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A debate on Kashmir Don’t fall into the trap of separatists. Kashmir is integral to India By Dr Murli Manohar Joshi You should have known by that time that they do not want dialogue and they are against those advocating the dialogue. They are steering this agitation and they will neither go for the dialogue nor allow it to happen because dialogue is not their way of solution. We should move keeping this in mind. Till date, Rs 94,000 crore have already been given to Kashmir. Every year, Rs. 8000, 9000 or 10,000 crore are given. These are the figures of the Planning Commission. We have not heard from anybody that the agitators have a demand for development or they have some grievances against government except the fact that they do not accept this government. What genuine grievance they have. They hinge on only one grievance i.e. freedom or autonomy and apart from that, I don’t understand any third grievance in this agitation. KASHMIR has been an integral part of our country from time immemorial and it will remain so forever. No power on the earth can separate Kashmir from India. Kashmir has been the place where Sufism and Saintly traditions prevailed and provided the country an atmosphere of harmony. Especially, the MPs from Kashmir have been Members of this House in the past also. They always say that they believe in Sufism and Saintly tradition. Today the question is, the Kashmir, which has given us a treasure of literature, natural beauty, important pilgrim places has remained our crowning glory and has been reflected in literature, religion and culture of the country; why is it that this state is burning today? It is this Kashmir about which it has been said - Gar Girdaus bar ruhe jamin ast, hami ast, hami ast, hami ast. It means that if there exists a heaven on the earth that is here itself. But why the hell fire has erupted in this heavenly state now-a-days. We are discussing this issue in the context of the statement given by Home Minister, Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs. I would just like to mention that Kashmir is such an issue that the posterity had to reap the consequences of the mistake committed by predecessors. Even after 60 years the people of Kashmir as well as the entire country are bearing the brunt. We should analyse all these issues. I would like to have a serious discussion on this issue. This should be done keeping in view the historical perspective. Why the situation of Kashmir has come to such a passé. What led to the division of Kashmir? We can solve the problem of Kashmir only after delivering deep into this issue. I have with me the statement of Home Minister. Four-five important points have been raised in that. They have one issue from the very beginning which is valid also that violence in Kashmir started because of stone pelting. It has been triggered because of stone pelting. Then you say that such a serious situation arose. "Danger of crowds overrunning the police stations or police outposts has compelled the security forces to use force both in self-defence and in order to protect public property." This is the fact. But the question is whether it is a fact that at first army started firing. How did it start, if I am wrong, please correct me as to whether J&K Police opened fire at first. People are agitating against the army whereas the fire was opened by J&K Police.... I am only reading out the statement of the Minister of Home Affairs, if the statement is incorrect it should have been pointed out on that very day. He said that "there have been instances where the security forces have been fired upon by someone in the protesting crowds. There is reliable intelligence that some armed militants may have mingled with the crowds and fired on the security forces. This is the statement of the Minister of Home Affairs, not mine. It is true to my knowledge. I would like to congratulate you that you have categorically stated and this has happened. But I would like to tell you that there was prior information that such a thing is going to happen and I would tell you about this later. The Government had the information about this from the month of April, and intelligence reports were with you. Then you say that the security forces acted peacefully and showed restraint. Then, it is said that the Prime Minister and Chief Minister appealed for a dialogue after the meeting with the Prime Minister and it was said that he offered a dialogue for the redressal of grievances including a dialogue to resolve the political issues that concern the people of Jammu and Kashmir". But what are those political issues? What is the extent of these political issues? Is it the people of Kashmir and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir or between two factions of Government of Jammu & Kashmir or between Government of Jammu & Kashmir and Government of India? What are those political issues about which you do not mention? Further, you say that "Government of Jammu and Kashmir is actively considering political and administrative measures that will help restore normalcy in the state." What are those measures, Chief Minister never goes there to meet the people. When the bullets were being fired there and the clashes were taking place between