Anti-India protest
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Stubborn opposition to a sensible idea can often have dangerous consequences and so once again India-held Jammu and Kashmir is suffering because of the actions of India’s leaders.
A weekend of violence in Kashmir was presaged by the arrest of Muslim League chairman Masarat Alam Bhat on Friday, an arrest that itself was predictable as Mr Bhat appeared with supporters waving Pakistani flags earlier in the week to welcome the return to the region of another key All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader, Syed Ali Shah Gilani, from New Delhi.
Read: Kashmiri leader waves Pakistani flag at rally in Srinagar
However, few doubt the real reason for Mr Bhat’s arrest: the BJP government in the Indian capital is unhappy with its partner in government in Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s PDP, because Mr Sayeed has moved to release separatist leaders such as Mr Bhat from detention and taken a softer line than the BJP would like with pro-independence and pro-Pakistan Kashmiri leaders.
First things first however: the detention of Mr Bhat is a brazen violation of the rights of the Kashmiri people.
The rally at which the Pakistani flag was visible was peaceful and Mr Bhat has a right to speak his mind.
Other than the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi feeling embarrassed by the gesture of Mr Bhat’s supporters, there was no real cause to rearrest the recently released leader.
Also read: Indian police arrest Kashmiri leader over protest, raising pro-Pakistan slogans
Beyond that, there is a fundamental problem with Mr Modi’s approach to Kashmir. Having won an unprecedented number of seats, though from the Hindu-majority areas of the region, in the recent elections there, Mr Modi and the BJP appear to believe that there are neither any long-standing nor any legitimate and deep grievances in the region.
With the Indian government seemingly convinced that it can contend with armed militancy in the region and with a power-sharing arrangement with the PDP, Mr Modi seems to believe there is no need to reach out to the other strands of the Kashmiri leadership or indeed to Pakistan.
That is as wrong-headed as it is arrogant and ignorant. Kashmir’s problems will not go away simply because the Indian government has acquired the draconian tools the government thinks can prevent another armed uprising in the region.
Only engagement will provide a long-term solution, something that the BJP’s partner in government in the disputed region appears to understand. Chief Minister Sayeed is on the right track; Prime Minister Modi may find it useful to reconsider his stubborn rejection of dialogue.
Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2015
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Comments (44) Closed
Apr 20, 2015 04:56am
Just to be clear- exactly how many seats did the separatists win in the recent J&K elections ? - zero
Therefore "Mr Modi and the BJP appear to believe that there are neither any long-standing nor any legitimate and deep grievances in the region"
Huriyat, Geelani et-tal are simply a creation of pakistan to foment trouble in India.
It would be in best interest of Pakistan to stop interfering in internal affairs of India.
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Apr 20, 2015 08:07am
Giving advise on politics to Modi is akin to teaching Tendulkar how to hold a bat.
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Apr 20, 2015 08:56am
This treatment of muslims under hindu rule was what Syed Ahmed Khan and Jinnah had visualized spurring the two nation theory as the only solution. As long as Pakistan will religiously maintain a near-non existent foreign policy, Kashmiri's will continue suffering. We should own the fact that we kept them in this misery..... !
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Apr 20, 2015 09:11am
it happened only in india India should follow china policy how they deal in Tibet and it's Muslim province
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Apr 20, 2015 09:50am
Let the three-parties dialogue amongst the Kashmiri stakeholders - India, Pakistan and Kashmir begin! The basis of the dialogue should naturally be based on sincerity. Hypocrisy will not work.
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Apr 20, 2015 10:43am
@kk No country in world have achieved there independence going by your logic.Even India had to wait 300 years to achieve same from Colonial masters.Have you forgotten that?
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Apr 20, 2015 10:47am
India is paying the price for being tolerant to all her citizen including who want to destabilize her !!
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Apr 20, 2015 10:50am
Keep talking about Kashmir, and no one will listen in India and no one will care.
Last 60 years are proof.
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Apr 20, 2015 10:53am
Guys, Help me and most Normal people understand, All this rock throwing, mobs on the street shutting things down, burning stuff, attacking cops starts n Fridays when they all stream out of mosques after Presumably Praying, Praying for what ? Mayhem? This anarchy is typical elsewhere too. So it begs the question, are these places truly for prayer and what exactly is going on there. This is a fact so don't go into your typical DenyDenyDeny mode allright. Thx
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Apr 20, 2015 11:00am
The same can be said about separatist Kashmiris and their moral supporters across the border.
