STATE  GOVT  FLOATS  RETURN  BALLON  AGAIN

KS Correspondent

The displaced community is amused at the “urgency” displayed by the government in shifting Pandits back at a time when the government is still groping in dark for measures to protect the security forces from the attacks.

Secondly, by reducing entire rehabilitation process to the housing problem and just 850 families, the government has only exposed itself. It neither has sensitivity nor comprehension of the magnitude of rehabilitation problem, the community members feel. It may be recalled that presently at Jammu alone there are more than 29000 displaced Pandit families.

The Pandit Community had migrated from Kashmir due to collapse of law and order and the breakdown of secular structure. The State government and the NGO’s have done nothing to restore Hindu-Muslim relations in Kashmir. It is rebuilding of secular edifice in Valley and restoration of Pandits’ rights that holds the key to return process.

Any comprehensive dialogue between the two communities has to refocus on these issues and not reduce the dialogue process to seeking immunity against physical attacks. This was general reaction to the “chance” meeting between Pt CL Gadoo, the Delhi Samiti President and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq the Hurriat leader, held at Delhi recently. Many Pandit organisations have strongly reacted against the State government’s handling of the return process.
Meanwhile, Dr Ajay Chrangoo, Chairman Political Affairs Committee, Panun Kashmir said that return move by the State government is politically motivated. He reiterated that separate homeland is the only practicable solution to Pandits’ perpetual insecurity and long term rehabilitation. Dr Chrangoo demanded a high level probe into large scale distress sale of Pandits’ properties during the last two years of popular rule.

Recently Dr Shakti Bhan Convener and Mrs Nancy Kaul General Secretary of the Daughters of Vitasta (DoV) called on Union Home Minister, Mr LK Advani. They expressed serious concern over the State government’s handling of Pandits’ return process and charged that its high publicity focus on return only led to massacres against the community. The Union Home Minister was asked to intervene in the matter and stop the State government from further complicating the return process. Mr Advani is reported to have assured the delegation that the Union Home Ministry was quite alive to the situation.
Dr Jagan Kaul, a senior member of the overseas Pandit Community while drawing attention to the genocidal conditions faced by the Pandits demanded prompt measures to rehabilitate the victims of ethnic cleansing and religious persecution by establishing a self governing union territory for the ousted Kashmiris. Expressing serious concern over the attitude of political class in Delhi, Dr Kaul remarked that Pandit Community that has contributed so much to the freedom struggle has been rewarded in such a brutal fashion.

Meanwhile, various Pandit organisation are gearing up for undertaking a nationwide campaign on the handling of the return process by the State  government and its continued discriminatory attitude against the Pandits.
 

Tricolour over Kashmir

TERRITORY,  PEOPLE  AND  THE  NATION-STATE

By Dipankar Gupta

Napoleon’s March

Jingoists and patriots are modern phenomena found only in the age of nation-states. They did not exist in the days of monarchies and empires. It is only in a modern nation-state that there is a popular endorsement of territory. In the days of absolutist kings and potentates, the subject population was never drawn into any kind of loyalty to the overlord’s territorial possession.

It is said that when Napoleon’s army marched into Russia he was welcomed by Russian peasants in the hope that his dispensation towards them would be kinder than that of the absolutist Tsar. The situation changed dramatically when Hitler attacked Russia. By then, Russia had become a nation-state and Hitler met with stiff resistance. Every Russian fought against the Nazi invasion and read Pushkin to keep their spirits alive. It is not as if the Russians then were all committed to communism. Their strongest commitment at that point was to territory.

The nation-state is popular endorsement of territory. This implies that in all authentic nation-states territory is sacralised. Territorial acquisitions are not just a matter of geography, there is a profound sense of cultural attachment to them. It is quite useless to look for rational reasons behind this sentiment. The initial fervour towards it could well have been fuelled by the desire to overcome feudalism and its localised despotism. But one way or another the end product has been a supra-local endorsement of territory.

There is no single privileged path to the formation of nation-states. Several nation-states came into being after severe civil strife between the ancien regime and the democratic masses. There are other known instances when a prolonged war helped to create a sense of ‘nation-stateness’. In many developing countries, such as India, anti-colonial movements gave birth to nation-states. Though the starting points may be vastly different for different nation-states, the end product is without exception the same. Territory is always consecrated on a popular basis in every full bodied nation-state.

The compulsions of territory run very deep into the foundations of all nation-states. In fact, a nation is an unfinished entity if it does not have the state component linked to it. With state comes territory and with it the final realisation of the national project. This is why India’s cultural diversity does not make it a continent of many nations. If that were so each linguistic province in our country would be straining towards sovereignty.

The coming together of diverse people in the making of a territorial unity called the nation-state does not mean that this sentiment excludes all other kinds of loyalty. When Maharashtra became a linguistic province in 1959 some feared that this might lead to the balkanisation of India.  But that did not happen, it was not even remotely on the cards. Nevertheless, at the level of the nation-state this popular acquiescence over territory can brook no compromise. If any part of the country secedes, it is not as if the rest of it can carry on with business as usual. The entire edifice of the nation-state and its territorial lineaments will be brought into question.
 

Win over Hearts

In those days when Kashmir became part of India emotions were high and quite legitimately so. India was still a very young nation-state and threats from neighbouring Pakistan loomed large in the post-Partition national psyche. Though the subsequent history of Kashmir leaves much to be desired, both the secular Congress and the Hindu political organisations left no doubt in the minds of their respective supporters that Kashmir belonged to India. Over time this attitude has sedimented and the line of control in Kashmir is seared into our national consciousness as Indian territory.

At this point it is almost impossible to open up the Kashmir question to international adjudication and hope that the Indian nation-state will remain unchanged and unmoved by it. While it is difficult to find broad-based support anywhere in India for letting Kashmir go, there are at least two different ways of looking at it--one jingoist and the other patriotic. The jingoist would say that regardless of what happens to the people of Kashmir and what they think of the Indian Union, the land mass of Kashmir belongs to India. If some people do not like that they should leave the country and go to Pakistan. The patriot would not cede territory either, but would do the utmost to win over the hearts of the people of Kshmir to forge a stronger Indian Union.
 

