Kashmir Burning

Three months back Kashmir was peaceful. There were not many reports in TV news channels about Kashmir. A minister told TV news channels to report good things that happen in Kashmir. After that Kashmir changed.

After three months of violence there was all-party meeting in Delhi on 15/9/2010. It decided to send an all-party delegation to Kashmir.

AFSPA is a contentious issue. Some want to dilute it. Army is against dilution. Army is called when state police and paramilitary forces fail to control the situation. There was talk of withdrawing AFSPA from four districts of J&K. Increased violence made it impossible.

NC wants autonomy for Jammu & Kashmir. BJP is opposed to autonomy. Congress has not taken any stand.

Some want legitimate aspirations of Kashmiris be addressed and unconditional talks. Some Kashmiris want independence. Is that a legitimate aspiration? It is India’s size that has deterred Western countries from meddling in Kashmir. We know what they did in Serbia and how Kosovo came about. In BBC’s hardtalk the anchor who questioned Serbia’s foreign minister was arrogant. She said big countries like USA, UK and France have recognised Kosovo and Serbia is in the company of countries like Iran and Azerbaijan. She did not mention Russia, China, India and Brazil which have not recognised Kosovo. Around two thirds of the countries have not recognised Kosovo. China is showing interest in Kashmir. It did not issue visa to a Lt. Gen. who serves in Kashmir. Some Kashmiris want Pakistan to be invited for talks. Kashmiri Pandits have been out of Kashmir for two decades. What about their legitimate aspirations? People of Ladakh and Jammu do not want to separate from India. Many people in Leh lost their houses in a flood. Sufficient attention is not paid to them.

There are leaders in Kashmir who are behind protests and violence. They tell Kashmiris to boycott schools and colleges while their children study outside the state, some in foreign countries. When protestors engage in stone pelting and arson security forces can not be mute spectators. Policemen who do not do their duty should be punished.

In the past many crimes in Kashmir have gone unpunished. It is time to start the process and punish the guilty.

Punishment has to be there for people who rigged 1987 elections.

People who abducted Rubia Sayeed need to be punished. Tavleen Singh has mentioned Yasin Malik as abductor. The role of a mediator was questionable.

People who abducted Doraiswamy need to be punished.

Those in the army and paramilitary forces who killed civilians and passed them off as terrorists need to be punished.

People who spread rumours and incite people to violence need to be punished.

When trouble makers know the long arm of the law will not fall short in catching them they will desist from criminal activities.