memorandum

Sri Amarnath sangharsh as national swarajyam movement: Evil state attempts

to shut out expression of public opinion.

Governor of Punjab refused to meet representatives of Forum on Integrated

National Security, Chandigarh led by its President, former DGP of Punjab,

Shri PC Dogra ji.

The draft of the memorandum of the Forum sought to be presented to the

Governor, is appended.

In the context of the Governor's refusal, the memorandum was presented to

the People of India in a press conference held on 26th August 08.

English and Hindi print media as well as the local news channels gave wide

publicity to the press conference.

This is an example of the depths of insensitivity reached by the executive

wing in the state in the largest democracy on the face of the globe – even

on issues related to national security and national integrity.

When civil discourse is shut out, the result will be either anarchy or

peoples' revolt.

It is time for the people of Hindusthan to rise in revolt as the National

Movement on land for Sri Amarnath heralds a new swarajyam movement.

Kalyanaraman

Pak's political instability can affect India badly: SASS

Chandigarh, August 26:

Sri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS), spearheading protests over the Amarnath

land issue, on Tuesday expressed apprehensions that the political

instability in Pakistan may have "adverse" effects on the country.

"Pakistan has again plunged into political instability and it can divert the

issue by indulging in any misadventure with India," Samiti Punjab unit

convener Mahant Ram Prakash Dass and Chandigarh Forum on Integrated National

Security president P C Dogra told a joint press conference in Chandigarh.

Dogra, a former Punjab police chief, said protests over the land transfer

will continue until 40 hectares of land was restored to Sri Amarnath Shrine

Board (SASB).

"The protest by the Samiti is a fight against separatist elements. The

innocuous act of diversion of land has been whipped up by separatists."

The Samiti reiterated its demands for the restoration of autonomy of the

Shrine Board, withdrawal of cases against protesters and registration of

cases against police officials over alleged excesses.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Pak-s-political-instability-can-affect-India-badly--SASS/353577/

Memorandum (Presented to H.E. The Governor of Punjab through the People of

India)

The annual Amarnath Yatra, which draws about five lakhs of devotees

from all over the world, has been an eye sore to the fanatic segments of the

Kashmir valley from the very beginning. They have missed no opportunity to

sabotage this Yatra. However it had no effect on the faithful. Bomb blasts,

grenade attacks, fatal firing that resulted in the killing of score of

yatris did not deter the Shivbhaktas from paying their obeisance to the

Shivling.

The separatists in the state are also frightened by the increasing

number of pilgrims who visit the cave for worship. To cater to the ground

swell of devotees, the Governor had to increase the number of days of Yatra

from fifteen to sixty. When all other devious attempts failed, the

separatists and some valley based politicians came together and joined hands

to use the diversion of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board as their latest

ploy in the secessionist designs.

Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was constituted under an Act of the Govt.

of J&K headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah. The diversion of land was unanimously

approved by coalition Govt of Sh. Gulam Nabi Azad. Sh. Qazi Afzal Forest

Minister, a PDP nominee initiated the proposal. It was approved by the then

Dy. Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beg again a nominee of PDP. It took

three years for the Govt to finally decide the issue. This tract of 40

hectares was to be used for putting up prefabricated structures for only two

months for the duration of yatra. It was never meant to be a permanent

transfer as has been pointedly put forth in the memorandum of J&K Govt.

This innocuous act of diversion of land has been used to whip up

public frenzy by the separatists as if diverting 40 hectares of land to

another constitutional entity of the state is a prelude to colonization by

some aliens. Certainly it is a challenge to the Indian nationhood.

Our demands are:

1. 40 hectares of land which was diverted for putting up pre

fabricated structures for providing facilities against the inclement weather

by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board must be restored back.

2. Restoration of the autonomy of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

3. Withdrawal of cases against the protestors.

4. Judicial enquiry in to the criminal misconduct of the local

police in attempting to dispose off the dead body of the martyr Kuldeep

Dogra secretively and shamefully by not allowing the family to observe the

last rites as per Hindu customs and traditions, burning the body with rubber

tyres and the kerosene oil. It was the greatest act of sacrilege.

5. Registration of criminal cases against all other police

officials who have committed atrocities on the innocent protestors and also

their suspension.

6. Compensation to the families of martyrs and also to the

transporters, fruit growers, farmers and traders.

With our utmost regard

-------------------

Interview with Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti President Leela Karan Sharma

Interview with

Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti President

Leela Karan Sharma

'Jammu is treated like a pariah, because we are patriots'
August 27, 2008

The agitation in Jammu over revocation of the allotment of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has taken an unprecedented turn. The only similar mass upsurge was during the Praja Parishad movement in 1952 to end the two dual constitutional provisions (thanks to Article 370) in Jammu and Kashmir that allowed two flags, a separate head of the state and separate laws.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has been supporting the agitation and the Congress's local leaders too have expressed their support for fear of losing Hindu votes. The agitation has seen small children with their mothers and grandmothers coming out on the roads with the tricolour in their hands and demanding that the land be given back to the SASB.
Leela Karan Sharma, 68, a senior advocate of the Jammu and Kashmir high court for 41 years, has been active in every Hindu religious organisation including the Dogra Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha as its vice-president. He emerged on the national stage as president of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, which is leading the mass movement in Jammu for the last two months. His day begins at 6 in the morning and ends past midnight.
The agitation, which took shape on a modest note on June 29, has taken an expanse none had imagined. Can he control the tiger he is riding? Has it contributed more to divide society on communal lines?

He spoke exclusively to Tarun Vijay, director, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.
Image: Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti President

Leela Karan Sharma
http://im.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/27sld1.jpg

'The agitation is an expression of accumulated anger'
August 27, 2008

What was the need to form this Samiti? Was it just the Amarnath land row?
Of course, taking back the land allocated to build facilities for Amarnath pilgrims was a great insult and was the spur for the movement. Now it has become an expression of accumulated anger against the (Kashmir) valley's discrimination for the last 60 years.
In every walk of life, Jammu is treated like a pariah, a discardable part just because we are patriots and lay our lives for the tricolour. As far as the land for Amarnath pilgrims is concerned, it has to be noted that we had not demanded it. It was the government which felt the need and passed the order to allocate land to another government body -- the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.
Still under pressure from the separatists, the government took back its order, which was earlier signed by ministers belonging to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's People's Democratic Party and the Congress. The state government was hesitant to give facilities to the yatris from the beginning.
Also this year, the governor, who is the ex-officio head of the shrine board, was changed midway through the yatra, resulting in confusion and mismanagement.
After the PDP and National Conference opposed the allotment of land, the new governor, N N Vohra, who is an old confidante of Sayeed, unilaterally took back the letter for land allotment to the SASB and handed over the organisation of the yatra back to the state tourism department on June 29.
The same day we decided enough is enough and took a vow to wage a battle till the land was given back to the SASB.
Did you anticipate this kind of response?
No, this has become the largest-ever mass movement I have ever seen. It's beyond my imagination. Children, old men, ladies and youngsters, all are on the road and it has become a self-propelled agitation growing every day. People are using novel ways and innovative methods to make it more effective.
'We have the support of various Muslim organisations'
August 27, 2008

It is alleged the movement has communal overtones.
It is all the propaganda of the valley's lie masters and Delhi's politicians who would have liked this movement to become a Hindu-Muslim issue. It hasn't so they are baffled and disappointed. No one believes the calumnious charges against us because we have the full support of various Muslim organisations like the Muslim Front, Jammu Kashmir Muslim Federation and Gujjar and Bakkarwal Muslim groups.
Apart from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the doctors association, bar association, engineers, other professionals active in various fields like IT, women's groups, Sikhs -- everyone has come out to support us unequivocally. The BJP and Congress, both are supporting us locally. Congress MLAs and MPs have publicly pledged their support to our demands.
Why did you block roads that take essential supplies to the valley?
We had only appealed for a Chakka Jam (blockade). Immediately, the army was deployed and supplies to the valley were restored. But no one speaks about the stoppage of supplies to Jammu. Why? We are still facing difficulties and essential daily needs are still not coming to Jammu.
In the valley, the separatists go on anti-India strikes every other day and life comes to a standstill. Nobody complains then, because the strike is against India.
When we agitate for securing national integrity and the honour of the tricolour, they complain. Secondly, people are not told that the separatists beat up truck drivers carrying supplies and burnt some trucks too.
'The separatists are blackmailing Delhi'
August 27, 2008