Divisive Slaughter

The territorial bond that unites and vivifies the Indian nation-state is not just a subcontinental characteristic. In the relative placid environment of Canada too there is an equal feeling regarding territory. When a section of English Canadians started considering the possibility of letting Quebec go it met with an interesting response. The Credit Party, a straunch nationalist organisation based largely in the Canadian west coast, announced that if Quebec were to go so also would British Columbia.

It is, therefore, quite immaterial what resolutions the United Nation passes, or what world opinion thinks about Kashmir. Letting go of Kashmir will have serious repercussions on the entire Indian Union. The compact will be unsettled and there will be secessionist wars and divisive slaughter across the country. The tragedy of Kashmir will be multiplied several times over. If Kashmir goes it will probably take India down with it. This is why the best option on Kashmir today is the patriot’s option, and the worst is to listen to international opinion. If the tricolour does not fly over Kashmir it won’t fly over many other parts of India as well.

--Courtesy: Times of India
 
 

The state of the State : India’s Painful Transition

Disavowing Indian nationhood

CPI(M)’S  MULTINATIONALISM

By Mohit Sen

It has, of course, done nothing of the kind. On the contrary, the CPI(M) has demonstrated that it is the embodiment of a specific type of unity of opposites--dogmatic in theory and free for all in practice. There is though, a particular dogma that it has not abandoned. It is a dogma which still shapes important facets of its practice. This is the dogma that India is a multinational country.

This dogma has a long history in the theoretical framework which the undivided CPI sought to construct from the 1920s onwards. India was first conceptualised as a multinational country. This was the view of MN Roy. Among his many de-Indianising efforts vis-a-vis the communist movement in our country this was one of the less important. His India in Transition published in 1921 likens India on the eve of the British conquest to Europe in the period of the formation of the nation states on that continent. This view of his was not at all known outside a small circle, largely consisting of returned Indian communists from Berlin.

The CPI did not concern itself with the identity of India until that identity was challenged by the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan based on the two-nation theory. To counter that demand and to win back those Muslims who had come under the influence of the Pakistan slogan, the CPI had a close look at our history and existing reality. It came to the conclusion in 1943 that India was a multinational entity. Some of the nationalities were Muslim majority ones. All nationalities, including those last mentioned, should have the right of secession in a free India. The CPI, however, stressed that it stood for Indian unity, opposed the two-nation theory and desired Cono be reinforced by pointing out that none other than Gandhiji had in 1920 reorganised the Congress on this basis. It was overlooked that the Mahatma effected this reorganisation only to make the Congress more accessible to the masses so as to give Indian unity wider foundations. It was not done by rejecting the concept that India was a nation.

The CPI suck to the multinational concept even after independence. In the period when BT Ranadive was its General Secretary this concept was embellished. The discovery was made that not only was India multinational but that the Marwari-Gujarati bourgeoisie, as the leading collaborator with imperialism, oppressed the other nationalities of India.

The CPI, however, began to overcome its infantile disorders in the mid-1950. It abandoned the theory of India being a collection of nationalities even though it was in the forefront of the struggle for basing the Indian Union on linguistic States but with a strong Centre.
When the CPI(M) broke away it revived the multinational theory as part of its anti-Congress armoury. The Congress was depicted by it as the party of the Gujrati-Marwari bourgeoisie which was collaborationist externally and oppressive internally. This theory was an important plank of its vehement opposition to Indira Gandhi and her “authoritarian” Centre. It was also an important reason for concentrating its work on the periphery of India and purposely neglecting work in the Hindi-knowing heartland.

The CPI(M) had begun to move away somewhat in its practice from this theory. After Indira Gandhi’s electoral setback in 1977 it joined hands with the Janata Party, which included the Jan Sangh. It began to believe that an all-India anti-Congress front would be brought into being and could succeed. This belief was reinforced in 1989 when it supported the National Front Government together with the BJP. Jyoti Basu and Atal Behari Vajpayee raised aloft their clasped hands at mass meetings in Calcutta. This obviously was no time for the CPI(M) to raise the banner of multinationalism.

At present it has become a component of the United Front formed to keep the BJP out of power but with Congress support. It projects the UF as the vehicle of federalism. That federalism itself is projected as the most appropriate institutional-isation of Indian unity based on multinationalism.

Harkishen Singh Surjeet has recently written that multinational Indian unity was achieved during the struggle for freedom. For him Indian unity was not national unity but that of a country united by colonialism and united to overthrow that rule. In effect this means that there was no India before the British came with their railways, their troops and their exploitation.

This is thoroughly wrong. It can, of course, be asked as to when the different nationalities of India came into being. Was it before, during or after the freedom struggle? Why was there no separate freedom struggle, say, of the Bengalis or of the Sindhis or Maharashtrians or Tamils? Why was there the Indian National Congress, the CPI, the AITUC, etc? Were these all formed because the British, even negatively, had laid the basis of Indian consciousness?
The trouble with the CPI(M) is that it lacks a sense of history. Nations or nationalities do not suddenly come into being nor are they created by anybody. They come into being through a long process of evolution which has its qualitative turning points. Our journey began thousands of years ago. Our consciousness of ourselves as Indians grew along with our spreading out and settling on this subcontinent, being reinforced by economic ties and by the fashioning of a common culture. National awareness leapt forward through the national revolution but it was national awareness which sparked off and expressed itself through that revolution.

India did not come into being as did the Soviet Union. The latter was formed by different nations agreeing to a Union in 1922 and disintegrated also by agreement in 1991. The Indian nation was formed by history and will not disintegrate till history ends.

The diversity of India expresses its unity. Linguistic formations are a part of this expression. The Indian national state and the development of the national economy require and reinforce this unity. Whatever the temporary setbacks this unity will, in the not so long run, destroy those who seek to weaken or destroy it. The CPI(M) would do well to advance from corporatism and parochialism to nationalism.
 
