Perverse sense of humour, or reveling in others misery is not my forte. However what transpired last evening on TimesNow, could not resist myself from smirking and must confess enjoying with a fair degree of smugness as Mr. Vinod Sharma of Hindustan Times, was being hauled over the proverbial burning coal, as also the verbal barbs being driven into him by Mr. Mahesh Jethmalani, as if he was a mere Voodoo doll. To watch a Secular Fundamentalist receive his just dessert on Prime time television is a sight to behold.
The spectacle was completed with Mr. Manish Tewari of Congress red in face ranting non stop hoping to drown other voices, how he did not suffer a cardiac arrest will remain a mystery? Guess enough of gloating over these two worthies predicament. I am not a party member of any political outfit. As “Mango man” (Aam Adami) we have been violated so often by the likes of Vinod Sharma and Manish Tewari that it almost seems a natural reaction when some one tears into them and their ilk.
Preamble done and dusted with lets get down to serious business of addressing the issue that is the motivation for this blog.
India confronted near Economic Bankruptcy in 1989 after sustained misrule by Congress for almost 40 long years. Today the same Congress is confronting political bankruptcy. This is highlighted by the choice of Interlocutors appointed for Kashmir. The statement of Mr. Dileep Padgaonkar where he classifies Kashmir as a dispute goes against the very stand of the Government of India and the various statements made at different time on the floor of the Parliament. Refer what the Indian Parliament had unanimously resolved on 22 Nov 1994. Extract “On behalf of the People of India, Firmly declares that- “The state of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means; India has the will and capacity to firmly counter all designs against its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity; and demands that – Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression; and resolves that – all attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely.” The Resolution was unanimously adopted. Mr. Speaker. The Resolution is unanimously passed. February 22, 1994”
Centrality of Pakistan in resolving this is affording a place to a neighbour in our domestic affairs. Even the UN resolution does not acknowledge Pakistan’s role beyond vacating the land illegally occupied by it in 1948.
“1. UN Resolution (Document No. S/1100, Para 75, dated 9th November, 1948) PART I (Cease-fire Order) para B states: “The High Commands of Indian and Pakistan forces agreed to refrain from taking any measures that might augment the military potential of the forces under their control in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. (For the purpose of these proposals “forces under their control shall be considered to include all forces, organized and unorganized, fighting or participating in hostilities on their respective sides).” Here reference to “organized and unorganized, fighting or participating in hostilities” clearly denotes the tribesmen from Pakistan’s side in Pakistan Held Kashmir.
2. Please also refer Part II (Truce Agreement) para A (2) & (3): “(2) The Government of Pakistan will use its best endeavor to secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistan nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purpose of fighting. (3) Pending a final solution the territory evacuated by the Pakistan troops will be administered by the local authorities under the surveillance of the Commission”
“1. UN Resolution (Document No. S/1100, Para 75, dated 9th November, 1948) PART I (Cease-fire Order) para B states: “The High Commands of Indian and Pakistan forces agreed to refrain from taking any measures that might augment the military potential of the forces under their control in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. (For the purpose of these proposals “forces under their control shall be considered to include all forces, organized and unorganized, fighting or participating in hostilities on their respective sides).” Here reference to “organized and unorganized, fighting or participating in hostilities” clearly denotes the tribesmen from Pakistan’s side in Pakistan Held Kashmir.
2. Please also refer Part II (Truce Agreement) para A (2) & (3): “(2) The Government of Pakistan will use its best endeavor to secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistan nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purpose of fighting. (3) Pending a final solution the territory evacuated by the Pakistan troops will be administered by the local authorities under the surveillance of the Commission”
Failure of the Congress to asses and think through before appointing the team is apparent, journalists suffer from an exaggerated self view is not in doubt anymore. Role assigned was that of listening and reporting, role being performed is that of a policy maker with little or no expertise in the area of International relations or the finesse of diplomatese. Yes the debate has been ignited and more will join in. The fact is last evening on TimesNow. Mr.Saifuddin Soz of Congress did concede that perhaps the purpose would have been better served if Mr.Dileep Padgaonkar had not made the remarks. Is this not an indictment of the interlocutor and those who appointed him?
True to form Mr. Vinod Sharma in his blog “Kashmir’s molehills” is being sanctimonious as is his wont. “I’ve never doubted the BJP’s patriotism. What’s suspect is the wisdom it deploys to pursue national interest it tends to see through the prism of Hindutva.” How on earth does he believe that a certification from him is desired or required by BJP. His preference for Congress is not hidden from anyone one of us, yet he for some unknown reasons lives in denial of this fact.
The entire exercise of engaging the various sections of the society in the valley has been vitiated by this one statement and thereafter the obdurate defense mounted by Mr. Padgaonkar. There is a serious need of addressing the grievances of the population of Jammu and Kashmir, not just the valley. Responding to BJP’s objections is the last thing that should occupy the mind of Mr. Padgaonkar he is neither a spokesperson of the Government of India nor is he a partyman of Congress. BJP is a National Party, besides also the principal opposition party and is mandated to question the actions of the Government and its appointed agents.
Task on hand is onerous to digress from it would be detrimental to the well being of the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and India at large. Egos must be kept firmly in check accolades may warm your cockles, criticism is the reverse side of the same coin and does raise your heckles. The added dimension of the anti India tirade by Arundhati Roy and Geelani in Delhi and the coming together of various supporters of disaffected groups on a single platform are portends of difficult times ahead. An over eager neighbour as Pakistan so willing to not just fish but actively support and direct anti India actions makes it all the more imperative for these interlocutors to be focused on their brief , enabling establishment of a lasting peace for the distressed people of Jammu and Kashmir and the valley in particular.
In conclusion if the barometer for disapproval of Mr. Padgaonkar’s remarks and the anti India hate speeches is the Twitter and WWW.Then the judgment is unanimous in both cases. This is Mr. Mishra's take "@rk_misra UPA should realize that even a hint of giving-up on J&K will lead to upheaval & blood bath as we saw during partition. Nation won't accept.”
Ignore the interactive people at your own peril.
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