Rising Kashmir: Srinagar:
Saturday, April 12, 2014.
Jammu and
Kashmir RTI Movement and Tosa-Maidan Bachao Front (TBF) today said that they
will not allow any political party to play politics on Tosa Maidan issue.
According to a statement issued today, TBF and RTI Movement said that for over
50 years no mainstream or separatist political party came forward for our
rescue but now to our utter dismay political parties have started playing
politics with this sensitive issue. Chairman TBF and Sarpanch Chill Mohammed
Maqbool Magray, Sarpanch Shunglipora and Vice Chairman TBF Mohammed Akram in
the statement said that TBT is purely a social movement and will not tolerate
any political interference.
They said that they have already announced the
boycott of political process till Tosa Maidan lease is cancelled. “The decision
to withdraw firing range from Tasa Maidan, and to develop the same as a tourist
destination will be historical decision of this government after bringing in
the RTI Act and Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA),” Shaikh Ghulam Rasool,
Chairman J&K RTI Movement said. Developing Tasa Maidan as tourist spot will
contribute to the local economy, moreover the decision of shifting the firing
range will prevent further human and environmental loss, Farooq Kuthoo, TBF
said. Statement appreciated the support of civil society and other social
groups for extending their support.
TBF statement further said, “As they (TBF)
have stated time and again all the Panchayat members of this area will resign
if lease agreement is extended in favor of Army.” Meanwhile, chairman Panchayat
Association Master Maqbool said that he appreciated the role of media and
J&K RTI Movement in bringing the issue in public domain. “If the lease
agreement is extended to the army for firing purposes, the people from 52
villages of this area will have a sit-in protest at the place of shelling. We
demand complete shifting of this firing range and we will continue our fight
till Tosa Maidan is vacated,” TBF statement said. “We will go for mass
resignations, initiate election boycott campaign and organize mass
demonstrations if the lease is extended,” said local Sarpanches and members of
TBT Tanveer Farash and Manzoor Rather in the TBF statement.
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