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TerrorisminKashmir|Frontline

THENATION

Published:August31,201612:30IST|Updated:August30,201617:28IST
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TerrorisminKashmir

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Kashmirremainsanopenquestion.Buttheanswerdoesnotlieinbrandingprotestersasterroristsand
usingbruteforcetostifledissent.Anadhocaccordistheneedofthehour.ByA.G.NOORANI
PRIMEMinisterNarendraModihasdecidedtokillthesoulofKashmirandhasprovidedamplewarningthattheworstisyettocome.
Thepeoplesrevoltwillbecrushedbymilitaryforce,deployedunderathicksmokescreenoffalsehoodstosilencewhateverlittle
dissentthereisinIndiaonKashmir,deludeinternationalpublicopinionandappeasetheUnitedStatesinthenameofcombating
terrorism.ThedoorisshutonanyrealdialogueonKashmirwithPakistanorwiththepeopleofKashmir.Therealagenda,whichis
viciouslycommunal,hasbeenlaidbare.Worstofall,Modihasdecided,likehisnaturalally,theU.S.,totrampleoninternationallaw.
Itisarecklessgametoplaytobuttresspowerathome.TheChiefMinisterofJammuandKashmir,MehboobaMufti,isawilling
accomplice,usingherownbrandofrhetorictodeceiveherpeople.
OnAugust8,TheTelegraphpublishedarevealingreportbythewellinformedSankarshanThakurfromNewDelhi:Thisnewspaper
hasbeengiventounderstandbythoseclosetoformulatingthestrategyinKashmirthattheCentreisinclinedtomoveevenfurther
awayfrompoliticalengagementanddeployastrictersecurityregimeacrosstheValley.ToparmycommandersbasedintheStatemet
MehboobaMuftitwodaysagotheyaremeanttohavediscussedcontingencyplanstodeploythearmedforcesvisiblyacrossthe
ValleyandalongthenationalhighwaytoJammu,achronicmilitantambushzone.
Ontheverysameday,TheAsianAgepublishedareportfromSrinagarbyarespectedcorrespondent,YusufJameel:Thegovernment
isreportedtohavedecidedtoassigntheArmyabiggerandmoreusefulroleinresolvingthecrisistriggeredbythekillingofHizbul
MujahideencommanderBurhanMuzaffarWanion8July.
OnAugust9,TheTelegraphpublishedImranAhmedSiddiquisreportfromNewDelhi:SourcesintheUnionHomeMinistrysaidthe
governmentintendedtoacttoughandwoulddeploymorearmedforcesacrosstheValleytotacklethesurgeofprotests.Mehbooba
MuftimetHomeMinisterRajnathSinghinNewDelhionAugust8.
BurhanWaniwaskilledonJuly8.ShishirGuptareportedthreedayslaterthatthesecurityagencieshavenotpickedupany
communicationinterceptsfromPakistanincitingseparatistsintheValley(HindustanTimes,July12).NirupamaSubramanian
reportedthatthemilitancywasleaderless.NoneoftheHurriyatleaderscouldcontrolit.Thefierceresistanceputupbylocal
communities,fromunder10yearoldstoseniorcitizens,atencountersites,andthemassdisplaysofangermorethangriefattheir
funerals,isnowalltoowellknown.Whatthisapproachhasdoneistobringoutkidsasyoungaseightor12yearsold,towhom
defianceoftheIndianstateisnowasnaturalasplayingcricket(TheIndianExpress,July12).
Therewere7,000militantswhooperatedinJammuandKashmirinthe1990s.Thefigureiscurrentlypeggedataround200
(HindustanTimes,July12).Thisisthereality.Theofficialversionisafarragoofmanifest,demonstrablefalsehood.Whateveris
happeninginKashmirisPakistansponsored(RajnathSingh,July10).InthefightagainstseparatismthepeopleofKashmirarewith
thecountry(ArunJaitley,theFinanceMinister,onJuly18)[Thereisamindsetthatstokes]baselessangeragainstIndia
(RajnathSingh,July21).
NarendraModifirstspokeonthecrisisonlyamonthlateronAugust9atBhabrainMadhyaPradeshintheseterms:gullibleand
simpleyouththatis,theyhadnoviewsoremotionsoftheirowndemocraticvaluesKashmirhasthesamefreedomthatevery
IndianhasahandfulofmisguidedpeoplestonesarebeinghandedtoinnocentchildrenandwewantKashmirtoattainnew
heightsofdevelopmentKashmirhasthesamefreedomthateveryIndianfeels.
Thesestatementsaremanifestlyfalse,beliedbyreportsinmajorIndiandailies.Theywerenotescapisttheywereapartofastrategy
ofsuppressionbydeedwithdenialinwordsasitscompanion.Verysignificantly,therewasnoreferencetoPakistanatall,norto
Balochistan.Theycameasanafterthought(HindustanTimesandTheAsianAge,August10).Thatveryday,someoneelsealsospoke
upforthefirsttimeandinthesestrongwords.Prevaricationanddeflectionofresponsibility.(Bothwordshadbeenusedinthe
past.)TheprobleminKashmirisaboutthepeopleofKashmirandtheirpoliticalaspirationsneitheraboutanyothercountrynor
aboutterrorism.HeurgedIndiatoengagewiththepeopleofKashmirandtohaveasustained,comprehensivepoliticaldialogue

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aboutterrorism.HeurgedIndiatoengagewiththepeopleofKashmirandtohaveasustained,comprehensivepoliticaldialogue
onKashmirwithPakistan.ThespeakerwasFarooqAbdullah(KashmirTimes,August10).
ItwasattheallpartymeetingonAugust12thatModirevealedhistactics,whichherefinedonAugust15.Hewouldtakethebattle
intotheopponentscamp,accomplishingthreeaimsinonegoappeasetheRashtriyaSwayamsewakSangh(RSS)constituency,
threatenPakistan,andsilenceKashmiris,whosegenuinegrievanceshewouldredress.Onewhosaysthatiseitherignorantor
deliberatelyrejectsthetruth.Pakistanwasattherootofthecurrentunrest.ItmustanswerforitsatrocitiesinBalochistanand
PakistanoccupiedKashmir[PoK].
Mattersofirrelevance
Thishasescapednotice.ModiinternationalisedKashmirbyinvitingtheworldtonoticethehappeningsthere.Thetimehascome
forPakistantoexplaintotheworldcommunityaboutexcessescommittedinPoKandBalochistan.Indeed,theForeignMinistry
shouldtakeinitiativestodevelopcontactwithcitizensofPoKsettledabroadandapprisethemabouthowtheirfamilyandfriendsare
treatedthere.Similarly,violationofhumanrightsinBalochistanshouldbebroughttotheattentionoftheglobalaudience(TheTimes
ofIndia,August13).
Astothefirstpart,AjitDovalwilltellhimthatthetaskdevolvesontheResearchandAnalysisWing(RAW),whichhaslongbeenon
thisjob.KallolBhattacharjeereportedinTheHinduofAugust15aboutwhatrepresentativesoftheFreeBalochistanMovement
(FBM)basedinDelhiandLondontoldhim.Oneofthem,BalaachPardiliBaloch,whohasbeenaresidentinIndiaforsomeyears,
wasappointedtherepresentativeoftheFBMinOctober2015whenhefirstaddressedapubliceventinDelhi.So,YusufRazaGilani
wasnotwrong,afterall,inraisingtheissueIndiasinterferenceinBalochistanwithManmohanSinghatSharmelSheikh,Egypt,on
July16,2009.Allthatthejointstatementsaidwas:PrimeMinisterGilanimentionedthatPakistanhassomeinformationonthreats
inBalochistanandotherareas.SheikhAbdullahandMirzaAfzalwereinternedfornearlythreeyearsformeetingZhouEnlaiin
Algiersin1965.AstotheMinistryofExternalAffairs(MEA)beingtaskedwithraisingthesemattersbeforetheworldcommunity,
nothingwouldsuitPakistanmore.
