VHP and RSS differ on Reorganisation

By Special Correspondent

Historic Resolution

Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the organisation that represents millions of Hindus in India and abroad stole march over other sister organisations of Sangh Parivar, by declaring in unambiguous terms that quadripar-tition of J&K State was the only strategic option left to defeat the Islamist conspiracy to slice off J&K from India. At a special session at Hardwar on June 23, its Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal (Central Advisory Board), declared.

“Farooq Abdullah government was conducting itself as Muslim Sultanate and treating Hindus shabbily. Five Hindu-dominated districts of Jammu should be made a separate state, a union territory be carved out of area north-east of Jehlum river in Kashmir valley for settling Hindus there and Ladakh be given status of union territory”.

The historic resolution also charged the Farooq Abdullah government with attempting to change the demographic pattern of the state and islamising it by harassing Hindus, bringing in Pakistani citizens and resettling Kashmiri Muslims in Jammu and Ladakh. It said, “The state government was settling Muslims in areas dominated by Hindus and Buddhists to change their demographic character., The Farooq Abdullah government wanted to settle Muslims crossed over to Pakistan in 1947 in the state, but has done nothing to bring back the Hindus who left the Valley in 1990. Hindus in the state are feeling helpless”. VHP resolution also demanded carving out of a five-km security belt on the border and abolition of Article 370 supporting the demand for homeland for Displaced Kashmiri Hindus, VHP said in the background of three Indo-Pak wars, Kargil aggression and persistent threat of Islamist terrorism, Kashmiri Pandits cannot survive without a territory of their own. Mr Ashok Singhal, President VHP warned, “conpiracies are afoot to convert J&K heaven on earth into Muglistan, which will not be allowed to succeed”. When asked whether BJP would support the resolution, Dr Praveen Togadia, VHP’s international general secretary, thundered “we don’t care for the stand of political parties. We have assembled here to express the sentiments of millions of Hindus”.

Demographic Threat

Elaborating the context in which VHP was demanding political re-organisation of J&K state, Mr Ashok Singal said subsequently in Jammu that the NC has “a gameplan to change the demographic character of Jammu and turn the Hindu majority into minority”. VHP’s fire-brand leader observed that statehood for Jammu was must to protect dignity and honour of Hindus. He alleged, “there was a nexus between terrorists and J&K Police and singling out of pro-terrorist elements from the state administration is not possible in the present set-up”. Mr Singhal accused that through its several ill-advised moves Farooq government has supplemented the machinations of Pakistan to Islamise the entire J&K State, by creating a situation where Hindus feel insecure and forced to vacate and migrate to other parts of the country.

Mr Singhal told the press, “the latest move of the NC government is to transfer 643 canals of forest land, in the outskirts of Jammu city to JDA for setting up a colony for Kashmiri Muslim migrants is a sinister one. It is gameplan of NC to change the demographic character of Jammu region including Jammu city”. However, he warned that if statehood was granted to Jammu, a commission of inquiry will be constituted to probe how forest land was allotted to a particular section of the society.

Rss demand trifurcation

RSS too followed in the footsteps of VHP, by demanding trifurcation of J&K state at its Kurukshetra conclave. Political Pandits and the patriotic opinion look at RSS posturings more as a manoeuvre to revive the sagging fortunes of BJP in Jammu region rather than any concern to stem the Islamist onslaught on Jammu and strengthen nationalist consolidation in Kashmir. BJP’s alliance with National Conference and the cosy relationship Union Home Minister, Mr LK Advani shares with Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has put the nationalist resistance in total disarray and increased the marginalisation of Hindus. BJP’s electoral constituency feels they are not supporting NC by default by voting for BJP. There are also allegations that central BJP has already entered into secret electoral understanding with NC. Significance of Mr Advani’s decision to torpedo the demand for Governor’s rule before elections and appoint one of his close confidants as Central interlocutor to discuss autonomy issue with National Conference have not gone amiss here. How short-sighted this policy is, Mr OP Modi, an astute columnist observes, “it will be unjust and ill advised to make any commitment to the NC for Autonomy or more powers; whatever it may be. Only when the new state government is installed should the Centre deliberate upon the complex issues dogging the state’s three regions. The Autonomy demanded by the NC is not supported by either Jammu or Ladakh region. Even in the Valley no one takes the demand seriously. To concede a high constitutional change, just two months ahead of the Assembly poll, will not only be against the principle of fair elections it will be unwise and short sighted.”

In the recent Parliamentary elections it was not only rigging and in-fighting within local BJP that cost BJP its Parliamentary seat, but the total indifference of its support base. Its supporters ask what has the BJP done to prevent recurring massacres of Hindus, in countering terrorism internally and stopping the ruling NC government from pursuing patently anti-Hindu policies.

