Author: B R Haran
Publication: News Today
Date: June 28, 2008
URL: http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=29
The Jammu and Kashmir government, after deliberations
in the Cabinet (PDP was also a part of it), decided to transfer 40 hectares
of forest land along the pilgrimage path to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board
(SASB) to construct tenements, toilets and other conveniences for the benefit
of the yatris.
The Shrine Board would be paying Rs.2.5 crore
to the government as a gesture of its appreciation. The land belongs to the
`secular' government and the government has all the right to give it to the
Shrine Board as a welfare measure. But, this is objected by the Muslim leaders
Mufti Mohammed Sayeed of PDP, Farook Abdullah of NC and the leaders of the
Hurriyat conference, which instigated the Muslim majority of Kashmir to resort
to violence and arson attacking government buildings and other business establishments
and even the buses carrying the Amarnath pilgrims injuring many of them.
When the police tried to prevent the escalation
of mob violence, three protestors died in the police firing. Now, the holy
yatra stands suspended for the third time this year and thousands of pilgrims
have been stranded. The PDP, which is a coalition partner, has demanded that
the Congress-led government take back the allotted land before 30 June and
warned that it would withdraw support in the event of government's failure
to withdraw its decision of transferring the land.
The Chief Minister and Congress Leader Gulam
Nabi Azad has exposed his spinelessness through an order restricting construction
activities in the allotted land. Then why was it allotted in the first place?
The protest by the Kashmiri Muslims is uncalled
for and unwarranted and the provocative behaviour and arrogant statements
of PDP, NC and Hurriyat leaders indicate that they treat Kashmir as their
own fiefdom. The Centre is allocating funds to Kashmir, which is ten times
more than what the other states are getting. While the per capita Central
assistance for other states is around Rs.1500/- Kashmir is getting around
Rs. 10000/-, which roughly works out to Rs.45000/- per family per year! But,
when the State-wise contributions to the nation are compared, where does Kashmir
stand? Why and what for they should be given this undue recognition and care?
While surviving with central assistance, which is mostly contributed by the
Hindu majority, what is that they have done to the Hindu brothers in the valley?
The Kashmiri Pandits have been driven out of their own land, their properties,
lands and Temples have all been looted, their women raped and they are living
as refugees in their own land.
Very recently the National Conference leader
Omar Abdulla himself has confessed that the Kashmiri Muslims have connived
with terrorists in the ethnic cleansing of the Pandits. While Kashmiri Muslims
are getting so much of assistance from the Centre, what is that the Pandit
refugees are getting? Nothing!
And what about Haj pilgrimage? That again
is subsidised and maximum contribution is from the Hindu majority! Whereas,
the SASB has been allotted just 40 hectares, only a one-time measure, that
too for a payment of Rs. 2.5 crore! On what basis the Muslims object to it?
It is very sad and unfortunate that the Muslims object on the grounds that
it is their `own' land. If a majority community assumes that the place belongs
to it, then what will happen in future in other places, or rather in the country
itself? Are the Kashmiri Muslims prepared for it? Let them compare their status
with that of their brothers living in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, so that,
they can realise how well off they are here! The present imbroglio in Kashmir
created by the Muslim leaders is outrageous and the Central and State governments
must put an end to this madness immediately.
The Bangladeshi and Bengali Muslims have created
a similar atmosphere for the last ten days in West Bengal. Sagar Island is
a place at Ganga Sagar, which is the confluence of the Holy River Ganaga and
the Bay of Bengal. This is one of the holiest sites being worshipped by the
Hindus, particularly during Mahara Shankranthi, when millions take bath and
worship Ganga Matha, Barath Mata and Mahadeva. `Hindu Samhati' a Hindu cultural
organisation was about to conduct a training programme and a workshop on the
current socio-political scenario at Eastern India from 12 June to 15 June
2008. After finishing the first day of training the hundred and seventy members
including women and children visited the Kapila Muni Mandir after bathing
at the confluence. The enthusiastic members raised slogans like `Jai Shri
Ram' and `Barath Mata Ki Jai'. The dominant Muslim community consisting predominantly
Bangladeshis illegal immigrants strongly objected to the slogans and threatened
the devotees. Later in the night a mob of 5000 Muslims attacked the building
where the Hindu devotees had been staying. The local authorities sent only
15 police men, who were also attacked by the mob and every devotee has been
injured, some of them seriously. The building, along with another belonging
to the VHP was set on fire. The `secular' Communist government, in an act
of `patriotism and humaneness' and concern for law and order, arrested 15
Hindu devotees including Tapan Kumar Gosh, the leader of the Samhati, for
being the victims and remaining disciplined and tolerant! The other devotees
are recuperating in hospital. The government has not taken any action on the
perpetrators of violence and arson, who are not the citizens of this country,
but illegal immigrants. It is understood that thousands of such illegal immigrants
have been ensured legal status by the Communist government by giving them
ration cards, voter-ID cards as a `passionate' measure of `human rights'!
As this nation is secular in itself, it recognised
the concerns of minorities and respected their aspirations and hence ensured
their religious freedom through various clauses in the Constitution. But unfortunately,
the same respect doesn't seem to be reciprocated by the minorities, as evidenced
by the alarming increase in religious extremism and conversions. The situation
has come to such a sordid state that shouts of `Barath Mata Ki Jai' and `Jai
Shri Ram' are not being tolerated! If Hindus cannot worship their Land, River,
Nature and God in their own nation as per their own cultural traditions, where
else can they go?
Three months back in Chennai, an Art Exhibition
on the `True History' of Aurangazeb (as per his own records) was not allowed
and the State police yielded to the pressure of the fundamentalist elements
in the minority community and thwarted the exhibition.
During the centenary celebrations of the birth
anniversary of Guruji Golwalkar in Bangalore, the peaceful procession organised
by RSS/VHP was stoned and attacked by the minority community. For the display
of Mohammed Cartoons in Denmark, the Hindu shops in Hyderabad and Lucknow
were attacked! For the hanging of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the entire country
was taken to ransom through protests! Amarnath pilgrims have been attacked
and Ganesh Chathurthi processions have been frustrated! Such things have been
happening quite frequently, and this is not to speak of the terror attacks
and bomb blasts at regular intervals.
The Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and Pakistan
have been persecuted and the population of Hindus has dwindled to below 2%
in Pakistan from 16% and below 10% in Bangladesh from 32% in the last fifty
years. Malaysia has joined the list of Muslim nations persecuting Hindu minorities.
Whereas, here in India, the Hindus have been treating the minorities like
brothers and sisters, even during and after the partition, despite repeated
occurrences of terrorism and evangelisation. But what are they getting back
and how they are paid back? The so-called secularism cannot be a one-way traffic!
The pampering and pandering of the minority communities by the self-interested
vote bank chasing pseudo-secular political parties have to be blamed for the
present volatile state of communal affairs in this country.
They must realise that there is a huge resentment
developing in the minds of the majority community, which doesn't augur well
for the communal amity of the country.
