Kolkata echoes the call to defeat the 'Conspiracy to free Kashmir'

Kolkata echoes the call to defeat the 'Conspiracy to free Kashmir' Source: VSK-KOLKATA Date: 8/22/2012 12:13:50 PM In view of the report of the Home ministry appointed interlocutors for Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), not only rejected its recommendations but also called for exemplary action against the three interlocutors who not only violated their mandate to recommend genuine solutions to the Kashmir issue and suggest mechanisms for the total integration of the state with rest of the country but on the contrary went on to side with the separatists and the pro-western and pro-wahabi forces by recommending the dilution of the writ of the Constitution of Bharat over the affairs of the state. Speaking on the topic, Director of 'Jammu & Kashmir Study Centre' and specialist on J&K, Arun Kumar tore into the arguments and flawed perceptions being forwarded by these interlocutors. Arun Kumar observed that the so called Kashmir problem is more of a Delhi problem as because it is being created, pampered and continued by the political class of Delhi, the bureaucracy of Delhi and the self styled J&K experts based in Delhi. Kumar claimed that the issue of J&K is the result of 3 misgivings namely 1) The myth of Separatism 2) The myth of Dispute 3) The myth of victimization of the Kashmiri muslims. Elaborating further he said firstly that the state of J&K consists of three regions, in which the Kashmir valley consists of just 7% of the total territory of the state of J&K. The rest 93% consists of Jammu region and Laddakh region. Since independence the region of Jammu and Laddakh have never witnessed a single protest or rally against Bharat. Even the muslim dominated areas of Kargil and Drass in Laddakh region and Rajauri and Punj in Jammu region have out-rightly rejected the so-called notion of self rule and autonomy. The overwhelming sentiment of these two regions is to break free from the clutches of the Kashmir valley centric, sunni muslim dominated polity of the state government. Even during their meetings with the interlocutors all organizations, groups, sub-groups and communities across these two regions have out-rightly rejected the very idea of self-rule or autonomy and have asked for total integration of the state with the rest of the country. Secondly the 'Dispute' tag being attached with the state of J&K is also a myth as contrary to popular perception, the infamous Article 370 was merely a temporary mechanism to bring in the total integration of the state with the rest of Bharat. It was only the Nehru – Shekh accord which spoke of a different and special identity for the state. But the accord was never a ratified legal document. Even the Kashmiri signatory over it, Shekh Abdullah was not in any position of authority at the time of signing the document. Hence this document doesn't hold any legal status and is nothing more than a piece of trash which should be better thrown out of the national psyche. Third point is the myth of the victimization of the Kashmiri muslims. This again is unique to the wahabi segment of the valley based sunni muslims. Contrary to all these popular perceptions of the backwardness of the state, figures shows that while there is 56% people living below the poverty line (BPL) in the state of Bihar, the figure of the state of J&K is a mere 4%. This again is limited to the Jammu & Laddakh region as there is absolutely no BPL family in the Kashmir valley. There is not a single 'kaccha' house in the valley. While the centre spends a mere Rs800/- per person as part of its annual grant to Bihar, the same central government spends a whopping Rs10,000 per person in J&K as annual central assistance. In other parameters while comparing with other states of Bharat and even against Pakistan the people of J&K are quite well-off. Hence the alibi of poverty & backwardness as a precursor to separatism and secessionism is not only flawed but stands nakedly exposed. On the contrary the special status of the state has withheld the benefits of reservation and social upliftment for Scheduled Casts (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) of different communities in the state. The STs who account for over 14% of the state's population started enjoying the fruits of reservation only since 1996 that too after much deliberation. But still this does not extend into the sphere of political reservations like rest of the country. The Forest Act of 2006, passed by the parliament does not extend to the state of J&K and thus the benefits enjoyed over land & forest resources by tribals in the rest of country under it does not apply to the tribals of J&K. The 8% SC population of the state is also a deprived lot as their reservation is limited only in the Jammu region. Here again the state government tried to curtail this reservation through a legislation in 2009. The OBCs are also being discriminated in the state in the absence of any OBC reservations. Even the state government has so far been unable to categorize and prepare a list of OBCs. On a whole the discourse out-rightly rejected the recommendations of the interlocutors and observed that it appears to be an extension of the US policy to let Pakistan have some amount of leverage over J&K and safeguard its wrongful and illegal possession over POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) for its logistical support to the US in its war in Afghanistan. It was also observed that the US and Britain have always held the view of pampering secession in the region to enjoy a foothold over this region of great strategic and geo-political importance. It was deliberated that the mindset that recommends such a flawed, communal and pro-jihadist treaty should not only be condemned and isolated but the proponents of such an anti-national treaty of enormous proportions which challenges the basic tenet of the Constitution and resolutions of the Parliament should be brought to justice for national good. The discourse organized by 'Yogakshema' at the Mahajati Sadan Annex Hall in Kolkata on 19 August 2012. The other speakers of the event were Sunil Kaul, President of Kashmir Sabha – Kolkata, S. P. Mukherjee, Retired Commander of BRO and Ajit Biswas, President of Yogakshema. A galaxy of intellectuals, community leaders, youths along with general Kolkatans were present among the audiences. ... ...