India trying to erode Muslim majority status of IHK: Gilani

Srinagar, March 20 (KMS): Senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that efforts are being made to reduce the Muslim majority status of occupied Kashmir.

Syed Ali Gilani addressing a public gathering in Islamabad town said that there was around 85 percent population of Muslims as per census before 1945 and later, it was reduced to 69 percents and there were concerted efforts under a pre-planned conspiracy to reduce the Muslim majority character of the occupied territory. “The census is carried by non-state subjects and they are tasked to accomplish the job to erode the Muslim status,” he added.

He also reiterated the demand to reduce the duration of Amarnath yatra back to earlier times, adding that only a limited number of pilgrims should be allowed as a huge influx posed a dire threat to the water resources and glaciers of Jammu and Kashmir. “Earlier, the yatra lasted only 15 days, but now it has been stretched to nearly four months,” he maintained.

The veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader also demanded the inclusion of true representatives of Kashmiris in dialogue process, saying that the dialogue should be meaningful and result-oriented. He said that withdrawal of troops from the occupied territory was imperative for making the dialogue meaningful.

“Indian troops have occupied land against our wishes. Jawaharlal Lal Nehru promised withdrawal of Indian forces and granting right to self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but the promise has not been fulfilled despite the passage of six decades,” Gilani said, adding that Kashmiri would continue their peaceful struggle till last trooper left the valley.

Syed Ali Gilani said, “Our water resources have been handed over to Delhi for power generation while we get only 11 percent of electricity as royalty and our cities, towns and villages continue to reel under darkness.”

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/india-trying-erode-muslim-majority-status-ihk-gilani.