Communist and Communal
Betwixt Two Stools
Intro: “No property moveable or immoveable… shall be taken possession of under any law, unless the law provides for compensation for the property taken possession of…”—runs section (2) article 3I of the Constitution of Bharat.
Shaikh Abdullah, Nehru’s, nominee in Jammu and Kashmir, has commanded otherwise. He has violated the laws and subverted the Constitution itself and, paradoxically enough, literally translated his tall title “Lion of Kashmir” into an animal reality.
Once, Twice, Thrice
Some time back his administration adopted the reactionary—revolutionary programme of scrapping time- honoured private educational institutions of great repute by ordering strict and exclusive regimentation of education by the Government. Not long ago it decreed compulsory reference to, and arbitrary decision by, a Tribunal, of all cases of money-lending. In effect it meant near-cancellation of all debts. With his eye to tilt, gallery he overlooked the consequent menace to economic stability and deprivation of economic rights. And now comes his lawless law announcing “outright forfeiture” of all landed property over 20 acres per family. “New Kashmir”- Indeed. The scenic heaven that is Kashmir is proposed to be turned into an economic heaven by means of an expropriatory law. Prospero with his magic wand would envy Abdullah with his armoury of ordinances. The real motive of the measure becomes apparent if we remember that he announced the “law” in “Red square” this “Martys Day”.
Red Square, yes… Communists in the Kash… Cabinet headed by Sadiq have had their way. The tail has wagged the dog. Caprice has torpedoed the Constitution.
I Was Wrong
And “Martyrs Day”. Who were these “martyrs” whose ‘martyrdom’ was being celebrated on July 13? Was it our sisters and mothers of Rajaui and Mirpur who preferred death in devouring element, to dishonor? Was it Col. Roy and Major Sharma and thousands of other who died fighting in defence of Kashmir? Was it in memory of thousands of civilian men, women and children brutally done to death by a beastly foe? I assumed that it must be either of these. But no. I was wrong. They did not celebrate … martyrdom of either of these groups of martyrs. The Martyrs here were no other than the Muslim murderers … Hindu families in 1931. When these ‘martyrs’ had killed more than 1,000 Hindus the Government called in British troops to quell their order Sheikh Saheb was … leader at the time. The … shot half a score … hoodlums. These … ‘martyrs’ in whose … Sheikh Abdulla … public speech confi… landed properties. … move is at least as commu- … as it is communist and together ultra vires the constitution agreed to by the Kashmir representatives themselves.
Opposite Ways
The new measure is not only …. Esxpropriate “individuals” but “institutions” too! And what are the institutions involved? By far the most important is the century-old “Dharmarth Fund”. Maharaja Harisingh put all temple … parties in charge of “Dharmarth Fund Trust” to use the … funds and temple lands … interests of temples, spread of Sanskrit, and service of religion. And now this trust is to go, and with it arc to go the very sustenance of temples and Sanskrit scholarship. Al- ready the trust offices have been ordered out of their own premises in Srinagar! And the Maharaja’s forest reserves with their rich and fare flora, fauna and wild life are to be cut down and ploughed. Insensate suicide. While Bharat Government spends lees to grow more trees and the whole nation is astir with the movement, the Kashmir boss wills otherwise and has his way- the way of infantile experiments heading to unfortunate consequences.
IT WOULD BE WELL FOR HIM TO REALISE THAT HE CANNOT BE A NATIONALIST TO BHARAT, A COMMUNALIST TO HIS MUSLIMS, AND A COMMUNIST TO SADIQ. HE CANNOT BE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN. COM-MUNALISM IN THE NAME OF NATIONALISM WOULD BE COMMUNALISM STILL. AND COMMUNIST CLASS WAR AND EXPROPRIATION ARE NOT CONSTITUTION-ALISM. TO SIT ON TWO STOOLS IS TO FALL BE-TWEEN BOTH. AND ABDU-LLAH SHOULD KNOW IT.