Modimentionedtwootherissues.OnewasthatweshouldtalkaboutfourpartsofJammuandKashmirJammu,KashmirValley,
LadakhandPoK.Whyandhowwasitrelevanttotheimmediatecrisis?ThemotiveisevidentboxandisolatetheValleybytalking
abouttheotherareas.In1995,thiswriterwastreatedtoalongPowerPointdiscourseinSrinagarbyaCorpsCommander,LtGen.J.K.
Mukherjee,toestablishthatKashmirisarenotinamajorityintheValley.Onretirement,hewroteanarticleinTheStatesmanto
provethat.Themotivewas:theValleymattersnot.Itcanbeignored.EvenmoresinisterwasModisreferencetoKashmiriPandits
displacement.Therelevanceofthesetwomatterstotheimmediatecrisisisdubious.
OnAugust15,Modigavehisrhetoricfreerein.WheninnocentchildrenweremassacredinPeshawar,theIndianParliamentwept
everyschoolinIndiashedtearsatthistragedy.Themedia,printandelectronic,weresorelyremissinnotreportingtheselugubrious
events.Onewondersifhehimselfweptthen,oroverthepogrominGujaratin2002.Hischargethatsomepeopleglorifyterroristsin
ourcountryrevealsdiscomfitureattheunwelcomepublicitywhichtheprotestsandthearmedforcesexcessesintheValleyhad
received.
Unwittingly,ArunJaitley,theFinanceMinister,knockedthebottomoutofModistheatricaloutpouringsonAugust12,immediately
afterModisspeech.AnandMishrareported:AskedwhythePrimeMinisterhadraisedtheissueofBalochistanandPoK,Jaitleysaid
ModisremarkswereinthecontextofPakistansinterferenceintheinternalaffairsofIndia(TheIndianExpress,August13).So,
theywerenottheoutpouringsofableedingheartbuttheriposteofanadversary.
AcalmappraisalwillrevealthattoscoredebatingpointsIndiasPrimeMinisterhaswantonlydamagedthenationalinterest.His
remarksareirrelevanttotheneedsofagravesituation,futileasaremedy,andarecounterproductive.Hisnaturalally,theU.S.,will
bealarmedforreasonsmorethanone.OnAugust9,theStateDepartmentsspokespersonElizabethTrudeautoldthepress:Westand
withPakistanastheymoveforwardonthisfightagainstterror(KashmirTimes,August10).
Alarminneighbourhood
Asanemptythreat,Modisstatementwillearnridicule.Asahintofintervention,itwillcausealarm.TheHindurightlyremarked,on
August16:InwhatwasperhapsintendedasahintofIndiascapabilitytointervene,inanunspecifiedmanner,inBalochistan,hesaid
thepeopletherehadcommendedhimforhighlightingattacksagainstthembypeoplewithinPakistan.Thewarningsentoutwasthat
ifPakistancontinuestointerfereinKashmir,Indiacandolikewise,makinganissueovertheviolenceinBalochistan.Otherthan
furtherescalatingtensionsbetweenthetwocountries,itisdifficulttoseewhatcancomeoutofsuchaggressiveposturingonthe
internalproblemsofPakistan.
DissentwithinBalochistanandthePoKwillbeundermined,justastheMovementfortheRestorationofDemocracyinPakistanwas,
whenIndiraGandhilentithersupportinthedaysofZiaulHaq.Whileextremistsinthecountrywillbeelated(theRSS,particularly),
Kashmirwillviewtheploywithdisgust.ProclamationofaninterventionistpolicywillalarmNepalandSriLanka,whohavebornethe
bruntofIndiasinterventionsinthepast.Iranisunlikelytobepleased.
AndChina?K.P.NayarswellinformedreportinTheTelegraph(August16)isnoteworthy.Hesuggeststhatthepolicyhaslongbeen
inthemaking.TheTibetanPrimeMinisterinexile,LobsangSangay,wasinvitedtoModisswearinginceremonyandposedfora
groupphotographofSouthAsianleaderswithModiandPresidentPranabMukherjeeasifhewereaheadofstate.Atthesametime,
arepresentativeofthegovernmentinTaiwanwassmuggledintothediplomaticenclosurewhereshesatwithAmbassadors.Nayar
wastoldbytheBharatiyaJanataParty(BJP)leadershipatitshighestlevelthattheseincidentswereindicativeofthefuturepoliciesof
theModigovernment.AtopBJPleadersaidonthebackground:IftheChinesedonotgiveuptheirclaimonArunachalPradeshor
giveuspinpricksinKashmir,wewilluseTibetanIndependenceandUighurdissidenceagainstthem.Thediplomaticgamewillno
longerbeonesided.TheHindustanTimescorrespondentwrotethatthemessagethatChinawassupposedtogetfromthis(the
speech)was:KeepPakistansgeneralsoutofKashmiroryourfearsaboutIndiasabotagingtheChinesePakistanEconomicCorridor
couldcometrue.ItpassesthroughPoK.Chinaisunlikelytocomply,stilllessabandonitsclaimtoArunachalPradesh.
DoesModiintendtoactonhisboldrhetoric?Ifnot,hewillcutasorryfigure.Thepassageoftimewillmakemattersworse.OnAugust
17,topgovernmentsourcessaid,obviouslyasinstructed,thathumanitydoesnotstopattheborders(TheAsianAge,August18).
WhynotthenaccedetotherequestbytheU.N.HighCommissionerforHumanRights,ZeidRaadalHussein,topermithisteam
accesstoJammuandKashmirandPoK,asherequestedPakistan?Ideeplyregretthatourrequestsforaccesshavenotbeengranted
(HindustanTimes,August18).
IndiahasaverybadrecordofrefusaltotheU.N.sSpecialRapporteursonHumanRights.TheHighCommissionersteamwillbewell
qualifiedtojudgetheveracityofclaimsofPakistanssponsorshipofthepostJuly8protests.Humanscanliephotographsdonot.For
years,newspapershavepublishedphotographsofwomenwailingatthewindowsasthemassivelyattendedfuneralprocessionsof
slainmilitantspassedby.Ononesingleday,August17,twodailiespublishedonthefrontpagecolourphotographsofmassesof
Kashmirisshoutingproazadislogansduringfuneralmarchesattwodifferentplaces:TheHinduatBudgamandTheAsianAgeatthe

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Kashmirisshoutingproazadislogansduringfuneralmarchesattwodifferentplaces:TheHinduatBudgamandTheAsianAgeatthe
villageAripanthan,WestofSrinagar.OnAugust5,protestrallieswereheldafterFridayprayersinaround45placesinthe10districts
oftheValley.Pakistanisdonotputstonesinthehandsofeightto12yearolds.
MehboobaMuftisroleandrhetoric
MehboobaMuftisrhetoricishardtofollow:attacksonPakistanandpleasfortalkswithitinoneandthesamespeech.Notone
reportersupportsherchargethatprotestersusedchildrenasashield.Theyreport,instead,thatthekidsareoutofcontrolandact
withferociouszeal.HerspeechisperilouslyclosetothatofSirHumphreyApplebyinretirement:Disengagedtheoperationofhis
mindfromthecontentofhisspeech.
