[Reader-list] 'Land row conflict between nationalist and anti-national forces'

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*'Land row conflict between nationalist and anti-national forces'*

*New Delhi (PTI):* Accusing the PDP of misleading the people of Jammu and
Kashmir, former state Governor S K Sinha on Saturday described the Amarnath
land row as a conflict between nationalist and anti-national forces.

"PDP is considered as pro-India party. But they lead march to Muzafarrabad.
Despite knowing fully well about the Baltal land, they are busy misleading
the people," Sinha said on the sidelines of a function here.

He said the PDP ministers had given clearance for the transfer of land after
proposals were made by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in 2005.

"This proposal was considered by the government for three long years and
finally cleared by two cabinet ministers belonging to PDP. Later, the PDP
jumped on the bandwagon with extremists to fuel communal sentiments," he
said delivering the first Field Marshal Manekshaw memorial lecture here.

Claiming that the decision to revoke the order of land given to the Amarnath
Shrine board by the government was "illegal and and violating Hight Court
order", Sinha said, "it is opportunist politicians like Mufti Mohammad Sayed
who hijacked attempts to promote liberal and modern outlook and cater to
fanatic outlook".

Terming the Amarnath land row as a "non-issue" picked up by the extremists,
he said "the present conflict in Jammu and Kashmir is not between Hindus and
Muslims as such, but between nationalist and anti-national forces".