Title - Hizb chief echos Geelani’s stand on Amarnath yatra

SRINAGAR: A day after Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani alleged that the Union government was trying to change the demography of the Valley by promoting the Amarnath pilgrimage, he was joined by Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander Syed Salahuddin, bringing them on the same page on any issue for the first time.

Agreeing with Geelani, POK-based Salahuddin, who is also the chief of United Jihad Council, said the government of India was sending non-local labourers and increasing number of pilgrims for Amarnath every year so as to eventually make the area Hindu majority. Salahuddin alleged that the Islamic character of Kashmir is being diluted by issuing state subject certificates to outsiders.

"Adopting certain design, non-local labourers from other parts of India are being settled in Jammu & Kashmir to change its demography. Many state subject certificates have been issued to non-locals in Baramulla district," Salahudin told a Srinagar-based news agency on telephone from POK.

Calling for limiting the number of Amarnath yatris visiting the cave shrine every year, Salahuddin said the increasing number of pilgrims, setting up of permanent infrastructure for them along with increasing interference of non-local labourers in private and public sector, was an indication of the government's plans to change the Muslim majority character of J&K. He said manipulation in the figures of the census by the government is a step towards changing the demography of the state.

He said the death of Amarnath yatris is natural in view of the difficult terrain and hostile climatic conditions. This, he said, could be reduced if the number of yatris is brought down.

"The saffron brigade including the BJP is trying to make an issue out of this to pave the way for changing the Muslim majority character of the state. We will raise voice against such designs and any move to settle non-state subjects in will be resisted," he said.

Incongruously, however, Salahuddin also said Hizbul wasn't against any religion in particular, which he said is evident from the fact that Kashmiris have facilitated smooth yatra of the yatris.

Salahuddin also criticized the setting up of railway lines and constructing roads and tunnels terming it a conspiracy by the "government of India" to extend its military infrastructure in the state. He added that although India and Pakistan were working for better relations, peace will elude the subcontinent if the Kashmir issue was not resolved.

Confidence building measures like cross-LoC trade, people-to-people contact, etc., are futile, he said. "The situation in the state in volcanic and it can erupt any time. India is trying to establish its supremacy in the region by ignoring the sacrifices of Kashmiris", he said