However,amethodlurksbeneaththemadness,whichwasexposedwithsheerbrilliancebya23yearoldscholarfromTufts
UniversityinBritain,NiyaShahdad.Itbearsquotationinextenso.WhenMehboobadeclaresthatthesacrificesoftheseinnocent
childrenwillnotgowaste,shecloaksherclaimsinthekindofdoublespeakthatreeksofapoliticiansdeceptionanddesperation.The
veryimplicationsuponwhichthatguiseofcondemnationisbuiltthatthesechildrenareinnocentbecausetheyhavebeenmisled
ontoapathofsenselessviolencebycertaininternalforcesorotherwisedismisseseveryconscioussacrificeofthoseleftdeadand
woundedwhilefightinganoppressorwhosenameshecannolongerspelltoday.Ifthereisanyoneactingundertheinfluenceof
others,itistheCMaloneapuppetcommunicatingthroughthegesturesdesignedandapprovedbyNewDelhi.[Sheattemptsto]
appeaseuswiththelanguageofourstruggle,butthemeaningshiddenunderneaththosewordsmilitateagainstthatverystruggle.The
violenceshedescribesassenselessistrulysenseless,butnotbecausethechildrenaretakingtothestreetsinsteadofschools.Itis
senselessbecauseafiveyearoldNasirAhmedKhanisfoundonthestreetwithaneedleandsandpiercedintohiseyes.Kashmirhas
beenindependentandexistedoutsideoftheIndiannationstateforalongtimenow.Today,ifthereisasilverliningamiditstimeof
bleedingandmourning,itisthatitinchesclosertostandingindependentofthoseforcesthatact,oppressanddeceivefromwithin
(TheIndianExpress,August8emphasisaddedthroughout).
AsA.S.Dulatsaid:ShehasbecometoomuchapartofDelhiandhasleftthecurrentproblemtotheCentre.EnoughofMehbooba
Mufti,fornow.AftertheSuezdebate,AneurinBevan,onseeingPrimeMinisterHaroldMacmillanentertheHouse,ceased
questioningtheForeignMinisterSelwynLloyd,remarking:WhyshouldIquestionthemonkeywhenIcanquestiontheorgan
grinder?
Toturntotheleastworthyoftheperformers,oneJitendraSingh,MinisterofStateinthePrimeMinistersOffice,spearheadedthe
AmarnathSangharshSamitiinJammuthatcalledforablockadeoftheValleyin2008.InParliamentonAugust10,hecoinedanew
termintellectualterrorismandantiIndiaintellectualism,apoorreflectiononhisintellect.Dissentterroriseshim.HissoulmateLt
Gen.B.S.Jaswal,CommanderinChiefNorthernCommand,dubbedpoliticalprotestagitationalterrorismonOctober31,2010.
JitendraSinghexpatiatedonAugust13:OnemorebattleforfreedomispendingandthatistoliberatethepeopleofPoKfromillegal
occupationofPakistansothattheycanbereunitedwithIndia.
But,whatfreedomdothepeopleofKashmirenjoy?HarinderBawejareportedfromSrinagaronAugust15:AsIndiaandIndians
preparetocelebrateIndependencedayandthefreedomswegained,letuspauseforamomenttothinkofthelackofanyazadiin
Kashmir,whichisoftencalledthecrownonIndiashead.Thecrownisbereftofsheen,ofjewels,ofIndianness.EveryKashmiriis
lockedupathomebecauseofthegovernmentsfearthatPakistaniflagsmightflutteratopbuildings,thatblackflagsmightmarthe
celebrationsofthenationsbirth.Localmilitants,whonowoutnumberPakistaniterroristsintheValley,areonanupswingafter
Wanisdeath(HindustanTimes,August15).
OmarAbdullah,theNationalConferenceleader,seizedanopportunitytooccupythegroundtheMuftishadvacatedbyconveninga
meetingofoppositionpartiesinSrinagaronAugust17theCongress,theCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist),thePeoples
DemocraticFront,theDemocraticNationalistPartyandEngineerAbdulRasheedsAwamiIttehad.OmarAbdullahsaid:Pakistanis
notbehindthepresentsituation.ThemeetingcalledforaspecialsessionoftheStateAssembly,ajudicialinquiryintotheexcessesby
thesecurityforces,abanontheuseofpelletguns,anddialoguewithallthestakeholders.HealsocalledfortalkswithPakistan(The
Hindu,August18).
Moralbankruptcy
However,thisiswhatOmarAbdullahsaidonJuly23:IndiahadbeendishonestwiththepeopleofJammuandKashmir.Hecitedits
limitedaccessionandsaid:Youhavegraduallywhittledthatawaytothepointthatautonomyisafigleaftowhatitwasin1947
(HindustanTimes,July24).Butinthesixyearshewasinoffice,notoncedidheraisetheissue.In2014,hewouldhaveacceptedthe
BJPasacoalitionpartner.ThetragedyofKashmirhasbeenthemoralbankruptcyofitsChiefMinisters,fromtheBakshi(1953)tothe
Mufti(2016).TheChiefMinisterofSriLankasNorthernProvince,C.V.Vigneswaran,boldlyattacksColomboforitswrongs.On
August18,heallegedthat104exLiberationTigersofTamilEelam(LTTE)menwereinjectedwithpoisonatrehabilitationcentres.He
candosobecausehedoesnotowehisjobtoColombo.UnlikeIndia,SriLankaishonestaboutelections(TheHindu,August19).There
isnofiddlingbyspooksandpoliticalpartiesoftheCentre.
ModisspeechinParliamentonAugust12hadasinisterbitwhichliesatthecoreofhispactwiththeJammuandKashmirPeoples
DemocraticParty(PDP).ThiswashisreferencetothereturnoftheKashmiriPanditstotheValley.Andtherebyhangsatale.The
coalitiontookpoweronMarch1,2015.OnApril7,2015,MuftiMohammedSayeedwasputonthematbyUnionHomeMinister
RajnathSinghtheMuftiobliged.ItwasdisclosedthattheMinisterhadaskedtheMuftitoprovidelandforcompositetownshipsfor
KashmiriPanditsandindirectquotes:TheChiefMinisterassuredtheUnionHomeMinisterthatthe[Kashmir]governmentwill
acquireandprovidelandintheValleyattheearliest.
TheMuftiinheritedtheproblemfromOmarAbdullahwhenhewasChiefMinister.NaeemAkhtar,StateEducationMinister,saidon
May19:WewillmakelandavailablewherebothPanditsandDograscanlivepeacefully.ThePanditswillliveintransit
accommodationtoprovidebreathingspacetilltheyfeelconfidenttomovetotheiroriginalplaces.MehboobaMuftisaidKashmiri
Panditswouldcomprisehalfoftheinmates.Wecantthrowthemlikepigeonsbeforethecats,sheremarked.Theoffensiveremark
aboutherpeoplerevealsheroutlook.
OnJuly24,itwasreportedthatinMaytheMuftiregimehadidentifiedsevenplacesintheValleys10districtsandhadstartedwork
ontheground,afactthatwassuppressed.About9,01,775acreshadbeenidentified.ThesewereMehboobaMuftistransitcolonies.
DivisionalCommissionershadbegunacquiringtheland.AnofficialsaidthattheStatemustnottalkabouttheseclustersforsome
timeas,giventheresentmentinthepopulation,itcouldwellbackfire(YusufJameel,TheAsianAge,July24).Thiswastheunsaid
partofthePDPBJPalliance.
