This January 2020, it is thirty years since the Kashmiri Pundits’ exodus from the Kashmir valley took place. They had suffered grave injustices, violence and humiliation prior to the migration away from the place of their social and cultural roots in Kashmir Valley. The phenomenon of this exodus had been due to the communalization of militancy in Kashmir in the decade of 1980s. While no ruling Government has applied itself enough to ‘solve’ this uprooting of pundits from their roots, there are communal elements who have been aggressively using ‘what about Kashmiri Pundits?’, every time liberal, human rights defenders talk about the plight of Muslim minority in India. This minority is now facing an overall erosion of their citizenship rights.
Time and over again in the aftermath of communal violence in particular, the human rights groups have been trying to put forward the demands for justice and rehabilitation of the victim minority. Instead of being listened to those particularly from Hindu nationalist combine, as a matter of routine shout back, where were you when Kashmiri Pundits were driven away from the Valley? In a way the tragedy being heaped on one minority is being justified in the name of suffering of Pundits and in the process violence is being normalized. This sounds as if two wrongs make a right, as if the suffering Muslim minority or those who are trying to talk in defense of minority rights have been responsible for the pain of Kashmiri Pundits.
During these three, many political formations have come to power, including BJP, Congress, third front and what have you. To begin with when the exodus took place Kashmir was under President’s rule and V. P. Singh Government was in power at the center. This Government had the external support of BJP at that time. Later BJP led NDA came to power for close to six years from 1998, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Then from 2014 it is BJP, with Narerda Modi as PM, with BJP brute majority is in power. Other components of NDA are there to enjoy some spoils of power without any say in the policies being pursued by the Government. Modi is having absolute power with Amit Shah occasionally presenting Modi’s viewpoints.
Those blurting, ‘what about Kashmiri Pundits?’ are using it as a mere rhetoric to hide their communal color. The matters of Kashmir are very disturbing and cannot be attributed to be the making of Indian Muslims as it is being projected in an overt and subtle manner. Today, of course the steps taken by the Modi Government, that of abrogation of Article 370, abolition of clause 35 A, downgrading the status of Kashmir from a state to union territory have created a situation where the return of Kashmiri Pundits may have become more difficult, as the local atmosphere is more stifling and the leaders with democratic potential have been slapped with Public Safety Act, where they can be interned for long time without any answerability to the Courts. The internet had been suspended, communication being stifled in an atmosphere where democratic freedoms are curtailed which makes solution of any problem more difficult.
Kashmir has been a vexed issue where the suppression of the clause of autonomy, leading to alienation led to rise of militancy. This was duly supported by Pakistan. The entry of Al Qaeda elements, who having played their role against Russian army in 1980s entered into Kashmir and communalized the situation in Kashmir. The initial Kashmir militancy was on the grounds of Kashmiriyat. Kashmiriyat is not Islam, it is synthesis of teachings of Buddha, values of Vedant and preaching’s of Sufi Islam. The tormenting of Kashmiri Pundits begins with these elements entering Kashmir.
Also the pundits, who have been the integral part of Kashmir Valley, were urged upon by Goodwill mission to stay on, with local Muslims promising to counter the anti Pundit atmosphere. Jagmohan, the Governor, who later became a minister in NDA Government, instead of providing security to the Pundits thought, is fit to provide facilities for their mass migration. He could have intensified counter militancy and protected the vulnerable Pundit community. Why this was not done?
Today, ‘What about Kashmiri Pundits?’ needs to be given a serious thought away from the blame game or using it as a hammer to beat the ‘Muslims of India’ or human rights defenders? The previous NDA regime (2014) had thought of setting up enclosures of Pundits in the Valley. Is that a solution? Solution lies in giving justice to them. There is a need for judicial commission to identify the culprits and legal measures to reassure the Pundit community. Will they like to return if the high handed stifling atmosphere, with large number of military being present in the area? The cultural and religious spaces of Pundits need to be revived and Kashmiryat has to be made the base of any reconciliation process.