 

Book Review

ON THE SHORES OF THE VITASTA

By M.K. Santoshi

The present collection is the testimony of her deeprooted love for Kashmir, deepened further after the eruption of militancy in the Valley. The theme of her present literary work is not current political upheavals in Kashmir but the changing psyche of its people. The novelist has selected early fiftees as the period for her four novellas. The writer’s aim seems to be to highlight the changing times and women’s role in it. It goes to the credit of Parneeta Khar that she has cast her women characters in these four novellas in challenging circumstances and exhibited their courage and wisdom. The sociological study of her community with all its negativity has really helped the novelist in her descriptions.

The feudal outlook of Kashmiri people has been dilated in these four novellas. But the main aim seems to be to highlight the role of women in social and domestic prosperity against male dominance.

In the story ‘Pamposh’ one of the leading characters Shyama voices the concern of the novelist in these words- “women are no more the unclaimed-slaves of men. Women will have to come free of these shackles and progress by their own efforts.” There were times when morsels of women were grudged, when in a husband’s house she was never served a curry to wet her rice. When they were taught to curb their desires, when they had to learn obedience so that they would not revolt under oppressive conditions. ‘Umavati’ the grandmother in the story ‘Pamposh’ represents the old social order but her daughter-in-law Shyama is total negation of the the traditional thinking. She brings up her children in the unorthodox manner.

The caste restrictions ars still followed among Kashmiri Pandits but not with such intensity as is followed in other communities. But a few decades ago slackness in caste considerations was not acceptable. Bulbul of the story ‘the gap and the bridge’ becomes the worst victim of caste barriers. This story can indeed be called a love story. The novelist has chosen a Pujari boy as its hero and the daughter of a family proud of its name in the society as its heroine. The new upliftment of the pujari family upsets Sunderlal (father of Bulbul). He could not reconcile how a boy whose forefathers had survived on the charity and alms of Sunderlal’s forefathers. Father a pujari and son an engineer, this social-imbalance is going to cause havoc; thought Sunderlal. But Bulbul partly to rectify his father’s attitude and partly to console herself, implores upon Lassa the son of a pujari and her old time lover to give his name to her child who henceforth shall be called neither by Vasant Razdan nor Vasant Koul bu Vasant Sharma. The novelist truly disapproves of caste-consciousness and advocates a more progressive attitude in our social relations.

‘Ruby among Pearls’ is a story par excellence. It exposes the pseudoasceticsm of our society as a blot on the name of our pious-heritage. It ridicules those who use Swamis as a camouflage to conceal their illusions.

All the four novellas in this collection are domestic in their structure. They reveal as such the domestic-parodoxes of our society but without going satirical. Infact the novelist has surprisingly avoided satrical utterances. In the novellas, there come many such occasions, when she could use satire like a whip but she chooses to let it go. Sometimes such gentleness of a writer is not appreciated by the readers. But Parneeta Khar’s success in writing these novellas is to bring to focus those times when in Kashmir new thinking was taking shape particularly among women. Bulbul, Chuni or Keshani  represent this new thinking. In trying circumstances her representative female characters with all their novel thoughts emerge victorious. The gender consciousness of the novelist seems to be the motivating force of these stories. The behaviour psychology of Kashmiri people has found a genuine place in this book and then love for exhibitionism and worldly excellence are also focussed at.

Parneeta Khar has a flowing style and easy vocabulary. She does not mean to impress the reader  with her knowledge of the English language but uses it as a medium of her expression to reach to those people who live in diaspora. She is here different from those-exile writers of Kashmir who have not yet overcome their nostalgia. Parneeta Khar shares no such nostalgia with these writers. She has depicted those times when Kashmiri women were fighting for a new identity and a new place in the society. The book as such has a sociological relevance. The usage of ethnic words have found liberal place in these novellas. A good list of such words can be presented. A few of such ethnic words are-Pheran, Gobra, Atgath, Khos, Dejhour and Dongas. Its usage can not be irksome even to those readers who are non-Kashmiris as their English translation is kept attached. It will instead definitely enrich their vocabulary. On the ‘shores of the vitasta’ is a literary piece of writing where in there are no guns, no terrorists, no violence, no crackdowns, no refugees’ camps no hatred, nothing of the sort. It takes us to those times when our mothers were struggling hard to prove their worth. A good sociological reading apart from its literary merits.

The writer is a well-known Hindi poet and a short-story writer.

‘ON THE SHORES OF THE VITASTA’--
Writer Parineeta Kour,
Publish By: Writers Workshop 162/92 Lake Gardens, Calcutta-700045.
*Price- Rs 150/- (Hard Bound),
  Rs 100/- (Popular Edition)
 
 

HOW PAKISTAN FINANCES TERRORISM IN KASHMIR

Diplomatic Correspondent

Pakistan has not only been running this campaign for the last decade or so but has enlarged its scope. This year has seen massive induction of few thousand mercenaries into J&K. Many more are being listed for future induction. Brazen support of the military dictator, Pervez Mushraff to the Muridke conference of Lashkar-e-Toiba should dispel all doubts about the real intentions of Mushraff in the coming days. Where does such huge funds come from? Who are the beneficiaries? How can India break the financial infrastructure of the terrorist campaign? The counter-insurgency response has to address this dimension in all seriousness, if the campaign is to be carried back into the enemy’s camp.

Sensational details have been revealed by the intelligence studies about the financial network of the terrorist campaign.
 

Source of Funds

The ISI spends anywhere between Rs 537.5 crore and Rs 1075 crores on funding terrorism in India. Major portion of this funding is mobilised through open patronage by Pakistan government to the sale of narcotics. ISI’s annual commission from this trade is around $2.5 billion. Funding is also done through the floating of counterfeit currency. “National Jehad Council” has its printing press at Muzaffarabad in PoK. The Pan Islamist outfits also make huge collections in West Asia and European countries in the name of “Jehad Fund”. In Pakistan, the Markaz-al-Dawah, the political cover front of the Lashkar-e-Toiba collects funds from the people to fight the so-called “holy war” in Kashmir. Money from the foreign sources is routed through hawala transactions. The hawala network has roped in some bank officials and businessmen in Kashmir, while in rest of India certain dubious businessmen-brokers facilitate its smooth running. The intelligence agencies have unearthed many links in the hawala chain.