the security forces and the people, he was relaxing in some Shikara and having a good time or he was playing golf. It is beyond my comprehension as to what sort of a dialogue he is engaged in, when he did not even go to meet the people there. And then you say that the government has clearly stated its policy on Jammu and Kashmir many a time. Home Minister has also said that "these issues have to be addressed through the political process, through a dialogue with all sections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Government has always favoured a dialogue. In fact, in 2009, the Central Government initiated a quiet dialogue with key political groups and individuals." Who are these groups and you have never told the country and the Parliament as to what sort of quiet dialogue took place and because that time is over and the year 2009 has passed and 2010 is running, you can now reveal as to with whom that quiet dialogue took place. We should be informed as to whether it was meant to bring Gilani Shahib out of jail or it took place with Hurriyat or Lashkar-e-Toiba or anybody else. And then you say that this dialogue ended when there was an assassination bid on Shri Fazrul Haque. Hon. Minister, Sir, you should have known by that time that they do not want dialogue and they are against those advocating the dialogue. The people there are steering this agitation and they will neither go for the dialogue nor allow it to happen because dialogue is not their way of solution. We should move keeping this in mind. Again, you say that if normalcy is restored, then we will be holding a dialogue, redressing genuine grievances. We have not been able to understand till now as to what the genuine grievances are. There are grievances all over the country, whether those are not genuine? What is the extent of their genuine grievances? Which grievances are genuine and which one are not genuine. They say that the Government of India is sending forces there, India is attacking them and is laying seize upon them. Whether these are the grievances? We have not heard from any protestor that they have some economic demand and any demand related to development. We have not heard from anybody that they have a demand for development or they have some grievances against government except the fact that they do not accept this government. What genuine grievance they have. They hinge on only one grievance i.e. freedom or autonomy and apart from that I don’t understand any third grievance in this agitation. If you take it as their genuine grievance, then I would like to submit that there is only one way of addressing it and it is by making them clear that autonomy or freedom is not acceptable. We should not do anything to demoralise the security forces. This is OK. But, today the state of security forces is such that they do not want to go on field duty. I have got reports; reports have been published in the newspapers also that they do not want to go on field duty. Differences crop up between the J&K Police and the CRPF in this regard. If an officer does not want to go to field duty, this means that he is demoralised. This is clear that he is hesitating. Such situations have been witnessed and I have got reports in which the J&K Police was compelled by separatists to join them, shout slogans and throw stones. This is the result of demoralisation. Demoralisation is taking place and we have not been able to check it. You repeatedly say nothing should be done to demoralise the security forces. But the security force is demoralised and this is a fact. If they were not demoralised, they would not have hesitated to go to field duty. Police personnel do not want to do duty around their houses. This is a clear thing. By ignoring it, you will ignore a fact and go away from the reality. You are saying that you are providing economic assistance to Kashmir. This should be done. Till date, Rs 94,000 crore have already been given to Kashmir. Every year, Rs 8000, 9000 or 10,000 crore are given. These are the figures of the Planning Commission. This is a fact that enough money is being given. But where is it going? To whom it is going? If there is a corruption in this regard, the blame is on the J&K Government. What is the fault of the Government of India in it? What is the need to abuse India in this regard? If this struggle is with the J&K Government, then it is understandable that the money is given to the Kashmir Government but it did not let the benefit reach to the people, it did not carry out works of development. They should fight with them. We would also ask them that if money was given, where did it go? Why did it not reach the people? But for it, India cannot be blamed. Government of India is providing money with its all good wishes and good intention. The population of Jammu & Kashmir is one per cent vis a vis the population of the country, whereas 10 or 11 per cent assistance is being provided to them. Which package is being talked about? How much package is required? For what purpose? Who will execute the same? During the last 60 years and particularly in the last 10 years much has been given? (To be concluded) (This is an extract from the speech by Dr Murli Manohar Joshi in Parliment on Kashmir)

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