Author: Editorial
Publication: Free Press Journal
Date: July 1, 2008
How distorted is our theory and practice of
secularism has yet again been revealed in Kashmir. Here an innocuous move
to allot a temporary piece of land for the safety and convenience of tens
of thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country and abroad was seized
upon by pro-Pakistani elements and their local agents and sympathizers to
humiliate the entire majority community. It was as if some high-ups in the
Jammu and Kashmir Government had deliberately hatched a conspiracy to show
Hindus their true place in the State, nay, all over India. For, the shoddy
manner in which the allocation of a barren piece of land abutting the Amarnath
shrine, which occupies for the believers among all the holy Dhams of Hindus
the highest place, was first made and then cancelled under pressure from the
anti-India elements cannot but generate a feeling that Hindus are second-rate
citizens in their own country. Lest anyone misconstrue the import of above
remark, let us amplify why we feel the feelings of alienation among the Hindus
are bound to be aggravated by the Amarnath controversy. One would do well
to remember that the holy cave is open for a few weeks in July and August.
And that it is a most arduous task to regulate the flow of pilgrims, young
and old, ablebodied and frail and weak, rich and poor, to the sanctum sanctorum
in the normal circumstances. Besides, since the start of the secessionist\terrorist
violence, the security of pilgrims has become a bigger headache. For though
the Pakfunded `jehadis' perpetrate violence against innocence in the name
of their religion, they see nothing wrong in attacking innocent and unarmed
pilgrims on a trek for `self-nirvana' and salvation as per the rites of their
own faith.
On several occasions in the past, pilgrims
have been waylaid and killed by the `jehadis'. Another factor necessitating
the provision of basic amenities in temporary structures was the erratic weather.
With temperatures often touching zero degree Celsius, and avalanches and snow
storms being the norm even during the yatra weeks, it was only logical that
temporary shelters on land close to the shrine be erected for such contingencies.
Most remarkably, the allocation of 100 acres of land to the Shri Amarnathji
Shrine Board was to be temporary. Another important point to be kept in mind
is that the Board is not headed by private persons. And certainly not by saffron-robed
Hindu sants and sadhus. It is headed by the J and K Governor in his official
capacity. And the Governor's Secretary, always a senior government official,
is exofficio the secretary of the Board.
Given the above facts, any right-thinking
Indian would find it astonishing that the matter was allowed to blow into
a huge controversy which threatened the stability of the ruling Congress-People's
Democratic Party coalition in J and K.
Clearly, those who had pandered to the pro-Pakistani
elements all along in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country had yet again succumbed
to the same pressures. The summary removal of the Secretary to the State Governor
and the rescinding of the order temporarily placing 100 acres of forest land
at the disposal of the shrine underlined all that was wrong in our practice
of secularism. If keeping religion out of the affairs of the State constitutes
the core of secularism, one is afraid the agitators on the streets in Kashmir
who held the entire state to ransom for more than a week were the worst offenders
against secularism. Also the reversal of the allocation was purely motivated
by non-secular principles. Indeed, the decision would play smack into the
hands of the Pakistani `jehadis' and their friends and allies in the Valley.
However the bigger surprise was that the Congress
Chief Minister Azad had surrendered to the `jehadis'. Even if this was meant
to save his Ministry, he ought to have been mindful of the violence such capitulation
did to the very idea of secularism. Without doubt, there will be repercussions
of this surrender before `jehadi secularism'in the rest of the country. It
is notable that even the National Conference of Farooq and Omer Abdullah was
against the allocation of land to the shrine. They too were concerned about
safeguarding the `demographic character'of Kashmir, a sin originally committed
by the first Congress Government in New Delhi. Since then the party has continued
to go down that dangerous road, much to the detriment of the broader national
cause.
Incidentally, temporary structures for pilgrims
to various places of worship are routinely erected by the State authorities
be it Ajmer Sharief in Rajasthan or Haridwar in Uttaranchal.
