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
Haha gabbu beary ...aithu kandi dini hogappa ...fish sales ge time aithu ...haha ...
Jihadi galige jai annodakke kalla ander yaavaglu ready ...name itself says every thing ....
FYI ...faizhal Bhai avru swimming practice maadtha iddiddu ...ganapati na mulugislikke ...not to kill as u guys think ....case already close ...en Bhai ...belagge bega bega message haaki bitideera. .Dana kaddiro lorry bega bantha hege ? Haha...
I would like to express my heartfelt solidarity with my beloved brothers ? Riyaz, Athaullah and all others comrades! Jai CFI.
Naren and Viren.....
I don't know what you uneducated goons are commenting........abvp got a big zero in JNU elections.......ha ha.....
We know who roam around with lethal weapons.....in the name of swayam sevak.....and go raksha......and live on TV in Maharashtra goons attacking and attempt to murder a police officer on Ganesha visarjan.....what you have to say.....
It is a good sign for PFI because now you think of joining secular colleges instead of communal colleges.Why do you want to satudy in such communal biased colleges.
These people donno that. Police are cheddies. Because of these police People are taking law in their hands.
Naren i think ur 10 Paisa kammi. Talking nonsense everyday.
Naren bhai.. you have given a list of murdered people and called them peace lovers. Solpa correction madkolli... Actually they were \beef piece\" lovers like you."
I heard from local sources that they were armed with lethal weapons ...put goonda act on these third rated goons ..how dare they can attack police officers ....maklige sariyaagi ikki ...
jihadist attacks on police and schools are nowadays very cmon...where as their community members are busy giving lecture on peace ....many PF the kasargode Isis militants are linked to PFI and CFI ..Indian intelligence must monitor jihadists ...same PFI is accused in 8-9 murders of Hindu peacelovers ....be it charan poojary or raju or Prashanth poojari ...polali ananthu ...candle santhu
Mohan ABVP rightly said .... ABVP will not tolerate if anyone attacks Police. Because Police men are wearing also Khaki chaddi inside. Police also belongs to them (RSS).
@ Abdul Samad
Yes you are right. Commissioner told the normal people to raise the voice whenever there is injustice. CFI students raised their voice against injustice but police are not even ready to take the memorandum So commissioner has to f
Srinivas college took revenge against these students. Down down srinivas college. Let us all fight for justice.
Yesterday at town hall programme our commisioner of police asked the decent people to raise their voice against injustice! When the young activist raise their voice they are treated with lati with oppression!! Waw what a hypocrites!! As we all know 60% of police are RSS activists. nothing to worry CFI leadership capable enough to resist democratically!!
Why the police version is not mentioned in the report? I request CD reporter to be impartial and add the version of police too. one sided story we dont want. We know very well who these guys are.
Three policemen were attacked by CFI terrorists. What the hell other policemen were doing? Why cant they use their guns to finish those who attack policemen?
Dont blame our college for no reason. This case has no link with hijab ban issue. Actually there was no need for a protest two weeks ago. College was ready to withdraw hijab ban if the parents of the students collectively wanted it. CFI just tried to get political milage by staging a protest. And now they are supporting ragging accused. what a shame!
I dont think anyone will lodge false ragging complaint. Something they might have done in the past. the college used the opportunity. CFI wanted to become hero and turned zero.
Very sad. What was the need for the police to cane the CFI activists? They could have accepted the memorandum and throw it into dust bin if the demand was not genuine. Unfortunately this happened within a day after leaders of different community came together for a better mangaluru.
Marlerr!!!!
jokers of the year
wow good shot!!!
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