Have you seen the eruption in the valley? They say you are the reason behind revival of the anti-India agitation in the valley?
As if before the Amarnathji Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, they were great patriots and held the Indian tricolour high? Every now and then, for the last 60 years, these separatists have used their affinity to Pakistan to blackmail Delhi.
The central government must allow them to leave Kashmir if they are so keen to go to Pakistan. They will surely be treated worse than the Muhajirs were treated. Even US has changed policies toward them after 9/11. They can't get better opportunities outside India.
Don't you think if Jammu and Kashmir remains friendly to each other it helps the national interest?
Indian interests are served only when India lives in the valley. To safeguard Indian interests, the Centre will have to take Jammu's help. You have to strengthen Jammu to strengthen India in this region. After all, how long will we have to suffer because we are patriots?
Kashmir has become the gateway of terrorism in India. Someday this was going to happen and now is the time to take proper remedial measures without any fear.
Are you not being led by a political party? What's the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP? Why did you stop BJP leaders from joining your rally?
We are a completely non-political movement supported by all parties, organisations and ideologies. We did not stop any leader of the BJP as none was coming, but have issued a clarification that for the August 23 rally we have not invited any BJP leader.
What's the next course of action? What will make Jammu return to normal?
We are beginning a complete non-cooperation movement on the Gandhian pattern and no Jammu citizen will pay taxes to the government.
As far as the solution is concerned, since day one we have just one demand -- give back the land to the SASB and we will take back the agitation.

Image: All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, other leaders and supporters during a march towards the United Nations office in Srinagar on August 18 to demand that the UN recognise their right to self-determination.

Photograph: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images.
http://im.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/27sld4.jpg

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/27sld1.htm

Separatism is unacceptable

Separatism is unacceptable

Claude Arpi

In the past fortnight, several senior commentators have decided it is time to accept the separatists' demand for self-determination in the Kashmir Valley. One commentator has written, "As a liberal, I dislike ruling people against their will... Let Kashmiris decide the outcome, not the politicians and Armies of India and Pakistan... The parallels between British rule in India and Indian rule in Kashmir have become too close for my comfort."Such reasoning is fallacious. To "dislike ruling people against their will" is not reason enough to let parts of India secede. Don't you think that the people of Arunachal Pradesh often feel neglected by the rulers in Delhi who decide their future without consulting them and 'against their will'? Any 'liberal' (if he/she is honest) will apply the same reasoning to the entire North-East. Should these States also secede? In the 1980s, the Khalistanis in Punjab also felt that Delhi was ruling them 'against their will'. Should Punjab have become independent? As for the 'promised' plebiscite, which is being resurrected by 'liberal' commentators, the UN resolutions of August 1948 and January 1949 were clear and specific. The proposed plebiscite was for all the regions of Jammu & Kashmir. Further it was conditional to the Pakistani troops withdrawing from all the areas it had occupied in the State; and, second, Pakistan withdrawing its tribesmen and nationals not ordinarily resident in these areas from the entire State.For the UN, there was no question of first changing the demography of the occupied areas. To hold a plebiscite after the Kashmir Valley has been cleansed of its Hindu population will only encourage secessionists and terrorists to use similar tactics in other parts of India. Another eminent columnist has written, "If you believe in democracy, then giving Kashmiris the right to self-determination is the correct thing to do... This is India's century. We have the world to conquer -- and the means to do it. Kashmir is a 20th century problem. We cannot let it drag us down and bleed us as we assume our rightful place in the world." This merits only one comment: If India is further dismembered, it is doubtful that the 21st century will be India's century. Allowing Kashmiris to secede is certain to become a precedent for others in India to 'democratically' ask for their right to self-determination. Similar to the position taken by our 'liberals' has been that of the foreign media which has reacted to the recent troubles with its old prediction that 'Kashmir will soon be lost for India". Le Monde quotes Ahmed, a young Kashmiri, as saying, "I prefer to die in the streets shouting 'Long Live Free Kashmir' than in an isolated confinement after being tortured (by the Indian Army)." Ahmed's friends, says Le Monde, threw stones at security forces while screaming, "Indians are dogs." Then, referring to Abhinav Bindra's gold medal, Ahmed says, "But it is in Kashmir that Indians are the best shooters."Le Figaro, in an article headlined "Kashmir bye-bye?", its correspondent spoke of the "beauty of the Valley which nobody questions, though some in India have nonetheless begun to ask themselves if the future of their great democracy is to keep four million Kashmiris against their will. It is a new tune!" The correspondent, however, asked a relevant question: "Why has the Government in New Delhi kept silent and inactive for so long when the tension had already started mounting in July?"The problem is not only the poor leadership of the rulers in Delhi, though nobody can deny that the present crisis has been created by the inept handling of the situation, but also the wily leadership in the Kashmir Valley. If one looks at the history of Jammu & Kashmir, one realises that whenever the Valley has been stricken by famine, war or invasion, it was due to the poor leadership and despotism of its kings, sultans and maharajas. The Chinese pilgrim Hsuan-tsang has described Kashmiris thus: "They are volatile and timid; they are good-looking, but deceitful."The history of Kashmir is a succession of alternating periods when just and fair rulers made the Valley a 'Paradise on Earth' and times when "people were treated as grass", to quote the historian Srivara, one of the authors of Rajatarangini. He describes one of these periods during the 15th century when "accepting bribes was considered by the officers as virtue, oppressing the subjects was regarded as wisdom and the addiction to wine and women was reckoned as happiness".Take the more recent example of Sheikh Abdullah, described by historian S Gopal as "Nehru's old friend, colleague and blood-brother." Sheikh Abdullah was chosen by Jawaharlal Nehru in January 1948 to plead India's case in the UN. Though a member of the official Indian delegation to Lake Success, Abdullah had a secret meeting with US Ambassador Austin, who reported to the US Secretary of State, "It is possible that the principal purpose of Abdullah's visit was to make clear to US that there is a third alternative, namely independence... He made quite a long and impassioned statement on the subject. He said in effect that whether Kashmir went to Pakistan or India, the other dominion would always be against a solution... (Kashmir) is a rich country. He did not want his people torn by dissension between Pakistan and India. It would be much better if Kashmir were independent and could seek American and British aid for development of the country" Thus was the seed 'azadi' planted by Nehru's 'blood-brother'. Adlai Stevenson came to Srinagar to meet Abdullah in May 1953. The creation of an independent 'Sheikdom of Kashmir' was the purpose of the visit. This would perfectly suit American interests by checking the advances of the Chinese in Xinjiang and the Russians in Afghanistan. A 'non-aligned' Nehru could not be considered a reliable ally. At that time, The New York Times published a map hinting at an independent status for the Valley and a few days later, Abdullah asserted in a speech, "It is not necessary that our State should become an appendage of either India or Pakistan."This habit of saying something one day and doing the opposite the next has been characteristic of most of the leaders of Jammu & Kashmir for the past 60 years. Sheikh Abdullah's grandson, Mr Omar Abdullah, recently said in Parliament, "We fought for our land and will continue to fight for our land till our last breath." This same person shamelessly sides with those who say that Hindus are trying to change the demography of the Kashmir Valley by erecting some temporary structures for pilgrims.With a vacillating Centre, a weak Governor, a father-and-daughter duo always ready to pull the carpet from under their partner's feet and the secessionists back in the news after several years, the State of Jammu & Kashmir seems doomed. But not if India were to stand firm and resist those who wish to see the country disintegrate.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit3%2Etxt&counter_img=3

SIMI's secular admirers

SIMI's secular admirers

S Gurumurthy (Pioneer, 27 Aug. 2008)

They will do anything to further their vote-bank politics

A few publicly known facts expose the state of the debate on Islamist terror. After the blast in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Police kept uncovering, defusing dozens of live bombs in Surat that fortunately did not explode. Even as the recovery of such bombs was being telecast live on TV channels on August 5, a Delhi court lifted the ban on SIMI, faulting the UPA Government for providing "no fresh evidence" to continue the ban.