Nuancesofterrorism
ItisdishonesttocallKashmiriprotestersterrorists.WereAurobindoGhoseandBhagatSinghterrorists?Theyusedthegunand
paidthepriceforit.ThehistoryofIndiasfreedomstruggleisstuddedwithviolentrevolutions(seetheBritishIntelligenceBureaus

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paidthepriceforit.ThehistoryofIndiasfreedomstruggleisstuddedwithviolentrevolutions(seetheBritishIntelligenceBureaus
studiesPoliticalTroublesinIndia[19071917]andTerrorisminIndia[19171936]).OntheQuitIndiaMovement,K.M.Munshi
wrote:Truthtotell,whattheydidwasanybodysbusiness.Itwascertainlynotnonviolentevenatthestart(PilgrimagetoFreedom,
Volume1,page83).
IntheCentralLegislativeAssembly,amemberexplainedthenuancesofterrorismonSeptember16,1924.TheViceroyLordMayos
assassinationwasnotapoliticalassassinationbutmurderbyamanwhohadagrievance.But,whydotheseyoungmen,bright
youthswhohavedrunkatyourownliteratureandwhohaveimbibedthoseprinciplesoflibertyandfreedom,cometogetherinsecret
organisationsinordertoassassinateyou,theverypeoplewhohavetaughtthosefineprinciples?Why?Becausetheyfeelthatthis
(British)governmentdonotrespondtotheiraspirations,totheiridealsandtotheirambitiontosecurecompletepoliticalfreedomfor
theircountry.Now,Sir,youarenotgoingtoputthisrightunlessyoumeetthoseaspirationsandthoseprinciples.Thewaytoprevent
bombsbeingthrownistomeetthepeople,respondtotheirfeelings,theirsentimentsandtheirlegitimateandproperaspirations.
OnSeptember12,1929,heamplified:IthinkIamspeakingonbehalfofaverylargebodyofpeoplewhenIsaythat,ifthereis
sympathyandadmirationfortheaccused,itisonlytothisextent,thattheyarethevictimofthesystemofgovernment.Itisnotthat
weapproveorapplaudtheiractionsiftheyareguilty,whichstillremainstobeproved.Youknowperfectlywellthatthesemenare
determinedtodie.Itisnotajoke.IasktheHonourableLawMembertorealisethatitisnoteverybodywhocangoonstarvinghimself
todeath.Tryitforalittlewhileandyouwillsee.
Mindyou,Sir,IdonotapproveoftheactionofBhagatSingh,andIsaythisonthefloorofthisHouse.Iregretthatrightlyorwrongly
youthtodayinIndiaisstirredup,andyoucannot,whenyouhavethreehundredandoddmillionsofpeople,youcannotpreventsuch
crimesbeingcommitted,howevermuchyoumaydeplorethemandhowevermuchyoumaysaythattheyaremisguided.Itisthe
system,thisdamnablesystemofgovernment,whichisresentedbythepeople.HewasnoneotherthanMohammedAliJinnah.
Prof.RobertA.Papeisoneoftheworldsforemostauthoritiesonsuicideterrorism.HisbookDyingtoWinisbasedonastudyof315
casesfrom1980to2003.Heconcludes:Whatnearlyallsuicideterroristattackshaveincommonisaspecificsecularandstrategic
goaltocompelmoderndemocraciestowithdrawtheirmilitaryforcesfromterritorythattheterroristsconsidertobetheirhomeland.
Bythistest,theKashmiriisnotaterrorist,butDavidHeadley,MasoodAzhar,HafizSaeed&co.andtheperpetratorsoftheMumbai
andPathankotattacksarecriminalstothecore,outtoinflictdamageonaforeigncountry.EvenOmarAbdullahsaidonOctober28,
2009,inthepresenceofPrimeMinisterManmohanSingh:TheyouthofKashmirdidnotpickupthegun21yearsagoformoneybut
forpoliticalreasons(GreaterKashmir,October29,2009).Forlong,AmnestyInternationalwouldonlyadoptasprisonerof
conscienceonewhodoesnotadvocateviolence.SouthAfricainducedchange.
Indiaspolicyonterrorismhasbeendoublefaced.ThesummitthatfoundedtheSouthAsianAssociationforRegionalCooperation
(SAARC)inDhakaonDecember8,1985,tookuptheissueofterrorism.TheresultwastheSAARCRegionalConventionon
SuppressionofTerrorism,whichIndiaratifiedonAugust22,1988,butafteritwassuitablydefanged.Article7saysabsurdly:
Contractingstatesshallnotbeobligedtoextradite,ifitappearstotherequestedstatethatbyreasonofthetrivialnatureofthecaseor
byreasonoftherequestforthesurrenderorreturnofafugitiveoffendernotbeingmadeingoodfaithorintheinterestsofjusticeor
foranyotherreasonitisunjustorinexpedienttosurrenderorreturnthefugitiveoffender.
Nootherconventionhassuchaprovision.TheEuropeanConventionsArticle5isprecise.Therewasareasonforthis.Indiawas
sponsoringterrorisminSriLankathen.M.K.Eelaventhan,generalsecretaryoftheTamilEelamLiberationFront,wasa
distinguishedguestattheAllIndiaCongressCommitteesessioninOctober1983.TheLTTEwouldissueboastfulclaimsinMadras
ofguerrillaattacksinnorthernSriLanka,forexample,onAugust6,1984.SodidtheTamilEelamLiberationOrganisationonabomb
blastinJaffna.
When,soonafterthesummit,PritishNandyofTheIllustratedWeeklyofIndiaqueriedRajivGandhi,hereplied:Well,itsalla
questionofdefinition.Whenisterrorismafreedommovement?Whendoesterrorismversushumanrightscomein?Thesearethesort
ofgreyareas,youknow.HecitedtheinstanceofSouthAfricaandsaid:Thesesortofthingswillhavetobeclarifiedhere,wherethere
isnomovementasyettodefinetodaybuttherewellmightbetomorrow.Ifwerushintoitnow,youknow,itwillposeaproblemin
SAARClater.Theresultwasauselessconvention.
InKashmir,theIndianstatehaspractisedstatesponsoredterrorismfromtheveryoutsettothisdaytherenegademilitants,the
Ikhwans.IthadbeenpractisedinPunjabandAssam.AdetailedexposebyAunohitaMojumdarwaspublishedinTheStatesmanon
March9,1996.ColonelK.P.RameshoftheRashtriyaRiflesstatedduringthecourseofaninterviewthattheArmyhadbeenusinga
groupofsurrenderedmilitantsoveraperiodoftime.Thelatter,heelaborated,wereprovidedarmsfortheirprotectionagainst
HarkatulAnsarandHizbulMujahideenandgivenrewardmoneyforprovidinginformation.Therenegadeswereonthepayrollsof
theArmy,buthetriedtomakelightoftheamountsgiventothem.
Governmentbackedgroups
AunohitaMojumdarsfindingwasthatthesecounterinsurgents,whoaredescribedasfriendsinofficialparlance,arenotonly
activelyparticipatinginoperationscarriedoutbythesecurityagenciesbutalsoresortingtoextortions,intimidationandexcesses
withthebackingofthearmsprovidedtothem.ThreemajorgroupswereidentifiedKukkaParreysIkhwanulMuslimooninnorth
Kashmir,AlFatehForceledbyAziz,andtheMuslimMujahideeninsouthKashmir.
KukkaParreyhadnoinhibitionsinbragging.InJuly1995,heclaimedtohaveroutedtheHizbinKupwara,Anantnag,andBaramula
districts.OnNovember18,hesaid:WehavekilledonlyHizbulMujahideenmilitants.Maybefivehundred.Alloftheminmyarea
havebeenkilled.IhavelostcountofHizbulMujahideenkillings.
