Srinagar, April 15 (IANS): Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday said separate townships for migrant Kashmiri Pandits is an attempt to fiddle with Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
He described the plan of townships as "hidden agenda" of Hindu-nationalist outfit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
"We will welcome the return of our Pandit brethren. We will help in building congenial atmosphere for their dignified return, but will not allow Kashmir to be divided on religious lines," Mirwaiz said.
"We will talk to Pandit representatives and seek their opinion about this issue," he said, adding that RSS and its like-minded groups want to create polarisation in Kashmir.
"They (RSS) want to give impression as if Kashmir issue is a Muslim versus Hindu problem, which it isn't," he added.
The Hurriyat chairman said the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits is a humanitarian issue and should be treated as such.
"Many people say Article 370 should not be made applicable to 'composite townships' for the Pandits and people from corporate sector should be roped in to provide facilities there. It is a well-knit conspiracy and we won't allow it to succeed," he added.
Mirwaiz, also Kashmir's chief Muslim preacher, said the RSS has recruited over a 100 clerics to create sectarian discord in the state.
"Nearly 150 RSS and BJP-backed so-called Ulemas are actively working here to divide Kashmir Muslims and damage Islamic character of the state. They are backed by 20-40 NGOs. Government apparatus is mobilised for their work", he said.
"We also share the problems faced by Muslims in India and their concerns regarding rise in Hindutva politics. We express our solidarity with them", Mirwaiz, who was accompanied by heads of various religious groups, said.
He condemned the killing of a youth at Tral, and termed the incident as "shameful and an extra judicial killing". He demanded an impartial investigation into the killing.
Police on Tuesday said the youth was killed in cross-fire at the Kamla Top forests of Tral.