[Onthebarricades] KASHMIR 1 of 3 - Muslims protest land grab
Andy
ldxar1 at tesco.net
Wed Aug 27 09:05:26 PDT 2008
ON THE BARRICADES - Global Resistance Roundup, April-August 2008
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/onthebarricades
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance/
Protesters have mobilised on a massive scale in Kashmir, firstly to protest
a land deal to transfer land to a Hindu shrine, in breach of the
constitution, then later in an ongoing series of protests against Indian
rule.
* On 24th May, protesters targeted the Indian President on a visit to the
region, holding a general strike and setting up barricades to resist police
violence
* In June, protests started over the land transfer with day-long protests
in the capital Srinagar
* A general strike had persisted for a week by the end of the month, with
ongoing clashes and protests
* After eight days of protests, the government reversed the land transfer
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/349748/1/.html
Kashmir capital shuts to protest Indian president's visit
Posted: 24 May 2008 2325 hrs
Indian President Pratibha Patil (3L) greets officials upon her arrival at
Baramullah.
SRINAGAR, India : Islamic separatists staged a general strike in Kashmir's
summer capital Srinagar on Saturday to protest a visit by India's president
to the revolt-hit region.
Businesses closed and schools and colleges declared the day a holiday in
line with the strike call by the hardline wing of the separatist Hurriyat
Conference alliance.
The strike to protest the visit by President Pratibha Patil was also backed
by the powerful Islamic rebel group Hizbul Mujahedin, which is fighting New
Delhi's rule in India's only Muslim-majority state.
Traffic was also thin in Srinagar, the urban hub of the secessionist drive
in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Indian soldiers backed by police declared several areas of the city "out of
bounds" for civilians to ensure Patil's security during her visit.
Patil, elected India's first woman president last year, arrived here on
Friday on a four-day official trip to the region, which borders Pakistan.
On Friday she warned that India would retaliate "resolutely and firmly"
against any violations of the heavily militarised border.
"I'm confident that any violation of our borders will be dealt with
resolutely and firmly," Patil said in a speech to soldiers at a camp in
Baramulla town, 55 kilometres (35 miles) north of summer capital Srinagar.
The warning by Patil, who is also supreme commander of India's armed forces,
came after forward Indian posts came under fire from across the Line of
Control (LoC) three times this month. In one incident, an Indian soldier was
killed.
The LoC or ceasefire line splits Kashmir between nuclear-armed rivals India
and Pakistan. The two nations each hold part of the region but claim it in
full and have fought two of their three wars for control of Kashmir.
The insurgency has left more than 43,000 people dead by official count.
Earlier this week, India's foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee held talks with
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad, with the neighbours
expressing optimism about their slow-moving four-year-old peace process.
- AFP /ls
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/05/200861505915721694.html
Police tear gas Kashmir protesters
Protesters erected barricades to block police [Reuters]
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have used tear gas to disperse about
150 pro-Pakistan separatist demonstrators amid a strike called to protest
against a visit by the Indian president.
Police fired the gas on crowds in Kashmir's main city on Saturday, a day
after Pratibha Patil began her five-day tour of the disputed region.
The protesters, some shouting anti-Indian slogans and throwing stones, had
earlier gathered in the streets of Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital, which
had largely been deserted except for patrols by large numbers of police and
soldiers.
Most people had remained at home and many shops, businesses and schools were
closed due to a strike, called by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a separatist
advocate who heads the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
Strike action
The move was supported by Hizb-ul-Mujahidin, the main armed group fighting
Indian rule in Kashmir.
"We appeal to people to observe a complete strike on Saturday to protest
against the Indian president's visit," Geelani said.
"The strike would be a mark of protest against the Indian occupation of
Kashmir."
"We want to convey to the Indian president that Kashmiri people are against
Indian occupation of Kashmir," he said.
Soldiers tightened security by erecting checkpoints at street crossings,
while police and the army patrolled the area to prevent protests.
Patil, who became India's first female president last year, addressed Indian
troops and visited a military control line dividing Kashmir between India
and Pakistan on Friday.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan.
