Srinagar: The Tosa Maidan lease is expiring tomorrow, but various civil society groups fighting against the extension of one of the largest meadows in Kashmir to army, say despite government claiming that the army would have to move out nothing has been communicated to them.
The Right To Information (RTI) movement and Tosa Maidan Bachao Front (TBF) which are spearheading the agitation against the proposed extension of the lease of the meadow in central Kashmir’s Budgam district have said that so far no official contacted them regarding the cancellation of lease.
Talking to GNS, chairman of RTI movement, Shiekh Ghulam Rasool said: “Till this moment, no one from government has contacted us regarding the cancellation of lease.
Our source of information is media and we don’t want verbal announcement but we believe in documents as Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said few days ago.
They should come out with documents before media.”
On Tuesday, senior National Conference leader Rather said that government won’t extend the lease and the Chief Secretary-led official panel would identify some alternate site to relocate the army’s firing range.
The chief spokesperson of RTI movement Farooq Kuthoo threatened protests in case the lease is extended. “It will snowball into a major controversy,” he said.
Rasool said that they are in favour of complete vacation and handover of meadow to the civil authorities. “We don’t want relocation, but vacation,” he said.
The RTI chairman also announced that the group in cooperation with other civil society groups will hold protests in various parts of the Kashmir. “We have already appealed people to observe ‘Black Day’ on Friday. Apart from observing black day, our people will wear black bands and black flags will be hoisted at various places.”
“The Kashmir’s civil society has announced support for our cause which include Doctors’ Association, Kashmir Economic Alliance, hoteliers, tourism stake holders and employees,” he said.
He added that there will be protests in Srinagar’s press enclave and other parts of Kashmir.
Despite repeated attempts, no state or army official could be contacted for the comment. But, a defense analyst while talking to GNS, said: I don’t think NC can afford to do that. It is a Catch-22 situation for Congress. If they don’t extend, the BJP will get after them for being soft on security.”
Defense sources told GNS that the lease will be extended temporarily till the identification of alternate place.
“We have sent our recommendations to the higher-ups in this regard,” they said.
The matter could be resolved permanently once the new government takes over in New Delhi. (GNS)