HearrivedinDelhionDecember29,1995,andenjoyedofficialprotection,whichmadehiminaccessible.Hebaredhisplans.The
Ikhwanhadformedapoliticalwing,theAwamiLeague,whichwoulddecideonparticipationintheelectionsatapropertime.
Ithasbeenwidelyallegedthataswellasrunninganextortionracket,theIkhwansmenalsorananillegaltradeintimberandprecious
walnutwoodrightunderthenoseoftheauthorities.
TheTimesofIndiapublishedareportofapressconferenceinSrinagar,onJuly14,1996,byMohammedMaqboolDar,Union
MinisterofStateintheHomeMinistry,inwhichhesaidthatthesituationinKashmirwouldnothaveimprovedtotheextentithas
butforthecontributionofthesecounterinsurgentgroups.OnAugust11,1996,FarooqAbdullahpubliclythankedtheseArmy
sponsoredkillersforhelpinghimcometopowerinariggedelection.Themilitantshadgivenustheprivilegetogobeforethepeople.
NowIamproudofthem.
HereinliestherelevanceofawelldocumentedreportbyHumanRightsWatchAsia,publishedinMay1996.ItistitledIndiasSecret
ArmyinKashmir:NewPatternsofAbuseEmergeintheConflict.Forreasonsnotdifficulttoguess,veryfewcopiescouldreach
addressesinthecountry.Itisbasedonresearchundertakenbyalawyer,JamesA.Goldston,whovisitedKashmirinJanuary1996.
DuringtheHumanRightsWatchAsiavisittoKashmirinJanuary1996,wewereinformedthatthesegroupshavebeenarmedbythe

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DuringtheHumanRightsWatchAsiavisittoKashmirinJanuary1996,wewereinformedthatthesegroupshavebeenarmedbythe
government.Onseveraloccasions,HumanRightsWatchAsiaobservedmembersofthesegroupsmovingaboutopenlycarrying
automaticweapons,infullviewofsecuritypersonnel,eventhoughunderthegovernmentsrehabilitationprogramme,allsurrendered
militantsarerequiredtohandovertheirweapons.
AwitnesswhowasabductedbyIkhwanulMuslimoonforcestoldHumanRightsWatchthathewasdetainedatahouseadjacentto
anArmyRashtriyaRiflescampatUmarheer,AhmedNagar,Baspara,threekilometresfromSouraHospital.ARashtriyaRiflesbunker
standsattheentrancetothehouse.ThelocalIkhwanulMuslimooncommander,MohammadRamzan,whohadinterrogatedthe
witness,apparentlylivedinthehouse.IkhwanulMuslimoonforcesidentifiedtwowomenwhowerecookinginthehouseasRamzans
wifeandsisterinlaw.HumanrightsactivistshaveincreasinglycomeunderattackinKashmir.BetweenApril1995andApril1996,
twohumanrightsmonitorswerekilledandonecriticallyinjured.
Thereportsays:IkhwanulMuslimoonforceshavebeenpatrollingtheSouraInstituteandtheBoneandJointHospitalsincemid
1995.ThelocalcommanderisMohammadRamzan,aformermemberoftheJammuKashmirLiberationFront(JKLF)whohadbeen
arrestedbytheRashtriyaRiflesin1995.AfterthatRamzanwasseenatthehospitalaccompaniedbyothergunmenandbyArmy
soldierswearingRashtriyaRiflesuniforms.Ramzanworeabulletproofjacketunderhispheran(longcloak),asdidsomeothers.He
toldhospitalstaffthathewantedtobringdisciplinetotheInstitute.
IkhwanulMuslimoonpatrolsaresometimescarriedoutjointlywithothersecurityforces.Theiractivitiesinsidethehospitals,
includingassaultsonstaffanddetentionsofstaff,patientsandvisitors,arecarriedoutwiththeknowledgeoftheBorderSecurity
Force(BSF),whichmaintainsbunkersattheentrancesofthehospitals.AJammuandKashmirPolicestationisalsolocatedatthe
entrancesofthehospitals.AJammuandKashmirpolicestationisalsolocatedattheentrancetotheSouraInstitute.Ikhwanul
Muslimoonforcesenterthehospitalonaregularbasisandpatrolingroupsoftwelve,armedwithautomaticweapons.Theyoften
carrywalkietalkiesandspeakintotheminthecourseoftheirsearchesandpatrols.Theyhavethreatenedandharassedhospitalstaff
andpatients,lookingformilitantsandhavetakensuspectsawaytocamps.Onesuchcampissaidtobelocatednearthehospital,at
anArmybasethreekilometresawayatBachapora,Srinagar.
InNovember1995,IkhwanulMuslimoonforcesdraggedasurgeonoutofhisofficeandkickedandpunchedhim.At2:30pmon19
January1996,thedaythatHumanRightsWatchAsiavisitedtheInstitute,IkhwanforceswerepatrollingthemaingateofSoura.
Hospitalemployeesstatedthattheirpresencewasroutineandthattheyusuallystoodonlyafewyardsfromthesecuritybunker.Many
hospitalemployeeswereunwillingtospeaktoHumanRightsWatchAsiaoutoffear.DoctorsattheBoneandJointHospital
complainedthattheywerefrequentlysearchedbyeitherarmedparamilitaryforces,whileuniformedforcesringedtheoutsideofthe
hospital,orbybothparamilitaryanduniformedRashtriyaRiflesforces.
ThistechniquewastriedoutbyLatinAmericandictators.ItisbeingusedinKashmirbyNewDelhiinthenameofdemocracy.This
patternofsecurityforcesintrusionintohospitalswasinevidenceafterJuly8,2016.
Incidentally,wehadthedemolitionoftheBabriMasjid,whichL.K.AdvanicalledapoliticaloffencetheMalegaonandtheMecca
Masjidblastsallofthemevadedaccountabilitybeforethelaw.
ThisiswhatacommittedfriendofIndia,JeanDreze,wroteinTheHindu(March29,2002).Myinitialpurposewastostudythe
schoolingsituation,butitturnedouttobedifficultnottofocusonpeoplesoverwhelmingconcern:theendlesszulm(repression)
unleashedbythesecurityforces.Thesecurityforceswererarelyoutofsight,eveninremotevillages.Asfarasthelocalpopulationis
concerned,Kashmirisoccupiedbyaforeignarmy.EverywhereIwent,thereweresoberingtalesofharassmentatthehandsofthe
IndianArmyandparamilitaryforcescurfews,searches,interrogations,killingsofsuspectedmilitants,andaccidentalaswellas
intentionalkillingsoftheinnocentcivilians,tonameafewcomplaints.
EngineerAbdulRasheed,MLA,saidinaninterviewtoKashmirLife(November20,2011):Iwasmyselfsubjectedtoabout350to
400daysofforcedlabour.Armytreatedusasslaves.WeweresupposedtowashclothesofArmy,patroltheirroads,construct
bunkers,anydamnthing.Inthis,fiftyvillagerssuffered.IwasusedashumanshieldatleastontwooccasionsandIhadanarrow
escape.Iwaspickedupandtakentotheworstinterrogationcentre,Cargo,thentocentraljail,CIKHumhamaandRajbagh.Ihadto
paybribenotlessthanRs.1lakhbysellinglandandfewcattletogetmyselfreleased.Ihaveseenhundredsofyouthdyinginfrontof
me,gettinghandicapped,sistersturningwidows.