Half a million Pandit population was driven away from kashmir as if they were outsiders and not kashmiris. The so called separatists do not have any sympathy or space for them. Why should Delhi have any for the so called true Kashmiris??
There seems to be no inclination to reach out to Delhi to address its concerns in a strategically important issue. The separatists seem to be content talking to people across the border. Why should Delhi address their problems ?
All their resolutions and utterances include Jammu as if it is an integral part of Kashmir. If so then what is wrong in Delhi assuming Kashmir is an integral part of India?
The truth of the matter is that India is the least affected party in this dispute. Other are losing much more as this dispute prolongs and meanders. Hence there is no urgency on the part of Delhi to solve it.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:06am
I strongly Disagree with Editor when it says that Detention of Mr. Bhat is wrong because he was protesting peacefully. I would suggest Mr. Editor to educate himself that Indian Law does not allow any activity, whether symbolic or actual, that is against the nation. Mr. Masrat clearly expressed his allegiance to Pakistan and waved Pakistani flags, which is punishable as per law of the land.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:30am
It is because of India Alam is alive even now. If it is China nobody even herd about him. They could not even get 5% of the vote polled yet again trying to be the representative of Kashmiris.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:34am
The unending Kashmir issue. They should settle it once and for all. How long will the people of that place continue to suffer - for really no fault of theirs.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:35am
Freedom Birds are not suppose to live in Gold Cage Even . :)
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Apr 20, 2015 11:41am
occupied Kashmir never was and never will be indian. This is prime time for Pakistani Government, intelligence services (civilian, military) and the polity to do all in its power to reach out to the PDP govt in place there. We should also encourage the Prime Minister of AZAD Kashmir to work closer with the PDP in order to isolate the RSS-backed BJP forces which are spreading lies after lie about their false claims over Kashmir. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:41am
it is time for the country to learn from india how to make development in economy infrastructure and and in all subject matter.indias picture is clear and world is now respecting india and investing in inida without tension.pakistan people can see now instead of only china, britain germany france usa canada japan even arab countries african countries, australia israel and many more are coming for business. why ? bcos fully stable democracy . while in other side only one option.creating trouble in india will at last more isolation from international stage which we can see clearly.summery of the subject is 1st country must keep his home in order instead of damaging india all time.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:41am
@shyam the PDP is in power in occupied Kashmir and they did a good job ensuring your BJP would not assume majority rule. PDP is for self-determination. So there goes your theory down the polluted ganges river!
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Apr 20, 2015 11:44am
So the bottom line that you want to convey is, talk to us or we will augment support to terrorism in J&K? Hardly surprising, take something new please!
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Apr 20, 2015 11:59am
Thanks you Indian army to bring peace and normality in India.
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Apr 20, 2015 12:00pm
A country which has a history of violence is advising others.....
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Apr 20, 2015 12:02pm
@shyam Kashmir is the disputed territory therefore referring it 'India's internal' problem is wrong and refuting the history. India's PM Nehru brought the issue with UN and promised to give the right of self-determination to Kashmiri people according to the UN resolutions. The Indian leadership is in self-denial mood that's why trying to make the Muslim majority into a minority....... Just Zion regime of Israel did with Palestine!!!!! We support just and legitimate struggle of Kashmiri people for self-determination.
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Apr 20, 2015 12:17pm
Indian love for srilankan tamils lead to refugees in India,Indian love for Bangladesh resulted in bengladesh refugees in India,Pakistan's love for afghans resulted in afghani refugees in Pakistan,Saudi's love for yemen results in yemen refugees in saudi.Division of several states in India took place peacefully after independence.division of a state about 67 years ago between India and Pakistan still create problems.So a division involving a foreign country like Pakistan leads to problem in Kashmir.South asia don't want to create refugees,so honor latest agreements on Kashmir and solve the problem.
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Apr 20, 2015 12:41pm
@Honey Singh - Obviously you listen...the reason you are here...but truth hurts!
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Apr 20, 2015 01:10pm
@Tranquil Are you asking for Baloch?
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Apr 20, 2015 01:20pm
@Sanjoy Sankar Guha - Thank you sir...you are always a voice of reason.
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Apr 20, 2015 01:47pm
Is Stone pelting peaceful way to protest...???
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Apr 20, 2015 01:48pm
Why stones..? Why not books in the hands of teenagers..????
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Apr 20, 2015 02:01pm
Fact: There can never be peace between the disproportionately strong and weak. India flush with its sheer power has no reason to be fair to any minority group within, let alone smaller neighbors.
Forgetting that history has a rude habit of repeating itself...