The real story followed after this. Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, the two crutches of the UPA, welcomed the lifting of the ban, saying that the ban itself was wrong in the first place. Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said the court decision was "no set-back" for the Congress! He went one step further and said, "It is the State Governments which are investigating the matter so it's their responsibility to submit the evidence against SIMI to the Union Government," almost implying that no evidence exists against SIMI.

Other secular parties, including those with the NDA, were careful not to fault the Government for allowing the SIMI to escape the charge of terror. Stunned by the court's view that "fresh evidence" of terror was necessary to continue with the ban, the Government rushed to the Supreme Court and got the tribunal's order stayed.

It was in the background of such prevarication on SIMI that the Gujarat Police broke the news on August 16 that it had arrested 10 top SIMI activists who had masterminded the Gujarat blasts; and also the blasts in Rajasthan and elsewhere. It also came out with the irrefutable story of how the terrorists conspired.

When the 'secularists' were handing out a negative certificate of good conduct to SIMI, thanks to the court order, a study by the Institute of Conflict Management, headed by KPS Gill, had already catalogued over a hundred incidents from 2000 to July 2008 that characterised SIMI as a terror outfit. Its cadre had been charged as motivators and perpetrators in major terror attacks between 2002-08. State Governments, including the Congress and Communist, and the UPA at the Centre, had told courts and Parliament at different times that SIMI was an anti-national, terrorist organisation; that it was linked to Lashker-e-Tayyeba and other Islamist terror outfits; that huge quantities of arms and ammunition, including RDX, were seized from their hideouts and cadre.

In February 2007, the Supreme Court said that SIMI had not stopped its activities when its counsel pleaded that after 2003 there was no evidence to link it to anti-national activities. Moreover, the Maharashtra Police had alleged in a chargesheet that SIMI was linked to Pakistan.

After it was founded in 1977 for the propagation of Islam and jihad in the cause of Islam, how did SIMI grow to this menacing proportions? The answer is pretty simple. It received open and clandestine political patronage from the 'seculars'.

The NDA Government first banned SIMI in September 2001 and extended the ban thereafter in 2003 which continued till September 2005. The UPA Government, which came to power in 2004, did not extend the ban when it expired in September 2005, thus helping to revive a disintegrating SIMI.

But why did the UPA not continue the ban? Because the Congress had opposed the first ban on SIMI in 2001. It was Mr Salman Kurshid, president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, who was the counsel defending SIMI in the High Court and in the Supreme Court against the ban.

See how these secular admirers of SIMI defended the terror outfit that was anti-secular, anti-democracy, anti-India. The Government of the very same party had to re-impose the ban in 2006 after its own Maharashtra Government found SIMI involved in the Mumbai train bombings. But this was after SIMI had grown to gigantic proportions.

Yet, even now Congress president Sonia Gandhi has not uttered a single word against SIMI. Does it mean that she admires it? Or she is so saintly that, like one of the three noble monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi, she sees no evil, whether it is SIMI or LTTE or Nalini or Afzal -- the RSS and its allies being the only exceptions.

http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=oped&file_name=opd3.txt&counter_img=3

Kandhamal murders of 5 Hindu swamin: Christist terrorists arrested

The police have arrested Pradesh Kumar Das, an employee of the World Vision, a Christian Charity, from Khadagpur while escaping from the district at Buguda. In another drive, two other persons Vikram Digal and William Digal have been arrested from the house of Lal Digal, a local militant Christian, from Nuasahi at Gunjibadi, Nuagaan. They have admitted to having joined a group of 28 other assailants.

Widespread anger in Kandhamal

Pioneer News service | Bhubaneswarj (Aug. 25, 2008)

Orissa bandh today; schools, colleges to remain closed
Naveen announces judicial probe, ex-gratia

Widespread anger was expressed throughout the State over the brutal killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates.

The VHP and Bajrang Dal activists burned tyres and blocked traffic in different parts of the State to ventilate their anger on the failure of the police to give protection to Swamji. He had lodged an FIR on the local police station that his life was under threat and had sought police protection. Within 26 hours of lodging the complaint, he and his disciples were killed at Jalespata Ashram under Tumudibandh block
in Kandhamal district on Saturday night.

Fearing a backlash, the Kandhamal district administration clamped curfew in Phulbani town and prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC throughout the district. All borders of the district were sealed.

However, defying the orders, disciples of the Swami took out the Swami's funeral procession to another ashram at Chakapada, which is nearly 100 km away from Jalespata Ashram. More than 10,000 mourners reportedly accompanied the funeral procession. The funeral procession
went through Jalespata, Tumudibandh, Paramapanka, Baataguda and reached Baliguda at 3 pm. It was supposed to go through Nuaagaan, Sarangagada, Phiringia, Bisipada Chhak and Tikabali to reach his Karmabhumi Chakapada late in night.

The people bid farewell to the departed souls with tears. People in Baliguda could not control their emotions and they even attacked the police and burnt a number of vehicles. Police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Reports reaching Bhubaneswar said the people were dead against the police inaction.

VHP activists allegedly burnt down a Marshal jeep OR 07 G 5882 carrying Sisters at G Udayagiri. The Sisters were allowed to leave the vehicle, said sources. Similarly, hundreds of supporters of Swamiji were moving to Tumudibandh with agitated mood, where his body was kept
for last darshan.

In order to save its face, the district administration suspended the officer-in-charge of the Tumudibandh Police Station. However, it did not calm the anger of local people. They demanded that action should be taken against the District Collector and the SP. "Swamji had himself lodged the FIR. But the district administration could not react promptly to protect the precious lives," said Sudarshan Bhoi, a local of Tumudibandh area.

Reacting over the issue, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal have called for a dawn-to-dusk Orissa bandh. The BJP State unit has announced to support the bandh. In a bid to avoid further violence, the Government has ordered closure of all schools and colleges on Monday.

In order to take stock of the situation, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday morning convened a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat. "All efforts would be made to arrest the culprit," he said, adding that additional police force has been mobilised and combing operation is on to nab the culprit. Police sources said 20 platoons of police force and four companies of CRPF have been mobilised to the spot.

Patnaik also ordered a judicial probe into the incident and announced that Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia would be given to the next of kin of the deceased.

The situation in the tribal dominated Kandhamal district "is tense but under control" after the killing of the VHP activists last night by unidentified attackers, Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar claimed.

Meanwhile, a small thatched structure used as a prayer house was set afire by unidentified persons late on Saturday night at Tentulijhari in Sundargarh district, Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Pranabindu Acharya said.

