INSIDE the valley of Kashmir, beginning June 11, 2010, there has been a cycle of violence threatening law and order and public peace. The violence in the state has followed a certain pattern. It is triggered by stone pelting by large crowds and their targets of attacks are police stations, police outposts and other public property. There has been a total of 872 stone pelting incidents in June and July 2010. 1266 security personnel have been injured in the last two months alone. Our security forces always try to ensure that children and women are not hurt, but when our security forces come under fire from such elements, then they, out of compulsion, resort to counter firing in their self-defence. So far 63 civilians have been killed in such incidents. There are information that the children and women are paid Rs. 500/- per day for carrying out stone pelting and terrorists outfits are behind them. Some armed militants may have mingled with the crowds and fired at the security forces.
The situation in Kashmir Valley, is not normal. The present tense situation is the result of the politics of competitive communalism by both PDP and NC. The UPA government at the Centre had not taken any timely action and was supporting NC and PDP which encourages separatists. They are exploited by their bosses in Pakistan.
Participating in the Lok Sabha discussion on August 26, Dr M M Joshi blamed the UPA Government for ‘groping in the dark’ to find a solution. He cited Prime Minister’s announcement that the government was ready to hold dialogue on genuine grievances and wondered whether this meant discussion on demands for independence or autonomy. If the genuine grievance is about the demand for Independence or autonomy, then the government should tell them in unequivocal terms that this is not acceptable to it.”
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah has made an impassioned plea to the political class to take steps to win “the hearts and minds of the Kashmiris” to solve their problems.
Taking part in a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the situation in the Kashmir Valley, the National Conference patron also made out a forceful case for reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Northern Territories under China’s control.
“It is in this august House that a bill was passed several years ago asserting that the entire Jammu & Kashmir, including PoK and Northern Territories, was an integral part of India. No one is talking about the latter two regions, even though the authorities there have unleashed unparalleled atrocities on the people,” he said.
Jammu & Kashmir, he maintained, had decided to merge with India because of the latter’s policies and has since resolutely remained a part of India, even during the Kargil incursions.
He asked those fighting for an independent Kashmir to do an honest soul-searching and find out whether it was possible for the region to remain independent for long.
“China is waiting anxiously to gobble it up. Pakistan has been sending terrorists across the border to spread mayhem. It is surrounded by three nuclear powers. Can it really remain independent? Kashmir will go the Afghanistan way before long and Talibanise itself,” the former J&K Chief Minister warned.
He invoked the autonomy proposal being pushed forward by his party and contended that India could thrive only if it maintained a true federal structure. “India will one day have to have a true federal set-up. If any state is weak, the Centre cannot be strong,” he said.
The autonomy proposal, however, evoked a mixed response. While CPI backed it vociferously, BJP, opposed it vehemently.
In this background, BJP MLAs from Jammu & Kashmir came to New Delhi last week, met the Prime Minister and submitted to him a memorandeum cautioning him against any dilution in the presence of security forces in J & K state. They also urged him not to succumb to the pressure of any separatist demand. For the BJP, the issue of Kashmir’s complete integration with India is one which the party has pursued relentlessly since its birth as Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerji, founder president of the Jana Sangh, laid down his life for the cause of the States integration. Kashmir has been culturally and historically integral part of India from times immemorial. No power in the world can ever seperate Kashmir from India.
(The writers can be contacted at e-mail ID : vsnathan7666@gmail.com)
