Date:27/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/27/stories/2008062757090100.htm

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Vohra’s bid to resolve crisis

Praveen Swami

Last-ditch efforts under way to resolve land grant controversy in J&K

— Photo: Nissar Ahmad

Land issue in hot waters: Kashmiri Shikara owners demonstrating in the Dal Lake in Srinagar on Thursday in protest against the transfer of land to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra has initiated a last-ditch effort to avoid a meltdown of the Congress-People’s Democratic Party alliance government, and contain the tide of communally-charged violence that has surged over the State this week.

Government sources said Mr. Vohra might announce that Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board would not seek use of the land that was allotted last month. The grant has triggered Islamist-led protests across the Kashmir Valley. In his capacity as head of the Shrine Board, Mr. Vohra would instead request the government to provide logistical support for the Amarnath pilgrimage this year, as it had done prior to the creation of the Shrine Board in 2004.

Should Mr. Vohra make such an announcement, the government would be able to avoid the embarrassment of having to revoke a May 26 order granting the Shrine Board permission to use 39.88 hectares of forest land to erect prefabricated temporary accommodation for pilgrims, a move Congress leaders believe will be deeply damaging to the party in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and elsewhere in India.

However, the announcement would also allow the People’s Democratic Party to claim it had won significant concessions from the Congress. On Wednesday, the PDP elder statesman and former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, had rejected all-party talks on the Shrine Board land grant. On Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Beig reiterated a threat to pull out of government on June 30 unless the land grant was revoked.

According to the sources, Mr. Vohra’s compromise formula was discussed at a closed-door meeting with Mr. Beig. Mr. Beig had supported the May 26 order in the State Cabinet, but then claimed his consent was obtained by Congress leaders under political duress. At the time of going to press, the Governor was engaged in discussions with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on the specifics of the formula. New Delhi is also said to be pressuring the Congress and the PDP to arrive at a consensus formula, afraid that violence is spiralling out of control.

Violence unabated

Shujaat Bukhari reports: There was complete shutdown in the Kashmir Valley on Thursday against the transfer of land to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, even as violence continued for the fourth day.

Fifty people, including 13 policemen, were injured in clashes between the police and demonstrators. Two youths were injured when Central Reserve Police Force personnel opened fire on protesters in downtown Srinagar. Their condition was stated to be critical.

Many Hurriyat leaders continue to be under house arrest. But, some of them, including Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Mohammad Yasin Malik came out and lead the protests.

Srinagar witnessed clashes between the police and the demonstrators and there was stone-pelting. Even uptown localities such as Hyderpora, Rambagh and Natipora witnessed protests. Tyres were burnt and vehicles damaged in these places.

In downtown Srinagar, people took to the streets demanding immediate revocation of the Government Order through which 800 kanals of land was transferred to the Board on May 26.

Protests intensified late on Wednesday evening after the death of a youth in firing by the CRPF on demonstrators in Zaldagar. Thousands of people thronged Jamia Masjid and remained there till midnight on Wednesday night. A crowd headed for the Lal Chowk city centre but was chased away by the police.

In Kawdara, the situation worsened after a CRPF man opened fire, seriously injuring two persons. Both were reportedly battling for life in a hospital.

On Thursday, the police fired tear-gas shells and resorted to heavy lathi charge to disperse a procession led by Mr. Malik. Many people were injured but Mr. Malik managed to take the procession to Karfali mohalla in downtown Srinagar to visit the family of the youth killed on Wednesday.

Protests spread to Anantnag, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, Handwara, Chadoora.