“This House, ….On behalf of the people of India….demands that—(c) Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression; and resolves that – (d) all attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely.” The Resolution unanimously adopted by both the Houses of Parliament of Bharat on February 22, 1994, http://www.kashmir-information.com/LegalDocs/ParliamentRes.html
It was really heartening that the Parliament brought the uniform indirect tax structure throughout the country by adopting Constitutional Amendment Bill almost unanimously. The more delighting moment was the unequivocal position taken by our representatives over ‘the prolonged turbulence, violence and curfew in the Kashmir Valley’. Though the resolution passed is a welcome step, some dissenting voices were made during the discussion need to be addressed to execute the resolve expressed through the popular will. Now all party meeting will also take place, in all probability, a delegation will also visit the Valley. In this process, certain issues are to be cleared to attain substantial results.
Time and again the reference was made to ‘political dialogue’, without making a clear reference with whom. The only obvious exception was Communists, whoseleader went to the extent of suggesting dialogue with the banned terrorist organisations. While invoking former Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, every now and then Insaaniyat (humanism), Jamhuriat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat is reiterated as a mantra. We need to be clear that the groups acting as parrots of Pakistan do not represent either of those principles, so there is no question of involving them in dialogue. In fact, they are the people who killed Kashmiriyat with the help of Pakistan by bringing radical Islam to the Valley. Damage done to humanism and democracy was the obvious outcome.
Whenever we talk about stakeholders, we forget the fact that people outside Srinagar Valley have equal stakes in the issue, perhaps more. They are double the victims as the Valley takes all the attention and consequential share in power and resources. Besides mainstream political parties, there are many nationalist voices in the State of J&K who believe in unity and integrity of Bharat, they need to be strengthened.
We cannot forget the fact that with the irritant neighbour like Pakistan, we cannot afford to take dubious stand on the national issues. Some people camouflaging as intellectuals and journalists are furthering the divisive agenda. They forget while delivering sermons on
humanitarian ground that Pakistani terror suspect Bahadur Ali, who was recently captured in Kashmir, confessed that he was guided by terrorist groups in Pakistan-Occupied J&K. National assembly of Pakistan is trying its best to make it a human rights issue and government there is officially calling it ‘unfinished agenda of Partition’. In such scenario, double standards such as criticising the anti-national sloganeering in the Valley and defending the similar voices in JNU and other academic institutions, calling for plebiscite in the part of Bharat without uttering a word about Pakistan-occupied J&K where even basic democratic rights are completely denied and calling for strict actions against the law breakers while advocating leniency towards the disturbing elements in the Valley who openly defy the rule of law and the Constitution of Bharat, are not going to work. We need to be clear in differentiating terrorists, separatists, violent mob and nationalist. The first two categories need to be dealt with hard hand while the other two have to be engaged.
Though disturbing the present moment in J&K can also be decisive. If we understand the spirit of recent resolution in combination with the resolution passed on February 22, 1994 by the Parliament, our resolve is clear. To realise that on the ground this Independence Day we need to come up with a clear roadmap for action at local, national and international level. To liberate the State of J&K from the clutches of uncertainty, instability and violence and to ensure peace and progress for the common masses, we need to act beyond unanimous resolution.
@PrafullaKetkar
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