Sainik Colony not for non-state subjects, no land identified yet: Mehbooba

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28

Asserting that no land had been identified as yet for Sainik Colony in Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehboba Mufti said here today that the issue was being exploited and made it clear that the colony was not meant for non-state subjects.

“The Sainik Colony is not for outsiders…there have been demands (from ex-servicemen) for many years to set up such a colony in Kashmir,” Mehbooba Mufti said and held that the matter had been discussed in various meetings by the government between 2011 and 2014 and the government had ordered to set up the colony for state subjects last year. Mehbooba said during the Governor’s rule this year two meetings were held — one on the Red Cross and the other on Sainik Colony. The Governor, she said, had directed that the land be identified for the Sainik Colony. She added that no land was found available in Srinagar, Budgam and Pulwama districts. “As yet no land has been identified…..it is being exploited,” Mehbooba commented.

The Chief Minister said this while replying at the end of two-day debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address in the state Legislative Assembly here today. The issue had been taken up by the members cutting across party lines while participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address during the past two days.

Mehbooba dwelt in detail on the issue of the Sainik Colony as she referred to the issue that was taken up by the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Leader of the Opposition (National Conference) here yesterday. She said Omar Abdullah had asked many “specific questions” on promises made by the alliance between the PDP and BJP to form the coalition government in the state during the past 16 months.

The issues of setting up Sainik Colony, separate townships for Pandits and new industrial policy, have been among several other controversial issues that surfaced during the past few months, particularly since the Mehbooba-led PDP-BJP coalition government took over early last month. These issues have also led to the unity among separatist organisations, including both factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the pro-independence JKLF.

A shutdown against the setting up of Sainik Colony, jointly called by the moderate and hardline factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF, was observed in Kashmir on Thursday. The separatist organisations suspect that non-state subjects were being settled in Kashmir in violation of the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution of India to change the demography.

Omar’s intervention in CM’s speech

Intervening in the 75-minute-long speech of the Chief Minister over the Sainik Colony issue, NC leader Omar Abdullah said he had sought an assurance on the modalities that it was only for state subjects. “Do not misinterpret my words,” Omar told the Chief Minister, while vociferous Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid also intervened in the disagreement. In reply, the Chief Minister questioned Omar Abdullah as to why he had confusion that the colony was being set up for non-state subjects.