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Apr 20, 2015 02:43pm
Remove article 370 and remove all subsidies for Kashmir.
Looks like after fair and good election, separatists felt left out and since they can not take advantage of armed violence anymore as PDP is ruling, they have started all this drama to come back to limelight.
Anyways, we have better things to do in India. Kashmir separatists can do whatever they want, we have enough of resources to keep playing this game. But their supporters should know that the ripple effect of Kashmir might resonate somewhere else in their country.
Terrorism as state policy as not helped yet, in fact it has come back to bite they one who gave birth to it. I hope eventually they will see supporting a few separatists will not be a win-won game either.
We have paid a lot already.
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Apr 20, 2015 02:50pm
@Sonny Afridi
" This is prime time for Pakistani Government, intelligence services (civilian, military) and the polity to do all in its power...."
Ha ha, if you guys can ever achieve it ( Government, intelligence services (civilian, military) and the polity to unite), Pakistan will become the only super power. In order to achieve that you need to have a democracy based on true values.
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Apr 20, 2015 03:12pm
Modi government is doing nothing other than showing us that Pakistan was got out of dire necessity by Muslims of subcontinent. Since this BJP era in India, we came to relive the pre partition times when Hindu majority was imposing their religion and culture upon Muslims. If things continue this way, we can hope for another Pakistan in India...
Kashmiris will rise to freedom no matter how bad it feels to biased BJP govt.
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Apr 20, 2015 03:25pm
india has to stop the ill treatment and persecution of kashmiris. freedom fighters are not terrorists and kashmiris have a right to self determination.
to all Indians, say whatever you may, the truth stands clear which is kashmiris would not capitulate to your draconian laws and inshaAllah would be free one day no matter how much it hurts you.
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Apr 20, 2015 05:36pm
When China put a guy in jail for 15 years for growing beard, no Pakistani minister had any comments.
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Apr 20, 2015 06:45pm
@Honey Singh yes. A country like india where Gujrat type massacras happen and where there is ethnic communal and caste strife shouldn't advise others
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Apr 20, 2015 07:35pm
Indian policy to suppress movement to liberate kashmir is counter productive and won't materialize. Kashmir is of Kashmiris and they should have freedom who they want to live with. If Indians believe they enjoy mass support in Occupied Kashmir, they should not create hindrance in the way of plebiscite.
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Apr 20, 2015 07:38pm
If India believe they have support of majority of Kashmiris, they should favour plebiscite and decide the issue once for all.
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Apr 20, 2015 09:43pm
@shyam Kashmir is not internal issue .. stop using that word. It's an international issue with unresolved UN resolutions. Lets have a free plebiscite and see what happens.
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Apr 20, 2015 10:22pm
@shyam The true leaders of indain-held Kashmir should not be called 'separatists'. TThe reason they did not win any seats is that they opted out to be part of any (sham) elections. Long live Kashmir, Long live Pakistan.
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Apr 20, 2015 10:38pm
@AK
Its so funny that Pakistanis keep singing the UN resolution tune without reading the UN resolution. I think the study of UN resolution on Kashmir should be made compulsory studies in all Pakistani schools, colleges and Universities. May be then Pakistanis would realize what UN resolution actually says. I think after reading the first condition itself, they would not bother to read the rest of it.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:35pm
I am mostly pro-Indian in my comments however I can't understand if majority of Kashmiris genuinely want to stay with India (as is being portrayed by elections conducted), then why is India running away from what it committed before, i.e. to hold a plebiscite and ask the Kashmiris what do they want?
Look what happened in Puerto Rico, after wars of independence, when people were finally given the choice, they wisely chose to remain a US Territory. Same thing will happen in Kashmir.
Even Pakistanis don't want to live in Pakistan. Why would anyone in right mind would vote to be governed by Pakistan (which can't govern itself).
India can probably afford the arrogance, but is it worth it? Think outside the box Indians! You have capable minds.
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Apr 20, 2015 11:35pm
good article
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Apr 20, 2015 11:55pm
@shyam under UN resolution, none of these fake elections are recognised by the international community, hence no recognition. To this day kashmir is shown as disputed territory. An invader would like the world to think their illegal way, but alas! It never works.
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Apr 21, 2015 12:14am
Masarat Alam has clarified that only the green Islamic flag was waved...not Pakistani national flag.
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Apr 21, 2015 12:19am
@addy dear reader monasteries/places of worships have nothing to do with any individual' or group's ideology. What they are planning it is their action and not that of prayer places.
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