Author: Dr G L Bhan
Publication: Sangh Sandesh
Date: January-February 2002
URL: www.hss-uk.org
The BBC interview was recorded on
Friday 25 January and was shown on Monday 28 January on BBC 24 Hour News.
In England it is shown at 10.30PM.
Reflecting upon the interview, I
would say the following:-
1. BBC interviewer, Tim Sebastian,
focussed on the tension between India and Pakistan and the risk of war
and hence the need to solve the 'dispute'. Since the two countries had
been unable to resolve it themselves, the need for a third party intervention.
That is where I was pressurised to 'give'. The Muslim chap was unashamedly
propagandist and shouting about the 'plight' and the aspirations of the
Kashmiris. I made reference to the fact that there are different aspirations
within the Kashmiri people themselves and the irrelevance of the plebiscite
as resolved by the UN. However, no opportunity arose to discuss the historical
background and the legal and moral case for Bhaarat. Whether this was fortuitous
or engineered is not clear to me. You will judge me better after you have
seen it.
2. This Ahmed chap was put under
pressure by Sebastian about the terrorism supported by Pakistan. He tried
to deflect that discussion by accusing Bhaarat and the BJP Government of
terrorist and Hindu Fundamentalist activities - 'killing thousands of Christians
Muslims and Sikhs' and bringing in the Babri mosque issue. Tim Sebastian
did try to reign him in from time to time. I could not decide whether he
was genuinely impartial or whether it had been stage- managed. I hate to
pass judgement against him until I have good reason to do so.
I spoke to the Programme staff immediately
afterwards to complain and ask that these references be edited out. I also
wrote to the BBC and to the British PM to that effect. I sent message to
VHP Delhi and to Jandewala karyalaya. Ma. Hasmukhji has also done likewise.
He has also spoken to the Indian High Commission staff in London and asked
them to react. I hope they will lodge a vigorous protest. [Unfortunately,
their performance tends to be dismal as against that of the Pakistan High
Commission.]
3. There is one good thing though.
For a long time Bhaarati/Hindu view on Kashmir had not been heard. Thanks
to the efforts of Hasmukhji, this happened. I spoke under pressure and
in circumstances where the discussion was out of my control. Whether I
managed to say a few things [not enough I suspect] will be for you to decide.
I hope that these reflections of
mine are of interest to the readers.
