Author: J.G. Arora
Publication: Organiser
Date: June 26, 2005
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=84&page=29
Pakistan is enjoying its victory
lap after rendering Kashmir into a Hinduless region.
It is tragic that Kashmir, the land
of Maharishi Kashyap, Lalitaditya, Maharani Kota Rani and Kalhan; the cradle
of Vedic heritage; and the region which was ruled by Hindus and which defeated
Muslim invaders heroically for many centuries, is now witnessing genocide
of Hindus with their forced eviction from Kashmir to live like refugees
in their own country for the past 15 years.
It is outrageous that lakhs of Kashmiri
Hindus, the original inhabitants of Kashmir with a history of thousands
of years of art, culture, literature and architecture, and followers of
an all-embracing Vedic tradition preaching universal brotherhood and oneness
of humanity, have been driven out from their homes.
Genocide and exodus
During the 1980s and 1990s, Pakistan-sponsored
terrorists killed thousands of Hindus in Kashmir, forcing several lakhs
of terrorised Hindus to flee from Kashmir. Driven out from their homes,
these displaced Kashmiri Hindus are leading a wretched existence in cramped
camps and tattered tents in Jammu, New Delhi and other places. Feelings
of deprivation, hurt, humiliation and helplessness constantly plague them.
Divested of their roots and rights, they face an unpredictable future.
Successive governments have done
nothing to rehabilitate them and to punish their tormentors. The present
Congress-led UPA government also is insensitive to their misery, as it
has done nothing towards their rehabilitation. Rather, this government
has launched terrorist-friendly, passport and visa-free Muzaffarabad-Srinagar
bus service which has opened floodgates to infiltration of more Pakistanis
into India to wreak further havoc in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country.
Untold Tragedy
Both the Central and State governments,
as also the media and all major political parties are silent over genocide,
exodus and the pathetic plight of Kashmiri Hindus, and are responding with
deception, negation and inaction over this catastrophe. Deserted and disowned
by the nation, Kashmiri Hindus stand all alone.
The international community is unaware
of their plight as it recognises refugees only when they flee into another
country, and not if they seek shelter within their own country.
It is deplorable that various human
rights organisations, which are otherwise very vocal against any real or
imaginary infringement of human rights, are silent about genocide and gross
violation of human rights of lakhs of Kashmiri Hindus.
While the displaced lot suffers
in silence, the media is busy indulging in their anti-Hindu agenda and
such trivialities. The sage of the unending tragedy of Kashmiri Hindus
remains untold. But as Indian citizens, they have a right to return to
their homes in Kashmir which is an integral part of India. It is the bounden
duty of Union and state governments to ensure their return and safety in
Kashmir.
To demonstrate that Kashmir is an
integral part of India, India has to take to task persons responsible for
genocide in Kashmir, and rehabilitate Kashmiri Hindus in Kashmir at the
earliest. But the refugees cannot return to their homes unless the root
cause of their ouster is removed.
Reasons for their Pathetic Plight
Terrorists and their guns are the
reasons for the ouster of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. And the presence
of Article 370 in the Constitution of India is the main reason for terrorism
in Kashmir.
Article 370 negates the very concept
of one unified India.
By conferring a special status on
Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370 has created serious problems.
Though Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India, even the President
or Prime Minister of India cannot purchase even one square inch of land
in the state. Moreover, though any person from Jammu & Kashmir can
reside and settle anywhere else in India, no person from the rest of the
country can reside and settle in Jammu & Kashmir because of Article
370. Besides, many of the Central laws are not applicable to Jammu &
Kashmir. This Article limits the President's and Parliament's powers over
Jammu & Kashmir.
Article 370 has contributed to the
growth of feelings of separatism resulting in ouster of Hindus from Kashmir.
Though Constitution-framers had
inserted Article 370 only as a "temporary provision", it survives even
in 2005, nearly 55 years after the Constitution came into effect in 1950.
Way out
In order to save India, we have
to save Kashmir. We cannot save either without abrogating Article 370.
Terrorism is inflicting deep financial
and security wounds on the Indian State. Abrogation of Article 370 will
defeat terrorism and more fully integrate Kashmir with the rest of India.
Abrogation of Article 370 to bring
Jammu & Kashmir on par with other states has to be the first step to
solve the Kashmir problem. And instead of providing passport and visa-free
Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service which has opened the floodgates for more
Pakistani infiltrators, all steps to deport existing crores of Pakistani
and Bangladeshi infiltrators have to be taken immediately. Besides, as
per the 'doctrine of hot pursuit' of International Law, terrorist training
camps in Pakistan and Bangladesh have to be smashed; and if necessary,
an all out war launched against these unreasonable nations.
Retaining of Article 370 defies
all logic. According to Barbara W. Tuchman (1912-1989), American historian
and author of The March of Folly, all disasters of history are the result
of the government's folly and perverse persistence in pursuing the policies
contrary to national interests. How I wish the Indians would prove Barbara
W. Tuchman wrong and immediately abrogate Article 370!
Such a long wait
If Kashmiri Hindus are allowed to
perish, Hindus in the rest of the country would also perish in the next
few decades and Kashmir is just the beginning of Islamisation of India.
Kashmiri Hindus survive in the fond
hope that soon they would be able to return to their home land. Besides,
they want to survive their 'thousands of years'-old customs, traditions
and culture. They have a natural longing and every right to return to Kashmir.
Apart from solving the Kashmir problem,
abrogation of Article 370 would initiate the process of home-coming of
Kashmiri Hindus.
Will someone introduce the Bill
(to abrogate Article 370) in the Parliament to bring Jammu & Kashmir
at par with other Indian states to enable exiles to return to Kashmir?
Will Kashmiri Hindus ever return to their homes in Kashmir for which they
have been waiting for so long?
(The author is former Chief Commissioner
of Income Tax and can be contacted at jgarora@vsnl.net)
