JK Can Stand On Own: Mirwaiz

Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir could stand on its own feet on the basis of its ample resources, the chairman of the Hurriyat , Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, today implied that an independent existence could also be sustained with World Bank help. “We will have to stand on our own feet, and take our resources into our own hands so that no one asks how we can manage the finances to run a government,” the Mirwaiz told a meeting of the Kashmir Traders and the Manufacturers Association after the conclusion of a blood donation camp held in connection with the anniversary of Maulana Muhammad Farooq. “Our state has abundant resources, but the people are not getting the full benefit,” he said. “India extracts four times of what it spends on the state, and its expenditure here is not a favour to the Kashmiri people,” he said. “Our power is sold to outside states. Though we have a potential of over 50,000 megawatts, our homes are still in darkness,” he said. The Mirwaiz said that the state had sufficient resources to warrant it going its own way. “The World Bank provides loans to the entire world. Why can`t we approach it for finance?” he said. “At the moment, we should get at least a 50 per cent share of our resources. We will ensure a full accounting, and will never forfeit our rights,” he said. Asking traders in Kashmir and across the LoC to give an impetus to the commerce between the two sides, the Mirwaiz said that obstacles were being created in the process, which, he promised, his alliance would remove. He asked the government of India to provide banking and communication facilities to the traders on the two sides to boost cross-LoC commerce.