Srinagar, July 08 (RNA): Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Monday said the Kashmiri Muslims of the state are deliberately being marginalized, excluded and pushed to the wall, saying the party will resist any attempt aimed at altering the pluralistic fabric of the state.
Addressing a series of workers conventions at KhoshalSar and Gilikadal Zoonimar in Zadibal, party leader and political advisor to Omar Abdullah, Tanvir Sadiq said, “We are not communal nor do we believe in communal politics, but even a secular party like ours which believes in ‘Hindu Muslim Sikh Itihad’, which has historically united these groups under one banner cannot remain silent under these abnormal conditions that seek to alter and redefine politics of the state.”
Holding the BJP guilty for employing different yard stick in contravention to its ideology for no appeasement Tanvir said, “BJP ran a campaign in the country saying that anything done in favour of the minorities is a move to appease the minority and embed religious separatism in children’s mind. They left no stone unturned to oppose and castigate anyone who would talk about the welfare of minorities in the county” he added “but in Kashmir the minority appeasement has become a hallmark. In connivance with New Delhi, this is being done through administrative tools: right from the influential and powerful post of the Governor to district SP’s, Muslims are being shunted with these powerful positions being given to outsiders.”
Tanvir said Muslims are at the receiving end despite constituting a majority in the state. “It is undreamed of that in a state with 70% Muslim Population we have just one advisor to look after their affairs,” Is this fair? He asked
“We are not communal and we don’t believe in segregation on religious lines but people will ask such pertinent questions when everything done here is allegedly & apparently done on religious lines,” he said adding, “This is an inconceivable condition in other states like UP, Maharashtra, MP etc where it cannot even be imagined to have Muslims holding top posts in the administrative machinery. If there is even of hint of these in these states, then the BJP will cry hoarse and call it minority appeasement but the dynamic changes in Jammu and Kashmir where it is minority appeasement in actuality because of the state’s character as a Muslim majority part.”
When it comes to Kashmir everything changes Tanvir said, “Kashmiri Muslims are not being trusted - all important institutions are now headed by non Muslims, how will this work and how can anyone justify this,” said Tanvir, “How do you expect normalcy to return when you don’t trust the locals?” he asked.
Decrying the incumbent administration sporadic and reckless highway bans he said , “While we with open arms have welcomed the Amaranth Yatra for decades together but this time an entire population is made to stand and wait still the Amaranth Yatra convoy passes. This is not the first time Amaranth Yatra is taking place but here the majority community is being harassed to appease minority. All previous Yatras have been successful because of the active participation of the local population and they all are Muslims.”
Lamenting the incumbent governor administration for the disdain it has for the Muslims of the state in particular the Kashmiri Muslims he said, “You harass an entire population on account of a religions pilgrimage and then say that it’s not appeasement. Show me one state in the country where the Majority community is road arrested for a religious function of a minority. Kashmiri Muslims in general have never been communal and have always lived in brotherhood ,” he added.
Tanvir while blaming the state administration for adding colors to the nefarious designs of RSS-BJP said, “It is happening against the backdrop of the BJP’s toxic agenda of altering Jammu and Kashmir’s unique identity and status and attempts to abrogate Articles 370 and 35 A, the fact is that elections are not being held in the state and Delhi’s rule maintained here through artifices , the character of the administration where there is negligible Muslim presence and other development suggests that stealthy attempts are being made in pursuit of agendas that toxically undermine the special constitutional status of our state.”
Exhorting the party functionaries for greater public engagement said, “These are testing times for us, and we need to unite to defeat those forces who want to change the demography here. The people of the state are yearning to see NC form the next government in state, and NC will protect this identity with its blood. The recently concluded Parliamentary elections have explicitly shown the mood of people in favor of NC.”
“Muslims face the most crucial and testing time in the valley, they feel as orphans with no representation and total apathy from the state government and the powers that may be, it’s time for Pir Panjal and Chenab valley to stand with Kashmir and ensure that people who want to divide this state on religious lines are not only defeated but shown the door. The ensuing assembly polls should give a befitting reply to all these communal bigots,” he said.
Censuring the BJP led Central government for not meeting the development demands of the state, he said “We have been deprived of an IIT Kashmir deliberately and the one in Jammu has not a single Muslim teacher or professor” he said adding, “The Judiciary, J&K Bank, the police, the administration has negligible presence of Muslim officers.”
Tanvir urged the party cadre to make it a point to attend the 11th and 13th July program.
Among others Block President Zadibal Mushtaq Beigh, Vice President Abdul Qayoom, Bashir Ahmed, Mehrajuddin Sofi, secretary Ghulam Rasool Dar, Treasurer Nazir Pampori, Jt Secretary Majid Shuloo, Youth Presdient Imran Bhat, Sheikh Shahid, Senior Leader & Former Dy Mayor Gh Mohd Hakim, Halqa President Zadibal Mohd Yousuf Haleem, HP Kawdara Ali Mohd Dar, Halqa President Zoonimar Nazir Ahmed, HP Nowshera Mushtaq Sofi, HP Anchar Gh Mohd Tiploo, HP Lalbazar Mohd Amin, HP Umar Colony Gh Nabi, VP Botashah Mohalla Yousuf Magloo addressed the conventions. (RNA)