Indian Kashmir’s decision to transfer nearly 40 hectares of forest land to a Hindu shrine trust has met with protests from Muslims opposed to New Delhi’s rule in the region.
Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffer Beigh said the land was being transferred to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board so it can build “temporary structures” for tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims who trek to a Himalayan cave every year. The cave shrine of Amarnath sits at an altitude of 3,800 metres (12,800 feet) and is considered an abode of the god Shiva. Separatist politicians say building accommodations for pilgrims at the base of the mountain will ruin the fragile ecology of the area and also “reinforce India’s illegal occupation” of Kashmir.
“The transfer of land is aimed at ruining the ecology and changing the demography of the state by settling outsiders in the valley,” said hard-line separatist Syed Ali Geelani. “It is also to reinforce India’s occupation,” said Geelani, whose supporters marched on the streets of occupied Srinagar on Monday to protest the decision.
Until now authorities have been erecting tents for Hindu pilgrims. But last year more than 400,000 pilgrims visited the cave, prompting demands for better facilities. Another separatist, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, accused the government of merely trying to cement its disputed presence in the region. “I want to make it clear to New Delhi that we won’t allow anybody to occupy our land and we will fight it tooth and nail,” said Farooq.
Well looks like Indian Government is all set to destroy the beautiful valley of Kashmir. They are building structures to accomodate thousands of Hindus for Amarnath Pilgrimage (for god shiva) at the expense of the ecological and demographical destruction of the valley. All these measures incite the Kashmiris and when they fight for their rights against the Indian govt. ,the Indians then put blames on Pakistan.
Re: Transfer of forest land in Kashmir to Hindu pilgrims
Who owns the land now? Building facilities for transient tourists / pilgrims doesn't sound like occupation but they should be careful about the environmental impact.
At the same tine separatists such as geelani jumping up and down like puppies is also reidiculous.
Kinda like Israeli settlements? I could be wrong...
I agree , it would be a slow and systemic change in the demographics of Kashmir and that too to be based on religious acitivity. And then they would say we can not leave,as we have a considerable presence in Kashmir.
Re: Transfer of forest land in Kashmir to Hindu pilgrims
I see nothing wrong with this.
The land belongs to the state and it has sold it to an Hindu religious organization.
On the other topic, India should allow flood Kashmir with U.P & Bihari migrants and make Kashmir into a Hindu majority region. Just like China has done in Tibet & Xianjing.
How much land has been given to muslim religious organizations in Pakistani occupied kashmir?
Why the hypocrisy when land in Indian Kashmir is given to Hindu organization.
Answer this question: Can a non-kashmiri pakistani buy land in Pakistani occupied kashmir?
Let me tell you a fact, Indians cannot buy land in Indian Kashmir. Only native born kashmiris are allowed to buy land in Kashmir.
It's a stupid policy from by nehru and gandhi. If this policy was not in place, then I can guarantee you that by now atleast a million hindu jats and sikh jats would be living there and ruling the place, especially since there is a extreme shortage of land in the jat heartlands of punjab, haryana, rajasthan and western U.P.
I agree , it would be a slow and systemic change in the demographics of Kashmir and that too to be based on religious acitivity. And then they would say we can not leave,as we have a considerable presence in Kashmir.
Did you even read what was mentioned in the message. It was clearly mentioned that this was done for the pilgrims who reach Amarnath. Piligrimages to Amarnath happens during a specific time period and not throughout the year. Hence how can this be a demographic change. If India wanted a demographic change in the valley, it would not have waited for 60 years to start the same. Please think rationally..
Re: Transfer of forest land in Kashmir to Hindu pilgrims
I think your "changing the demographic" accusation is kinda stupid, but yeah, from ecologial point of view, it will affect the valley.
but 40% of the forest area? thats kinda huge.
How much land has been given to muslim religious organizations in Pakistani occupied kashmir?
Why the hypocrisy when land in Indian Kashmir is given to Hindu organization.
See now you are admitting your own fault, first you said they bought it, now that you are proven wrong you are using some other excuse. May be you can tell us how many mosques are built on such large lands, thanks.
Kashmiris voicing their concerns again over this Hindu shrine and as usual the Indian forces replying with force and fire again…
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One person has died after police fired on a group of protesters in Srinagar, capital of Indian-administered Kashmir.
The capital was rocked by protests on Monday evening over the controversial transfer of forest land for a popular Hindu pilgrimage. Two civilians were injured when police fired to disperse the demonstrators. One of them died in the hospital.
Every year, thousands of Hindus flock to Amarnath cave, considered one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu faith. Srinagar is tense after Monday’s police firing. Protesters have closed down markets and also stopped vehicular traffic in several areas of the city. The protests began after the state government transferred 40 hectares of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board - the organisation which organises the pilgrimage.
