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IF BJP PLAYS ITS CARDS WELL, KASHMIR COULD BE ITS BIG CHANCE TO STAGE A RETURN!

More than a year ago, I wrote a cover story in this very magazine stating, WHY NOT AZAADI FOR KASHMIR? I argued why keeping unwilling Kashmiris as a part of India was a huge drain on resources as well as on India's moral authority. Moreover, unlike all other parts of India that may also demand independence tomorrow, Kashmir has a huge and long history attached; and worldwide, when such groups have historically staked a claim for their independence, democratic nations have obliged. My article had then triggered a tremendous response – ranging for praise to virulent abuse! I still stand by my point that it is pointless to force Kashmiris to remain with India at gunpoint. This only triggers ill feeling. I have many Kashmiris and Muslims studying in my institute and even working with me. And many are also linked up with me on my Facebook account. When I at times go to their profiles and check out the material that they post, it scares the wits out of me. They are mostly openly anti-India. They write stories of all that they have gone through. They post videos that will make anyone hate India. They themselves almost hate India! And they want azaadi for Kashmir.

Digressing a little, if Facebook is any indicator of what real people of Kashmir want, that's freedom from India. When I read their posts, two things cross my mind. Firstly, are they potential terrorists? The answer is, of course not… I know a lot of them. They are educated, nice people. It’s a free nation and they speak their minds out of their personal experiences. The second thought that crosses my mind is obviously how Facebook has become an open forum to actually spread hatred; and that the Intelligence departments of India should keep a track of the communication happening there… My blood oft en boils when I read so much of open anti-India comments. And imagine I have to oft en see these people the next day walking into my office! It is surely a great test of patience and belief in democratic values for a patriotic Indian. I do try to understand their perspective too and realise their reasons for hating India. But I must add that while I can vouch for a lot of my students that they are nice people, I obviously can’t vouch for their friends. The situation now is such, that completely anti-India people are openly spreading hatred for India amongst Indian Muslims. Accept it or not, there are clear signs that a strong united community of India haters is developing, who are connected not as friends but by their hatred for India – something that was not that easy in pre-Facebook days. Anyway, I will leave it at that.

Coming back to my original topic – should we give azaadi to Kashmir? I still say, yes, of course! Keeping people dictatorially bound to a nation under gunpoint is totally meaningless and almost inhuman. But I do realise the problems that the Indian government has in hand. An azaad Kashmir must come with some pledges from whoever becomes the leader of Kashmir. A pledge to take back hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits and allow them full freedom to earn a living and practice their religion. A pledge to allow similar freedom to the Buddhists, Shias and other minority communities. And a pledge to remain a secular republic in both form and content. Of course, the question is, will those leaders be able to give such pledges? And will they be thereon willing to keep them? The truth possibly is that within 48 hours of such independence being granted, Kashmir will become a part of Pakistan and an Islamic state. Soon after, China would gain control of strategic parts of the region. And we must remember that India is the only major nation to have systematically lost national territory in the 20th century. From the Government of India's point of view, it surely cannot afford to lose more, nor can it afford to let azaad Kashmir become a playground for Islamic radicals and China.

TIMELINE of J&K

Click on the image to see the TIMELINE of J&K

So what does India do? That’s a tricky one to answer. But right now, all I can say is that from a political perspective, the Congress can’t take the situation lightly and keep waffling on it and let anarchy prevail. It’s actually sad to see our liberal and so-called secular intellectuals bend over backwards to be politically correct even when faced with dangers of hardline Islam. If someone from the Hindu or Christian community is a bigot, we never hesitate to denounce such an individual openly. Why do we then hesitate to denounce in the same tone, when it comes to a Muslim bigot? Why can’t we tell radical Muslims – just as we tell radical Hindus – that their ideology and vision is simply not acceptable to India? That oppressive and regressive parts of the sharia are as unacceptable as parts of the manu code of the Hindus? It's time the government took a strong stance – whatever it is – and engaged the masses to make their viewpoint logically clear to Indians at large who are finding the government weak at this point of time.