Both claim it in entirety and have fought two wars over control of the
territory since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/25/top9.htm
Protests mark Patil's visit to Kashmir
SRINAGAR, May 24: Police fired tear-gas shells at stone-throwing protesters
here on Saturday while shops stayed shut after Kashmiri leaders called a
strike in protest against a visit by the Indian president.
Pratibha Patil, who became India's first woman president last year, began on
Friday her five-day tour to occupied Kashmir.
Streets in Srinagar were largely deserted except for patrols by a larger
than usual number of police and soldiers.
The strike was called by prominent separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani
and backed by an alliance of militants called the United Jihad Council.
While most people stayed indoors, around 150 protesters gathered in the
streets, threw stones and shouted slogans before police fired tear gas. "We
want freedom. Indian troops go back," the protesters shouted.
Officials say more than 43,000 people have been killed in violence between
militants and Indian troops since 1989. Human rights groups put the toll at
around 60,000 dead or missing.
-Reuters
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1166322
Srinagar residents protest president Pratibha's visit
Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
Sunday, May 25, 2008 03:58 IST
Their aim is to indicate that all is not well in their troubled state
SRINAGAR: Violent protests rocked capital city on Saturday against the visit
of President Pratibha Patil to trouble-torn state. The police had to resort
to cane charge and fire smoke shells to quell the mob which turned violent
in old city area here.
Unfazed by the protests, the President arrived in Gulmarg to spend the
weekend with her family at the resort . Life came to a grinding halt in
Kashmir as people observed strike for which the call was given by Hurriyat
hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani to protest against the visit of the president to
the state. Shops and business establishments remained closed.
"The government is trying to create an impression that all is well in
Kashmir. That is why we decided to protest the visit of president by calling
for a strike," Geelani said.
Even as tight security arrangements were put in place, people took to
streets at Habba Kadal, Nowhatta and Nawa Kadal and raised slogans.
The protestors clashed with the police prompting them to resort to
lathi-charge and lob smoke shells to disperse the mob. Reports said several
people suffered injuries in the ding dong battles which continued at
different intervals.
"There were some minor incidents in some parts of the city which have now
fizzled out. Situation is well under control and there is no need to feel
panicky", said Syed Afad-ul-Mujtaba, senior superintendent of police,
Srinagar.
President Patil is on a five day visit to J&K. She arrived on Friday and on
this first leg of the tour she visited the line of control (LoC) and met the
troops stationed there. She visited the underground bunkers at Tangdhar
sector and met the troops guarding the LoC.
Taking some time off her busy schedule, President Patil arrived in Gulmarg
to spend the weekend with her family. She took a joy ride in the World
highest ropeway Gulmarg Gandola. Tight security arrangements were made at
Gulmarg for the visit of first family. President and her family is staying
at Chief Minister's special lodge in Gulmarg.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080628/main5.htm
Amarnath Land Row
Day-long protests in Srinagar
Kumar Rakesh
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 27
Protests in the valley seem to be taking deeper roots today as thousands of
people from different parts of the capital took out many daylong
processions. The main city square, Lal Chowk, hosted a massive rally that
resonated with anti-government and pro-freedom slogans. The valley witnessed
a complete strike.
A huge congregation, starting from downtown, gathered at the Lal Chowk after
Friday namaz and spurred by religious and anti-government fervour, several
youngsters went atop the high clock tower, where they hoisted several green
Islamic flags of crescent and stars. Hordes of policemen watched at some
distance as the surcharged crowd raised slogans against India and the state
government.
On a day when participation of people grew on a big scale against the
transfer of 800 canal land to Amarnath Shrine Board, the only breather the
security establishment had was subsiding of violence. However, what should
be a concern to mainstream leadership is that the agitation has moved onto a
distinct anti-national platform from its previous anti-shrine board
character. Roads and lanes in city reverberated with slogans like
"Jeeve-Jeeve Pakistan (long live Pakistan)" and "hum kya chahte, azadi (we
want freedom)".