The police have arrested Pradesh Kumar Das, an employee of the World Vision, a Christian Charity, from Khadagpur while escaping from the district at Buguda. In another drive, two other persons Vikram Digal and William Digal have been arrested from the house of Lal Digal, a local militant Christian, from Nuasahi at Gunjibadi, Nuagaan. They have admitted to having joined a group of 28 other assailants.

http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front_page&file_name=story5

J&K ex-Governor blames PDP, media roles in Amarnath row

J&K ex-Governor blames PDP, media roles in Amarnath row
Chandigarh (PTI): Former J&K Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha on Sunday took on the PDP for its so-called anti-national role while blaming the media for "misleading and misinforming" the public on the sensitive Amarnath land row.
Alleging that Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was opposed to the length of the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine, Sinha said the former Chief Minister and PDP patron placed prefabricated structures along the Baltal route and continuously resisted his work as chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
In his 90-minute keynote address at a seminar on "Shri Amarnath Land Transfer -- Implications of Revocation" organised here by the Forum on Integrated National Security, Sinha blamed the media, too, for its irresponsible coverage of the issue.
"I can understand the Valley press being prejudiced and engaging in yellow journalism but the national media has been misleading public opinion on this issue which is a matter of great concern," he said.
Sinha said vested interests are trying to portray the decision of land transfer to SASB as one made by him "whereas the truth is that the state cabinet in May this year had unanimously approved of land being given to the Board."
Separatists are whipping up the sentiments of Kashmiri citizens against the transfer, he said, by projecting it as a step to facilitate permanent settlement of Hindus and one that could potentially change the demography of the Valley.
Sinha also blamed the Centre for going into an "overdrive" with its "appeasement policy and hurried revoking of the order."
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200808101867.htm

'Land row conflict between nationalist and anti-national forces'

'Land row conflict between nationalist and anti-national forces'
New Delhi (PTI): Accusing the PDP of misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir, former state Governor S K Sinha on Saturday described the Amarnath land row as a conflict between nationalist and anti-national forces.
"PDP is considered as pro-India party. But they lead march to Muzafarrabad. Despite knowing fully well about the Baltal land, they are busy misleading the people," Sinha said on the sidelines of a function here.
He said the PDP ministers had given clearance for the transfer of land after proposals were made by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in 2005.
"This proposal was considered by the government for three long years and finally cleared by two cabinet ministers belonging to PDP. Later, the PDP jumped on the bandwagon with extremists to fuel communal sentiments," he said delivering the first Field Marshal Manekshaw memorial lecture here.
Claiming that the decision to revoke the order of land given to the Amarnath Shrine board by the government was "illegal and and violating Hight Court order", Sinha said, "it is opportunist politicians like Mufti Mohammad Sayed who hijacked attempts to promote liberal and modern outlook and cater to fanatic outlook".
Terming the Amarnath land row as a "non-issue" picked up by the extremists, he said "the present conflict in Jammu and Kashmir is not between Hindus and Muslims as such, but between nationalist and anti-national forces".
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200808162070.htm

Congress mocks at nationalist Indians

Congress mocks at nationalist Indians

Callous comment

The Pioneer Edit Desk


The Prime Minister is absolutely right when he says that political parties should be mindful about the situation that prevails in Jammu & Kashmir and rise above partisan politics to tackle an issue of national importance. There is, however, a problem with such assertions: Unless those who preach a non-partisan approach to solving national problems practice it themselves, they tend to be ignored. Hence, it is not surprising that the Prime Minister's comments have not fetched a supportive response, either in Delhi or in Jammu, leave alone Srinagar. For, the Prime Minister appears to be unmindful of the fact, either deliberately or due to lack of comprehension, that his own party has played the most duplicitous role ever since trouble erupted over the Jammu & Kashmir Government's decision to allot -- and not hand over -- 97 acres of land at Baltal to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board, a creation of the same Government, for setting up temporary facilities for pilgrims who trek to the hill shrine every year. Rather than stand up to the separatists and Islamists who blew the entire issue out of proportion, described the annual yatra as an unwanted 'Hindu cultural' intrusion, and claimed it was aimed at diluting the Muslim majority character of the Kashmir Valley, the Congress chose to appease them through a pliant Governor eager to please his political patrons in Delhi. Having committed that original sin, it now pretends great surprise at the fallout in Jammu and elsewhere in the country, while the Prime Minister waxes eloquent on the need to rise above partisan politics, slyly hinting that the problem is the creation of 'others' and not the Congress. Worse, instead of feeling contrite for its monumental blunder, the Congress continues to poke nationalists in the eye, describing the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti and the All-Party Hurriyat Conference as the two sides of the same coin. Are we then to believe that the Congress, to which the Prime Minister owes his job, cannot distinguish between the Indian tricolour and the Pakistani flag? For, while the protesters in Jammu -- including Muslims -- have been proudly holding aloft the Indian tricolour, the Hurriyat's followers have been waving the Pakistani flag and carrying posters of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Nationalists and separatists, common sense would suggest, can never be the two sides of the same coin. But such is the decline of the Congress that even common sense eludes the party; as for the Prime Minister, who is given to thinking out of the box, he is happy to indulge in banalities and thus believe he has done his job.


If such be the attitude of the party that rules India and the Prime Minister who presides over the Union Government, then we can only look forward to further grief. It would be futile to expect the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti to scale back its protest and sit across the negotiating table. It would be equally futile to expect the separatists to be told where they get off. The fact of the matter is that the Prime Minister's perception of Jammu & Kashmir is at variance with India's belief that it is an integral part of this nation. The Congress has no perception other than abiding faith in it capacity to appease Islamic fanatics; it perceives capitulation before separatists as a solution to the problem, rather than strengthening those who hate India and despise the very idea of India. The least that is expected of the Prime Minister and his party is that they will desist from ridiculing nationalist Indians.

http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit1.txt&counter_img=1

Tricolour in hand, protesters shout 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'

Tricolour in hand, protesters shout 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'
Kumar Uttam Jammu (August 21, 2008)
The sun is about to set on the city and the roundabout is deserted. A youth suddenly emerges from one of the bylanes, carrying a National Flag in his hand and shouting slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". Soon, the solitary protest at Kacchi Chhawani Chowk in 'paralaysed' Jammu turns into a mass frenzy as hundreds join him to express solidarity for a cause that has gone far beyond the Amarnath land row.


In fact, the Tricolour has united people in this winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir to fight the "neglect" they faced in the last 60 years. The controversy over allotment of a land plot to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was a mere flashpoint. "We raised the Tricolour and were greeted with bullets. They (separatists) in Kashmir hoisted Pakistan's flag and brought the Government to its knees. It will not be allowed to continue any more," thunders Subhash Dogra, a protester.

Everyone in Jammu has suddenly turned leader, brushing aside allegations that "communal elements" are controlling the movement. "We are leaders in ourselves. Nobody is leading us. We are ready to face problems today to ensure a better future for the generations," adds Gurpreet Singh, owner of a few taxis. Though he has been getting no business for 50 days, he is ready to bear the losses for "many more months" but not the humiliation at the hands of the Government.

Everyone in Jammu has just one complaint. "Kashmir wants freedom, we love our country. They got everything, we were left empty-handed," people living in the Mishriwalla refugee camp on the Jammu-Akhnoor highway say.

A senior employee in the Divisional Commissioner's office revealed more. "You don't get promotions on time if you are not from the valley. Jammu has more population and area, but Kashmir gets better representation in all Government bodies and organisations. Jammu contributes the most to the State's exchequer, but Kashmir reaps the benefits. Electricity dues are more in Kashmir, but Jammu faces power cuts," he told The Pioneer.

The Amarnath controversy has come in handy for all those who nurse the "wound of neglect". They are in no double minds -- the Government revoked the allotment of the land to the shrine board for a Hindu yatra under pressure from the same separatists whom they have been appeasing since Independence.

"We have to restore the pride of Baba Amarnath and that of Jammu. We are not going to be defeated at the hands of the anti-nationals. We will be on the roads until the target is achieved," says 80-year-old Anil Sharma, as he and his grandson Ankit raise slogan of 'Bam Bam Bhole' outside Sarwal police post in Rewari locality.