In Kashmir, as per reports, the ISI is working in collaboration with the All Party Hurriyat Conference and its affiliate Jamaat Islami and the United Jehad Council. The terrorist network in Kashmir mobilises funds through extortions from traders, contractors, affluent people and ransom money through kidnappings. Media reports have referred to the looting of the state funds also.

Before pushing the terrorists into the Valley, the militants are stuffed with large amounts of cash (both Indian and Pakistani Currency).
 

Beneficiaries

Who are the beneficiaries of these funds? The All Party Hurriyat Conference is the blue-eyed boy for Pakistan. Sources said that the monthly aid to Hurriyat totals Rs 2 crore. Even smaller groups get Rs 35000 each. The monthly dibursal to the terrorist outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Ansar is Rs 1 crore and Rs 40 lakh respectively. What has set the intelligence experts rethinking is the roping in of some Shia outfits by ISI. In 1997, Rs 70,39,473 was distributed to certain Shia militant outfits in the Valley, though at commonman level, the mass of the 8-lakh strong Kashmiri Shia community is indifferent to the insurgency for obvious apprehensions.

The local militants engaged by the ISI are all, as per reports, working on monthly salary basis getting between Rs 2500 to Rs 5000, depending on various factors. The foreign mercenary is paid between Rs 5,000 and Rs 8,000. The family of the slain terrorist gets Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 a month. When the foreign mercenary enters into a two-year contract, he is paid Rs 2 lakh to move to Kashmir. After the contract tenure is over, he gets another Rs 5 lakh as a final payment. The widespread poverty in Afghanistan and certain areas of Pakistan has forced many youth to take the bait.

How ISI lures the Kashmiris is also interesting. A guide gets between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000, a porter between Rs 7,500 and Rs 2,000, while the motivator is paid Rs 5,000. The militancy has become a flourishing business in Kashmir. A militant gets Rs 150 for throwing a grenade and Rs 6,000 for winter clothing. ISI also pays terrorists a bonus for every Indian soldier killed: Rs 7000 to the rank of major, Rs 50,000 for a lieutenant Colonel and Rs 1 lakh for a Brigadier and above. All this establishes how Pakistan is maturing from a confessional to a terrorist state.

Meanwhile, sources say that the security experts have conveyed to the government that unless the financial backbone of the terrorist campaign is broken, the security operations are likely to remain a reactive effort.

Reports say the Centre has already formulated a plan to tackle this menace. All benami transations and properties of people directly or indirectly connected with the Kashmir militancy in J&K and in the rest of India are to be tracked down. Strict instructions have been issued to the banking managements to cooperate in unearthing the terrorist sources of funds. The centre is also tightening the Vigilance authorities in this matter, the reports said.
 
 

Proxy War

ISI RESTRUCTURES ITS STRATEGY

By D.P. Roy

With the recent military takeover, ISI is recasting its strategy to bring stridency in the terrorist campaign in J&K. The new military leadership is openly backing the armed religious militia groups,which are recruiting mercenaries for “Jehad” n J&K. At Muridke Conference, Lashkar leaders claimed that fifty thousand mercenaries were enrolled for this campaign.

The fascist leadership of these quasi-religious militias openly exhorted their cadres for terrorist attacks against India.Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen said that there would be repeat of Kargil after the snow melts. Throwing all norms of state to state relations to winds, Gen Musharaff expressed solidarity with detained Jamaat Islami leader Geelani.

ISI is readjusting its strategy to escalate and upgrade the terrorist campaign in J&K. Its new designs are to destabilise North Indian cities. Reactivating Punjab theatre is aimed at forcing dispersal of Indian forces over a wider area and weaken anti-insurgency operations in Kashmir. It appointed the notorious former ISI chief, Lt Gen (Retd.) Javed Nasir as president of the Pakistan Gurudwara Prabandak Committee. This hurt the feelings of the Sikh community. Secondly, a top Pakistani smuggler, Taaj Hussain Seth has been given 2500 acres of land on a 99-year lease at Lahore for training Sikh extremists. ISI has also been pushing arms into New Delhi. In September last, security forces seized a truck, carrying weapons from Kupwara to New Delhi.
 

Mercenaries Infiltration

Pakistan has also stepped up induction of highly motivated mercenaries and its Army regulars with combat experience in Afghanistan. Since Kargil intrusion more than three thousand mercenaries have entered J&K. Reports say, ISI has started diverting a segment of Taliban, comprising three thousand men. These Taliban militia men are being settled close to LoC in PoK in the one-kilometer belt. The evacuation of the local villagers of Bagh, Kotli, Nikial and Balnoi who have been evacuated for the infiltration of Talibans has caused resentment. At Nikial hundreds of villagers held a demonstration, demanding immediate evauation of their land by Afghans. In another report Sunday Telegraph London reported that scores of Muslim fundamentalists were under training for subversion at secret camps in UK. They are believed to be Osama Bin Laden’s men, who are being sent to Kashmir. The security grid remains weak as only 29 percent of the terrorist who came in are caught or killed.

The main infiltration routes the terrorists have been through Poonch Rajouri, Samba, Uri and Gulmarg sectors. On an average three to five militants cross international border per day. Some local Gujars of Samba, Ramgarh work as courriers and provide shelters. Kathua police also arrested a forest guard, Chuni Lal at village Jasath for allegedly providing shelter to one ISI agent Mohd Ajaz.

ISI has shifted operational base from Muzaffarabad to Khuiratta and Kotli. Another route of infiltration is via Nepal and Bangladesh. Terrorists come on “valid passports” to these countries and sneak into India as Indian “citizens”. Mosques and Madrassas in border areas are being used to facilitate this.
Pakistan has also been trying to lure border villagers to PoK and send them back after training them in sabotage activities.

Pakistan embassy in New Delhi has been in active contact with terrorists groups in J&K. The security forces recently nabbed a terrorist at Banihal, who said that he had contacts with organisations in Iran, Egypt and Mr Qazi Ashraf Jehangir, the Pak High Commissioner in New Delhi.
 

