Srinagar: Scores of people under the banner of Toasmaidan Bachao front (TBF), Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) movement Rural Voice and Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS) held a strong protest in Srinagar’s Press Enclave against further extension of Tosa Maidan firing range to army in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Earlier the groups – who are leading the agitation against lease – had proposed to held protest in Muncipal Park but authorities denied permission to them. The infuriated groups then had decided to protest in Press Enclave in Lal Chowk.
As planned, the groups along with scores of people from Tosamaidan appeared in Press Enclave and held strong protests. Many persons – who have been victims of artillery firing – were also part of the protest. The protesters chanted slogans in favour of vacating the Tosamaidan by army.
Several KCSDS leaders including Hameeda Nayeem, Dr Mubeen Shah, Anwar Ashai, Yasin Khan and Shakeel Qalander addressed the protesters and demanded vacation of Tosamaidan meadow by army.
The KCSDS member Prof Hameeda Nayeem told GNS that if government extends lease we will intensify protests across valley in cooperation with TBF. “We will launch valley-wide agitation against the extension of lease. We will oppose the extension of lease tooth and nail. The people there are in crisis. When we went to Tosamaidan, we found as if people there are living in Middle Ages,” she said.
She said people of Tosamaidan need security and dignity. “They lack dignity. There are humanitarian crisis in Tosamaidan. It is a shame for government,” she alleged.
She extended support to the people of Tosamaidan on the behalf of civil society including trade bodies, employees and tourism stake holders.
In a statement, the RTI movement chairman Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, said: “We have given a deadline to Government for making the order public i.e. 18th of April, 2014. Till then protests will continue.”
He requested people to observe 18th April as ‘Black day’ as the lease agreement is expiring on 18th of April.
“This year which is black day for all Kashmiris particularly the people who live around Toasmaidan firing range and who have gone through intimidation and terror in the past years at the hands of army,” he said.
On the occasion, dozens of protestors including Chairman RTI Movement Dr Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, its spokesperson, Farooq Kuthoo, Sajad Hussain, M.Akram Shaikh were detained by police after they tried to march towards Residency Road. However, they were freed later.
Welcoming the statement of Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather in which he had claimed that current Government will not extend lease agreement in favor of Army and an alternate place will be provid ed to conduct artillery drills to Army., the RTI movement’s spokesperson, Farooq Kuthoo added: “But at the same time we will not accept anything until a formal order is passed by the Government in this regard and the protests will continue,”
He alleged: “We smell that National Conference has started playing politics over this issue for its vote bank, which is totally unacceptable to the people who have gone through terrible times during last 50 years. If there is sincerity what Government says then they must issue an order in black and white and that shall be made public immediately by 18th of this month.”
On the occasion, dozens of protestors including Chairman RTI Movement Dr Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, its spokesperson, Farooq Kuthoo, Sajad Hussain, Akram Shaikh were detained by police after they tried to march towards Residency Road. However, they were freed later. (GNS)