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Wednesday, July 25, 2012


Ashok Prasad takes over as DGP
Signal from Delhi: Rajendra would become DGP, Prasad DIB in 2014

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 23: Resident of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS officer of 1979 batch, Ashok Prasad, today joined as Director General of Police in the country’s most sensitive state of Jammu & Kashmir. After B S Bedi, JN Saxena and Gurbachan Jagat, Prasad is the fourth IPS officer from outside the state who has been appointed as head of the Police force in J&K in the last 23 years of armed insurgency.

Early Times had exclusively reported in its issue of July 22 that, contrary to all speculations, Prasad would be taking over as J&K DGP in Srinagar at 1400 hours on July 23rd. On his arrival in Srinagar in the forenoon today, Principal Secretary Home, B R Sharma, issued formal order of appointment in favour of Mr Prasad with approval of Chief Minister and Minister incharge Home, Omar Abdullah. Cabinet had already accorded sanction to Prasad’s appointment as DGP in the last week of May this year. After Kuldeep Khoda’s retirement on May 31st, 2012, senior most of the IPS officers of J&K cadre, K Rajendra Kumar, had been officiating as DGP while holding substantive charge as additional DGP Armed and Law & Order.

On assuming charge as DGP, Prasad met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the latter’s residence in the afternoon and later in the evening drove all the way to Raj Bhawan to have a courtesy call on Governor N N Vohra. Sources said that Prasad expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister who promoted his appointment as DGP in recognition of his merit, seniority and J&K experience for years at Intelligence Bureau (IB). He also discussed security, insurgency and law and order related matters with the Governor and Chief Minister, separately.

At the time of his emerging as the top most choice for the prestigious post in J&K, Prasad had completed nearly a year as Additional Director IB in Kashmir. Previously, he had served a stint as Deputy Director of IB in Srinagar.

As exclusively reported in this newspaper, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s son-in-law, Ashok Patnaik, is shortly being appointed as Prasad’s successor in Kashmir. He would be holding the rank of Joint Director, Kashmir, in IB.

Highly placed authoritative sources disclosed to Early Times that that in the last about two months, Prasad had succeeded in convincing the UPA Government at the Centre that he would have to be elevated to the prestigious position of Director IB (DIB) before the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. He, according to sources, has made it clear to the union Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the Prime Minister’s Office that he would be serving as DGP in J&K only till March or April of 2014 as, among the four contenders, he had the first right to become DIB. Sources said that it was only after Prasad received assurance of his appointment as DIB in 2014 from the most responsible quarters that he agreed to join as DGP in J&K.

Prasad’s conditions have made it clear that he would be paving the way for the top most contender among IPS officers of J&K cadre, K Rajendra Kumar, in less than two years from now. Born on 21-01-1956 and inducted into IPS on 13-11-1979, Prasad is due to reach superannuation on 31-01-2016. Clearly, his ambition is to serve as DIB for the last two years of his service. Born on 24-09-1956 and inducted into IPS on 21-08-1984, K Rajendra Kumar is due to retire on 30-09-2016. On completing 30 years of IPS, he would become technically eligible for the post of DGP in January 2014. Thus, among all of his competitors, Rajendra would be the only choice for the post of DGP in 2014. His 1984 batch mate, P L Gupta, who is currently serving as Vigilance Commissioner in J&K, is due to retire from service on 31-08-2015.

In the afternoon today, Prasad was received at Police Headquarters with a ceremonial Guard of Hour. He took over from K Rajendra Kumar who introduced all the senior Police officers to the new DGP. All senior officers of J&K Police holding the rank of DIG and above were present on the occasion. After his joining, Prasad had an informal interaction with them.

While interacting with the officers he enquired from them about the functioning of their respective wings. Each officer gave a resume to the DGP about the different wings and he asked them to furnish the requirement, if any, to PHQ so that these could be fulfilled to enhance the working capabilities of the Police organization.  

Addressing the meeting, the DGP said that all ranks of the force form the Organization and every member of the Organization had to work with dedication making public service their motive. He said that Jammu and Kashmir Police had achieved many successes on different fronts during past 22 years and the pace of success would continue with the cooperation of the people.