Suicide Groups

ISI is using drugging of mercenaries with heroin and cocaine for suicide attacks. Drugs build aggression in them. These suicide groups are brainwashed that after death they will become shaheed and enter Jannat. In Iran also, boys aged 12-14 years were given keys, for the same purpose during war with Iraq.
New batches of mercenaries are also highly trained. An Albanian mercenary Asghar, who was district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen engaged security forces in a prolonged encounter at Tral. Commenting upon this encounter, security officials said, “He gave a good fight. Infact he was moving and jumping as if he was on springs. He was also firing simultaneously by two weapons, which is difficult even for a highly trained army man.”

ISI is using new elements for subversion. The terrorists are using women and children to observe movement of security forces and planting solar activated IEDs. These IEDs normally explode between 12 noon and 2 PM, when there is rise in temperature.

Women are forced to accompany militants to escape police detection. Hindu youth with criminal background are also being drafted into militancy. One, Sanjay Gandhi was arrested at Latti Duna in Ram Nagar, Udhampur recently in this connection.
 

Sophisticated Weaponry

The mercenaries who command all the terrorists operations in J&K are being supplied the finest weaponry. The latest weapons include disposable rockets, 81mm mortars, automatic multiple grenade launchers, 66mm M-72 anti-tank missile launchers and the latest makes of AK rifles. Army sources said that mercenaries have sophisticated Kenwood wireless sets,which can even be used for detonating IEDs.

According to weapon experts, rockets used by Pakistan’s low-flying fighter aircraft to hit targets on ground have now been given to militants, who are trying to use them frequently in Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara districts. These rockets are equipped with solar batteries and photoelectric cells.

During the past one year the security forces recovered six surface to air and surface to surface missiles in Poonch-Kupwara districts. “Jumping mines” of East-European origin, which were used extensively in Balkans war have also reached the terrorists. For the first time 107 ballistic missile was seized by Army troops this month from village Lassana in Surankote during a search operation. There is fear that the Russian equivalent of anti-stinger missiles used against Soviet troops in Afghanistan may have also come. Other sophisticated weapons include 14” long rocket launchers fitted with silencers, which can be transported on scooters. Flame throwers were inducted in 1998 to target ammunition points, besides oil depots and essential supply lines.

What is worrying the security forces is that the militants are yet to use these large calibre weapons. Presently they seem to be stock-poiling enough of these for a bigger operation in the future.

The Pak sponsored terrorists have also been fabricating explosive devices locally. Last June, the Army seized five indigeniously designed bombs fabricated in the vehicles fuel tanks. One of the car bombs was capable of carrying 80 kgs of devastating plastic explosives. The otherbombs were made up of shaped charges placed outside modified fuel tanks with plastic explosives. As per weapon experts, these charges are capable of piercing armour plating.
 

Sanctuaries

Another ISI strategy seems to be to carve out safe sanctuaries in strategic areas of J&K. Sources say that militants have carved out hideouts in mountain caves and deep nullahs in Poonch-Rajouri making it difficult for the Army to flush them out. A senior BSF official recently said that militants have been constructing concrete hideouts in Pir Pantsal region, where they have sizeable concentration. This mountain range overlooks the Jammu-Srinagar highway and the strategic Doda region.

In the Marwah valley ace Afghan and Pak shooters have established a training centre. This joint training centre being run by Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen are giving training in handling IEDs and grenades to youth from Kishtwar, Udhampur, Doda, Bhadarwah, Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian.
Zachaldar-Bungus valley in Kupwara is another “safe sanctuary” for mercenaries. Last August this made headlines, when media reported that mercenaries openly paraded through Ramhal village publicly demonstrating their assault rifles, machines and rocket launches.

Pakistan has been making attempts to capture strategic posts in Kupwara, Lolab, Keran, Bungus, Gurez, Machel, Tanghdar. Several forest belts of Rajawar, Jumugand, Bud Nambal, Bungus, Trehgam have become safe heaven for mercenaries. Pushing heavy groups of mercenaries in the 5-10 km border belt inside has a definite design to sandwich the Indian security forces. Even before start of Kargil infiltration scores of Pak infiltrators had visited 20 scarcely populated villages in border belt of Bandipore and told villagers to vacate the region to avoid death or injury during operation they intended to carry out against security forces. In October the entire 6 Division was used to saturate Rajawar forests. This did scatter terrorists and snapped their communications, but yielded few immediate results.
 

Local Youth

What should sound the alarm bells in the home ministry is the shift in local attitude from indifference to connivance. Prior to 1996 the local population was  showing signs of attritional fatigue. There are three reasons for this shift-euphoria over direct involvement of Pakistan in Kargil, rampant misgovernance and new ISI strategy for recruitment. According to one report carried by a leading news agency, three thousand Kashmiri Youth have crossed over to PoK. During last two months alone fifteen hundred boys have went across. Report said two hundred Kashmir youth, who went to attend Lashkar Conference at Muridke are now waiting to infiltrate back. Mr Vidyasagar Rao, Minister of State for Home Affairs informed Lok Sabha that many youth were going across and some were being sent to Pakistan-Afghan border for advance training.

During the last few months a plethora of appeals by parents to missing youth have been appearing in local dailies. In the psy war campaign, the terrorist sponsors have been pressurising the aggrieved parents to file FIRs in police stations and accuse police of holding missing youth.In many cases parents do not even report cases ofmissing children for fear of drawing attention of security forces.

The local recruitment had virtually come to a halt after the Hazratbal crisis in 1993. Those who had been involved in the armed campaign in early years were either eliminated or had seen the futility of attritional violence. ISI is specifically targetting the new generation in 12-18 years group. In 1990 their age was 2-8 years and are easily lured by violence. They have grown up in violence during last decade.

Most of new local recruits belong to extremely poor families or have criminal background. Their education profile shows that none of them has an education above matriculation. This recruitment thus has nothing to do with unemployment, as claimed by Kashmir “experts”.

