CPI(M) attacks PDP-BJP govt over 'Sainik colony'

Jammu and Kashmir unit of CPI(M) today said it would strongly oppose any move to set up residential colonies for retired army personnel in the Valley, saying any such decision would alienate the overwhelming majority of the state and "covertly" scrap its special status.
"Since the plan in a way envisages settling non-permanent resident retired soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, it amounts to virtual scraping of the state's special status covertly. We affirm to vehemently oppose any such move," CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said here.
He said at a time when the support for retaining and strengthening the Article 370 and special status of the state is rapidly growing, any such move would "further alienate the overwhelming majority of the state".

"One is constrained to infer that this motivated move may be the hidden item of the Agenda of Alliance. It is our party's considered opinion that the move will further complicate the Kashmir imbroglio and the efforts to resolve it would be seriously jeopardised.
"Keeping these factors in view, it is in the best interest of the state and the country at large that the plan, if envisioned, should be renounced permanently so that the fragile peace is not disturbed," he said.
Former Chief minister Omar Abdullah had also opposed the PDP-BJP government's reported proposal to allocate land for setting up a 'Sainik colony', terming it as a possible "ruse to settle non-state subjects" in the Valley.

Yesterday, the state government, however, asserted that it has not allotted any land for establishing Sainik colony housing project for ex-servicemen in the Valley and slammed such claims saying they were "highly motivated" and "aimed at disturbing peace".
Referring to the reports appeared in a section of the press that colonies for ex-servicemen were being established in the state, Minister for Education and state government spokesman Naeem Akhtar had said no land has been allotted or is being allotted anywhere in Kashmir for any housing project in the name of Sainik Colony.