He also said modernization of the police force would be his top priority. The DGP implored police personnel to develop people-friendly attitude apart from sticking to their duty with honesty and dedication. He also pledged to take forward the success of Jammu and Kashmir Police and appealed the people of the state to provide full support and cooperation to Police.

END

Monday, July 23, 2012


Pro-Azadi slogans on Geelani’s arrival at Hazratbal
Separatist hardliner performs prayers on shrine premises after 20 years

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 22: Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today created an ambience of secessionism at the state government-controlled Hazratbal mosque-cum-shrine complex when he arrived in to perform his prayers---first time in last 20 years---and a gathering of his followers raised pro-Azadi slogans. Freed from his ‘house arrest’, Geelani was actually scheduled to lead the funeral prayers of a professor of the University of Kashmir who had died of cancer earlier today.

Eyewitnesses told Early Times that the octogenarian separatist icon Syed Ali Shah Geelani drove all the way to Naseem Bagh grounds of the University of Kashmir to conduct Namaaz-e-Janazaah of Dr Meraj-ud-din Dar at around 1330 hours. Director of the University’s Centre of Information Technology and Communication, Dr Merajuddin had earlier today died of cancer after prolonged illness. As the preparations for the funeral prayers and the burial were only half way through, Geelani returned and walked straight into the mosque-cum-shrine premises to perform his afternoon prayers.

Police and security deployment communicated Geelani’s arrival to their higher ups, including SP Hazratbal and SSP Srinagar. However, they were advised not to prevent the separatist leader from performing prayers. It was, nevertheless, made clear to all concerned that Geelani should not be permitted to address any gathering. Sources said that he too cooperated with the authorities and did not make any attempt of delivering a speech. Main congregational prayers had concluded over 20 minutes before Geelani’s unscheduled and undeclared entry. He led a small gathering of his followers in the prayers.

However, immediately after Geelani moved out of the protected premises, hundreds of his followers shouted pro-Islam and pro-Azadi slogans. They steered his way amid shouting of slogans back to Naseem Bagh. Geelani later conducted Dr Merajuddin’s funeral prayers and addressed a gathering on the occasion. He described the professor’s death as a loss for the Kashmiri nation. Sources said that hundreds of students, teachers and ministerial staff of the University of Kashmir participated in the funeral prayers.

Significantly, it was after his umpteen calls of ‘Hazratbal Challo’ (March to Hazratbal) in the last four years---which failed all due to prohibitory orders from the government---that Geelani today arrived in and performed his prayers at the historic place of faith and worship.

National Conference founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, had got an ambitious programme of reconstruction and beautification executed at Hazratbal before his death in 1982. This most revered shrine complex houses a splendid mosque and repository of Prophet Mohammad’s holy relic. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim devotees gather here on five auspicious occasions every year to participate in special sessions of prayers and have a glimpse of the holy relic. Thousand perform daily prayers five times a day on the lush green lawns and a spacious orchard situated on the banks of world famous Dal Lake.

Undisputed leader of Kashmir’s mass movement against monarchy, Sheikh Abdullah had previously turned this religious centre into his political platform. During his years of struggle, when he got the sobriquet of Sher-e-Kashmir, Sheikh had made historic political speeches at Hazratbal. As per his will, he was laid to rest at a reclaimed park, close to Naseem Bagh as well as Hazratbal shrine. Later, his wife, Begum Akbar Jehan, was also buried close to Sheikh’s magnificent mausoleum, now guarded by Police.

In the first six years of separatist militancy, Hazratbal served as a seat of influence and concentration for the separatists. In October-November 1993, the shrine-cum-mosque complex remained under occupation of separatist militants and a siege of security forces for 31 days. Militants were finally given a safe passage to avoid bloodshed. However, in March 1996, as many as 31 armed militants of JKLF (Amanullah Khan group) were killed by J&K Police in a week of stand-off and gunbattle near the shrine complex.

