Separatist leaders in the valley may find the going tough in days to come

New Delhi: The Supreme Court may back the centre’s proposal to ascertain the source of funding to separatist leaders in Kashmir and ban it if it is found to be dubious or illegal.

A indication to this effect was given on Thursday in the course of initial hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by the apex court on foreign tours and extravagant expenditure by these leaders in the recent past . The case will be reheard next week.

The government has already put bank accounts of these leaders under a scanner. It was also toying with the idea of taking some other strict measures including cancellation of their passport.

“ We also feel like others sitting here that there should be some action if the source of funding is not legal “, the Court observed. The petitioner has claimed that around Rs 100 crores spent on their security and other facilities were misused for anti-national activities,

Official reports on money spent on them:

• Rs 21 crores on their hotel bills in 2010 alone
• 500 rooms booked for them in hotels in the valley
• Rs 26 crores spent on purchase of diesel between now and 2010
• Additional amount spent on their travel to Delhi and other places

The government, if left alone, may not like to impose any kind of ban on their activities and funding as it may add to the tension in the valley.

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