Beside a big rally, scores of people gathered in their localities and were
addressed by small-time separatist leaders as most of their recognised
faces, except JLKF leader Yasin Malik, remain under house-arrest. Some other
important Hurriyat leaders led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are in Pakistan on a
tour.
Over 50 persons, including 25 security personnel, were injured in the valley
today, but the determined attack from protesters, which they faced in
downtown till yesterday, subsided. Security personnel had apprehended
violence after the Friday congregation in mosques, especially in old
Srinagar. As many as three persons have been killed and over 300 persons,
including over 100 security personnel, have been injured so far.
Burning tyres and blockades across the connecting roads were visible
everywhere and protestors tried to ensure that even two-wheelers do not ply,
except vehicles carrying mediapersons.
Large crowds gathered at the Lal Chowk from different places, like Soura,
Batmalu, and downtown areas, after doing rounds of different localities, and
dispersed after being addressed.
The rally started from Chanpora and gathered in numbers as it passed through
Rambagh, Maisuma, Solina, Dal gate and other localities. There were also
reports of rallies from cities like Ganderbal, Tral and Baramulla. Uri and
Anantnag, where locals have largely refrained from pro-separatists protests
for a long time, also saw rallies today.
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/protests-over-land-transfer-cops-open-fire-in-anantnag/67819-3.html?xml
Protests over land transfer, cops open fire in Anantnag
CNN-IBN
Published on Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 14:47 in Nation section
FIGHTBACK: A protestor throws back a teargas shell towards policemen during
a demonstration in Srinagar.
Kashmir: There is no let up in the violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir
over the transfer of 40 hectares of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine
Board (SASB).
On Thursday, the fourth day of protests in the Valley police had to open
fire to control protestors at Anantnag, in south Kashmir.
There is a complete shutdown across the state following clashes between
protestors and police on Wednesday.
So far three people have been killed and 75 injured during the protests with
18 of the injured being policemen.
Hundreds of tourists are stuck in Srinagar and other tourist places due to
the protests.
The protests have also brought ruling coalition partners the coalition
partners People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress in Jammu and Kashmir
on a collision course.
While the PDP is against the transfer of forest land to build facilities for
Amarnath pilgrims, the Congress is in favour. The Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) is also supporting the project.
Political parties in Jammu, too, are in favour of the project. Parties like
the BJP, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Shiv Sena have called for a bandh in
Jammu on Thursday.
Sikh organisations like Jammu and Kashmir Youth Akali Dal and Gurdawara
Prabhandhak Board are also in favour of the deal and have blamed
Valley-based politicians for communalising the issue.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080628/main5.htm
Amarnath Land Row
Day-long protests in Srinagar
Kumar Rakesh
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 27
Protests in the valley seem to be taking deeper roots today as thousands of
people from different parts of the capital took out many daylong
processions. The main city square, Lal Chowk, hosted a massive rally that
resonated with anti-government and pro-freedom slogans. The valley witnessed
a complete strike.
A huge congregation, starting from downtown, gathered at the Lal Chowk after
Friday namaz and spurred by religious and anti-government fervour, several
youngsters went atop the high clock tower, where they hoisted several green
Islamic flags of crescent and stars. Hordes of policemen watched at some
distance as the surcharged crowd raised slogans against India and the state
government.
On a day when participation of people grew on a big scale against the
transfer of 800 canal land to Amarnath Shrine Board, the only breather the
security establishment had was subsiding of violence. However, what should
be a concern to mainstream leadership is that the agitation has moved onto a
distinct anti-national platform from its previous anti-shrine board
character. Roads and lanes in city reverberated with slogans like
"Jeeve-Jeeve Pakistan (long live Pakistan)" and "hum kya chahte, azadi (we
want freedom)".
Beside a big rally, scores of people gathered in their localities and were
addressed by small-time separatist leaders as most of their recognised
faces, except JLKF leader Yasin Malik, remain under house-arrest. Some other
important Hurriyat leaders led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are in Pakistan on a
tour.
Over 50 persons, including 25 security personnel, were injured in the valley
today, but the determined attack from protesters, which they faced in
downtown till yesterday, subsided. Security personnel had apprehended
violence after the Friday congregation in mosques, especially in old
Srinagar. As many as three persons have been killed and over 300 persons,
including over 100 security personnel, have been injured so far.
