-locals on 16,800 kanals of land in the Valley. 
Geelani said the move is aimed to “weaken the ongoing movement for right to self-determination” and “we will mobile public opinion and build consensus with pro-freedom parties to foil Delhi’s plan.” 
“I have credible information that Prime Minister of India, NarendraModi, and Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh during their meeting with (Chief Minister) Omar Abdullah sought 16,800 kanals of land in three cities in north, south and central Kashmir to settle non-locals on the pretext of rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits,” Geelani said, addressing a seminar ‘MoujoodahSurat-i-Hall Kay Taqazay’ (Demands of Present Situation) at the conglomerate’s headquarters at Hyderpora here.   
“The Government of India plans to establish a medical college, two engineering colleges, four police stations and 12 schools each on 5600 kanals of land in these three cities so that people living there don’t need to move out of these zones. New Delhi 
can settle even Hindu extremists, RSS activists and armed persons in these cities. This move is aimed to change the demography of Kashmir,” Geelani said. 
Elaborating, he said, the BharitiyaJanata Party-led government wants to “change Muslims into a minority in Jammu and Kashmir.” 
“India is one of the major purchasers of arms in the world. By creating these separate cities in Kashmir, the BJP, which religiously pursues RSS ideology, wants to suppress Kashmiri Muslims to weaken our ongoing movement for freedom” he said.     
Geelani said such moves are aimed to create state within state. “Even Amarnath Shrine Board few years ago tried to create state within state by setting up special zones for pilgrims. Kashmiris for decades together have been facilitating yatra and there was no need to even think of creating such zones,” he said. 
“Over 28 lakh kanals of land is under the occupation of Army in Kashmir. India is gradually grabbing our land and it is high time to raise our voice against it,” he said.   
The Hurriyat (G) Chairman termed the plans to set up three cities in Kashmir as serious. “I will soon mobilize public opinion against it and build consensus with other pro-freedom parties to form a strategy to counter the plans,” he said. 
Geelani said then Governor of J&K, Jagmohan, “tried to give communal color to freedom movement in Kashmir by asking Kashmiri Pandits to migrate from the valley.”
“Unfortunately 219 Kashmir Pandits were killed that time. Like Kashmiri Pandits, Kashmiri Muslims also suffered. Over five lakh Muslims were killed in Jammu in 1947 by communal elements to change demography of the region,” he said. “I can say with authority that there is not a single person in Kashmir who is against return of Kashmiri Pandits. However they must be settled in their own homes and not in special zones as they are the integral part of our culture.” 
Geelani also opposed the move of New Delhi to settle the West Pakistan refugees in the State. “Though they have rights to vote in the Parliament elections, India wants to enable them to exercise their franchise in Assembly elections to benefit pro-India parties. These refugees should be settled in other states,” he said. 
Geelani accused mainstream parties of pursuing New Delhi anti-Kashmir agenda in the Valley. “National Conference, PDP, Congress and other pro-India parties are responsible for miseries of Kashmiris. I make a fervent appeal to people to boycott the upcoming elections to defeat their nefarious designs,” he said. 
Senior leader of Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir and chairman of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, also favored return of Kashmiris Pandits but in their respective houses.  “New Delhi has been making attempts to defame our just cause for freedom. Kashmiris should take cue from people of Afghanistan and see how they fought super powers. And now US is on the verge of pulling out its troops from there. It is high time for Kashmiris and pro-freedom camp to unite and take the movement to its logical conclusion,” Shah said. 
Among others who spoke in the seminar included GhulamNabiSumji, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Abdul MajeedZargar, Sheikh ShowkatHussain, Anwar Ashai, Ayaz Akbar and DrJavid Iqbal. 

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