[Reader-list] Kashmiri Muslims support Land Transfer to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*Kashmiris in Pune hope for peace back home
24 Aug 2008, *
*Anita Koul - The Times of India*

Link -
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Kashmiris_in_Pune_hope_for_peace_back_home/articleshow/3398575.cms


PUNE<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Kashmiris_in_Pune_hope_for_peace_back_home/articleshow/3398575.cms#>:
The shadows of the recent violence in Jammu and Kashmir have fallen on some
sections of people living in the city. Pune, traditionally, has been home to
a vibrant Kashmiri population --- both Hindu and Muslim. Majority of the
Kashmiris in the city are either businessmen or students.

Most of them have migrated to the city due to the insecurities of life back
home. Though far away from home, the recent developments around the Amarnath
land transfer issue have made them a worried lot.

"Why is the Centre not doing anything? We will not give up our land and we
will fight for it till our last breath, says Ved Lal Bhat (88), who still
has hopes to go back to his home in Kashmir one day.

"Being a Kashmiri Pandit, feel that the problem has gone beyond the land
dispute. Common people on both the sides are suffering. The politicians have
hijacked the issue to appease their respective vote banks," an angry Vikas
Raina says. "This has given a chance to the separatists in Kashmir to revive
there 'azaadi' agenda. The central and the state governments have tackled
this issue in a very insensitive manner. It looks like we have gone back to
the 90s. This time it is worse. It is on the verge of dividing J&K," he
says.

"People of J&K should respect the decision of transferring the land to
Amaranthji Shrine Board. It is the government's decision and the BJP, as
usual, has got a good reason to start violence. If the people want to
protest, they can do it in a peaceful manner," says by Arshad Ansari, an
engineering graduate.

"I feel sad that people don't know about ground realities. Ask them what
happened in Russia and they will know, but they won't know about Kashmir. We
are worried about our parents back home as there is curfew and uncertainty,"
says Sandeep Bhat, who is waiting to visit his parents in Jammu.

"The land issue has been blown out of proportion by people like Mehbooba
Mufti and Shabbir Lone. In her recent interview on a TV channel, Mufti was
all up against the government. She is demanding the opening of the
Muzaffarabad road," he said.

"My dad is a businessman. He does not have a single penny to give to the
employees. Imagine, if this is happening to business
class<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Kashmiris_in_Pune_hope_for_peace_back_home/articleshow/3398575.cms#>,
what will be the common man's plight," asks Sehrish Shafi, student, who is
desperate to see her family.

Those who have been living here for more than 15 years want to go back to
J&K and solve the problem. "Kashmir is an integral part of India and the
government can take any decision for the betterment of the nation. The J&K
government is very passive and doesn't want to resolve the issue. And the
common people are suffering," says Omesh Pandita, who is in Pune for the
last 10 years.

"Kashmiris have already lost their land and identity. As if that wasn't
enough, betrayal by their own government is putting their very existence in
question. Today we have to take their permission to acquire land, tomorrow
we will have to take their permission to worship, and day after there would
be nothing left to worship. After that the government will form a committee
to analyse and discuss how this happened," adds Arun Bhat.