TheworstofallwasthatmyownhousewasusedasatemporaryArmycampforaboutfourmonthsthemostbarbaricthingwhich
couldeverhappenfromNovember1997toFebruary1998.
Sordidrecord
WhathashappenedsinceJuly8ispartofthislongestablishedpattern.ContrastthenationaluproarovertheBhagalpurblindingsto
theindifferencetotheblindingsinKashmir.Peopleareshotatinordertokillthemandnotprotestersalone.Hereisthesordid
record.
July9:Policemenbargeintoahospitallookingforprotesters.Twoyoungmenwithpelletinjuriesweretakenawaybythepolice,a
paramedicsaid(MuzamilJaleel,TheIndianExpress,July11).AtSMHSHospital,Srinagar,DrSajjadKhandaryhadneverseenso
manypeoplewithseriousocularinjuriesinaday.Istronglysuggestthattheuseofpelletgunsbestoppedimmediatelybecauseitis
makingyoungpeopleblind.
July10:Inmanycasesbulletshavebeenfiredabovethewaist.Theobjectivedefinitelyseemstobetokillormaimthepersonfor
life(AshikHussain,HindustanTimes,July11).
July10:Icantseeathingfrommylefteye.Wewereshoutingslogans.Thepolicecameandfiredpellets.AdoctorattheSMHS
Hospital:Everyonewhocameherehadpelletwoundsabovethechest.Aseniorpoliceofficer:Thereisaviewthatwhena
protesterishitwithapelletintheeye,itbecomesadeterrent.Idontagreewithitbutthatiswhatishappening(MuzamilJaleel,The
IndianExpress,July12).
Notethattheprotestersposednothreattolifetheysimplyshoutedslogans.Pelletgunswerefiredtokillormainthemasa
deterrent.Thispersists.
July12:(IndianExpress)NirupamaSubramanianwroteofparentstakingtheirboyswithpelletwoundstoAmritsarfearingtheir
sonsmightbepickedbythepoliceiftheywenttolocalhospitals.Tokidsasyoungas8or12yearsolddefianceoftheIndianstate
isnowasnaturalasplayingcricket.TotalkofPakistanssponsorshipistoutteralie.
July17:AhighlyplacedsourceintheCentretoldVijaitaSinghofTheHinduthattheprotestshadtobestoppednowelsethere
wouldbeprovocationatthenextlevel.Thesecurityforcesfiretokill.Itseitherwhiteorblack.
July17:SeniordoctorsattheSMHSHospitalconfirmedthatwhentheywerecomingwiththeinjuredpeopletoSrinagarhospitals,

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July17:SeniordoctorsattheSMHSHospitalconfirmedthatwhentheywerecomingwiththeinjuredpeopletoSrinagarhospitals,
theirambulances/vehicleswerestoppedbythepoliceandCRPF,whobeattheinjured.DrQaiserAhmed,principalofthe
GovernmentMedicalCollege,Srinagar,saidthatambulancesweredamagedbytheCRPFandpolice(NoorulQamrain,Sunday
Guardian).
July20:Atthispoint,SoniaGandhiproclaimedagravedangertothecountry.Therecanbenocompromiseonnationalsecurity.
Militantsmustbedealtwithsternly(TheHindu,July21).Thesternnessthatfollowedmusthavepleasedherhugely.
July21:HindustanTimesAshiqHussainreported:Childrencontinuetogetmaimedbywantonuseofpelletgunsbygovernment
forcesinKashmir.Thelatestvictimsare8yearoldAsifRashidand13yearoldMirArafat,bothofwhomwerehitbypelletsfiredby
governmentforcestodisperseprotesters.HundredsofpelletspenetratedArafatsbody,fromhisfacetothelowerabdomen.
DoctorssaidArafathaspelletsinhisheart,abdomenandintestines.
July21:PoliceforciblyevictedvolunteersfromthepremisesofSMHSHospitalwheretheyhadbeenprovidingfreefoodtothe
attendantsoftheinjuredfor13days(YusufJameel,TheAsianAge,July22).
July22:AzadJavaidofDNAreported:LastSunday(July17)onepatientwasbroughtinfromPulwamaandwhenweweretryingto
giveCPRtothedyingpatient,apoliceofficerincivilianclotheswasupdatinghisbossesthroughamobile.Thiswasrightinsidethe
operationtheatre.AnumberofotherdoctorswhospoketoDNAsaidthatameetingwascalledsoonafterpoliceinterferenceinwhich
itwasdecidedthatthepatientswouldnotbenamedfromnowonwards.Everydaybroughtmorereportsofsuchoutrages.
August8:BrindaKarat,CPI(M)PolitBureaumember,whovisitedaKashmirigirlatahospitalinNewDelhisaid:Shewasblinded
bypelletsfiredstraightatherbysecurityforces,deliberatelyaimingatherforeheadwhenshewaslookingdownfromthewindowof
hertwostoryedhouse.Evenaftertwosurgeries,shecouldnotsee(TheHindu,August9).
August8:DoctorswhoperformedsurgeriesonthosehitbypelletsinSMHSandSKIMShospitalsinSrinagartoldPeerzadaAshiq
thatthreeciviliansdiedbecausetheywereshotfromavery,verycloserangewiththeintentiontokill.Adoctorsaidofanother
patient:Morethan300pelletswerelodgedinsidehisbody,affectingallhisorgans.Thisonlyshowsthegunwasemptiedbykeeping
thebarrelclosetothevictimsbody.This,likeothers,wasacaseofshootingwithmaliceaforethought(TheHindu,August9).
Attheendofawholemonthsrecordofbarbarism,approvedbytheCentralandtheStategovernments,theCPI(M)sgeneral
secretary,SitaramYechury,wasforcedtoremarkonAugust8:EvenIsraeldoesnotusepelletgunsagainstPalestinians(Hindustan
Times,August9).Theanalogyiscloserthanheiswillingtoadmit.TheforcesandtheirmentorsdonotregardKashmirisasfellow
citizensbutasapopulaceinoccupiedterritory.
August12:NirmalSingh,DeputyChiefMinister,saidthatpelletgunswereusedonlywhensituationsreachanextreme.Mehbooba
Muftididnotexpressanydissent.
August18:TheCRPFinSrinagarfiredpelletsatanambulancebringingapatientfromWussan.Thedriver,GhulamMohammed
Sofi,despitebeingseverelyinjured,drovetheambulancetotheSMHSHospitalanddroppedthepatientbeforehehimselfwastaken
tohospital.Hehad200300pelletwounds(BasharatMasoodandMirEhsan,TheIndianExpress,August19).
August19:Officialsaskeddistrictandsubdistrictofficialstomanagecriticalpatientsatruralhealthcentresatnightinsteadof
takingtheriskofmovingthemtoSrinagar.ThedecisionhasbeentakentoavoidconfrontationwiththeArmyandCRPFpatrolling
roadsandhighwaysatnight(MirEhsan,TheIndianExpress,August20).
Thisonesingledecisionexposestherealityofthesituation.TheofficialsbelongedtoMehboobaMuftisgovernment,whichhasnot
thegutstoaskModisgovernmenttoorderitsArmyanditsCRPFtodothedecentthingrespectthesanctityofambulancesand
hospitalsandtheirpersonnel.NowonderthatonAugust20,theyheldaprotestdemonstrationinSrinagar.ThisvalidatesEngineer
RashidsdemandfortheresignationofMLAs.HerefusedtojoinOmarAbdullahstamashaonAugust20inNewDelhi,whichis
designedtosecureaplaceforhimselfafterthePDPscollapse.
