Kashmir:courage and determination is the need of the hour

Kashmir :- Courage and determination is the NEED of the hour

V. Shanmuganathan

Inside the valley of Kashmir, beginning June 11, 2010, there has been
a cycle of violence threatening law and order and public peace. The
voilence 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 las 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 civilian have been killed in such
incidents. There are information that the children and women are paid
Rs. 500/- per day for carring 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 explosive situation in Kashmir Valley, which has been
deteriorating day by day has reached the level witnessed during the
Hazratbal Controversy in 1963-64 when military had to play a role. The
present tense situation is the result of the politics of competitive c
ommunalism by both PDP and NC. The UPA govt in the centre had not
taken any timely action. Congress govt in the centre lacks vision and
direction.

Participating in the Lok Sabha discussion on 26th August, Dr. M. M.
Josi blamed the UPA Govt. for =91groping inthe dark=92 to find a solution.
He cited Prime Minister=92s anouncement that the govt 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=92s control.

"It is in this august House that a bill was passed several years ago
asserting that the entire Jammu and 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 and Kashmir, he maintained, had decided to merge with India
because of the latter=92s 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 and Kashmir came to New Delhi
last week, met the Prime Minister and submitted to him a memorandeum
cavtioning him against any dilution inthe presence of security forces
in J & K state. They also urged him not to succumb to the pressure of
any seperatist demand. For the BJP, the issue of Kashmir=92s complete
integration with India is one which the party has pursued relentlessly
since its birth as Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Dr. Shyama 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.

writers e-mail ID : vsnathan7666@gmail.com