Jammu State Morcha (JSM)

All this has forced RSS to do rethink and salvage whatever little remains of sinking BJP ship in Jammu. Formation of Jammu state Morcha directly under the convenorship of its Sar Sangchalak Shri Kumar to contest assembly elections on the plank of statehood for Jammu is a part of this strategy. Describing it as a double-edged strategy, Mr OP Modi notes, “If after raising the pitch so high for a separate state for Jammu the Morcha quietly walks away from the election field the oft repeated charge that Jammu has always been let down by its leaders will prove to be correct once again. If on the other hand due to the wrangling of the Sangh Parivar on the statehood issue the majority of the voters sitting on the fence, vote for NC or the Congress the looser obviously will be the BJP”. Already, JSM has started issuing confusing statement. Mr Shri Kumar in a statements has said, “our aim is not to enter the assembly but to prepare the people of Jammu to fight against the Kashmir rulers.”

Discrimination as Basis

In trying to argue the case for trifurcation, RSS seems to underplay the terrorist threat and is linking reorganisation only with discrimination. The resolution passed at Kurukshetra say, “The blatant discriminatory attitude of the state government towards Jammu and Ladakh regions and the consequent dissatisfaction among the people has led to demands for trifurcation of the border state”. At Bhubneshwar on August 6, Mr K.S. Sudarshan, RSS chief too spoke in same vein, saying, “The state should be divided into separate states of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh so that their development could be hastened. It would also be much easier to handle militancy”. A day before RSS spokesperson M.G Vaidya, even while accusing Farooq Abdullah of continuing with ‘anti-Hindu’ and ‘anti-India’ policies, refused to commit how Farooq Abdullah was pursuing these policies. He just made a reference that these policies “resulted in marginalisation of Hindus in Valley”. Not a single leader of any consequence from RSS, since the passing of Kurukshetra resolution, has talked about the terrorist and the demographic threat to Jammu. RSS has also been careful not to say anything disparaging that could strain BJP’s cosy relationship with National Conference.

VHP stresses Islamist Threat

VHP has been more explicit on this issue. State president of VHP, Dr Ramakant Dubey implored Delhi to “understand the implications of the hidden agenda of the National Conference” and added that urgency in VHP’s demand was only the outcome of “our worry against the NC plan for Islamisation of the state”. Alleging that NC was implementing its secret agenda of carrying out further ethnic-cleansing in parts of Jammu region on the pattern of Kashmir valley, Dr Dubey said demand for autonomy was the first step towards independent Kashmir. VHP leader explained that time was running out and quadripartition of J&K was the only way to foil the NC gameplan of carving out a sovereign Muslim state of Kashmir.

BJP Role

Despite BJP’s all-round blundering on Kashmir, RSS is silent on its role. Any full-scale debate on spill over of terrorism to Jammu would invite comprehensive review of BJP government’s performance. Even on the issue of criticism of trifurcation demand by Advani and other Central leaders, RSS sounds apologetic. Mr M.G. Vaidya remarked, “ The government is free to take its own decisions. We only make suggestions for the good of the nation and the Hindus. And that is our specific role” RSS leadership, however, extracted a commitment from BJP that regional aspirations of Jammu and Ladakh people would be kept in mind. Mr Venkiah Naidu stated, “When we talk of devolution of powers, we shall keep in mind the regional aspirations of Jammu and Ladakh. The feeling of alienation of the people of these regions should  be addressed on priority by the State government and the Centre”. In a television interview Mr. Seshadri Chari, editor of Organiser later claimed that Mr Arun Jaitley was appointed interlocutor to discuss trifurcation issue. He added, “The trifurcation is oneof the methods that the RSS has suggested to resolve the conflict areas in J&K because for long-time Jammu has been let down by the governments in Srinagar”. Mr Jaitley was even quoted by RSS spokesperson of having said that the Centre can even consider creating a regional council to redress the grievances of the people of Jammu.

VHP criticises BJP

VHP, however, fixes the blame on BJP government and openly indicts Farooq government for worsening security scenario and demographic threats to Jammu. While consoling victims of Rajiv Nagar massacre, VHP President Ashok Singhal lashed out at BJP saying, “The way Pan-Islamic terrorists have been executing massacres of Hindus in J&K is a clear indication that policies formulated by the Centre have failed to nail militancy Rather than taking decisions on its own, Union government is looking towards western countries to fight its own war...Instead of keeping a check on the anti-national activities of Farooq Abdullah, the Union government has been succumbing to his pressure tactics.” He implored BJP government “to come out of its stupor as Akrosh (anger) of the people has been snowballing into a big movement”. The VHP leader warned, “The BJP has been enjoying power only owing to the support of Hindu Samaj (society) and we can throw them out when we wish”.

