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| India-Pakistan |
| Let them go to Muzzafarabad |
| 2008-08-18 |
| By Sankrant Sanu It makes little sense to hold Kashmir's separatists back As the situation in Jammu & Kashmir spirals out of control over the land for Amarnath pilgrims issue, it is worth revisiting the Government's attitude towards the State. For too long has the Government tiptoed around the Kashmiri separatist leadership rather than having a clear direction and purpose. As a result the separatist-driven agenda has often dominated decision-making and policies rather than the Government robustly supporting nationalist voices and integrating Jammu & Kashmir into the national mainstream. Instead of stopping the Hurriyat-led separatists' "Muzzafarabad chalo" march to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Government's response should be far simpler: For those who are so desirous of going to Pakistan-controlled territory, let them go. For too long has India played along with the Hurriyat leadership's double game -- fully enjoying the liberties and amenities of staying in India while vigorously supporting the cause of separatism and Pakistan. Few countries would treat those advocating separatism as VIPs, but this indeed has been the attitude of the Government for decades. All this is done on the premise that it is necessary to "win over" the separatists via appeasement, not realising that this has created a constituency in Kashmir that thrives on blackmailing the State. The protests in Jammu are ultimately not about Amarnath -- it matters little whether 97 acres of land is transferred to the shrine board to provide facilities for pilgrims or whether those facilities are directly provided by the State Government. Ultimately the protests in Jammu are an emotional outlet to the pent-up feeling that policies of appeasement have constantly favoured separatist interests over nationalist interests and Kashmir over Jammu. The protests in Kashmir, on the other hand, have taken a predictably separatist tone. The Hurriyat manages to pull this off because it claims that a sizeable section, perhaps even a majority of Kashmiris, would rather be part of Pakistan if given the choice. That this may be true is actually the lingering fear behind the Government's policies of appeasement. Though the Hurriyat has demonstrated rabble-rousing street-strength, some of which flows from the gun, this claim of preference of a majority of Kashmiris for Pakistan over India remains unverified. To march forward the Government needs to shed its ambivalence. Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. There is no question of parting with land. If there are indeed people who would prefer the repressive, militarist, undemocratic, economically declining set-up and failing state of Pakistan to the far brighter future that India is marching towards, they are welcome to choose Pakistan. Kashmiris in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have even less democratic freedom and fewer human rights than people in the rest of Pakistan, which itself is hardly a shining example on this account. The people of Kashmir are not fools. Neither are the vast majority of them Islamic fundamentalists. When push comes to shove, their concern is and will remain their economic well-being and personal liberty. However, those in Kashmir who fuel separatist tendencies should be shown a very clear path. We need to get rid of our diffidence and be confident of the vast gulf between the Indian model and the Pakistani model. Few people in their right minds would choose the latter over the former. This includes the Hurriyat leaders who enjoy Indian hospitality while rooting for Pakistan. The guns of our troops should be facing outwards not inwards. Rather than being worried by those who want to march to Pakistan, or intimidating them into staying back, we should facilitate their passage. There is only one caveat. We should make it clear that this is a one-way road and those that freely cross over in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will no longer enjoy the privilege of Indian citizenship. The rest of the people of Jammu & Kashmir can then live in peace, co-equal as Indian citizens, neither less nor more than any other. |
| Posted by:john frum |