Thereafter, state government-controlled Muslim Auqaf Trust, which is always headed by Chief Minister, reasserted its control on the complex and no political activity was permitted for years. After he returned to power in October 1996, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah made it a point to occasionally attend prayers at Hazratbal. On one occasion in 1998, he was attacked with shoes by a group of separatists amongst the congregation.

Subsequent Chief Ministers, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad, too visited Hazratbal frequently and strengthened government’s control over it. Mufti introduced several innovations after he created a separate independent trust to manage Wakf properties, including Hazratbal.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too visited Hazratbal on several occasions and performed his prayers in the front row of massive congregations alongwith other family members, including father Farooq Abdullah. However, he could not visit Hazratbal even for a day during the street turbulence of 2010. On the other hand, Geelani called for Hazratbal Challo, in an obvious attempt to gain Hurriyat’s control over the Wakf but he failed as the authorities strictly enforced restrictions and held him in home detention. Hurriyat sources insisted today that it was after 20 years that Geelani succeeded in performing prayers at Hazratbal.

END

Sunday, July 22, 2012


Prasad may join as J&K DGP on Monday

PM’s son-in-law being appointed as IB chief in Kashmir

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 21: Awaiting his formal order of appointment since the day of Mr Kuldeep Khoda’s retirement on May 31st, Additional Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Mr Ashok Prasad, is likely to assume office as Director General of Police in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. His junior in the orgnanisation, Mr Ashok Patnaik, is being appointed as the new Joint Director of IB in Kashmir.

Highly placed authoritative sources revealed to Early Times that decks were finally being cleared for Ashok Prasad’s appointment and taking over as DGP of J&K on July 23rd. Following Mr Khoda’s retirement on May 31st this year, J&K cadre IPS officer of 1984 batch, K Rajendra Kumar, has been officiating as DGP. His substantive posting since 2010 is additional DGP Armed Police and Law and Order. Setting aside all speculations, Mr Prasad is now expected to be relieved as Additional Director IB, New Delhi, on July 23rd. Sources said he was likely to fly to Srinagar on the same day and assume office as DGP at the Police Headquarters at 1400 hours.

Since the state Cabinet has already accorded sanction to Mr Prasad’s appointment as the new DGP, Principal Secretary Home, B R Sharma, would be issuing his formal appointment orders with Chief Minister and Home Minister Omar Abdullah’s approval in the forenoon on Monday. “Let him come first, then we’ll see when to issue the formal order of appointment”, Mr B R Sharma told this correspondent. Previously, Mr Prasad was expected to resume his duty at IB headquarters in New Delhi on July 30th and join as J&K’s DGP in the evening on July 31st. Since last month, he has been on leave.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sources, however, maintained that there was strong likelihood of Mr Prasad being relieved “not before July 30th”, suggesting his previous schedule of joining as DGP of J&K on July 31st was intact.

But, well-placed sources in Police disclosed that Police Headquarters would specially remain open on Sunday. They said that all offices at the headquarters would function on Sunday and make all preparations of Mr Prasad’s joining at 1400 hours on Monday.

Government sources revealed that all decks of Prasad’s appointment and joining on July 23rd were being cleared even as Chief Minister and a number of his Cabinet colleagues would remain preoccupied with their schedules, including a review meeting of District Development Board Jammu, on Sunday. According to these sources, Chief Minister was keen that the new DGP should take over well in advance of the Independence Day ceremonies on August 15th. He is understood to have discussed the subject in detail with the union Home Minister, P Chidambaram, besides union Home Secretary and Joint Secretary incharge J&K in New Delhi last week.

A resident of Bihar state, Prasad is an Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS officer of 1979 batch. He has remained continuously posted in IB since 1986 and risen to the rank of Additional Director. Until recently, he was functioning as Additional Director of IB in Kashmir. According to the Government sources, he was being succeeded by his junior, Ashok Patnaik. Son-in-law to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Patnaik is being appointed as Joint Director Kashmir.