Pandit Question

RSS’s skewed agenda on Kashmir which gives precedence to discrimination over security threat, has also forced it to put on hold all those strategic plans which have the potentiality to ensure holistic and permanent return of displaced Hindus to Kashmir. RSS resolution remains non-committal on the future settlement of displaced Pandits. It just asks governments both at the Centre and the state to find a way for their “safe and secure” rehabilitation. RSS’s imploring to state government sounds ludicrous in view of the sentiments expressed by displaced Pandits from time to time that the ruling NC government was itself pursuing genocide and was creating obstacles for their return. To express sympathies with Kashmiri Hindus, RSS resolution rehashes the old worn out rhetoric,” “the national executive feels deeply concerned about the fate of Kashmiri Pandits, who have been hounded out of their homes by the Jehadi Muslim elements.”

VHP’s stand on Kashmiri Hindus and their future is more forthright. It recognises the civilisational legacy Kashmiri Hindus carry and the specific threats to their return. Identifying strongly with Displaced Pandits, Mr Ashok Singhal remarked. Though it is the duty of the ruling dispensation to get the Hindus back to their native places but VHP will not remain a mute spectator of their miseries. History and culture of Kashmir is associated with Kashmiri Hindus, so that their return to Kashmir valley is necessary to restore the glory of the crown of India. Kashmiri Pandits are the real inhabitants of Kashmir and the land of Kashmir belongs to them”. VHP supremo argued, “The demand of Kashmiri Hindus (Pandits) for their safe and secure settlement in a part of Kashmir to preserve their socio-cultural heritage and identity in the Valley is also justified as the government has failed to resettle them back at their native places”  Dr Ramakant Dubey, State President of VHP observed that since the Kashmiri Hindus had no guarantee for honourable living in the Valley, “our demand for a separate homeland, which will be centrally administered is justified”.

Background

Why are the views of two major organisations of Sangh Parivar on a sensitive issue such as Kashmir at gross variance? This has aroused the interest of common man and the observers alike. It is said RSS has a legacy of committing serious errors on Kashmir. In early fifties, when it should have been emphasising discrimination dimension, it over played security issue. Presently, when priorities demand emphasis on security threats, RSS is looking for discrimination factor. Four years back at a RSS meet in Jammu, Mr HV Sheshadri, RSS Stalwart frowned at trifurcation demand raised by members present and said it amounted to “gaddari” (treachery) and asked people of Jammu to sacrifice their own interests for those of nation. It was only in March 2001 that RSS leadership veered round to the idea of supporting trifurcation.

Late Dr Shyama Prasad Mukerjee, in his letter dated 17/2/53 to Nehru had offered to withdraw the ongoing agitation in Jammu and accept the Delhi agreement if the principle of autonomy would “apply in principle to Jammu as a whole and of course also to Ladakh and Kashmir”. Jammu and Ladakh were getting then what they are demanding now, recalled a former Praja Parishad activist. After Dr Mukerjee’s death, RSS reverted back only to integration and stopped talking of re-organisation. It was only in 1984 that BJP National Executive in a meeting at Jammu raised the demand for Regional Council for Jammu. Both Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani had attended this meeting. Presently Central BJP is trying to play a delicate balance between RSS and its compulsions to stay on in NDA government. This role has played havoc with the interests of non-Muslim groups in the state. Such is the alienation that Kashmir unit of BJP (Displaced) has also decided to boycott the forthcoming elections as mark of protest against BJP’s rough-shodding of displaced Pandits’ aspirations. Even the Congress has started talking about special zone for Pandits in Valley.

VHP’s urgency in demanding reorganisation of J&K state is being attributed by observers to a) spill over of terrorism to Jammu proper b) demographic threats to Jammu province c) National Conference’s dangerous agenda - Regional Autonomy Report, Resettlement Bill and Autonomy besides poaching on Jammu. Dilating upon it, Muzamil Jaleel, staff correspondent of Indian Express writes: “In fact, the NC’s poll strategy in Jammu is working. Over the years, it has played the communal card in the Muslim dominated districts of Doda, Rajouri, Poonch and parts of Udhampur. In fact, the regional autonomy plan which forms a core political agenda for the party in Jammu region has managed to secure it the Muslim vote bank. The party successfully tested the strategy and ensured its victory in the recent elections for the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency”.

Whatever be the differences between RSS and VHP on reorganisation issue one thing is clear that for the first time concrete solutions are being proposed to resolve the Kashmir issue and change the terms of debate on Kashmir.

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