Poor families fall prey to the financial allurements. Other tactics used by terrorist sponsors to hook local youth are religious brainwashing in Jamaat and “residential” schools, abductions, and blackmail. Terrorists threaten the parents that their daughters would be taken if they desisted from giving their sons. Boys are posed with militants and told the same photographs would be shown to the security forces. In other cases huge ransom money is demanded.
The recruitment has been from all the Muslim dominated areas of the state-Reasi, Mahore, Doda, Bandipore, Gurez, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, Handwara, Poonch, Rajouri, Bani, Ram Nagar and parts of Udhampur.
 

Changed attitude

The dangerous phenomenon that should make home ministry officials sit up and think is the empathising of locals with foreign mercenaries in certain pockets of Kashmir valley. When the Albanian mercenary was gunned down during an encounter, many villagers promptly came out to claim his body from the Qazigund police station. In another incident at Sopore in which six BSF jawans and two Lashkar terrorists were killed, locals were found screaming for dead terrorists. This phenomenon was not seen even during the heydays of the terrorism in Valley. In Baramulla also, nearly two thousand locals attended the burial of two Lashkar terrorists killed during an attack on Division headquarters of the Army, They were shouting secessionist and anti-Army slogans.
 

Extending Activities

The ISI is also extending its subversive activity in Jammu region and parts of North India. IG BSF recently sounded an alert about possible suicide attacks in Jammu city. Reports also said that ISI was trying to consolidate its hideouts on the outskirts of Jammu city. Recently, there was a Joint Army-Police operation at Bhatindi-Sidhra to nab the terrorists. Many militants masquerading as Sadhus have been spotted by locals near Mahamaya temple at Bagh-e-Bahu. The security authorities have still not taken this seriously as Bathindi police chowki has not been upgraded.

Security agencies have cautioned VIPs to be extra cautious in accepting gift packets. During last few days J&K police arrested sixteen boys from various places in Udhampur. The militants had planned to plant bombs in vehicles and then park them in crowded areas. As per police report, the two groups of Hizbul Mujahideen owing allegiance to Shakeel and Farooq Ansari have been drafted by ISI for this joint action. The police had unravelled the link by arresting one Abdul Latif aged 50 years who allegedly was luring local youth and also served their guide. Latif was working as a teacher in Govt. Higher Secondary School at Gulbabgarh.

For the first time in last ten years there were two bomb blasts at Ramban bus stand. Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami has also been targetting informers and other sympathisers of the security forces. Some have been kidnapped. Among the kidnapped was Amin Banihali, a folk singer. Banihali was kidnapped from a marriage party. Surrendered militants have also started receiving threats from HUJI activists. The failure of the government in providing adequate security to informers has forced many of them to migrate from their respective areas, thus hampering the intelligence gathering process.
 

SIMI

For extending subversive activities in parts of Northern India, Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) is working in close cohorts with other ISI agencies. This student outfit of Jamaat Islami Hind has been openly advocating “Jehad” after Kargil. It talked of establishing a “world caliphate” at its three zonal Ikhwans at Kanpur, Aurangabad and Malapurram. This organisation has links with anti-India elements in Nepal and Bangladesh. In India its cadres work through Al-Ummah in Tamil Nadu and NDF in Kerala. The two overseas centres of SIMI operate through World Assembly of Muslim Youth, Riyadh and International  Islamic Federation of Students Organisation, Kuwait. SIMI cadres also go across for subversive training. SIMI openly backs Kashmiri terrorists and foreign mercenaries. Kashmiri militants have hideouts in its strongholds. The link between Kashmiri terrorists and SIMI was forged in 1992 by ISI. Because of the clout of the articulate Muslim lobby, the home ministry has not so far taken any concrete action against this premier ISI cover outfit in the country.
 
 

MATTOO CASE ACCUSED ACQUITTED

By Aditi Koul

Delivering the judgement, the Additional Sessions Judge. J.P. Thareja said; “Though I know that he is the man who committed the crime, I acquit him, giving him benefit of doubt”.

In a 450 page judgement the judge came down heavily on the role of Delhi Police; “There has been particular inaction by Delhi Police”; stated the judge.
The judge passed strictures on the role and investigation carried out by Delhi police and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The judge said, “they are responsible for such an end to the case”.

According to the judgement, he holds the accused’s father IG, Pondicherry, Mr JP Singh, responsible for using his official position to influence the agencies. “The influence of the father has been there in the matter and there was deliberate inaction”.

He further stated that the rule of law doesn’t seem to apply to the children of those who enforce it.

The Delhi police according to the judge attempted to assist the accused during the investigation and trial “Lalit Mohan, the Inspector was instrumental in creating false evidence and false defence for the accused. The witnesses of the police including a Sub-Inspector deposed falsely”.

The judgement held the CBI responsible for unfair investigation and failure to produce Virender Prasad, Mattoo’s household help, which resulted in the obstruction of justice. The judge added that the CBI fabricated the DNA test in the rape case as it was not obtained in accordance with the judicial procedure so as to be admitted in evidence in view of Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act. ASJ, Thaneja observed that the “state  had failed to bring home the charge of rape against the accused”.

He added that the evidence must be such as to exclude beyond all certainty every reasonable doubt of the guilt of the accused.

However, the judge made it clear that though Santosh was being given “benefit of doubt”. It was clear that the accused was guilty of murder, considering the circumstancial evidence. Session judge Thaneja said that the accused had ulterior motives and was consequently after her.

“On account of the personality of the accused as that of the tough minded persons the accused committed the barbaric act as has been committed in the present case of the deceased”.

The Judge further added that the injuries on the person of the accused and the helmet with the wire which was later recovered from the accused coupled with false defence taken by the accused, the ball of proof of criminal justice system has been thrown away from the boundary of criminal justice system to beyond reasonable doubt”.

Additional Sessions Judge GP Thaneja said the state investigations have created a hole in the proof of justice system by keeping away important evidence therefore considering this the judge said “I give him benefit of doubt eventhough I know he is the man who commited the crime”.
 

DoV Meets Advani

Daughters of Vitasta met theUnion Minister for Home, Mr LK Advani in Delhi on the 9th of December.

