[dropcap]D[/dropcap]eeply pained, all those who died in Kashmir are ours, these are words of our PM Narendra Modi. After 45 days of riots, 70 lives lost and hundreds of Kashmiris blinded with the pellet guns, now government is thinking over a dialogue to resolve Kashmir’s problem? On Monday, a delegation led by former Chief Minister of the state Omar Abdullah submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, expressing its anguish, grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the Valley. Finally, they sought Modi’s intervention in immediately banning the pellet guns and ending the unrest in the State. Kashmiris have been agitating for something or other for the last sixty five years. What are their grievances? Let them spell out the problem. It cannot be freedom from India. No Government can allow that. In the absence of clear list of grievances, this can only be called proxy war encouraged by Pakistan agencies. This charade has been going for too long. A delegation has not taken even one positive step that will help to restore peace in Kashmir.
On the contrary, Omar Abdullah tweets almost every day, all irresponsible statements that adds fuel to the fire, for example, “Grave of Burhan Wani” comment shows his malafide intentions towards India. He seems repeating anti-India rhetoric like his grandfather Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah who did the same in 1953 for which Senior Abdullah was jailed by Pandit Nehru for more than a decade.
Now the question is that, what has Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah, done as Chief Ministers of the state for the youth of J&K? If they would have credibly educated the Kashmiri youths then they would have not fallen prey to the terrorists’ or Pakistani’s propaganda. Fourteen per cent of pellet gun victims in Kashmir are below 15 years of age. Moreover 90-95 per cent of all stone-pelters are youngsters. Don’t question the use of pellet gun rather think of those protesters who were below the age of 14 years. Were they aware of their act and use of pellet gun? Who provoked them to protest? Identify them and punish them? First of all, why should the children be in a place where they are not supposed to be? Why are they on the frontline of the agitations? The innocent children are being used by the separatists as human shield and attacking the police/armed forces from behind. Where are the children/wards of the separatists’ leaders? Why they are not coming out for protesting? This is a ploy by the separatist leaders to attract attention of human right activists and others. Nobody is seeing the condition of the personnel from armed forces that are grievously injured in the stone pelting by the agitators.
Rest of India has sensible and patriotic Muslims who are Islamic in true sense. Who love our country, then why is Kashmir not at peace? While asking government to stop using pellet guns, the parents in Kashmir should stop sending their children for stone pelting and killing Army and police.
Meanwhile, father-son duo should answer what they have done with the murder of almost 3000 Kashmiri Pandits and 500000 deserted Hindus from their homes in these 25 years. Why they have to migrate away from Kashmir? Nehruvian Congress leaders should also be asked the same questions. Why should they not be arrested and prosecuted for negligence on Human Rights of Kashmiri Hindus? I strongly believe Omar and Farooq are not qualified to talk on Kashmir, because they could not take care of the state’s residents. Omar should suggest alternative to guns. Kashmir doesn’t need politics but solution for the situation. It would be much better if these youngsters go to schools instead of squatting on road sides. I’m sure, it won’t happen if they are at school. These youths are being misled along with most of the adults. It’s really painful to see that another generation is ready, which we had seen in 90s, of Kashmiri terrorists.
After 1989, we know that what happened between Kashmiris and Indian Army. It was a master move from ISI and Indian Government was not able to counter it properly. When you have an enemy like Pakistan, you need to have plans to counter them. Why nobody in India was able to anticipate that after Afghanistan, ISI will direct these fighters to India? Where was the strategy to counter it? Sudden actions from both sides created more mistrust. Now, army does not trust them and they don’t trust army. Pakistan don’t have any legal claim in the issue of Kashmir. Their only claim is that as majority of Valley is Muslim, so they should belong to Pakistan. Their proxy war is not a hidden fact. They are fighting with their own identity then how will they provide identity to any other state, is a big issue. Their support for separatist and terrorism is well known. Any adverse action by Indian army on an innocent citizen acts as a fuel for them and their supporters. Most educated Kashmiris do not wish to be part of Pakistan. A very small and rapidly decreasing number of people do want the merger with Pakistan though. About 65 per cent of these want an independent Kashmir and the remaining want to be part of India minus the suppression from Indian authorities.
Kashmiris (Hindu and Muslim) have suffered both at the hands of Pakistan as well as India. It was Pakistan that started ordeal with Kabailis and later on with armed insurgency in late 1980s. Practically, it’s not possible for Kashmir to be an independent state. Especially with China, Pakistan and India bordering it, an independent Kashmir would be like fresh bait to hungry wolves.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