Police have lost public sympathy (they allegedly fired at peaceful protesters and manhandled many) and the Army faces a situation it never confronted before. "How can you expect us to fire at them or even wield a lathi when they come with a Tricolour in their hands and shout slogans in favour of us?" says an Armyman posted in the most sensitive Kacchi Chhawani Chowk of Jammu.

Jammu has been simmering for the last 60 years. It for the first time they have been heard.

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Jammu launches 'civil disobedience movement'

Jammu launches 'civil disobedience movement'Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar August 20, 2008 21:49 IST
Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (AYSS) on Wednesday announced the launch of civil disobedience movement in Jammu region.

A spokesman of the AYSS in a statement called upon the people of Jammu to stop paying taxes like VAT, token tax, passenger tax and charges for services like electricity and water supply.

The Samiti also announced to unleash new forms of protests like 'carrying out the funeral procession of the Central government' on Thursday and Chaka Jam on August 25, to press its demand for the restoration of land to the shrine board in the Kashmir valley's Baltel area.
The AYSS statement came at the end of the day, which saw large scale violence and arson in parts of Jammu city.
During today's violence, protestors clashed with police and later torched a police post at Sarwal, some government buildings besides ransacking a quarter allotted to a senior BJP leader in the Gandhi Nagar locality of Jammu city, despite a round-the-clock curfew in the city.
Curfew was imposed last evening after mob violence in the city. In today's clashes 50 people including 10 policemen were wounded in parts of winter capital.
Thousands of children accompanied by their parents courted arrest in various parts of the city on the third and the last day of the Jail Bharo Andolan.
National Security Advisor M K Narayanan reviewed the Jammu and Kashmir situation with governor, N. N. Vohra, advisor, Sudhir Bleoria and other senior officers of the central and the state governments.
In the meeting, lasting over three hours, issues pertaining to the situation in Jammu and in Kashmir were discussed in detail.
These included law and order, security, public distribution system and measures related to the strengthening of the administrative machinery down to the tehsil and block level.
It was decided to facilitate discussions with all groups and parties which were protesting.
Narayan, accompanied by defence secretary, Vijay Singh, chairman joint intelligence committee, H Upadayay, director intelligence bureau, PC Haldar and the joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Sanjay Mitra, was here on a day-long visit.
Among those Narayan met included senior officers of the Army, the three advisors to the governor, besides senior civil and police officers of the state government. http://www.rediff.com//news/2008/aug/20amar3.htm
Colours of patriotism paint Jammu

Kashmir on the Boil

Kashmir on the Boil by Col. (Ret'd) T.K. Tikoo on 07-01-2008 IAKF foreign correspondent and Retired Indian Army Colonel, T.K. Tikoo, responds in detail to the outrageous claims of the separatist Kashmiri elements regarding the recent proposed land allotment for Amarnath pilgrims. The political situation in Kashmir valley is reminiscent of the events of 1990, when lakhs of Kashmiri Muslims came out on the streets shouting themselves hoarse with “Hum kya chahte Aazadi” (we want independence). Ostensibly, these protests are against Indian “moves” to change the demography of Kashmir and a mass movement to preserve its ecology, as Mufti Mohammed Sayed and his Hurriyat masters would have the gullible press and ill informed Indian leadership to believe. None of these causes will stand close scrutiny. The protests are well orchestrated and thoughtfully timed to serve a purely political purpose. That Mufti is merely his master’s (Hurriyat) voice is, by now, well known and widely documented. Remember the last Assembly elections? It was an open secret that PDP was supported by the militants. Sometimes their support was so brazen that opposing candidate’s movement and campaigning in a given area would be seriously threatened by jihadis, whereas Mehbooba and her candidates would not only be provided security by them, but even the crowds would be brought to her public meetings, by employing coercive methods to frighten the common people in favor of PDP.Mufti feels that having Hurriyat and their assorted militant outfits behind him will ensure his victory over National Conference, which is bound to pose a huge challenge to his PDP in the ensuing elections to the State Assembly. With hardly any presence outside the Valley, winning enough seats in the Valley is the only way he can retain his political relevance in the State politics. This he could do by raising an emotive issue that would fire up the jihadis, who have, over a period of time, been losing relevance as peace and normalcy are increasingly being embraced by the people at large, the anti-Indian Hurriyat, the Islamists who would not want the kafirs to desecrate the “Islamic” soil of Kashmir, and the “Azadi” seekers for whom presence of Hindus from outside, even though for only a short pilgrimage, is an existential threat. That such a course of action would create a serious communal tension in the state and outside does not matter to Mufti, who at one time was India’s Home Minister. Allocation of 40 hectares of forest land at Baltal to SASB (Shri Amarnath Shrine Board) had all the ingredients required to rouse passions. The issue, therefore, came handy to the scheming rabble rouser. Let us examine the issue on its merits.These 40 hectares of land in Baltal area are required to erect prefabricated shelters to house the pilgrims (yatris) during the two months of the pilgrimage (yatra) period. These are not steel and concrete shelters that have the potential to disturb the ecology of the area. In any case, this area remains under a thick blanket of snow for 8 months in a year. For the bulk of the year the weather remains harsh and the terrain is no less treacherous. Living there on a permanent basis is unimaginable. Even the hardy bakarwals (shepherds) who are used to living in such difficult conditions vacate this area in winter. Therefore, in no way can Hindus be settled there on a permanent basis with a long-term aim of changing the demography of Kashmir. Anyone who knows even a little of Indian/Kashmiri politics and the Valley’s ecology will find both arguments for Kashmiri agitation (changing demography and ruining Kashmir’s ecology) laughable. But what certainly is not laughable is the fact that the Kashmiri genius for manipulating media and public opinion through sustained a disinformation campaign is once again proving as effective as ever.Kashmiri’s sudden love for preserving Kashmir’s ecology is rather intriguing. For God sake, please ask them what did they do with Anchar lake, Manasbal lake, Dal lake, Nagin lake, the great Wullar lake and thousands of water bodies (locally called “mars”). As far as Anchar lake is concerned, it does not even exist now. Nagin, Manasbal, Dal and Wullar lakes have shrunk drastically. This happened only because of a lack of Kashmiri’s concern for preserving these magnificent jewels that once had given Kashmir its distinct identity as paradise on earth and the Switzerland of the East.Coupled with this lack of concern has been their greed. For years the local vegetable vendors and boatmen living on the edges of these lakes would deliberately dump all the dirt and junk into these lakes. Over a period of time, small floating islands would form. These would be exploited for growing vegetables and flowers for commercial purpose. A few more years of farming would firm these up as proper islands, ready to be gobbled up as prime property. As the ever increasing pressure of population on land multiplied, these islands became prime pieces of real estate for constructing houses. This is how Dal Lake has shrunk to a