The 3 member delegation of Ms Nancy Kaul, Dr Shakti Bhan and Phoola Tickoo had gone to meet Mr Advani to express their serious concern and anger on the Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case.

The DoV presented a memorandum to the Home Minister drawing his attention towards the serious and gross injustice faced by Priyadarshini Mattoo and her family.

They drew his attention towards the incompetence, lapses and corruption by the investigation agencies: police and the CBI. The DoV said that the police department andIG JP Singh, father of the accused had used influence and office to save the accused and in turn obstructed justice.

They also requested Mr Advani to take, strong and immediate action so that justice, truth, honesty and above all “dignity of life and women do not suffer”. The DoV demanded the following:-

Immediate reopening and reinvestigation of the case by independent and fair body and action against the erring police and investigation officers for allowing the culprit to escape scot free. They also demanded seizure of the accused’s passport and other documents. Regarding the father’s role the DoV maintained that he should be punished severly for using his offices to obstruct justice. The DoV also drew the Home Ministers attention to the redundant laws which need ammendments and change.

After the meeting, Ms Nancy Koul, said that Mr Advani had given them a patient hearing and promised them immediate action. “He is equally concerned by this miscarriage of justice and the role of the police”.

“He promised us, immediate and swift action”, she added.

According to reliable and highly placed sources it is reportedly said that Mr Advani summoned CBI Director Mr Raghavan regarding the case.
 

CBI to appeal against verdict

The CBI family bowed to the public outcry and uproar in the Parliament and decided to file an appeal in the Delhi High Court against the acquittal of Santosh Kumar Singh, accused in the Priyadarshini Mattoo murder.

The court had passed stringent and severe strictures against the police and the CBI while releasing the accused and blamed them of fabricating and withholding evidence to help the accused.

The agency spokesperson, said that they would file an appeal, “CBI will file an appeal against the aquittal in the Delhi High  Court. The Director has already issued an order in this regard”.

The Director was studying the 450 page judgement given by the Additional Sessions Judge, GP Thaneja, “with great care” to identify various lapses in the investigation pointed out by the judge”. CBI, Director is deeply concerned over the observations made by the judge and has directed to special directors in the organisation to study the judgement and suggest further action”, said the spokesperson.
 
 

Muslim Auqaf Trust to set up Islamic varsity

KS Correspondent

The Chief Minister said that 116 canals of the land have been identified for the proposed University at Ganderbal. He added that Muslim scholars of the State will also be associated with the task and the main objective of the University would be to impart Islamic education and carry out research on Islamic literature.
 

NEWS BRIEFS

ANJUMAN OPPOSED TO GREATER AUTONOMY

KS Correspondent

Mr Dehlavi also called for a Parliamentary resolution barring talks with Pakistan on Kashmir. He alleged that USA was behind terrorism in Kashmir and said if influx of foreign mercenaries was not checked forthwith, Kashmir could became another “Afghanistan or Palestine”. He advocated the policy of elimination of militants. Maulana demanded the setting up of a joint intelligence organisation comprising functionaries of the IB, RAW and state agencies for better monitoring of movement and plans of militants.
 
 

RUSSIA CONCERNED OVER TERRORISM IN KASHMIR

KS Correspondent

In an interesting development China strongly criticised the stand of the western world on Russia’s military operation in Chechnya and lauded Moscow’s “un-compromising fight against terrorists in its own territory”.
 
 

ARI MASSACRE ACCUSED KILLED

KS Correspondent

COUNTER-INSURGENTS INVOLVED IN CAR-JACKING RACKETS

KS Correspondent

The arrest of Faheem, the prime accused in the murder of Irfan revealed the crucial link in this racket. He had been working as a denter with a UP-based businessman at Anantnag. This new angle to the terrorism has alerted the security forces to track down criminal gangs operating in and around New Delhi.
 
 

ADVANI CRITICISES WESTERN BLOC

KS Correspondent

WORLD COMMUNITY URGED TO STOP TERRORISM

KS Correspondent

The children raised the plight of the orphaned children in J&K due to ongoing militancy in the state. They asked the UN to restrain Pakistan from aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism. The memorandum submitted by them called upon the world community to take up the cause of human rights violations in Kashmir by militants and put effective pressures on those responsible for it.
 
 

LADAKHIS WARM UP TO STIR AGAINST AUTONOMY

KS Correspondent

Mr Samphel compared the greater autonomy demand with the secessionist activities of the militants. He further alleged that the only difference was that while the militants wanted ‘Azadi’ through gun, the National Conference wanted it by tabling a Bill in the Assembly.

Mr Samphel urged the centre not to get “swayed” by the “sweettongued” Dr Abdullah and realise the gravity of the situation in the state which could assume alarming dimensions if constitutional status prior to 1953 was restored to the state. The protestors also demanded separate staehood for Jammu and Ladakh. They raised anti-Farooq Abdullah slogans and set ablaze the copies of the autonomy committee report.
 
 

INDIA RE-ESTABLISHES LINK WITH PAKISTAN

KS Correspondent

This being the public stance. Are the two countries again on “talking terms”? Mr Vajpayee’s condolence message to Gen Mushraff on the demise of his father and the statement of Pakistan Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar indicate that silent unofficial diplomacy has again been resumed. Mr Sattar in his dinner speech hosted for the association of retired Ambassadors on December 6 said that Islamabad was ready to hold talks with New Delhi on the basis of agreements already reached between the two sides. It may be recalled that Gen Mushraff had debunked the Lahore process immediately after he took over. He had said, “yes there was a process wrocess. Mr Rafiq Tarar, the President who was present in the dinner meeting echoed Mr Sattar’s views saying that Pakistan was keen to resume a meaningful result-oriented dialogue with India and added, “We trust that this process will be revived in the near future”.
The back-room diplomacy was initiated by India last month, when the former Foreign Secretary, Mr Salman Haider was sent to Pakistan for establishing preliminary dialogue. He had extensive deliberations with Mr Abdul Sattar, the Foreign Minister, in Lahore. Later on Gen Mushraff sent Mr Himayun Khan, former High Commissioner to New Delhi. Around same time three senior journalists visited Pakistan, as per reports, at the initiative of PMO. They are Mr Bharat Bhushan, The Hindustan Times, Mr C Raja Mohan, The Hindu and Mr Siddarajan, The Times of India. Mr IK Gujral, the former Prime Minister publicly called for reestablishing dialogue with Pakistan. Mr Babar Ali, well-known left wing Pakistani columnist said that India cannot shy away just because Pakistan had a military dictator. A senior columnist closer to the ruling coalition, in a leading national daily tried to justify dialogue with Gen Mushraff by undermining the democratic character of Nawaz Sharif regime. Sometime later, Mr IK Gujral and Mr Muchkund Dubey, the former Foreign Secretary are scheduled to meet Mr Niaz Naik and Lt Gen (Retd.) Talat Masood in Nepal. Mr Niaz Naik had been closely involved in the backroom parleys between India and Pakistan at the height of Kargil crisis.