Surely, the Al Qaeda type elements do not represent the alienation of local Kashmiris, who need to be drawn into the process of dialogue for a peaceful Kashmir, which is the best guarantee for progress in this ex-state, now a Union territory. Communal amity, the hallmark of Kashmir cannot be brought in by changing the demographic composition by settling outsiders in the Valley. A true introspection is needed for this troubled area. Democracy is the only path for solving the emigration of Pundits and also of large numbers of Muslims, who also had to leave the valley due to the intimidating militancy and presence of armed forces in large numbers. One recalls Times of India report of 5th February 1992 which states that militants killed 1585 people from January 1990 to October 1992 out of which 982 were Muslims and 218 Hindus.
We have been taking a path where democratic norms are being stifled, and the promises of autonomy which were part of treaty of accession being ignored. Can it solve the problem of Pundits?
Comments
Whatever you do, shout, cry, Islam is the fastest growing religion not only in India, also in the whole world.
Only learned and educated people know about Islam.
corrupt brains talk like this so called sadhvi.
Even a 5 year old boys and girls can understand that there is no Beja (intellect) in them... How come the adult elect such kind of Leaders who bring their intellect to compare with the Monkey... Sometimes monkey show how intelligent they are...
She looks like came from BUDWARPET of Pune....anyway she use to give controversial statements for publicity stunt but she can be well known as an prostitute for adithyanath & others but not anything else....
Bondu ijjandina marl ponjo..... now i laugh to this type of idiotic statements this people dont know that islam will be alive till this earth exists........pity on u uncultured people
We need people like (Trump,Sadvi,Thogadia,Batta,) etc...who really advertise ISLAM.
Their Anger,Aggressiveness,Fear about Islam is clearly shown to the World.
After all what can a Creation do in front of their Creator (Almighty Allah)
We can just help you by Praying to Almighty Allah may to shower his blessings on you people .Ameen.
Its difficult because many non-muslims born to muslim fathers. Only their mother can tell their real fathers.
RSS should conduct DNA test, i hope they will find 99% DNA belongs to MUSLIM LEADERS.
1000 SAAL HAIYAASHI KA NATHIJA HAIN
She looks like road side beggar begging for food...who is she?? look at her.. yuck!!
Dear Prachiji,
good idea. 1.But first of stop buying gas, petrol, diesel from these countries. For that you need to research on cow urine to use as alternative or need to start pushpak viman,as always our PM says, Planes are the ideas from Puransas. 2.Stop exporting to these countries. 3. Bring back all the Indians working in these countries. Let us see how it will work. Do you have the plan to do this? 4. call back External PM or boycott him for visiting muslim countries begging for investment.Simply giving the communal statement and enjoying with the wealth of these people is not good for your health. people are realizing their mistake by voting your party.
India should be free from Sadhus and Sadhvis and should be sent to Singapore to share / taste snake and beef dishes with Naren
This is what BJPians foul mouth has to utter when PM is roaming around the word visiting Muslims countries and Christian countries begging them to invest in India. Poor people does not have any Hindu country to visit other than Nepal. They want Petrol from Muslim countries, they want investments from Muslim countries, they want Beef order from Muslim countries. But, they don't want Indians to live in India.
BJP is a party of such radical communals. They are not even aware that if they harm 1, 10 will be harmed by Creator, harm 2000 then 20000 will be harmed by Creator. Creator is the best planner. Do not forget natural disasters where 1000s perished.
Bap ray Bap wa Wa Parchi Deddi you better Tie with Our Gangasara \Narain\"he intends same stupid thinking, mainly you Saffron Criminal goonda Looter leader your mind is very short, Your Dream is very high but If you want leave in this Country your thinking stupidity's you Deedi never and ever get peace always in Hell of life, you Understand First, Vanishing others you might Vanish First remember this world is far away from your thinking, you thought your Cheela go America kneel down to US President, you can dream anything for long/ way distance but do not happy days, You Buffoon's definitely get your own day one or other day Parchi."
This only dream......in future it will be vice versa
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