‘Conspiracy’
The government said the land was needed for construction of pre-fabricated huts and toilets for the pilgrims. Local environmentalists protested against the decision and local politicians joined issue. **Pro-India political parties like the opposition National Conference and constituents of the governing coalition - the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Communist Party-Marxist (CPI-M) - have also opposed the transfer of land. **
The PDP patron and former state chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayed, has said the government should revoke the land transfer by the end of the month. The separatist groups say **the transfer of land to the Shrine Board is part of a “conspiracy to settle non-local Hindus in the valley with a view to reducing the Muslims to a minority”. **
Much of the controversy is being blamed on the outgoing governor of the state, Lieutenant-General (retired) SK Sinha.The governor is the ex-officio head of the Shrine Board. Gen Sinha has said the Shrine Board is not answerable to the state’s law-making assembly. He has refused to answer questions posed to the Shrine Board by the law-makers.
The controversy has led to unity among the separatists - the hardline and the moderate factions of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (Aphc) - have decided to carry out a joint campaign against the land transfer. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has threatened to block supplies of essential commodities to the valley of Kashmir if the campaign against the land transfer does not stop.
An Indian policeman fires a tear gas towards Kashmiri protesters during a protest in Srinagar June 23, 2008. Indian police in Kashmir’s main city fired tear gas and used batons on Monday to disperse hundreds of Muslim demonstrators protesting against a government decision to transfer forest land to a Hindu shrine trust.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani (R), a senior Kashmiri hardline separatist leader, addresses a protest near a placard which reads “Kashmir on sale” in Srinagar June 23, 2008. Indian police in Kashmir’s main city fired tear gas and used batons on Monday to disperse hundreds of Muslim demonstrators protesting against a government decision to transfer forest land to a Hindu shrine trust. Authorities last week said nearly 100 acres of forest land in Kashmir was being transferred to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to erect temporary structures for thousands of pilgrims who annually trek to a cave shrine deep in Himalayas.
Kashmiri protesters shout pro-freedom slogans during a protest in Srinagar June 23, 2008.
Re: Transfer of forest land in Kashmir to Hindu pilgrims
geelani is the biggest haramkhor in the entire world. He used to take pension from indian goverement so basically the tax we are paying was going to this *******ole. and then goverement allowed him to mumbai for his cancer operation...he himself is a cancer for kashmiris. May he rot in hell...
Re: Transfer of forest land in Kashmir to Hindu pilgrims
these people take money from Hindus to go to Mecca and that is ok but to build shelter for yatris and they have a problem. This guy geelani is #1 420 - he begged and took money from government and now starting this so he can get more!
these people take money from Hindus to go to Mecca
Utterly irrelevant to the issue. Not to mention ridiculous, considering the fact that Hindu pilgrims to Lake Mansarovar in China receive generous subsidies from both the federal government and individual state governments...or the 4 billion rupees the government spends to bankroll the Kumbh Mela.
but to build shelter for yatris and they have a problem.
The sale of land to non-Kashmiris is illegal, plain and simple...and the the yatra board isn't Kashmiri.
" For the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the Centre gives a subsidy of Rs 3,250 per pilgrim, totalling Rs 32.5 lakh. In contrast, it gives a subsidy of Rs 28,000 towards airfare of each of the one lakh Haj pilgrims, entailing a total expense of Rs 280 crore on this count alone."
" **Buddhists get no help for visiting Sarnath and Christians, too, do not get anything to visit Ro-me. Then why only Muslims? The reason: all the political parties believe in vote bank politics. Critics may say special arrangements are made by the government for Kumbh Mela, Amarnath yatra etc.
But the fact is, the government only looks after the administrative arrangements, which it does for all festivals irrespective of religion. It’s the duty of the government to maintain law and order. Every visitor to Kumbh Mela has to buy a ticket. The free kitchens are run privately.
Special trains and buses are run for Kumbh Mela, but people have to buy tickets for travelling. It’s not subsidised. Even Islamic countries do not give subsidies for Haj.** "
Utterly irrelevant to the issue. Not to mention ridiculous, considering the fact that Hindu pilgrims to Lake Mansarovar in China receive generous subsidies from both the federal government and individual state governments...or the 4 billion rupees the government spends to bankroll the Kumbh Mela.
The sale of land to non-Kashmiris is illegal, plain and simple...and the the yatra board isn't Kashmiri.
who cares if you consider it irrelevant or ridiculous? I don't. As long as muslims are getting money from us whether Hindus are also getting money or not, show some gratitude.
As to land, it is the state govt that established the board in the first place and if you don't like it, get out of there. Or stay on and continue wailing ....I don't care
