NC & Congress must rise above petty political interests.
Daya Sagar Sharma
September 17, 2010
The quit Kashmir torch that was held by Sheikh Abdullah against Maharaja Hari Singh in 1946 { simply to ensure that in independent India the democratic power in State of JK also comes in the hands of NC like it would be for Congress in India } has now been very cleverly held by Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani { but now it is against India }.. Regional , communal and valley centric mindset of the some Kashmiri leaders has to be culled. .The record that Jammu and Kashmir has set is that a majority of non muslim local residents of Kashmir Valley are not able to go back to their homes . Still Mufti Mohd Sayeed { the ex Home Minister of India , the Ex. Chief minister of JK } contests that there is no need of security forces / para military forces in JK. The Kashmiri Pundits, one of the most literate communities of India, are in exile for 20 years..It appears that the issue of their honourable return has been shelved. Going by Mufti´s advice why not to deploy in urban areas only civil police and totally with draw para forces. Short fall could be made good by reducing security at the residences of leaders , retired civil / police officers. This way demands for withdrawing AFSPA would reduce. Where as simply diluting the provisions of AFSPA would not yield positive. Instead such action would lower the moral of armed forces..
Those who are asking for undoing AFSPA are neither sincere to the common man or JK nor to the security of the country. AFSPA is not for general use , it is for meeting the needs of the emergency. This Act empowers armed forces with the powers of Civil police under special emergent needs. At occasions it may not be possible to carry the civil police along with..
In case the conditions go peaceful, there are no anti national / foreign elements there and the forces are not required to weed out the enemy hiding amongst the ordinary civilians the AFSPA will not be used. Any law could be misused but it does not mean that the laws should be abolished for ever .Even local individual police officers misuse the IPC or RPC . It does not mean police officers need be stripped off all the powers for investigations. Omar Abdullah should come out of the local pressures and Union Home Minister too should be careful while addressing to the questions raised on AFSPA.
New Delhi has been all these years stating that Government of India is ready for a solution as agreeable by all the people of Jammu and Kashmir { to be specific regions of Jammu and Kashmir }. Where as Jammu Kashmir { valley in particular} has kept on bleeding mentally, bodily and socially. If not taken honestly the sufferings of people of JK would continue. . Except for central grants / money no any other social / nationalist/ ideological tool has been so far used by Delhi all these years { particularly after 1990} in Kashmir valley.Hope GOI does not entangle the internal issues with extraterritorial { foreign } interests. Lessons need be taken by India also from the embarrassment it has faced during the Foreign Minister level talks held in Islamabad on this 15 July . The outcome of the meet is that confusions in the minds of the people of JK have further grown. Rather seriousness of GOI about her intentions to settle Kashmir affairs has been further doubted.
Recently one senior Congress leader who is out of power has seen solutions in rotation of Chief Minister between NC and Congress. This exposes the unconcerned attitude of even senior Congress leaders who cannot afford staying out of power even for short time. To them the welfare of the common man is no concern. What cooperation Omar Abdullah can expect from such like allies under so difficult situation that State of JK is faced with. Like separatists such leaders too need handling with iron hand by Congress high command at Delhi. Some "wise" people have suggested imposition of Governor Rule in JK. I doubt it could be of any purpose unless those at New Delhi also change their approach.
And on the other side soft touch through ideological rehabilitation need be extended to common masses..
People from other Indian states too need to create pressures on Indian leaders to handle the Kashmir affairs not as a geographical territory but as a part of Indian Nationality. So far the people of other Indian states have not questioned New Delhi that affectively for mishandling the 1947 Accession issues.