With five more years of his service, 55-year-old Prasad is likely to function as J&K DGP for the next two years. Even as the incumbent Director of IB is scheduled to reach superannuation in the last two years, and there are four contenders for his succession, Mr Prasad has bright prospects of becoming the new Director of IB in the year 2014. Much would, however, depend on his performance as DGP of J&K for his unofficially stipulated tenure of two years. If things went in that direction, Mr Rajendra could succeed Mr Prasad as DGP in 2014. Currently, Rajendra has 28 years of service in IPS and he is deficient by two years to claim the top most position in J&K Police.

END

Friday, July 20, 2012


Termination notices served on 8 DM, M Ch students at SKIMS

Stand-off continues as patients unattended; attendants, employees out on demonstrations

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 19: Stand-off between resident doctors and non-gazetted employees entered a crucial phase on the sixth day of unrest today when administration of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, served termination notices on eight DM and M Ch students on their failure to end strike and report for duty. Even as the administration, led by Director SKIMS, Dr Shaukat Ali Zargar, was busy in a negotiations process with the agitating doctors till late tonight, doctors of the autonomous super-specialty hospital were mobilizing wider support from medical professionals in the state government’s Departments of Health and Medical Education.

Parallel to intermittent rounds of negotiations, Director SKIMS enforced his threat of ‘stringent action’ against the doctors on strike if they failed to act on today’s notice of resuming duty by 1300 hours. As they did not, termination notices were served on eight senior faculty students completing their post-doctoral courses, DM and M Ch, with SKIMS. Being continuously busy with the negotiations and invoking of strong-arm methods, Dr Shaukat Zargar was not accessible for media.

However, a senior doctor at Hospital Administration confirmed to Early Times that notices of cancellation of registration were slapped on eight DM and M Ch students at 1600 hours after they declined to resume duties. He asserted that Director was personally holding the negotiations with the agitating doctors and there was a stark possibility of breakthrough till late tonight.

Other informed sources said that the 500 doctors---DM, M Ch, MD, MS, Junior Residents and Senior Residents---began parallel efforts to seek solidarity of thousands of fellow doctors working with different, medical colleges, hospitals and health centres all over the state. Representatives of Doctors Association of Kashmir were in touch with the agitating SKIMS and SKIMS Medical College doctors till late this evening.

Both sides, according to sources, were weighing options and devising future course of action while awaiting the outcome of tonight’s negotiation process between the Resident Doctors Association of SKIMS and the SKIMS administration led by the hospital’s Director.

The stand-off began last week when SKIMS security staff clashed with two junior resident doctors and did not allow them to park vehicles at a particular parking lot. The brawl turned violent when two security officials and two non-security officials---one of them a clerk in Academic Section---exchanged fists and blows and one of the doctors, namely Dr Mubashir, a 3rd year PG student, sustained injuries. His associate, Dr Arafat, a Sr Resident, came to his rescue and rushed him to the hospital casualty for medical treatment. He has been discharged a couple of days ago.

Soon, both resident doctors, about 500 in number, and non-gazetted employees, numbering 4500, proceeded on strike with conflicting demands. The hospital administration ordered attachment of the two accused non-gazetted officials in an attempt to pacify the 500 resident doctors on strike. While the doctors expressed dissatisfaction and demanded FIR besides suspension of the two ‘delinquent officials’, the non-gazetted employees threatened to go for total shutdown in case the attachment orders were not withdrawn.

Finally, Director SKIMS revoked the orders. That led to suspension of the strike by 4500-strong non-gazetted employees union. They previously formed a 2000-strong procession and staged demonstration while using public address system to project their demands. Consequently, no tests or other laboratory works could be executed for four days, till the agitation was called off last evening.

However, the agitating doctors intensified their strike and all medical and surgery operations, including OPD, with exception of skeletal emergency services, have remained frozen for the 5th day today. Normally, 1500 to 2000 patients are treated daily at OPD of SKIMS in addition to 200 to 250 at Emergency. Even as the casualty is functional and nearly 200 patients are attended during strike, almost 90 percent of the OPD patients have been going back daily after failing to get examined by a doctor.