third of its size now. The same is true of other lakes as well. Such is the concern of locals towards its ecology that a couple of years back a German tourist was so moved by the plight of the Dal lake that he spent his own money, time and effort to clean up the Dal! This event was covered by both local and national media.Similar has been the fate of the Boulevard that skirts the Dal lake. It has lost its pristine beauty as one of the most magnificent stretches of walkways anywhere in the world. This beautiful road that circumvents the Dal lake is now dotted with residential houses, hotels, restaurants, shops, kiosks, etc. thus ruining the whole picturesque stretch between the Zaffarwan mountains and the Dal lake. The readers might recall that many years ago, Shri Jagmohan, the ex-governor of the State, had made a city forest on the northeast side of the famous Shankaracharya hill to enable the forest to serve as the “lungs of the city”. And what fate did it meet? Farooq Abdullah, who followed him as the State’s Chief Minister, turned it into a golf course, in the process cutting lakhs of trees and saplings that had been planted there for creating this city forest. Similarly, there was no hue and cry when many years ago a road was constructed from the base to the top of Shankaracharya hill and a huge monstrous communication tower was erected there to permanently scar Srinagar city’s precious landmark. And what has happened to Devi Angan (Godess’s lawn) surrounding the revered Hari Parbat? The lush green stretch has been so wantonly encroached upon that nothing much is left of it.Even lately, huge chunks of forest land were given to Indian Railways to lay the track. Forest land was also given to various telecom companies to erect towers. A similar gesture was shown towards Jammu and Kashmir and Power Corporation. But there were no protests. Why? Because the local Muslims stood to gain from these projects. The prefabricated shelters at Domail will be only used by Hindus—hence, this hue and cry.Numerous other examples can be quoted to refute the “ecological degradation” arguments. Significant ecological damage occurred when huge areas of forest land were sacrificed to construct the medieval Mughal road connecting the Muslim majority districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Kashmir valley via Lohran Mandi, across Pir Panjal to Suphiyan in the Valley. I myself have witnessed the ecological disaster that the construction of this road has entailed, wherein 10,000 trees till date have been cut, wildlife sanctuaries disturbed, and the fragile ecosystem damaged by blasting and blacktopping the newly laid road. Unlike installation of pre-fabricated shelters at Baltal for temporary occupation during two months in a year, which causes no ecological damage, blacktopped roads and constant vehicular movements on these roads passing through a fragile ecosystem is causing permanent ecological degradation.Many years ago Kashmir’s wonderful waterway known as the Nallai Mar, a la Athens’ inland waterway system, was filled up to create a monstrous road to please anti-national elements living in what is traditionally regarded as the hub of pro-Pakistani activity. During the past two decades of militancy in the Valley, hundreds of thousands of centuries-old deodar and other rare trees were cut. From these, millions of cubic feet of wood were smuggled out and sold to finance the militancy as well as fill up the coffers of unscrupulous elements. But there were no protests, no hartal, no withdrawal of support from the Government. So much for the Kashmiri concern for the Valley’s ecology! Everyone worked in tandem to make a fast buck—Kashmir’s ecology be damned.Let us now examine the truth regarding the sinister propaganda by the PDP/Hurriyat nexus about the supposed ulterior motive of the Central government to change the demography of the Kashmir Valley by settling down Hindus from elsewhere in India. Take the case of Kashmir’s own history. It changed from a 100% Hindu dominated place till as late as the 14th century to what is today a 100% Muslim dominated area. Even after the British handed over power to so-called Hindus (Dogras), the latter could not ensure the safety and security of a few lakh Hindus who lived in Kashmir at the time of Independence. These few lakh Hindus were an eyesore to the Muslims. They were mercilessly cleansed from the Valley in 1990 to ensure that the Valley belonged to Allah and his believers. This is the reality of Muslim states all over the world. In 1947, a large number of Hindus, who were uprooted from Sialkot and nearby areas, sought refuge in Jammu. Till date these people are treated as refugees. In the 1971 war, Pakistan captured some areas of Chhamb sector of the State. Refugees poured into Jammu. Till today they have not been rehabilitated. They continue to live as refugees without any rights whatsoever. In contrast, India did not change the demography of the Valley even when Pakistan lay prostrate after its comprehensive defeat in 1971 war. That says much for its intentions.Let us now turn to India at large. Rather than changing the demography of the Muslim inhabited districts in various parts of the country into completely Hindu dominated districts, it is the opposite that has happened. As per the census report of 1991-2000, the Muslim population has increased by approximately 33%, compared to the Hindu population increase of only 22%. During the same period, the Hindu population has decreased from 85% of the overall population to 80%. On the other hand, the Muslim population has increased from 11% to over 13% of the overall population. Please note that this does not include the states of Assam and J&K, where no census could be held. If this was done, the percentage growth would show an even higher increase. Rather than changing the demography of India in favor of Hindus, our ‘secular governments’ have over the decades welcomed millions of Bangladeshi Muslims to settle in India, in order to create secure and captive vote banks. In 2001, Shri Inderjit Gupta, India’s Home Minister at that time (a member of Communist Party of India and therefore a supporter of illegal Bangladeshi influx into India), informed the Lok Sabha that 10 million Bangladeshis had settled in India. He was obviously trying to underplay the seriousness of the situation. The fact is that over 20 million Bangladeshis are illegally living in India, in the process turning hundreds of Assembly seats in Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Bihar into Muslim majority constituencies. Latest press reports state that such a situation will replicate itself in UP, Delhi and Mumbai. That is what Hindu-majority India does—change the demography in favor of Muslims and not in the favor of Hindus. Muslims in Kashmir know it well, but they are pretty much sure that the spineless Indian politicians and gullible media will buy their arguments lock, stock and barrel.Muslim politicians from the Valley, when in government, have never felt shy of playing communal politics, as long as it has helped the Ummah. On the other hand, Hindu politicians dare not use the government machinery to help Hindu interests, even if for completely legitimate purposes. Take the case of Mata Vaishno Devi University in Jammu—the university was set up by the Vaishno Devi Trust using funds collected from pilgrims. The Trust had to shell out Rs 13 crores to buy land at commercial rates. On the other hand, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, set up as a countermove in Rajouri, was funded by the State Wakf Council headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayyed, who also gave it a huge chunk of forest land, free of cost.Epilogue One does not have to be a genius to forecast the result of the ongoing unrest. You guessed right—India has lived up to its reputation of “preferring to crawl when it was merely asked to bend.” The newly appointed Governor has practically dissolved the SASB, returned the land and handed over the yatra back to the state government.Mera Bharat Mahan!http://www.iakf.org/main/index.php?module=article&view=236&lay_quiet=1