Omar Abdullah has talked that Kashmir { valley } needs a political solution. But for that the first need is to clarify in very simple words what do parties like National Conference mean by a POLITICAL solution. As I have been able to understand NC sees political solution in {i} Autonomy { 2000 Autonomy Resolution of JK Legislature }. Ofcourse holding firmly to Accession of Oct 1947. {ii} or any other better arrangement acceptable to all.. PDP { Mufti party} sees political solution in Self Rule . Mufties do say, but in low tone, that Self Rule would be within the Constitution of India. But demands / suggestions of PDP like joint control of India and Pakistan on some of the affairs of POK and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir surely raise questions on the claims of Mufti Mohd Sayeed that their Self Rule is with in Indian Constitution. Let us still assume that they would drop the demand of joint control on some matters..Looking at the miseries of the people of JK and the confusions as are there in Kashmir valley why do not both NC and PDP first start a dialogue between themselves for common agenda.. I would suggest that some other people within in or outside Hurriyat Conference who too have become stake holders should also be , if possible, brought in the fold by NC / PDP . It is only after that a minimum workable dialogue process { with or without Hurriyat/JKLF } could be Started by GOI on the agenda generated from Kashmir Valley { with in the Indian Constitution} . Ofcourse involving opinion makers from Jammu/ Ladakh regions as well who may have reservations on Autonomy or Self Rule. No doubt this may not be endorsed by separatists { and of course Pakistan} but this is the only practical way for end dialogue without negating the 1947 accession.. One thing is sure that in case such a settlement is arrived it would be possible to reduce the working field of separatist. BJP has already launched a programme against Autonomy Resolution..
In case NC and PDP are not able to come up with a joint decision for discussions then surely it could be said that they are not really interested for peace ..Kashmir valley shall remain disturbed, Wars on nationalities would continue between many people from Jammu / Ladakh regions and some from Kashmir Valley. In case even PDP and NC are not able to arrive at a common settlement , then I very much doubt to see any workable solution. Declarations for discussions with all sections of the people of JK. Only signal a pass time approach.
Turmoil has already bled the secular credentials of Kashmir valley as well as the peace and economy of the State.In case the rivals like NC and PDP and the stake holders from Jammu and Ladakh Regions are able to settle on some commons of Indian sovereignty then the separatists { if still required } and Pakistan could be handled as per the local /international law considering their activities / actions as sedition / attack on the integrity of India.
It is a hard reality of the day that the political grounds in Kashmir valley for mainstream parties { Indian } are too rough. So Omar Government would need simultaneous association of social institutions / NGOs. Political party cadres need to move amongst the people. Return of migrants need be given priority consideration. Main stream political parties should refrain from talking of Kashmiriat, special treatment for Kashmir valley, commitments not honoured so far by Delhi and the like. This way the debriefing of the ill informed Kashmir masses { youth in particular } would become easier. Political battles could still be fought in 2014
The Kashmir Valley youth has to be mentally prepared to reject the separatist propaganda. A comprehensive programme will have to be started immediately in Kashmir valley { better whole state} . Workshops / seminars / could be conducted even in small towns All must back the coalition government for such like mission reconstruction rising above conservative political interests. Even ideologically rivals must come together if they believe that Jammu and Kashmir is India.. .. New Delhi must spell out what Chidambram or man Mohan Singh want to negotiate with Geelani or Omar Farooq ? Would it be the spirit of 1947 Accession as well? I would suggest further after I get the answer.
Daya Sagar, Social Activist, Sr. Columnist on Jammu and Kashmir Affairs dayasagr45@yahoo.com }}
Those who are asking for undoing AFSPA are neither sincere to the common man or JK nor to the security of the country. AFSPA is not for general use , it is for meeting the needs of the emergency. This Act empowers armed forces with the powers of Civil police under special emergent needs. At occasions it may not be possible to carry the civil police along with..
In case the conditions go peaceful, there are no anti national / foreign elements there and the forces are not required to weed out the enemy hiding amongst the ordinary civilians the AFSPA will not be used. Any law could be misused but it does not mean that the laws should be abolished for ever .Even local individual police officers misuse the IPC or RPC . It does not mean police officers need be stripped off all the powers for investigations. Omar Abdullah should come out of the local pressures and Union Home Minister too should be careful while addressing to the questions raised on AFSPA.
New Delhi has been all these years stating that Government of India is ready for a solution as agreeable by all the people of Jammu and Kashmir { to be specific regions of Jammu and Kashmir }. Where as Jammu Kashmir { valley in particular} has kept on bleeding mentally, bodily and socially. If not taken honestly the sufferings of people of JK would continue. . Except for central grants / money no any other social / nationalist/ ideological tool has been so far used by Delhi all these years { particularly after 1990} in Kashmir valley.Hope GOI does not entangle the internal issues with extraterritorial { foreign } interests. Lessons need be taken by India also from the embarrassment it has faced during the Foreign Minister level talks held in Islamabad on this 15 July . The outcome of the meet is that confusions in the minds of the people of JK have further grown. Rather seriousness of GOI about her intentions to settle Kashmir affairs has been further doubted.