On the other hand, a large number of patients have been discharged on their request. Attendants in large numbers staged demonstrations as many as three times, once going upto Police Station Soura. Under the atmosphere of slogans and counter-slogans, work in most of the departments has come to a grinding hall and an unprecedented stand-off is aggravating with every passing day at SKIMS.

END

Govt sanctions permission to prosecute former minister

Early Times Report

SRINAGAR, July 19: The Jammu and Kashmir government has accorded sanction to prosecution of former Minister Abdul Gani Vakil for having leveled “defamatory allegations” against Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohiuddin which had appeared in some local news papers during January and February this year. Both the senior politician belong to Congress party.

In a notification issued on Thursday by Department of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, under SRO No: 232, Secretary Law and Parliamentary, Ghulam Hassan Tantray, is reported to have notified prosecution sanction against the senior Congress leader and former Minister incharge Social Welfare, whose term as MLC expired earlier this year.

“After having been satisfied with the material available with me, I hereby accord sanction for prosecution of Sh Abdul Gani Vakil ex- minister… for making false, malicious and defamatory allegations/imputations in various local newspapers published in January / February 2012 against Taj Mohiuddin Minister PHE, I&FC department”, reads the order approved by Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar.

“Choudary Mohammad Shabir, Public Prosecutor, Jammu, is directed to file complaint under section 500 RPC before Sessions Judge, Jammu”, reads the order.

END

Wednesday, July 18, 2012


GOC 15 Corps: 300 militants operating in Valley, 600 more ready to enter from PaK

US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 will have disastrous impact in region’

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 17: Lt Gen Atta Hasnain’s successor and the newly appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15th Corps, Lt Gen Om Prakash, today indicated Army’s continued opposition to revocation of J&K Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) when he claimed that despite the thaw in violence as many as 200 to 300 militants were operating in Kashmir valley. He claimed that 500 to 600 more Pakistan-trained and armed militants were ready to infiltrate into the Valley from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

At his maiden interaction with media in Srinagar, Lt Gen Om Prakash chose to be non-committal on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s unrealized demand of withdrawing AFSPA. He, however, described the situation as not-so-normal with his assertion that inspite of the al-pervading indications of peace and normality, 200 to 300 militants were still active in the Valley. According to him, maximum of the remnants of guerrilla concentration was currently in north Kashmir. Gen Prakash claimed that 500 to 600 more militants were “ready to infiltrate” into the Valley from PaK as Pakistan had not completely dismantled the terror infrastructure. He claimed that indoctrination, training, funding and arming the militants was continuing across the border.

Head of all ground troops---combat as well as counterinsurgent--- in Kashmir, Gen Prakash said that insurgency had been decisively crushed over the last 23 years in J&K. He said that the state had  witnessed a turning point in the situation in the years around 2000 when nearly two thousand militants were wiped out by security forces in just one calendar year. He said that the improvement in situation and reduction of militancy was a continuous process and the state was already enjoying many of its dividends but asserted that zero-infiltration and zero-violence was not possible until Pakistan stopped her support to militants. He said that geography and terrain around the LoC and International Border between India and Pakistan was also significantly responsible for continuance of infiltration and militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that some of the militant outfits like Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, were also recruiting, indoctrinating and equipping cadres locally.

 Gen Prakash expressed his apprehension on the potentially dangerous situation emerging in Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to him, scheduled withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan in 2014 could have catastrophic implications on the entire Afghanistan-Pakistan-India region, particularly on the strife-ravaged state of Jammu and Kashmir.

India wants stable and peaceful Afghanistan that is why it is helping the country to build its infrastructure,” he added.

Gen Prakash described the recent incidents of terror, particularly the killing of a soldier in broad daylight at the highway township of Pampore, as “serious” and claimed that armed forces had observed maximum possible restraint and avoided retaliation of firing for fear of civilian casualties.

As regards the security on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which has currently tourism and Amrnath pilgrimage as the most dominating features, Gen Prakash said that security forces and Police had intensified their surveillance, more so in the wake of certain inputs that indicated possibility of militants strikes in South Kashmir.