TheCRPFsaidinanaffidavittotheStateHighCourtonAugust18thatincasethisiswithdrawnfromoptionsavailablewiththe
CRPF,CRPFpersonnelwouldhavenorecourseinextremecircumstancesbuttoopenfirewithrifles,whichmaycausemorefatalities.
Thestandardoperatingproceduresrequirethataweaponbeusedbelowthewaist.Butthesituationonthestreetsduringanongoing
lawandorderincidentisdynamicandmobile.Sometimesitisdifficulttogoinforpreciseaimedfireatamoving,bendingand
runningtarget.
Therecordbeliesthisplea.Thegunswerefiredabovethewaistandatunarmedyoungprotesterswiththeintentionofkillingand
maimingthem.Whatoftheattacksontheambulances?WasanyofthisseenintheHaryanaorGujaratagitations?TheCRPF
admittedithadfiredaround3,000pelletcartridges,eachcontaining450metallicballs,betweenJuly9andAugust11.Onthesame
day(August18),DrManzoorAhmed,headofthedepartment,Orthopaedics,BoneandJointHospital,saidthattheambulancedriver,
Sofi(32),wasfiredatcloserangeandhadtakenhundredsofpellets(TheIndianExpress,August19).
Useoffirearms
TheUnitedKingdomfacedthewellorganisedSinnFeinarmedwithdeadlyweaponsinNorthernIreland.Preventivedetention
(internment)startedonAugust9,1971,andendedonDecember5,1975.Thelawisclear.TheinstructionsissuedtotheCivicGuards
ontheuseoffirearms,datedNovember24,1932,werejudiciallyapproved:Settingasideforthemomenttheordinarydictatesof
humanity,itis,forthereasonsmentioned,inthehighestdegreeessential,thatwhentheGardaarecompelledtoresorttoforcein
dealingwiththepublic,theiractionsshouldbegovernedresolutelybyprudence,foresightandabsolutediscretion.Thereisfartoo
greatareadinesstoresorttotheuseoffirearmsindealingwithdisorderlypersons.Agunshouldnotbedischargeduntilthereisno
otherpracticalcourseopenbuttoemployitwithfataleffect.
Acontinuanceofthepracticeoffiringshotsintheairwhichhasrecentlybeensomuchinevidencemustinevitablyleadtothegravest
consequences.Generally,itmaybelaiddownthatthereareveryfewoccasionsinthelifeofapoliceofficerwhichjustifythe
introductionoffirearmsanditisagaintobeemphasisedthattheyareonlytobeusedasalastresortandthenonlyinthegravest
circumstances.
Thesafercourseforamemberofapoliceforceistoavailofeverymeansofdefencewhatsoeverbeforemakingeffectiveuseof
firearms.Butitisaninvariablerulethatthedegreeofforcetobeusedmustalwaysbemoderatedandproportionedtothe
circumstancesofthecase,andtheendtobeattained.Henceitisthatarmsnowatsuchastateofperfectionthattheycannotbe
employedwithoutgravedangertolifeandlimbevenofdistantandinnocentpersonsmustbeusedwiththegreatestofcare,andthe
greatestpainsmustbeexercisedtoavoidtheinflictionoffatalinjuries.Agunshouldneverbeused,orusedwithanyspecified
degreeofforceifthereisanydoubtastothenecessity.
Firearmscanbeusedonlywiththeutmostcareandonlyiflifeandlimbsareindanger.
Kashmirimemoriesgobackalongway,asGovernorB.K.Nehrunotedduringthe1983election.ShoalsofCongresspoliticians

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Kashmirimemoriesgobackalongway,asGovernorB.K.Nehrunotedduringthe1983election.ShoalsofCongresspoliticians
descendedontheValleyfromoutside.TheydidmoreharmthangoodfirstbecausetheKashmirisresentedforeigninterferenceand
secondbecausetheywereignorantofKashmirisentiments.AfavouritethemeoftheirspeecheswaspraiseforAkbartheGreatandhis
secularism.InKashmirthenameAkbarishatedasthatofanarchimperialist.Hewasthefirstoutsiderwhodestroyedin1589the
independenceofKashmir.Nobodyhadsucceededindoingsobeforethen(NiceGuysFinishSecond,page610).
InJune1970,attheStatePeoplesConvention,SheikhAbdullahsaidthatthefreedommovementbeganwiththeconquestof
KashmirbytheMoghularmies.AkbarsarmiesmarchedintoKashmironJune28,1586.Mughalrulelastedfor166yearsuntil1752,
whenabrutalreignoftheAfghansbegan.In1814,MaharajaRanjitSinghinvadedKashmir.TheLahoreDarbarwasbetrayedbyits
Dografeudatory,GulabSinghofJammu,whowasinleaguewiththeBritish.HeacquiredKashmirbytheinfamousTreatyofAmritsar,
signedonMarch16,1846,forRs.75lakh.GandhiaptlycalleditadeedofsaleduringhisstayinSrinagarfromAugust1to3,1947.
Hesupposeditwouldbedeadonthe15thAugust.
KashmiriscannotforgettheirhistoryortherecordofIndiasbrokenpledges.TherapacityofIndiaandPakistanleavesthemhelpless.
Moreso,thestateterrorletlosebytheIndianstateonKashmir.IforbearfromcitingherethenumerousreportsofAmnesty
InternationalandHumanRightsWatch.Butreadparagraph334fromtheReportoftheSpecialRapporteur,NigelS.Rodley,tothe
U.N.HumanRightsCommissiononJanuary12,1995.TheSpecialRapporteurfurthertransmittedinformationaccordingtowhich
thepracticeofcustodialrapebymembersofthepoliceandsecurityforcesoccurredwithfrequency.Inareasofinternalconflictand
disturbances,particularlyinJammuandKashmir,thepracticewasreportedtobesystematic.Insuchacontext,theimpetusfor
custodialrapeappearedtostemfrompoliticalandstrategicconsiderations,wherebypacificationwassoughtthroughthe
intimidationanddegradationofthetargetpopulation.Rapewasalsoallegedlyusedasameansofcollectivepunishment,aswhen
themassdetentionofmalesinacommunitywasprecededbymultiplerapesoftheirspousesduringhousetohousesearches.
ItispreposteroustosuggestthatJammuandKashmirsstatusisaninternalmatter.AslateasFebruary25,1955,Nehruwasaskedby
LakshmiCharanintheLokSabha:InviewofthefactthattheKashmirConstituentAssemblyhasratifiedtheaccessionoftheStateto
India,whatwillbethetermsofdiscussiononKashmirwiththePakistaniPrimeMinister?Nehrureplied:Aquestionlikethiscannot
besolvedunilaterally.
AslateasonAugust20,2015,theSpecialAssistanttotheU.S.President,PeterR.Lavoy,said:JammuandKashmirisadisputed
territory.TherewasnochangeintheU.S.position,hesaid.Wedoacknowledgethatthisisacontestedterritoryacontestedborder
betweenIndiaandPakistan(TheAsianAge,August21,2015).U.N.mapscarrythelegendTheFinalstatusofJammu&Kashmirhas
notyetbeenagreeduponbytheparties.
TheKashmirisrighttodemandaplebiscitepeacefullyisincontestable.ItisanothermatterthatIndiacannotconcedethedemand.