Kashmir on the Boil

Kashmir on the Boil by Col. (Ret'd) T.K. Tikoo on 07-01-2008 IAKF foreign correspondent and Retired Indian Army Colonel, T.K. Tikoo, responds in detail to the outrageous claims of the separatist Kashmiri elements regarding the recent proposed land allotment for Amarnath pilgrims. The political situation in Kashmir valley is reminiscent of the events of 1990, when lakhs of Kashmiri Muslims came out on the streets shouting themselves hoarse with “Hum kya chahte Aazadi” (we want independence). Ostensibly, these protests are against Indian “moves” to change the demography of Kashmir and a mass movement to preserve its ecology, as Mufti Mohammed Sayed and his Hurriyat masters would have the gullible press and ill informed Indian leadership to believe. None of these causes will stand close scrutiny. The protests are well orchestrated and thoughtfully timed to serve a purely political purpose. That Mufti is merely his master’s (Hurriyat) voice is, by now, well known and widely documented. Remember the last Assembly elections? It was an open secret that PDP was supported by the militants. Sometimes their support was so brazen that opposing candidate’s movement and campaigning in a given area would be seriously threatened by jihadis, whereas Mehbooba and her candidates would not only be provided security by them, but even the crowds would be brought to her public meetings, by employing coercive methods to frighten the common people in favor of PDP.Mufti feels that having Hurriyat and their assorted militant outfits behind him will ensure his victory over National Conference, which is bound to pose a huge challenge to his PDP in the ensuing elections to the State Assembly. With hardly any presence outside the Valley, winning enough seats in the Valley is the only way he can retain his political relevance in the State politics. This he could do by raising an emotive issue that would fire up the jihadis, who have, over a period of time, been losing relevance as peace and normalcy are increasingly being embraced by the people at large, the anti-Indian Hurriyat, the Islamists who would not want the kafirs to desecrate the “Islamic” soil of Kashmir, and the “Azadi” seekers for whom presence of Hindus from outside, even though for only a short pilgrimage, is an existential threat. That such a course of action would create a serious communal tension in the state and outside does not matter to Mufti, who at one time was India’s Home Minister. Allocation of 40 hectares of forest land at Baltal to SASB (Shri Amarnath Shrine Board) had all the ingredients required to rouse passions. The issue, therefore, came handy to the scheming rabble rouser. Let us examine the issue on its merits.These 40 hectares of land in Baltal area are required to erect prefabricated shelters to house the pilgrims (yatris) during the two months of the pilgrimage (yatra) period. These are not steel and concrete shelters that have the potential to disturb the ecology of the area. In any case, this area remains under a thick blanket of snow for 8 months in a year. For the bulk of the year the weather remains harsh and the terrain is no less treacherous. Living there on a permanent basis is unimaginable. Even the hardy bakarwals (shepherds) who are used to living in such difficult conditions vacate this area in winter. Therefore, in no way can Hindus be settled there on a permanent basis with a long-term aim of changing the demography of Kashmir. Anyone who knows even a little of Indian/Kashmiri politics and the Valley’s ecology will find both arguments for Kashmiri agitation (changing demography and ruining Kashmir’s ecology) laughable. But what certainly is not laughable is the fact that the Kashmiri genius for manipulating media and public opinion through sustained a disinformation campaign is once again proving as effective as ever.Kashmiri’s sudden love for preserving Kashmir’s ecology is rather intriguing. For God sake, please ask them what did they do with Anchar lake, Manasbal lake, Dal lake, Nagin lake, the great Wullar lake and thousands of water bodies (locally called “mars”). As far as Anchar lake is concerned, it does not even exist now. Nagin, Manasbal, Dal and Wullar lakes have shrunk drastically. This happened only because of a lack of Kashmiri’s concern for preserving these magnificent jewels that once had given Kashmir its distinct identity as paradise on earth and the Switzerland of the East.Coupled with this lack of concern has been their greed. For years the local vegetable vendors and boatmen living on the edges of these lakes would deliberately dump all the dirt and junk into these lakes. Over a period of time, small floating islands would form. These would be exploited for growing vegetables and flowers for commercial purpose. A few more years of farming would firm these up as proper islands, ready to be gobbled up as prime property. As the ever increasing pressure of population on land multiplied, these islands became prime pieces of real estate for constructing houses. This is how Dal Lake has shrunk to a third of its size now. The same is true of other lakes as well. Such is the concern of locals towards its ecology that a couple of years back a German tourist was so moved by the plight of the Dal lake that he spent his own money, time and effort to clean up the Dal! This event was covered by both local and national media.Similar has been the fate of the Boulevard that skirts the Dal lake. It has lost its pristine beauty as one of the most magnificent stretches of walkways anywhere in the world. This beautiful road that circumvents the Dal lake is now dotted with residential houses, hotels, restaurants, shops, kiosks, etc. thus ruining the whole picturesque stretch between the Zaffarwan mountains and the Dal lake. The readers might recall that many years ago, Shri Jagmohan, the ex-governor of the State, had made a city forest on the northeast side of the famous Shankaracharya hill to enable the forest to serve as the “lungs of the city”. And what fate did it meet? Farooq Abdullah, who followed him as the State’s Chief Minister, turned it into a golf course, in the process cutting lakhs of trees and saplings that had been planted there for creating this city forest. Similarly, there was no hue and cry when many years ago a road was constructed from the base to the top of Shankaracharya hill and a huge monstrous communication tower was erected there to permanently scar Srinagar city’s precious landmark. And what has happened to Devi Angan (Godess’s lawn) surrounding the revered Hari Parbat? The lush green stretch has been so wantonly encroached upon that nothing much is left of it.Even lately, huge chunks of forest land were given to Indian Railways to lay the track. Forest land was also given to various telecom companies to erect towers. A similar gesture was shown towards Jammu and Kashmir and Power Corporation. But there were no protests. Why? Because the local Muslims stood to gain from these projects. The prefabricated shelters at Domail will be only used by Hindus—hence, this hue and cry.Numerous other examples can be quoted to refute the “ecological degradation” arguments. Significant ecological damage occurred when huge areas of forest land were sacrificed to construct the medieval Mughal road connecting the Muslim majority districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Kashmir valley via Lohran Mandi, across Pir Panjal to Suphiyan in the Valley. I myself have witnessed the ecological disaster that the construction of this road has entailed, wherein 10,000 trees till date have been cut, wildlife sanctuaries disturbed, and the fragile ecosystem damaged by blasting and blacktopping the newly laid road. Unlike installation of pre-fabricated shelters at Baltal for temporary occupation during two months in a year, which causes no ecological damage, blacktopped roads and constant vehicular movements on these roads passing through a fragile ecosystem is causing permanent ecological degradation.Many years ago Kashmir’s wonderful waterway known as the Nallai Mar, a la Athens’ inland waterway system, was filled up to create a monstrous road to please anti-national elements living in what is traditionally regarded as the hub of pro-Pakistani activity. During the past two decades of militancy in the Valley, hundreds of thousands of centuries-old deodar and other rare trees were cut. From these, millions of cubic feet of wood were smuggled out and sold to finance the militancy as well as fill up the coffers of unscrupulous elements. But there were no protests, no hartal, no withdrawal of support from the Government. So much for the Kashmiri concern for the Valley’s ecology! Everyone worked in tandem to make a fast buck—Kashmir’s ecology be damned.Let us now examine the truth regarding the sinister propaganda by the PDP/Hurriyat nexus about the supposed ulterior motive of the Central government to change the demography of the Kashmir Valley by settling down Hindus from elsewhere in India. Take the case of Kashmir’s own history. It changed from a 100% Hindu dominated place till as late as the 14th century to what is today a 100% Muslim dominated area. Even after the British handed over power to so-called Hindus (Dogras), the latter could not ensure the safety and security of a few lakh Hindus who lived in Kashmir at the time of Independence. These few lakh Hindus were an eyesore to the Muslims. They were mercilessly cleansed from the Valley in 1990 to ensure that the Valley belonged to Allah and his believers. This is the reality of Muslim states all over the world. In 1947, a large number of Hindus, who were uprooted from Sialkot and nearby areas, sought refuge in Jammu. Till date these people are treated as refugees. In the 1971 war, Pakistan captured some areas of Chhamb sector of the State. Refugees poured into Jammu. Till today they have not been rehabilitated. They continue to live as refugees without any rights whatsoever. In contrast, India did not change the demography of the Valley even when Pakistan lay prostrate after its comprehensive defeat in 1971 war. That says much for its intentions.Let us now turn to India at large. Rather than changing the demography of the Muslim inhabited districts in various parts of the country into completely Hindu dominated districts, it is the opposite that has happened. As per the census report of 1991-2000, the Muslim population has increased by approximately 33%, compared to the Hindu population increase of only 22%. During the same period, the Hindu population has decreased from 85% of the overall population to 80%. On the other hand, the Muslim population has increased from 11% to over 13% of the overall population. Please note that this does not include the states of Assam and J&K, where no census could be held. If this was done, the percentage growth would show an even higher increase. Rather than changing the demography of India in favor of Hindus, our ‘secular governments’ have over the decades welcomed millions of Bangladeshi Muslims to settle in India, in order to create secure and captive vote banks. In 2001, Shri Inderjit Gupta, India’s Home Minister at that time (a member of Communist Party of India and therefore a supporter of illegal Bangladeshi influx into India), informed the Lok Sabha that 10 million Bangladeshis had settled in India. He was obviously trying to underplay the seriousness of the situation. The fact is that over 20 million Bangladeshis are illegally living in India, in the process turning hundreds of Assembly seats in Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Bihar into Muslim majority constituencies. Latest press reports state that such a situation will replicate itself in UP, Delhi and Mumbai. That is what Hindu-majority India does—change the demography in favor of Muslims and not in the favor of Hindus. Muslims in Kashmir know it well, but they are pretty much sure that the spineless Indian politicians and gullible media will buy their arguments lock, stock and barrel.Muslim politicians from the Valley, when in government, have never felt shy of playing communal politics, as long as it has helped the Ummah. On the other hand, Hindu politicians dare not use the government machinery to help Hindu interests, even if for completely legitimate purposes. Take the case of Mata Vaishno Devi University in Jammu—the university was set up by the Vaishno Devi Trust using funds collected from pilgrims. The Trust had to shell out Rs 13 crores to buy land at commercial rates. On the other hand, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, set up as a countermove in Rajouri, was funded by the State Wakf Council headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayyed, who also gave it a huge chunk of forest land, free of cost.Epilogue One does not have to be a genius to forecast the result of the ongoing unrest. You guessed right—India has lived up to its reputation of “preferring to crawl when it was merely asked to bend.” The newly appointed Governor has practically dissolved the SASB, returned the land and handed over the yatra back to the state government.Mera Bharat Mahan!http://www.iakf.org/main/index.php?module=article&view=236&lay_quiet=1

