 SRINAGAR, India - Islamic militants warned on Saturday of “dire consequences” if revolt-hit Indian Kashmir goes ahead with a plan to lease land at its showpiece ski resort to outside investors.
The warning by the pro-Pakistan Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahedin guerrilla groups came as a one-day strike called by separatist political hardline leader Syed Ali Geelani crippled life in Indian Kashmir.
“We warn outsiders of dire consequences if they (outside investors) enter into any lease agreement with the government,” Lashkar spokesman Abdullah Gaznavi told AFP by telephone. “India wants to settle outsiders here so that Kashmiris are turned into a minority and their land is occupied forever,” Gaznavi said.
| 'cause you guys have been such good stewards of the land and all ... |
A similar warning was issued by Hizbul Mujahedin against outside investment in the ski resort region, a focus of KashmirÂ’s efforts to draw tourists to the state racked by a bloody 17-year insurgency against New DelhiÂ’s rule.
State authorities have been seeking to promote the ski resort as a top Asian ski destination.
| Ski lovely Kashmir, the scenery, the seething, the ambushes, ... |
The warnings came even though the state government has said it will re-examine the plan to lease land to private investors from outside as well as inside the state, an assurance given in the face of mounting local opposition. The Lashkar spokesman did not specify what action militants might take if the government proceeded with the plan aimed at bolstering infrastructure at Gulmarg, 50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir.
| They're a terrorist group. Think about it. |
| C'mon, they're activists. They'll prolly just put a flyer on your windshield or ask you to sign a petition or somethin'. Give 'em a couple of bucks and a pat on the back. |
| Hokay, so long as they don't squee-gee my windshield. I hate when activists do that. |
Under both the Indian and the stateÂ’s own constitution, people from outside Kashmir are barred from owning land in the region. However, there are no restrictions on leasing out land. |