CSF protests against land laws, several detained

J&K Civil Society Forum protesting in Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel
J&K Civil Society Forum protesting in Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Nov 2: J&K Civil Society Forum under the leadership of trade unionist Qayoom Wani today held a protest demonstration demanding rolling back of the recent amendments made in the land laws.
Scores of members of the forum after assembling here protested against the changes made in the land laws and asked the Government to allow the dissenting voices to raise their concerns.
Ahead of the protest, a large deployment of police and paramilitary forces was made in the Press Colony and after the members of the Forum tried to carry out a protest march, they were all bundled in the police vehicles. Click here to watch video
Speaking to the media persons, Qayoom Wani said they are protesting against the changes that have brought in since last year.
“Articles 35-A and 370 were abrogated, the special status of J&K was snatched and after August 5 so many laws have been implemented here; the people of J&K have rejected all these moves,” he said.
He said that the recent amendments in the land laws-the J&K has been put on sale for the non-state subjects. “We will not let it happen as this law is an attack on our resources, identity and honour,” he said.
He said that the J&K Civil Society Forum demands that the amendments in the land laws be rolled back.
Regarding a recent decision of reducing the age of retirement, he said that it is akin to an attack on their job security. “They (employees) now have a sword hanging over their heads,” he said.
He further said that there is nothing left in J&K in the name of freedom of speech. “Press is being gagged; there is no place for dissent. Everyone has a right to speak and what the Government is doing is sheer injustice,” he said,
He said that as a non-political entity, J&K Civil Society Forum has a responsibility to make people aware that “these laws are not only an attack on the identity of people living in Kashmir, it is an attack on the identity of Dogras in Jammu and Buddhists in Ladakh,” he said.
He asked the Government not to employ pressure tactics to suppress dissent in J&K. “We are telling it to the Government that it should do away with the pressure tactics and should start allowing dissenting voices that are being raised,” he said.