No separatist or preacher has lost a family member to terrorism: Guv

JAMMU: Leaders of Hurriyat and mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir, religious preachers and clerics have used their influence to get the children of ordinary Kashmiris killed while none of them lost their own to terrorism, Governor Satya Pal Malik said Tuesday.

Alleging that “affluent and powerful” sections have crushed the dreams of the youths in Kashmir and destroyed their lives, he appealed to the people to understand the truth and join the Centre’s efforts to usher peace and progress in the state.

Their own children are well settled but the child of a commoner is shown that “the way to paradise is to get killed”, Malik said addressing the seventh convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University in Katra town.

“Politicians, bureaucrats, affluent and powerful have crushed the dreams of the youths and destroyed their lives. The society leaders, religious preachers, Moulvis, Hurriyat and mainstream parties have used their influence to get the children of ordinary Kashmiris killed. None of them have lost their own child and nobody from their families joined terrorism,” he said.

Malik said that after joining as Governor, “I have not taken input from the intelligence agencies. They are not telling the truth to Delhi or us.”

“I directly talked to 150 to 200 youths and tried to identify those in colleges and universities who do not stand up for the national anthem. I talked to them and those in the age group of 25 to 30 years, whose dreams have been crushed, are misled and are angry... they do not want Hurriyat, us or Delhi government or autonomy,” he said.