Srinagar, May 16: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Sunday accused National Conference of using the state power to rob Kashmiris of their rights in the guise of reservation to scheduled castes and enumeration of non-locals in the Census.
Addressing a meeting of conglomerate’s executive council, the veteran leader expressed concern over the Job Bill becoming an Act and enumeration of non-state subjects in Census-2011 which began on May 15.
“We have to rise to the occasion and counter all these conspiracies against Kashmir and the interests of Kashmiri people. We will protest against these issues,” Geelani told Greater Kashmir after the meeting.
He said a campaign would be launched
where people across the Valley would be educated and informed about these issues.
 Earlier Geelani addressed the meeting of the party constituents, underlining the need to “counter this onslaught on Kashmiris under which the rights of people are being usurped.”
 “India is conspiring with National Conference which is using the state power to interests of Kashmiris,” he told the members.
 He said the Inter-district recruitment bill, which provides 8 percent reservation to SCs, was tantamount to “fleecing and robbing Kashmiris of their economic rights.”
 Geelani questioned why similar reservation was not provided to scheduled tribes, which includes a considerable population of Muslim Gujjars and Bakawals. “They (STs) too are impoverished and underprivileged. Why isn’t reservation being given to them,” he questioned.
 Likewise, he said, the Paharis of Tangdar, Machil, Gurez, Karnah and other areas of Valley were also excluded from the reservation “because they were Muslims.”
 He said the Kashmiri Pandits who migrated from the state were also provided reservation. “But no such reservation was provided to Muslims who also migrated from the state from time to time,” he said.
 “This is a conspiracy to promote regionalism and communalism in Kashmir which undermines the values of communal harmony and brotherhood for which Kashmir has been known for,” he said.
 The constituents that participated in the meeting included Employees Movement, Democratic Political Movement, Muslim League, Mass Movement, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, People’s Freedom League, Tehreek-e-Wahdet-e-Islami, Muslim Conference and People’s League.
 Later Geelani reiterated his concerns while addressing a gathering at Palhallan, Pattan.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 IST