Burning tyres and blockades across the connecting roads were visible
everywhere and protestors tried to ensure that even two-wheelers do not ply,
except vehicles carrying mediapersons.
Large crowds gathered at the Lal Chowk from different places, like Soura,
Batmalu, and downtown areas, after doing rounds of different localities, and
dispersed after being addressed.
The rally started from Chanpora and gathered in numbers as it passed through
Rambagh, Maisuma, Solina, Dal gate and other localities. There were also
reports of rallies from cities like Ganderbal, Tral and Baramulla. Uri and
Anantnag, where locals have largely refrained from pro-separatists protests
for a long time, also saw rallies today.
http://www.kashmirobserver.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=291:shutdown-cripples-life-for-7th-day&catid=50:localnews&Itemid=81
Shutdown cripples life for 7th day
Srinagar, Jun 29, KONS- Even as the state government Sunday revoked the
controversial order diverting forest land to SASB, protest strike continued
crippling normal life for the seventh straight day. Thousands of riot police
and paramilitary personnel were deployed across capital to keep people off
the streets to prevent them from holding demonstrations which during past
one week have often turned violent resulting in the death of at least four
people and injuries to nearly 700.
Most parts of the city presented a deserted look as if curfew was clamped,
residents said.
However in more volatile areas where pro-freedom sentiments have
traditionally been high, police failed to keep youth off the roads. The
protesters, mostly young and teenagers, burned tires, created road blocks
and held noisy protests chanting 'favourite' slogan - Ham Kya Chahtay: Azadi
or "we want freedom".
Similar reports have come in from other major towns where for last seven
says people are observing a spontaneous strike.
This despite the fact that people are facing acute shortage of essential
commodities, including vegetables, milk and bread because truck services
bringing in such commodities from rural areas and from outside the state too
have been grounded for past one week.
A report from Anantnag said life remained crippled in the entire south
Kashmir due to strike with people staying indoors. Reports suggest an
undeclared curfew has been imposed in Pulwama, which witnessed massive
violent demonstrations during the past four days. People are being asked to
remain indoors by police, they said. The report said a total shut down was
also observed in Pahalgam, Shopian, Awantipore , Tral and other major areas
of south Kashmir.
Baramulla in north also is closed with streets empty. Total strike also has
closed down main trading centre of north, Sopore. Further north in Handwara,
Kupwara and beyond reports are coming in that life has come to a grinding
halt there as well.
The worst violence was witnessed in Rafiabad area where small processions
from various villages converged in Rafiabad square and staged massive
protest demonstrations against government.
Reports said police deployed in the area tried to disperse the protestors by
resorting to cane charge and tear gas shelling resulting in violent clashes
between police and protestors.
Eyewitness said that about 35 people including 10 cops were injured in
violent clashes that later spread to nearby Watergam.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/06/29/top4.htm
Kashmiris intensify anti-Delhi protest
SRINAGAR, June 28: At least 60 people were injured when police and
protesters clashed for a sixth consecutive day on Saturday in occupied
Kashmir as resistance to the transfer of land to a Hindu pilgrim group
deepened.
Scores of people, including Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief
Yasin Malik, were hurt when protesters clashed with police in the heart of
occupied Srinagar.
"Mr Malik was admitted to a hospital, he is safe" Mohammad Amin, a police
official said.
At least 12 paramilitary soldiers were injured in clashes with protesters.
Seven policemen were also hurt.
The week-long protests started when authorities transferred nearly 100 acres
of forest land to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), a Hindu trust, to
erect shelters for thousands of Hindu pilgrims who annually trek to a cave
shrine in the mountains.
The Indian constitution prohibits outsiders from buying land in Kashmir.
"It will become impossible for the Kashmir leadership to control public
anger if the order is not revoked immediately," said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,
who heads the moderate faction of the region's main separatist alliance, the
All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
"The present situation reminds me of 1990, it is all disturbing," Omar
Abdullah, chief of Kashmir's main opposition party, the National Conference
party, said.