I am reminded of the days of the Shah Bano case when the Congress, having absolute majority in Parliament, was the unquestionable dominant political force and BJP was in the fringes. Post the Shah Bano case [when Congress passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, overruling a Supreme Court verdict], we saw the dramatic growth of BJP from 2 seats to 85 seats to even majority as the nation in general clearly saw the government's attempt to overrule the verdict of the Supreme Court of India as an illogical appeasement of the Muslims. The current happenings can possibly give Indians a similar feel. And if the Congress doesn’t look decisive, this could be the opportunity that BJP might have been waiting for. BJP's Ram Janmabhoomi plank might be dead, but its 'non appeasement of Muslims' plank is very much alive. Masses are also getting enlightened today. They are on the same Facebook. They see the pseudo-intellectuals speak. And they know this can take a dangerous turn. They may not take much time to turn the wave during the 2014 elections, giving the Congress a nasty shock and leading to a dramatic revival of the BJP.

Comments

Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
Dear Sir, read the article and it shows some truth but not the complete truth.
I just want to ask a question, how does it feel when an 8 year old kid was crushed to death i mean crushed by boots by the barbaric army deployed here by the so called "Democracy" i guess the indian govt thinks he was the culprit beyond all this turmoil...11 Kids below the age of 13 have been shot dead by the army...17 year old girl was shot in hear head...15 year old girl was thrashed by the army...Kids goin for tuitions are an easy target for them... you know why there is such a chaos in the state cuz a 12 year old guy goin for his tuitions was shot by the army and still their anger was not quelled so they started to butt his head with the guns unless his brain was draining through the gutter and he was hardly recognized by his family..remind u there only son....The situation is always different in ground zero the way they demostrate it to people......Home secretary Gk pillai recently visited maoist affected areas and updated that there is no need of army in those regions mind u naxals are mercilessly killing people at an alarming rate, still they dont require the army to tackle 'em when asked why..his answer was this move will create alienation among the naxali people...Kashmiris on the other hand who are massacred by the indian army are stiil quite concerned about our hindu brothers coming for annual amarnath pilgrimage...I question you in this bloody turmoil where we have lost almost 109 of our young and beloved ones..was a single stone pelted over a yatri, was he somehow harrrased or so ...We just demand for curbin the attrocites commited by the army..We just demand for justice we are shot for that reason..
Thats their sinister plan"Genocide of kashmiris"which is quite evident from the situation prevailing here..and how cunningly they are headin towards it...by branding kashmiris as terrorists and spies. All the media channels in kashmir have been banned so that the truth cant be shown. Nothing justifies killing. Nothing.. There might be endless dialogue on kashmir but nothing at all justifies killing ruthlessly. Releasing 10 criminals is far far far more better than killing 1 innocent. Indian delegation visited kashmir couple of days back (after 4 months of turmoil) and visited 2 patients to show sympathy. Isnt it shameless for the India government and also for the people of India that nobody is taking an action against this ruthless killing. A kashmiri demands not killing him and India thinks he is asking for too much.
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zee said…
up to day, there was a big respect for you in my heart not because you own a chain of leading institutions or books but for your journalistic values. i before going through this post considered you a person of utmost values and a writer sans bias. but going through this article gave me shocker of my life. there is no mention of genocide that India is carrying out rather you are pointing towards Facebook rebellion. do you advice your govt(mass-murderers) to snatch the right-to-thought of the people of Kashmir. it is a shame on an author of your standard to write an article that takes one side and fails to bring in notice the pain and misery of other side. your article questions the right to write of people while as you yourself resort to writing whatever you wish. let me tell you one thing as candid as it could be.. Kashmir is going to get freedom irrespective of how your demons try to reverse it.
lipi mukherjee said…
Surprising !! your article just raised a question on freedom of Kashmir and on that the comments one can see is as brutal as the killings themselves. During independence they were given a complete nation, and as if it was not sufficient for them that they are asking for one more state. No wonder tommorow they will ask for another state and so on.. It seems they are taking advantage of India being a secular country. If India is so brutal let them leave the country instead of claiming an Indian state..
Mahendra Mehta said…
The violence "is a reminder that many Kashmiris still do not consider themselves part of India and profess that they never will,"although Indian Govt. is doing their level best whatever is right for India and Kashmir,India is spending lots of money on Kashmir and Kashmiris ?What they are doing in return to Indian Govt.turning the summer capital, Srinagar, into an armed camp frequently keeping themselves under curfew and always under the gun. To only attract International media only 21%, nearly all of whom live on the Indian side, wanted to be part of India,79% of Kashmiris are supporting Pakistan directly or indirectly.It found that 43% of the total adult population of Kashmir, on both sides of the line of control (the unrecognized boundary between Indian and Pakistan.My agreement goes with LIPI MUKHARJI If India is so brutal let them leave the country instead of claiming an Indian state..
Anonymous said…
Instead of showing chauvinism on this issue I rather want to be neutral.
First of all government should really think on the brutal act AFSPA because as Lord Acton said: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. So giving ultimate power to the Armed forces is really illogical. And even no charges of any doing (even it is wrong) is totally ridiculous. As said by a person on his comment "A kashmiri demands not killing him and India thinks he is asking for too much" is totally right.
Money is not the last solution of any problem which India announced recently as nobody can see their children or family members die.

