Congress revokes land transfer order in J&K

CNN-IBN
Published on Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 11:02, Updated at Sun, Jun 29, 2008 in Nation section

New Delhi: A day after People's Democratic Party (PDP) pulled out from the Congress-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N N Vohra on Sunday formally wrote to the state government saying he is willing to revoke the transfer of forestland to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).
Following his letter, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, state Congress president Saif-ud-din Soz and other senior Congress leaders met Vohra, who is also the chairman of SASB.
PDP, however, says it stands by its decision of withdrawing support from the state government.
“I am happy with the decision. We have succeeded in what we wanted to do. We would like to see normalcy back in the state. We have already pulled out of the government,” PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said.
Mebooba added: "Once the government agrees to provide the facilities to the yatris, as was done for so many years, there will be no point of transferring the land."
National Conference president Omar Abdullah, whose party is not in favour of the land transfer, told CNN-IBN that he was pleased with Vohra’s decision but whether they’ll extend support to Congress was still unclear.
“We are happy with the Governor's decision. As of now, we are not providing support to Congress. However, our agenda will be decided in the core committee meeting on Sunday,” he said.
But Congress continues to remain confident of lasting a full term despite the split.
“I believe we will have a breakthrough. I am meeting the Governor, and together we will look for a solution. Government will run its course till the last day,” Soz said.
Meanwhile, the state government has made it clear that it will conduct the Amarnanth yatra instead of the Board.
BJP, however, has objected to the decision stating that J&K government is ill equipped to handle the yatra.
“We are completely against the decision of the transfer of responsibility of the yatra back to the state government, which is not equipped to deal with the arrangements and is the main reason SASB was constituted in 2002,” BJP party in-charge, Kashmir, R P Singh.
Singh added, “The standing of the government is still not clear on whether the yatra is still on. How will the government be able to handle the arrangements?”
Srinagar has been tense since June 23 after dozens were injured during clashes with police. Three people died and more than 200 were injured in protests that lasted six days.
Authorities had decided to transfer nearly 100 acres of forestland in Batal SASB to erect temporary structures for thousands of pilgrims who annually trek to the cave shrine.


The Muslims of Kashmir want an independent nation but will not allow even a Hindu temple the right to function independently.