Mustthenthecycleofresistanceandrepressiongoon?TheunresthasspreadbeyondtheValleytoPirPanjal,theChenabValleyand
Kargil.Stonesareweaponswhichanunarmedpeopleuse.Youngmen,knownasDilawar,wouldpeltstonesatthepatrollingMughal
soldiers.Theheroofthe1931uprising,AbdulQadeerKhan,urgedKashmiristofighttheDograbulletswithstones.ButSyedAliShah
Geelanitoldhissupportersthatnobodyshouldresorttostonepelting(TheIndianExpress,March12,2010).Inthe2010unrest,stone
peltingacquiredavoguefewhadimagined.ItbecameafashiontodecrythestonepelterseitherasPakistanisorpaidperformers.
Photographsofmiddleagedwomen,schoolboysandyoungmenbravingbulletstoflingstonesattheCRPFandthepolicetellusthe
truth.
Thewayout
Thewayoutwasshownbyasensiblesoldierandbynopolitician.TheNorthernArmyCommanderLtGen.D.S.Hoodosaidin
Srinagar,onAugust19:Weallhavetositdown,putourheadstogetherandseeifwecanfindanendtothis.Iknowitisnoteasy.The
situationisdifficult.EverybodywhoisinanywayinvolvedinJ&Kneedstointrospect.Headdedthatnoonepersonorone
organisationcouldsolvethecrisis.Thisisnotapoliticalstatementoffactsbecauseeverybodyisinvolved,whetheritissecurity
forces,separatists,governments,studentleaderssomyappealistoeveryone.Ithinkweneedtofindsomewayforwardinthis.
Notehisspecificreferencetoseparatists,incontrasttothetermstakeholdersusedbytheunionists.Thesoldierishonesttheyare
not.Itistheseparatistswhorepresentthemainstream,nottheunionistsSyedAliShahGeelani,MirwaizUmarFarooqandYaseen
Malik,unitedinthecrisis.Talktothem.Theyareallagainsttheuseofstones.MirwaizUmarFarooqsaid,onJuly10:Peoplefeelthe
GovernmentofIndiaisjustnotreadytoengageorevenacknowledgethesentimentsofKashmir.Ontheotherhand,thereisno
scopeforpeacefulresistance.Thethreeremainunderhousearrest.ThisisbecausetheIndianstateregardsanyquestioningofthe
Unionastreason,tobequelledbybruteforceeventhoughconstitutionallyandmorallysuchquestioningispermissible.Ajournalist
notedhowtactfullytheArmyandtheBSFhadtackleddemonstratorswithoutbloodshed(PervezMajeed,DNA,August11).
ItwillnotdotosaythatKashmirisaclosedchapter.Itisverymuchanopenquestion.FrancehadinstalledastoogeregimeintheSaar
initsdisputeoveritwithGermany.TheCouncilofEuropeintervened.ItsConsultativeAssemblysCommitteeonGeneralAffairswas
assignedthetask.ItsRapporteur,M.VanDerGoesVanNatersreportofMarch15,1954,isaclassic.FrancedissolvedtheSaar
DemocraticParty.Thereportsaid:AlthoughitisnotunusualthataConstitutionshouldproclaimitsowninviolabilityitisinthe
interestofdemocracyitselfthatsuchaprincipleshouldalwaysbeappliedwithgreatprudenceincaseswhere,aswiththeSaar,itisa
questionofaprovisionalsettlementdestinedtobereplacedlaterbyafinalstatute.Theprovisionsdefiningpubliclibertyinthe
SaarshouldbeinterpretedinsuchamannerastoallowdueexpressionoftheopinionthatthepresentprovisionalConstitution
shouldlaterbereplacedbyadefinitiveConstitutionbasedonotherprinciples.
ThereferendainQuebec,apartfromScotland,provideagoodinstruction.ScotlandsdemandforsecessionfromtheU.K.isnot
dubbedtreason.In1707,theScottishandEnglishParliamentseachpassedanActofUnionapprovingthetermsofaTreatyofUnion
negotiatedbybothgovernments.TheActof1707embodiedacompact,asArticle370does.ThetwoKingdomsofEnglandand
ScotlandshallforeverafterbeunitedintoOnekingdombythenameofGreatBritain.AlargemeasurewasgrantedtoScotlandby
theScotlandAct,1998.Yet,onOctober15,2012,400yearsafter1707,thegovernmentsoftheU.K.andScotlandsignedanAgreement
atEdinburghonareferendumonindependenceforScotlandrunninginto29clauses.Advocatesofindependencelost.AfterBrexit,
thedemandislikelytoberevived.ScotsarenotcalledtraitorsbytheEnglish.
Historyteachesbyanalogy,notidentity.Notwocasesarealike.TheKashmirproblemcannotbesolvedbybruteforce.TheIndian
statecannotstiflethedemandforazadibybruteforce.KashmiriscannotsecedefromIndiabydeployingarmedforce.Acompromise
iscalledfor.WhattheCanadianSupremeCourtsaidonAugust20,1998,onQuebecsdemandappliesalsotoKashmir.Negotiations
wouldbenecessarytoaddresstheinterestsofthefederalgovernment,ofQuebecandtheotherprovinces,andotherparticipants,as
wellastherightsofallCanadiansbothwithinandoutsideQuebec.InanynegotiationsonKashmirsfuture,Pakistanwillbea
necessaryparty.
Grimsituation
Meanwhile,thegrimsituationcallsforimmediatealleviation.Theelementsofanadhocaccordare1.ReleaseofalltheHurriyat

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Meanwhile,thegrimsituationcallsforimmediatealleviation.Theelementsofanadhocaccordare1.ReleaseofalltheHurriyat
leaders.Itistheyalonewhocanpersuadetheleaderlessyoungtodesist.NeitherOmarnorMehboobaMuftican.Theyareboth
irrelevant.TheybelongtoNewDelhi.2.Grantofthefundamentalrighttoassemblepeacefullywithoutarmsinmeetingsor
processions.
AsLordScarmansaidinhisReportontheRedLionSquaredisturbancesin1974:Thepolicearenotconcernedwiththepoliticsofa
demonstration:iftheywere,weshouldbeapolicestate.Theirdutyistomaintainpublicorder.3.Totalhalttostonepelting,and
compensationstothepersonsinjured.4.Totalhalttonocturnalsearchesbythesecurityforces,crackdownsandarrests.5.Removalof
bunkersfromcivilianareas.6.ReturnoflandsinthepossessionoftheArmyandtheCRPF.7.Appointmentofanombudsmanto
overseeandenforcetheaccord.
KashmirhasahighlyrespectedGovernorinN.N.Vohra.Heshouldbeauthorisedtotakesoundingsfromindividualleadersandthen
conveneaRoundTableConferencetodiscussandfinalisetheterms.
NeverbeforehasKashmirseensuchanupheavalsinceSheikhAbdullahsarrestonAugust9,1953.Doesitnotcallforareviewofthe
situationbythethreeleaders?Whethertocontesttheelectionsornotisatrickyquestion.Butisthedemandforazadiweakenedor
strengthenedbytheseparatistsunitingtoimprovethelotofcivilsociety,whichhassufferedalot?Theycanencouragetheyoung,
undertheirguidance,toinvolvethemselvesinmunicipalissues,intheproblemsoftraders,intheuniversities,andsoon,while
maintainingtheirpoliticalstand.TheAllorNothingstandisuniquetotheAllPartiesHurriyatConference.Itmustbeshedforthe
goodofthepeople.
In1953,MadhuLimayeandSadiqAliwenttoKashmirafterSheikhAbdullahsarrestandsubmittedaverycomprehensivereport.Do
notexpectNewDelhitosendacredibledelegation.Leadingpublicfigurespoliticians,civillibertariansandtherestshouldgoto
Kashmir,meetthepeoplethereandreporttothenation.
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