Date:08/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/08/stories/2007060809161200.htm

National

Lone opposes `ethnic engineering'

Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR: Opposing what he called "ethnic engineering" in Jammu and Kashmir to change the `demographic character' of Muslims in governance, chairman of the People's Conference Sajjad Gani Lone on Thursday said that if the trend was not reversed he would launch a "civil disobedience" movement and not allow the Civil Secretariat to function.

Mr. Lone said "the majority population in Jammu and Kashmir" was being reduced to a minority in administration. Citing the example of the recent selection in the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS), for which a combined examination is conducted by the J&K Public Service Commission, he said out of 127 candidates selected by the PSC this year only 26 are from the Kashmir Valley.

He said the ratio should be proportional to the ethnic population in the State. The youth in Kashmir are under tremendous stress. "How can you expect them to compete in such a charged atmosphere."

"Can a Kashmiri Muslim boy go to Delhi and take coaching classes for KAS or IAS. He will be arrested on the eve of August 15 or January 26 and branded a Lashkar militant. No parent can allow his son to go to Delhi for getting arrested." he said.