Recently one senior Congress leader who is out of power has seen solutions in rotation of Chief Minister between NC and Congress. This exposes the unconcerned attitude of even senior Congress leaders who cannot afford staying out of power even for short time. To them the welfare of the common man is no concern. What cooperation Omar Abdullah can expect from such like allies under so difficult situation that State of JK is faced with. Like separatists such leaders too need handling with iron hand by Congress high command at Delhi. Some "wise" people have suggested imposition of Governor Rule in JK. I doubt it could be of any purpose unless those at New Delhi also change their approach.
And on the other side soft touch through ideological rehabilitation need be extended to common masses..
People from other Indian states too need to create pressures on Indian leaders to handle the Kashmir affairs not as a geographical territory but as a part of Indian Nationality. So far the people of other Indian states have not questioned New Delhi that affectively for mishandling the 1947 Accession issues.
Omar Abdullah has talked that Kashmir { valley } needs a political solution. But for that the first need is to clarify in very simple words what do parties like National Conference mean by a POLITICAL solution. As I have been able to understand NC sees political solution in {i} Autonomy { 2000 Autonomy Resolution of JK Legislature }. Ofcourse holding firmly to Accession of Oct 1947. {ii} or any other better arrangement acceptable to all.. PDP { Mufti party} sees political solution in Self Rule . Mufties do say, but in low tone, that Self Rule would be within the Constitution of India. But demands / suggestions of PDP like joint control of India and Pakistan on some of the affairs of POK and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir surely raise questions on the claims of Mufti Mohd Sayeed that their Self Rule is with in Indian Constitution. Let us still assume that they would drop the demand of joint control on some matters..Looking at the miseries of the people of JK and the confusions as are there in Kashmir valley why do not both NC and PDP first start a dialogue between themselves for common agenda.. I would suggest that some other people within in or outside Hurriyat Conference who too have become stake holders should also be , if possible, brought in the fold by NC / PDP . It is only after that a minimum workable dialogue process { with or without Hurriyat/JKLF } could be Started by GOI on the agenda generated from Kashmir Valley { with in the Indian Constitution} . Ofcourse involving opinion makers from Jammu/ Ladakh regions as well who may have reservations on Autonomy or Self Rule. No doubt this may not be endorsed by separatists { and of course Pakistan} but this is the only practical way for end dialogue without negating the 1947 accession.. One thing is sure that in case such a settlement is arrived it would be possible to reduce the working field of separatist. BJP has already launched a programme against Autonomy Resolution..
In case NC and PDP are not able to come up with a joint decision for discussions then surely it could be said that they are not really interested for peace ..Kashmir valley shall remain disturbed, Wars on nationalities would continue between many people from Jammu / Ladakh regions and some from Kashmir Valley. In case even PDP and NC are not able to arrive at a common settlement , then I very much doubt to see any workable solution. Declarations for discussions with all sections of the people of JK. Only signal a pass time approach.
Turmoil has already bled the secular credentials of Kashmir valley as well as the peace and economy of the State.In case the rivals like NC and PDP and the stake holders from Jammu and Ladakh Regions are able to settle on some commons of Indian sovereignty then the separatists { if still required } and Pakistan could be handled as per the local /international law considering their activities / actions as sedition / attack on the integrity of India.
It is a hard reality of the day that the political grounds in Kashmir valley for mainstream parties { Indian } are too rough. So Omar Government would need simultaneous association of social institutions / NGOs. Political party cadres need to move amongst the people. Return of migrants need be given priority consideration. Main stream political parties should refrain from talking of Kashmiriat, special treatment for Kashmir valley, commitments not honoured so far by Delhi and the like. This way the debriefing of the ill informed Kashmir masses { youth in particular } would become easier. Political battles could still be fought in 2014
The Kashmir Valley youth has to be mentally prepared to reject the separatist propaganda. A comprehensive programme will have to be started immediately in Kashmir valley { better whole state} . Workshops / seminars / could be conducted even in small towns All must back the coalition government for such like mission reconstruction rising above conservative political interests. Even ideologically rivals must come together if they believe that Jammu and Kashmir is India.. .. New Delhi must spell out what Chidambram or man Mohan Singh want to negotiate with Geelani or Omar Farooq ? Would it be the spirit of 1947 Accession as well? I would suggest further after I get the answer.
Daya Sagar, Social Activist, Sr. Columnist on Jammu and Kashmir Affairs dayasagr45@yahoo.com }}
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