Intro: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed thanking terrorists, separatists and Pakistan for allowing peaceful Assembly elections in J&K hours after taking oath, raises eyebrows.
Ending 49 days of Governor Rule, leading BJP-PDP alliance, People’s Democratic Party leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on 1st March, 2015. He created political controversy within hours of taking oath by thanking Pakistan, separatists and terrorists for allowing elections in a free and fair manner in J&K.
However, the new Chief Minister has consciously or unconsciously forgotten what Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stated in the article ‘Days of terrorists are numbered, says PM’, in the Pakistani News Paper, Dawn, dated, 25th December, 2014. The Prime Minister of Pakistan in his address to the nation after midnight (post Peshwawar school killings) said, “The days of terrorists were numbered in Pakistan and they would be dealt with an iron hand. The Peshawar atrocity has changed Pakistan; we need to eradicate the mindset of terrorism to defeat extremism and sectarianism.
| Terrorist activities during Indian Prime Ministers J&K Visits January 1998: 23 Kashmiri Pandits massacred at Wandahama on the eve of Prime Minister IK Gujral's visit. May 2002: Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone was shot dead ahead of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit. August 2003: Fidayeen attack at a hotel when PM Vajpayee was chairing an inter-state council meeting nearby. April 2005: Fidayeen attack in Srinagar when PM Manmohan Singh was to flag off a bus service. Dec 5, 2014: One killed, 13 injured in grenade attack in South Kashmir days before PM Narendra Modi's rally. |
This speech by Nawaz paints Pakistan as a terrorist State. I do not say we believe in every word uttered by Pakistan. But let us wait as the proof of the pudding lies in eating.
Ambedkar, who was a true Nationalist, was against the provision of Article 370 in the Constitution, which gives a special status to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, but it was put against his wishes. Balraj Madhok reportedly said, Ambedkar had clearly told Sheikh Abdullah: “You wish India should protect your borders, she should build roads in your area, she should supply you food grains, and Kashmir should get equal status as India. But Government of India should have only limited powers and Indian people should have no rights in Kashmir. To give consent to this proposal, would be a treacherous thing against the interests of India and I, as the Law Minister of India, will never do it.”
Then Sheikh Abdullah went to Nehru, who directed him to N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, who approached Sardar Patel asking him to do something, as it was a matter of prestige of Nehru, who had promised Sheikh Abdullah accordingly. Patel got Article 370 passed when Nehru was on foreign tour. Then on India has been giving concessions after concessions in appeasing the people of Valley, without taking any stand, even when 3.70 Lakh Hindus and Sikhs had to leave the Valley, as they were not Muslims.
Except for giving some paltry financial aid and settling the Indians, who have become refugees in India, not even a little finger has been raised by the Government. It is time to remind the Government of India, “Most of life's actions are within our reach, but decisions take willpower.” The Coalition partner that is BJP must make it clear to the PDP leader to be clear if he is an Indian or he is not. Whether he is India’s loyalist or he is not. He cannot adopt double standards, of “running with the hunter and running with the hare”.
Joginder Singh (The writer is former Director of CBI)
