Separatists protest against Pandits, Sainik colonies

Srinagar: Pro Pakistan slogans and ISIS flags were raised at separatists protest march organized by separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to protest against proposed Kashmiri Pandits and Sainik colonies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides waving the flags of the hostile neighboring country, protesters raised slogans of ‘jeeve jeeve Pakistan'.

What was startling was Farooq made no attempt to stop the protesters from indulging in anti-national activities.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has favored setting up of Sainik Colony in Kashmir after its alliance partner Peoples Democratic Party virtually rejected a proposal in this regard citing non-availability of land for non-state subjects.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had said the position of the government is that it does not have any land available in Srinagar, Pulwama and Budgam districts for setting up such a colony in Kashmir.

“No land has been identified yet for establishing Sainik Colony. No direction has been issued for establishing it. The Sainik Board which is registered under an Act (of state assembly) has by-laws which say that land can only be allotted to state subjects. How can you even talk about bringing in non-state subjects?” she said.