If I come to the of Kashmiries that giving "Azadi" is the right solution then they are also making the decision in the fury because they can't be free even they get freedom from India. As support of Pakistan will make the situation worse. When they can't manage their own country then how can they manage such a chaotic place.

In the end negotiation is the only solution if there is any..

Let's hope for the good

http://indianomix.blogspot.com/
http://gkpathshala.blogspot.com/
Unknown said…
I am disappointed from Indian Govt that had not considered what the kashmir wanted. FREEDOM: i don't know how kashmir define freedom but i am sure kashmir did not mean separation of state. As far as removal of military from kashmir is really controversial, it poses whole state as well as country in easy reach of terrorism but i am not in favour of killing in kashmir by military. Killing of youths is not acceptable at all. Military is for protection of kashmir not for destruction of kashmir. As military should understand this before acting same way people of kashmir should also understand that military is for their safety for their country safety.people need govt support and govt need people support both are linked and if any of these fails to play their part it leads to social & mental differences. I am not saying govt can bring those lives back but lets take proper action from both sides so that what happend in past should not be repeated in future. Let start with talks & decide actions to be taken for peace & protection for kashmir. I hope people of kashmir agree with this. One thing more Govt is nothing people are everything
Unknown said…
Sir i would like to also mention the fact those people who are talking about genocide,killing of kids etc etc.A question to those people-what work do they have on the street when curfew has been announced!!!And these were the people who laughed when kashmiri pandits were butchered by militants,thy didnt even bother to support there neighbors.For all those people who are speaking about azadi you can go to a country named Pakistan so that Kashmiri pandits can be rehabilitated with ease.Sir you can also go through the link http://www.kashmir-information.com/wailvalley/b2chap8a.html.And these people are forgetting the fact that army has saved them from militants from the past decade.These people are always speaking about killing i am asking them again what work do they have on streets other than stone pelting on security forces when curfew has been declared.
venmaks said…
better choice. practical approach
Unknown said…
Violence, hatred, terrorism are the tools of radical elements, who wish to break India from all side, will only happy and dance with joy to read this senseless piece. This way India will be wiped out and fragmented.
Bharath said…
Dear Sir,
The article has been nice and its the chance for the BJP for return. I couldn't understand what is the real problem in Kashmir. I read in paper that there is nearly 1500 cases registered against army but from that more than 1470 are false. The other questions arises when I read some comments in this article against army is " What makes the army to do like that ????.. surely there will be the reason I hope.....if some one answer will be nice
Samir said…
THOSE KASHMIRIS AND PSEUDO-SECULAR INTELLECTUALS RANTING AGAINST INDIA SHOULD GET SOME THINGS STRAIGHT IN THEIR MINDS.

1)THAT KASHMIR BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF INDIA IS BEYOND DISPUTE AND QUESTIONS.THEY CAN SPEND THE NEXT 5000 YEARS FIGHTING AGAINST INDIA FOR THEIR SO CALLED 'AZAADI'.BUT IT WILL REMAIN A PIPEDREAM FOREVER.THEIR MENTOR PAKISTAN IS SLOWLY HURTLING ITSELF TOWARDS SELF-DESTRUCTION WHILE INDIA IS GROWING IN STRENGTH ON ALL FRONTS.IT WILL SOON BECOME ONE OF THE LEADING SUPER-POWERS IN THE WORLD.

