All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday severely criticised the Indian government and the puppet administration in occupied Kashmir as he described the over 4200 kanals land acquisition for the Kishanganga power project in Gurez as a conspiracy by New Delhi to make backdoor entry into the disputed area.
Addressing a gathering in Srinagar, Farooq said New Delhi and its National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) were plundering natural resources of Jammu and Kashmir. “In the name of a 10 and 12 percent royalty, our water resources are being plundered in broad daylight. You must have heard that the NHPC is acquiring 4200 kanals of land in Gurez area of Bandipora for its Kishanganga power project and the puppet administration has agreed to it. The move will displace at least 200 families. We warn the Indian government that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and it is Kashmiris who will decide its fate,” he said.
He said the Kashmiris would oppose projects aimed at increasing the dependency of Kashmir. “It is not that you will make entry via backdoor and we will stay silent,” he said.
Farooq said it was ironical that while NHPC was making millions by selling power generated from Kashmir’s water resources, residents of the area were forced into perpetual financial and economic deprivation. “NHPC is the replica of the modern day East India Company which is out to loot our resources,” he said as he appealed people to understand the conspiracy.
The APHC chairman said Kashmir had been a disputed territory for the past 63 years. He said India, at every level and forum, through economic packages and job offers, had tried to divert the Kashmiris from their movement, however, it had failed in its designs. “We can’t forget the repression, assault on the honour and dignity of our sisters and mothers, sacrifices of martyrs and coffins of our youngsters,” he said, adding that the ongoing movement would be taken to its logical end against all odds.
“It is condemnable that the pro-freedom leaders are often placed under house arrest and not allowed to go even for prayers. This repression must go. But I assure people that the leadership is with them and will talk about Jammu and Kashmir dispute till its resolution. Nobody can stop us from doing so,” Farooq said.