Chairman Hurriyat (G) Conference, Syed Ali Geelani Monday said by setting up camps and firing ranges everywhere in Kashmir, army is destroying the forests, water resources, environment and the economy of the poor people and is converting the entire area into a military garrison.
He expressed concern and anguish over the demand of Army for notifying Bajpathri forest area close to Yusmarg hill resort in central Kashmir’s Budgam district for its use as an artillery firing range.He also expressed sorrow over the likely nod of the government to the army’s demand of converting a forest area and a famous tourist spot into a piece of waste-land and said the pro-India politicians are ‘mortgaging and auctioning every state property for the chair and the personal benefits and from 1947 till date, these people have always harmed the national interest of Kashmiri people.’
In a statement, Hurriyat (G) chairman said the setting up of the proposed firing rage in Bajpathri area will badly affect the vast forest area of Budgam and Shopian districts, more than 10 water supply schemes originated from this area which are feeding a huge population of the area will also get impacted by this decision.
“This proposal will completely destroy the Yusmarg tourist destination forever and the very serious and vital issue is the proposed firing range will endanger the lives of the huge population residing around the Bajpathri area and like Tosamaidan this area will also prove to be a death trap for the people,” Geelani said.
Geelani said on the one hand India is seen playing an active role in the Paris Climate Change Conference and the international agreements according to which the attempts are being made at world levels to save the world from the global warming and other environmental threats but on the other hand to maintain its control of Kashmir, this country is ‘destroying’ every such thing in Jammu & Kashmir which are vital for maintaining environmental equilibrium and which play a key role in controlling the fast rising global temperature.
“The policy makers of India have no interest with the miseries, life and death of the Kashmiri people, they have nothing to do whether the economy of this region gets destroyed or improved and they have no concern with the protection of the forests, water resources and environment of this region, they are only concerned to strengthen their control in Kashmir and for that purpose they can go to any extent,” Geelani added.
Geelani expressed dismay and sorrow that first NC and now PDP is playing the role of “brokers for New Delhi and they are ‘selling everything of the state to remain in power and to enjoy the luxurious lives. Their conscience has died and like Jaffar and Sadiq, they are chopping the roots of their own nation.”
Demanding the revision of allotting the Bajpathri as the firing range for army, Geelani said Hurriyat Conference (G) is closely monitoring the situation and will run a public awareness campaign in this regard.