2)INTELLECTUALS LIKE ARUNDHATI ROY SHOULD CONCEIVE A FUTURE SCENARIO WHERE THERE IS NO CONGRESS GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THEM FROM ACTIONS BASED ON POPULAR PUBLIC SENTIMENTS.COME 2014,WHEN THE NATIONALIST BJP COMES TO POWER SHE MAY WELL FIND HERSELF IN JAIL OR WORSE....FACE SOME UNAVOIDABLE 'DIRECT ACTION' BY THE PATRIOTIC 'AAM ADMI' WHO IS NO LONGER WILLING TO TAKE HER AND HER ILK'S ANTI-NATIONAL RANTINGS LYING DOWN.REMEMBER THE ACTION TAKEN BY RSS YOUTHS IN JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY(YES YOU HEARD IT RIGHT)IN LEFTIST BENGAL AGAINST THAT PAKI STOOGE PROF.GILANI AND HIS COMMI THUGS.

3)TO MR.CHAUDHURY I WOULD SAY THAT INSTEAD OF RANTING AGAINST NON-EXISTENT 'SAFFRON TERRORISTS' YOU SHOULD PERHAPS START SPEAKING AND SUPPORTING THE NATIONALIST PARTIES AND THEIR CAUSE WHICH HAS BEEN SO BLATANTLY ABUSED BY LEFTISTS AND PSEUDO-SECULARS....READ ARUNDHATI AND CONGRESS.YOU SHOULD DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE HINDU NATIONALIST AND THEN COME TO A UNBIASED CONCLUSION(MORE THAN 1000 YEARS OF MUSLIM INVASION AND OPPRESSION...).PERHAPS YOU COULD SEARCH THE GOOGLE/YOUTUBE ON 'GHAZWA-I-HIND'.ALSO ANOTHER INTERESTING TOPIC '
The Monkey Trap: A synopsis of Indo-Pak relations.' WHICH TELLS WHY PAKISTAN IS DOOMED!!

THANK YOU
Sourabh tiwary said…
Dear Sir, it’s very sad to see the comments that have been pouring on your article. I do not know the nature of the posts that you have deleted but some of the other posts here need some revision too. One guy here says that even if the Kashmiri wait for the next 5000 years even than they won't get "Azaadi". He sounds more like that anonymous British who would had been lying on his hummock and cried in the ears of some passionate Indian revolutionary that even if them freedom fighters fought for a thousand years still they won't get no "Freedom". But we got it after all because it needed only one great man to walk this earth and teach them British some lessons on liberty. Kashmir can always wait for such a leader. I myself believe that it is point futile to keep Kashmir with us on a gun point. Billions have been wasted in this endeavor and we have reached to no goal. What is a nation if it’s only a piece of land surrounded with barbed fences? No Sir! A nation is with its people and the people of that nation must decide what they want and which side they want to be. Doesn't an average Kashmiri knows about what roads of thorn he will have to walk to even ask for "Azaadi". Doesn’t he know about the economic development of our country? But he isn't getting any profit out of it. Just days and nights of fear under military occupation which has worked hard to deprive them off even the last shreds of human rights? One person above has asked that what these people do on the roads when curfew had been announced. But why should they stay inside. If it's their nation than they are free citizens and they need to show their resentment on the cruelty being inflicted on them. If this is not their nation than it is sheer cowardice to hide in your rooms when your sons and daughters are being shot on their face. I remember a time when an angry mob lynched some policemen in my hometown and threw the DSP in is burning jeep. All those people were convicted and later brought to justice. But nobody said they were anti-Indians for murdering a policeman. Being regularly called an anti-Indian will surely make you one. This is one of the worst kinds of cussing that one can inflict on another. And these so called nationalist BJP has been abusing the kashmiris with this word from a very long time. And people must know that these army men do not go the defense services for some kind of in born patriotism. They do this only because army is a great choice as a career. Don’t you see what they have got? A short service commission in the army can even guarantee you a resettlement course in IIM-A. If it was all for patriotism than where has this patriotism gone now? Why are there so few enrollments and registrations for the Common defense services exams? Think about that….
Sourabh tiwary said…
Dear Sir, it’s very sad to see the comments that have been pouring on your article. I do not know the nature of the posts that you have deleted but some of the other posts here need some revision too. One guy here says that even if the Kashmiri wait for the next 5000 years even than they won't get "Azaadi". He sounds more like that anonymous British who would had been lying on his hummock and cried in the ears of some passionate Indian revolutionary that even if them freedom fighters fought for a thousand years still they won't get no "Freedom". But we got it after all because it needed only one great man to walk this earth and teach them British some lessons on liberty. Kashmir can always wait for such a leader. I myself believe that it is point futile to keep Kashmir with us on a gun point. Billions have been wasted in this endeavor and we have reached to no goal.
Sourabh tiwary said…
What is a nation if it’s only a piece of land surrounded with barbed fences? No Sir! A nation is with its people and the people of that nation must decide what they want and which side they want to be. Doesn't an average Kashmiri knows about what roads of thorn he will have to walk to even ask for "Azaadi". Doesn’t he know about the economic development of our country? But he isn't getting any profit out of it. Just days and nights of fear under military occupation which has worked hard to deprive them off even the last shreds of human rights? One person above has asked that what these people do on the roads when curfew had been announced. But why should they stay inside. If it's their nation than they are free citizens and they need to show their resentment on the cruelty being inflicted on them. If this is not their nation than it is sheer cowardice to hide in your rooms when your sons and daughters are being shot on their face. I remember a time when an angry mob lynched some policemen in my hometown and threw the DSP in is burning jeep. All those people were convicted and later brought to justice. But nobody said they were anti-Indians for murdering a policeman. Being regularly called an anti-Indian will surely make you one. This is one of the worst kinds of cussing that one can inflict on another. And these so called nationalist BJP has been abusing the kashmiris with this word from a very long time. And people must know that these army men do not go the defense services for some kind of in born patriotism. They do this only because army is a great choice as a career. Don’t you see what they have got? A short service commission in the army can even guarantee you a resettlement course in IIM-A. If it was all for patriotism than where has this patriotism gone now? Why are there so few enrollments and registrations for the Common defense services exams? Think about that….
Mahendru said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mahendru said…
In 1990 almost 3,50,000 hindu pandits brutally forced to leave the kashmir valley. Where were these same kashmiris then , who blames india 4 the tortures.