Giving Kashmir away? No way

Giving Kashmir away? No wayRajiv Sikri August 21, 2008 15:48 ISTIs it an orchestrated coincidence or random chance that on August 17, two leading national dailies prominently carried commentaries advocating independence for the Kashmir Valley? With surprising ease and lack of angst, each author has argued in favour of secession by part of an integrally constituted state of the Union of India.Tremendous efforts by all the state and non-state personae in Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of India over the last six decades have seen sharp ups and downs, almost see-saw phases in the feelings of alienation followed by assimilation, poverty followed by growing prosperity among the people of this state. The last few years have brought in the most sustained period of political stability, free and fair elections, economic recovery and strengthening integration, achieved through painstaking efforts and sagacity by all players. Heading into the November 2008 state assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir, the separatist groups found themselves on the sidelines, threatened with further irrelevance and declining support should these elections be held as smoothly and with equally wide participation as those in 2002.The Amarnath Yatra land issue that surfaced in June has been extremely poorly handled by the state and central governments at every stage. The nation needs answers and accountability about why in less than two months the marginalised separatist groups are once again being allowed to set the political agenda in the Valley. Why have no efforts been made to explain the reality of the proposed temporary land allocation scheme (for the Amarnath Yatra) to the agitating people in the Kashmir Valley? Why have the strong feelings of every community in Jammu over the cancellation of the allocation been so deliberately ignored and under-estimated? Why is it that even the most elementary efforts were not undertaken to disabuse the people of Kashmir Valley about a so-called economic blockade? If there was at any point the possibility of a shortage of essential supplies for the people of the Kashmir Valley this should have been overcome by arranging sufficient airlifts and/or trucking in such supplies through the alternative Manali-Leh route.At the same time, no matter how serious these lapses, the answer cannot be to suggest that the Kashmir Valley be allowed to secede from India. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of a nation is as much a composite whole as the human body is. If there is an ailing part of the body, you diagnose the problem and take remedial measures, not carelessly, almost casually, suggest an excision and discarding of the offending section.For those who advocate a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir, there are some questions. Do they feel that Jammu and Kashmir legally and constitutionally cannot be considered a part of India? On what basis can there be a referendum in the Kashmir Valley, or separate referenda in Jammu, Ladakh and the Valley? On what basis can "independence" be considered as the so-called third option? Should the proposed referendum be based on the UN resolutions of August 1948 and January 1949? Or are such sentiments the manifestation of a simultaneous bout of exasperation and giving in to the separatists who have been quite unnecessarily allowed to mount pressures in a sudden reversal of the peaceful situation that existed in the state prior to June?The UN resolutions of 1948/49 (adopted by the UN Commission for India and Pakistan) are unequivocal and specific in making the proposed plebiscite in all the five regions of Jammu and Kashmir conditional upon (i) withdrawal of Pakistani troops from all the areas of the state of Jammu and Kashmir that it has occupied (this includes PoK, the Northern Territories and the Shaksgam valley that has been ceded by Pakistan to China); and (ii) the withdrawal by Pakistan, from these occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir, of their tribesmen and nationals not ordinarily resident in these areas. The UN Commission in an aide-memoire issued on January 14, 1949, stated that in the event of Pakistan not implementing these pre-conditions, India's acceptance of the UN resolutions would no longer be binding on them. As recently as March 2001 former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, speaking in Islamabad, accepted the legal and practical difficulties in implementing the UN resolutions and hence their irrelevance. It is evident that the UN resolutions no longer provide any basis for holding referenda either in the Kashmir Valley or in Jammu and Ladakh.Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and will remain so. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir itself recognises this. Any move to hold a referendum in any part of Jammu and Kashmir would contradict the fundamental statement in Section 3 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir that 'the State of Jammu and Kashmir is and shall be an integral part of the Union of India'. Section 147 prohibits any amendment of Section 3 by the state legislature. In any case, India has stringent laws that forbid secessionist activity. It is time that the people of India and all national political parties come out unequivocally against anyone who advocates secessionism. In this context, the print and electronic media too should be more responsible about giving prominence to such views.http://www.rediff.com///news/2008/aug/21guest1.htm

Centre must keep an open mind

Centre must keep an open mind
Listen to protesters
The Pioneer Edit DeskThe Sri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the ongoing protest in Jammu, cannot be faulted for dismissing Wednesday's all-party meeting as "meaningless". In retrospect, it would appear that the meeting, called by the Prime Minister, was meant to provide a platform to Muslim leaders of Kashmir Valley to criticise the protesters and reiterate their communal views under the garb of 'secular' concern. Hence, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah was heard wondering whether his family had done the right thing by deciding to stay back in India after partition while PDP chairperson Mehbooba Mufti was at her shrieking best, hurling invectives at Jammu's Hindu protesters and shedding ersatz tears over the 'plight' of Kashmir's Muslims. Others, not to be outdone by either Mr Farooq Abdullah or Ms Mehbooba Mufti, waxed eloquent on how the protest has turned 'communal' in 'secular' Jammu & Kashmir and similar gobbledygook. Had it not been for the interventions by BJP president Rajnath Singh and his colleague Arun Jaitley, the all-party meeting would have become a conclave for unrestrained Hindu-bashing; since the Prime Minister chose not to set the record straight, we can only assume that this is what he and the Congress had hoped for. Indeed, Mr Jaitley has pithily summed up the crisis that continues to snowball with each passing day: If Muslim-majority Kashmir has a 'psyche' of which we should be mindful, so does Hindu-majority Jammu have a 'psyche', which has been trampled upon in the most grotesque manner by those who insist Jammu & Kashmir is only about pandering to the Valley's Muslims. Governor NN Vohra's astonishing decision to snub Hindu aspirations and ignore Hindu sensitivities, obviously to either please his patrons in Delhi or carry out their instruction, by asking the State Government to cancel the order allotting 97 acres of land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board, as well as divesting the board of its responsibilities, is only the latest instance of Jammu's Hindus being given the short shrift in order to appease Kashmir's Muslims. In a sense, the Amarnath shrine land dispute has proved to be the tipping point. Jammu's Hindus, smarting under Srinagar's high-handedness for decades and tired of brazenly biased Governors deaf to their appeals for justice, have decided that enough is enough: Latent, simmering anger has boiled over into uncontrollable rage.However, it is instructive to note that the protest in Jammu remains anchored in nationalism; this is in sharp contrast to violence in Kashmir which is firmly rooted in separatism. Faced with an economic blockade, whose merits are no doubt debatable, the Valley's Muslims are looking towards Muzaffarabad and not New Delhi for succour, and threatening to use the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway to transport their orchard produce -- this is sheer blackmail and must be met without any leniency being shown to them. Seen against this backdrop and in the context of the Congress's partisan politics, it is doubtful whether the proposed all-party delegation, led by Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, will be able to break the deadlock that prevails in Jammu. The protesters have made it abundantly clear that they will settle for nothing less than the land being restored to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board and Mr Vohra being recalled. This is not a maximalist position. If the Government is genuinely interested in an honourable and fair settlement, it should be willing to consider these demands with an open mind.http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit1%2Etxt&counter_img=1