"The issue does not stop there," said Farooq. "There are thousands of acres
of land occupied by the Indian army that also needs be addressed."
Three people have died in police fire and about 300 have been injured in
clashes, evoking memories of widespread anti-India protests that swept the
region after an armed campaign broke out in 1989.
Daily life in Srinagar has come to a halt since the protests began on
Monday. Protesters have been destroying government property and hoisting
green flags.
Shops, offices and banks remained shut, as protests spread to other parts of
the valley.
-Agencies
http://story.floridastatesman.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/c08dd24cec417021/id/376607/cs/1/Kashmiri Muslims in protest over religious grantFlorida StatesmanSunday 29th June, 2008In India, Muslims have continued to gather to protest against a governmentplan to build Hindu settlements in the mainly Muslim Indian Kashmir.Separatists and local group leaders have expressed determination to continueto hound the government over the recent transfer of 40 hectares of land bythe state government to keepers of a Hindu shrine.Indian officials have closed schools and government offices while sendingparamilitary officers onto the streets.Tear gas and bullets been shot into the crowd and at least three people havebeen killed and hundreds wounded in the past week of protests.Protesters believe Indian authorities plan to turn the area into a permanentsettlement for Hindus, thus changing the religious balance in theMuslim-majority region.http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/30/stories/2008063059861300.htmMirwaiz leads protest rally in SrinagarSpecial CorrespondentViolence rocks north Kashmir; life hit for the seventh day- Photos: Nissar AhmadHurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (centre) leading a protest rally inSrinagar on Sunday.SRINAGAR: Kashmir Valley observed a complete shutdown on the seventhconsecutive day in protest against the transfer of land to Shri AmarnathjiShrine Board (SASB). Demonstrations were reported from various areas; onerally was led by Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.The death toll in the violence in the past five days has gone up to four,with one person dying of injuries in hospital on Sunday.As the authorities imposed "undeclared curfew" with stringent securitymeasures, the level of protests came down but the Mirwaiz led a protest indowntown and demanded the revocation of the land order. He said a sea ofpeople would throng the city on Tuesday in response to a "Srinagar Chalo"call by the Action Committee on Land Transfer (ACALT).Reports said police and CRPF men were seen in large numbers in the citysince morning to prevent people from venturing out of their houses. Barringa few incidents of stone-pelting in the old city, no violence was reportedfrom any part of the Valley, police sources said.As the news of the death of Imtiyaz Ahmed Haroon, who was injured in firingon Saturday, spread in the evening, hundreds assembled outside the SMHSHospital and carried his body in a procession towards Bemina. The policemenallowed the protesters to pass.Police disperse protestersAt least 45 persons, including 20 policemen, were injured in clashes innorth Kashmir's Baramulla district on Sunday.Paramilitary forces patrolling the streets of the State capital.Reports said hundreds took to the roads in various areas to protests againstthe transfer of land to the SASB. However, security forces intercepted themusing batons and tear gas.The protesters retaliated by pelting stones, triggering clashes whichcontinued till late in the afternoon. Reports said protests took place inKupwara, Bandipora and other places.http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0630/p99s01-duts.htmlKashmiri women looked out of a window during a protest in Srinagar, Kashmiron Sunday. Indian police fired bullets and tear gas to quell thousands ofstone-throwing Muslim demonstrators angry over the transfer of forest landto a Hindu shrine trust. The week-long protests started when authoritiestransferred nearly 100 acres of forest land to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board(SASB), a Hindu organization, to erect temporary shelters for thousands ofHindu pilgrims who annually trek to a cave shrine in the Kashmir mountain.Danish Ismail/ReutersKashmir: Mass protests force government to reverse controversialland-transfer decisionMuslims in Indian-administered Kashmir charged that the transfer was anattempt to tip the Hindu-Muslim ratio of the area in favor of Hindus. Theprotests have widened to support for independence.By Mian Ridgefrom the July 1, 2008 editionE-mail Print Letter to the Editor Republish del.icio.us diggEight days of mass protests in Indian-administered Kashmir have prompted theregion's government to reverse a controversial decision to transfer a largetract of land to a Hindu