I firmly believe that, if any kashmiri who feels insecure in kashmir should move to any other place instead of claiming a separate Indian territory for themselves.

Its a well know fact that as soon as India declare Kashmir a separate country -Islamist group and our very close enemy China will capture the strategic points to create even greater problems to India.

Pakistan and china is not a holy saint who will their words and promises of not creating any further problem to India after the kashmir matter is solved.

They will try all their best to put the India to backfoot in all front. So what is the matter of solving Kashmir issue.

Do u think that If kashmir is gifted to pakistan it will be a safer place.

Do u think that they will hug kashmiri and rain dollars in every kashmiri bed, when their own economy is dwindling somewhere around zero.

Do u think that in a moment they will create lakhs of jobs for kashmiri when millions of pakistani still roaming unemployed.

Do u think that Kashmiri will able to move and talk freely when radicals group of pakistan have a major say in day to day life of Kashmir with that blasphemy e.t.c rules ,if it merges with pak.


And last very important If .
If Kashmir opts for a independent country. Do u think that they will able to protect themselves from the ill motives of pakistan and rebel groups working inside pakistan.(Even america sweating like a swine to curb them, forget about kashmiri or Indians)


And few line to my kashmiri brother(if they consider me so)

Somebody said 14 children were shot dead by our Indian Army. Every Indian is saddened by such incidents. No Indian celebrates such incidents. And let me tell some facts to my kashmiri friends that :

More than 50 students were killed in West bengal last year(2010), another 50 were killed in Andhra pradesh(2010).No doubt its a matter of great concern and unfortunately it happens in most of the Indian states. But for this reason if u ask a separate state is little illogical.

Instead people of kashmir should raise all voice for their right in each n every forum they have but blindly believing separatists wiil not do any good to any kashmiri in first place.

unemployment and literacy rate and basic facilities is even worse in Bihar and UP(worse than J&K) but they they r working harder n see how Bihar is developing.

Unemployment and low literacy rate is not only a concern to kashmiri exclusively , it is a concern of every Indian.
Diggy Chacha said…
Boss ask any of student who is son or daughter of kashmiri pandit... he will tell you what he wants... its not the intellectuallism that you want to demonstrate but the people who really faced the massacre created by pakistan and pok people...
Unknown said…
Boss, don't you have student who is son or daughter of kashmiri pandits, a community that now became minority in the region.... why don't you listen to them or your ears are closed to listen to people who you don't want to listen.... just polished english language doesn't make any author great... it's his conscience which is pure makes him great....
Unknown said…
Boss, don't you have student who is son or daughter of kashmiri pandits, a community that now became minority in the region.... why don't you listen to them or your ears are closed to listen to people who you don't want to listen.... just polished english language doesn't make any author great... it's his conscience which is pure makes him great....

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