J&K: The Root of the Problem

The real reason the world opinion is noticeably indifferent to Kashmir, in spite of a huge number of deaths - 100 + have died in recent disturbances, is that the separatist leaders have openly called for Shariah law in Kashmir and have expressed an "Islamic" rule in Kashmir as the justification for the revolt against India. Mirwaiz Omar Farooq said in an interview that they want to create a society like 7th century Arabia in Kashmir. Geelani too said recently that it is our religious obligation to "free" Kashmir from India and establish Islamic government. On being asked how Islamic government will improve people's lives when all Islamic governments have proved to be cancerous. He simply shrugged and said that it was their duty to try.

The world has noticed and lost sympathy for Kashmiri Muslims in spite of the obvious popularity of revolt amongst Kashmiri Muslims. Even the Indian secularists appear a little deflated. It has finally dawned on them that there is no difference between the Kashmiri revolt and demand for Pakistan. They can see now that there is no political or economic issue in Kashmir. The revolt is founded purely on religious hatred. Another thing not spoken, but felt and sometimes whispered is that since Muslims live freely in Hindu majority India and Hindus were cleansed out of Pakistan, why should Muslim majority Kashmir seek secession purely on religious grounds. What moral right then Muslims have of living in the rest of India.

I think we are not doing badly. We just need to hold our ground and not indulge in gratuitous violence or inflict hardship on the people from our side and this movement will have even less sympathy. This, however, is not to excuse the Congress / secularists' style of handling this and other matters. While the political fundamentals, so to say, of the whole issue favor India; India can certainly make the manner in which we hold the ground more deft and adroit.

The Congress and secularists, led by Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv and now Rahul Gandhi have a peculiar attitude towards Muslims. On the one hand, they are all love for Muslims, thumping their chests to proclaim their “contributions” to Indian civilization and demanding even special privileges for them (J&K's special status, ironically being one of those privileges). On the other hand, the moment they sense any trouble from Muslims to their power, they start doing down the very same Muslims in a most unfair and unjustified manner.

Nehru, once he sensed Sheikh Abdullah was getting out of control, imprisoned him. Rajiv Gandhi rigged an election with Farooq Abdullah, an atrocity on Kashmiri people to which most commentators trace the start of Kashmiri insurgency, and now Rahul is trying to prop up a hugely unpopular Omar Abdullah. Contrast this with BJP's handling of J&K and managing an alliance with NC that resulted in relative tranquility in the otherwise troubled state.

The root cause, however, is Islam itself that won't let its followers live in peace with the unbelievers. The comments about Congress and BJP's handling of the state are more in the nature of India holding it's ground till that basic issue is resolved globally. And that resolution of the global Muslim problem alone will ultimately solve the problem - when Muslims give up their supremacism and perhaps Islam itself.
All about baba-logs
"Is there hope? Not a chance. If Manmohan Singh had any sense of self, he would have upped and resigned long ago. In the event, expect the situation to worsen in Jammu and Kashmir while the Centre has its hands tied by Rahul Gandhi. To this writer at least, the visit of an all-party delegation to J and K makes no sense now, after Rahul Gandhi has hijacked the agenda. "

The article can be read at:
http://newsinsight.net/archivedebates/nat2.asp?recno=2040