organization.The land transfer, which was seen by some as an attempt to change theMuslim-Hindu ratio in this Muslim-majority area, sparked huge - sometimesviolent - protests in the capital, Srinagar. The protests, in which fourpeople were killed and hundreds injured, were the biggest in Kashmir foryears.The Associated Press reported on Monday that protesters had dismissed thegovernment's claim that it would renege on transferring the land and vowedto continue with the protests.By Sunday, the protests appeared to have evolved into pro-independenceagitations."Our protests will continue until we achieve freedom from Indiandomination," Mirwaiz Omer Farooq, head of the moderate faction All PartiesHurriyat Conference, told a crowd of protesters in Srinagar. The crowdchanted "We reject Kashmir's auction" and "We want freedom."Greater Kashmir, a local newspaper, elaborated upon the separatist leader'smotivations.Mirwaiz termed the present struggle as peoples' movement. "The resentment ofpeople is not only against land occupation, but also against cultural,political and army aggression of New Delhi in Kashmir. It is sentiment forAzadi (freedom) and New Delhi should without any further delay address thebasic issue. Even if the land transfer order is revoked, sentiment of Azadiwill remain," he added.The government had originally said it would transfer 99 acres of forest landto the Amarnath Shrine Board, which manages a Hindu shrine in the area,saying it was necessary to build huts and toilets for the many pilgrims thatvisit the area.Each year, thousands of Hindus trek to a Kashmir cave, situated at analtitude of 3,800 meters (2.3 miles), which they believe is an abode of thegod Shiva. Last year, 400,000 pilgrims visited the cave, staying in tentsand prompting the government to find new ways to accommodate them.The BBC reported the view of separatists who believe that the land transfer"was part of a 'conspiracy to settle non-local Hindus in the valley with aview to reducing the Muslims to a minority'."The Hindu, an Indian daily, reported that the situation was a little calmeron Sunday after the authorities imposed a curfew in Srinagar. The police hadused batons and tear gas against protesters, who had responded by throwingstones. But the report also hinted at more trouble to come.As the authorities imposed "undeclared curfew" with stringent securitymeasures, the level of protests came down but the Mirwaiz led a protest indowntown and demanded the revocation of the land order. He said a sea ofpeople would throng the city on Tuesday in response to a "Srinagar Chalo"call by the Action Committee on Land Transfer (ACALT).The Kashmir Observer reported on Sunday that the situation remained tense,and that life was becoming increasingly difficult for some in the area.However in more volatile areas where pro-freedom sentiments havetraditionally been high, police failed to keep youth off the roads. Theprotesters, mostly young and teenagers, burned tires, created road blocksand held noisy protests chanting 'favourite' slogan - Ham Kya Chahtay: Azadior "we want freedom".Similar reports have come in from other major towns where for last sevendays people are observing a spontaneous strike.This despite the fact that people are facing acute shortage of essentialcommodities, including vegetables, milk and bread because truck servicesbringing in such commodities from rural areas and from outside the state toohave been grounded for past one week.The political fallout of the controversy is likely to last longer than theprotests themselves.On Saturday night, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), a key partner inJammu-Kashmir's ruling coalition, which is led by the Congress party,withdrew its support of the government, saying it had not acted fast enoughto quell the protests.The Calcutta Telegraph later reported that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azaddid not want his former allies in the PDP to rejoin the government, eventhough his government had been significantly weakened by their withdrawal.Azad, who has accused the PDP of pushing the land deal and then doing anabout-turn, today got the governor to accept the resignation of itsministers.Other parties castigated the government for succumbing to pressure over theland transfer, according to the Indian television news channel NDTV.CNN-IBN, another leading Indian news channel, said India's Hindu nationalistBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had called for a general strike to protest thegovernment's decision to back down."The whole issue has been given a communal colour by the Congress and thePDP, and they are being supported by the National Conference in that. Peoplein Jammu feel hurt," state BJP In-charge, R P Singh said.The government has said that, in the future, it will provide accommodationsfor pilgrims traveling to the sacred cave.
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