Contrary to apprehensions of sports icons like Sunil Gavaskar, Gen Prakash believed that revival of cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan could ease out tension and lead to more dividends of peace between the two countries.

END

Monday, July 16, 2012


First time salvo from NC: Kamaal calls Geelani ‘traitor, trader of death and destruction’

Sheikh Abdullah’s son shifts fire from Gupkar Road to Hyderpora, Congress, trains his gun on firebrand Hurriyat chief

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 15: Apparently stung by a hardline separatist leader’s tirade against his father and founder of the mainstream National Conference (NC) Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Dr Mustafa Kamaal has spewed a full volley of venom on Hurriyat (G) Chairman and former Jamaat-e-Islami ideologue Syed Ali Shah Geelani. It is for the first time, not only in the last 42 months of Omar Abdullah government but also in 23 years of the armed strike in Kashmir, that a mainstream politician has mustered courage to publicly denigrate the octogenarian separatist icon as a “traitor”, “ISI agent” and “trader of death and destruction”.   

In a statement, characteristic of his virulence against the Sheikh dynasty on anniversary of the Kashmiri martyrs of July 13, 1931, Geelani had accused the NC founder as being “power hungry” and betrayed the people of the state.

Dr Kamaal, NC’s additional General Secretary and MLA from Hazratbal called Geelani “a four time MLA, who has been drawing pension and has been even on the payroll of ISI”.  “Should we consider him fit enough to talk about morality?” Kamaal asked.

“Whenever even a Pakistani clerk comes to India and summons this former legislator, he rushes to Delhi to take dictation about how to sustain uncertainty and turbulence in the state” said Kamaal. He alleged that Geelani was directly responsible for over a hundred civilian deaths in Police action as it was he who had provoked youngsters to resort to violence and stone pelting in the year 2010.

Kamal said Geelani had all along tried to ignite and incite people with hollow slogans and destructive emotionalism. “But the Kashmiris do now understand his duplicity and personal vengeance against Sher-i-Kashmir and National Conference”, he asserted.

“People haven’t forgotten how he has been the recipient of illegal munificence from sources inimical to Kashmir including the UK based Kashmiri expatriates” Dr Kamaal said about Geelani in the fiery statement.

“Had Sher-e-Kashmir been power hungry, he wouldn’t have spent 24 years of his life in jail”, Dr Kamaal said about his father who campaigned for terminating monarchy, spearheaded a separatist movement for 22 years and functioned as head of the government for 12 years. “Sher-i-Kashmir never compromised his principles while as Geelani as a Muslim United Front MLA, along with his associates and 18 councilors, preferred luxuries of the government but never thought of the people?  Why didn’t they resign then,” Kamaal asked.

“Supporting in the elections the people who were responsible for the massacre of innocent civilians at Gawkadal, and the carnage at a funeral procession that mourned Mirwaiz Farooq’s death in firing,  indicates the direction of Geelani’s loyalties”, Dr Kamaal said and questioned the Hurriyat chief’s credentials of berating Sheikh Abdullah.

“From a small hut near Wullar to a small little house in Sopore to a palatial building in the posh Hyderpora, this leader has only grown by his bank balance” Kamal said. “Now this ex-legislator has the audacity to don the mantle of a messiah” he added.

NC’s additional General Secretary said that the rights of the people of J&K have been protected by the instrument of accession which clearly mentions that nothing in the instrument shall be deemed to commit me in any way to acceptance of any future constitution of India or to fetter my discretion to enter into arrangements with the Government of India under any such future Constitutor.

“These opportunistic leaders like Geelani have all along come in different faces to weaken NC and state’s special status”, Kamaal said. “If these  leaders had their way, they would have abrogated article 370 long back” he asserted. Kamal reiterated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s challenge to Geelani to raise the issue of non-state subjects continuously being settled by Pakistan in PaK.

“Kashmiri Pandits are part and parcel of the state and we will not sit in rest until we ensure their return to their homeland with full sense of security and dignity”, Dr Kamaal said. “People like Geelani have all along tried to dilute and weaken the concept of Kashmiriyat” he concluded.

END