The back-room diplomacy between the two countries is not something new. In 1991, Nawaz Sharif government had sent Mukhtar Masood to India, when Mr Narasimha Rao had done loud thinking on granting “greater” autonomy to J&K. During the Gujral period also, as per informed sources, Mr Nawaz Sharif had tried to warn Mr IK Gujral on granting autonomy, arguing that this could spell the disintegration of the sub-continent.

The American pressure on India for resuming talks with Pakistan has been going on right from the day, Gen Mushraff staged a coup. Ambassador celeste, while talking to journalists recently said, “it will be very valuable for India to engage Pakistan at the highest level on issues that trouble the relationship between the two countries. We are concerned that the momentum of the Lahore process is not completely lost.” Reacting indirectly to the resumption of back-room dialogue, Mr Thomas Pickering, the US under secretary of State said, “India is responding positively to its increased dialogue with the USA and we need to take advantage of that not just for traditional security and economic interests but also to counter the human rights and environmental concerns”
 
 

CENTRE  ASKS  HURRIYAT  TO  SPELL-OUT  ITS  PERSPECTIVE

KS Correspondent

Reports reaching Jammu say that two rounds of unofficial talks between the representatives of the Hurriyat leadership and the Centre have concluded. Sources said the separatist conglomerate has been asked to spell out its perspective on restoration of Kashmir’s secular character and how it visualises its participation in mainstream politics. A top leader of the ruling coalition, known for his proximity to the Hurriyat leadership is believed to have done some plain speaking to these leaders. He is also reported to have warned them of serious consequences in case they persisted with vacillating stand on crucial issues. The centre, as per reports, has also hinted to the Hurriyat representative about its willingness for mid-term poll in case Hurriyat showed its willingness. The Centre maintained that any dialogue about political restructuring of the State should be best left to the real representatives of the people, who emerge through elections.

The Hurriyat leaders have been publicly maintaining that they are not engaged in any dialogue. The dialogue has not been liked by the ruling National Conference, which perceives APHC as its political rival. Dr Farooq Abdullah reacted strongly to the Centre’s recommendation to set free the Hurriyat leaders detained at Jodhpur and other places. He even threatened to resign in case he was pressed to revoke charges against the detained APHC leaders. The J&K government has since extended the detention of 15 top Hurriyat leaders till September 2001.

At the high level meeting called by Mr LK Advani on November 17, the Chief Minister was reportedly asked to explain the charges and the grounds of detention. The State government subsequently sent a detailed report about the activities of the secessionist leaders and exhorted the need to keep them under detention. Dr Abdullah also criticised Hurriyat leaders for “visiting their master in Pakistan embassy in New Delhi and getting money bags from various channels for disturbing peace in the state.”

Hurriyat has been under American pressure to participate in the elections. Mr Richard F.Celeste, the US Ambassador during an interaction with Journalists said that Washington has commended to Hurriyat leaders that “the political process should be basis for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem between the two countries”.

For its first official reaction on the dialogue, the Union Home Minister Mr LK Advani told Lok Sabha that Government would consider whether it will be worthwhile to hold negotiations with them “at this juncture” when they were losing support. He also reiterated that talks with militant outfits could be held “only within the framework of the constitution.”

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha MPs of National Conference also shifted their stand. Mr Ali Mohd Naik, MP elected from Anantnag doubted whether Hurriyat was at all serious to sort out the problem. He added dialogue should only be held “provided no conditions were attached by the Hurriyat”. Mr Naik further reiterated that Hurriyat could do little to end violence since it had no control over militants operating in the state, particularly the foreign mercenaries.
Another separatist leader, Shabir Shah, released recently from jail, while demanding transparency in the dialogue, said the Centre should hold negotiations only with those politicians who represent all the three regions.
 
 

RETURN IN CONSULTATION WITH MIGRANTS: RAO

KS Correspondent

Addressing a press conference, he said that the Union Home Ministry was working on return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits but added that the final decision will be taken in consultation with the migrants’ representatives.

Mr Rao said that the centre was concerned with the problem of border migrants and they will be treated at par with Kargil migrants. He said that though there is spurt in militant activities but the situation is well under control and Pak sponsored militancy will be defeated in the state.

The minister was on two day visit to the state  and visited border migrant camp Devipur and KP migrant camp Purkhoo yesterday to view their problems personally.
 
 

2000 BUNKERS IN KARGIL

KS Correspondent

PANCHAYAT POLLS

KS Correspondent

KARGIL OPERATION EXPENDITURE

KS Correspondent

DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IN JAMMU-VHP

KS Correspondent

LPG BOTTLING PLANT

KS Correspondent

The plant has been constructed by Hindustan Petroleum Ltd. at Pampore in 12 months at cost of Rs 10.50 crore.
 
 

SHARDA FOUNDATION

KS Correspondent

Successful candidates were given diploma certificates by the Chairman of Foundation Shri Swami Shakti Chaitanya at a simple and impressive function held at Shri Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram, Udaywala Jammu. Speakingon this occasion Chairman of this Foundation laid stress on acquiring knowledge in modern skills and techniques in addition to retaining age old values and culture of our society. Students of second batch too were present at this functionr
 

NATURE DOES MIRACLE IN KASHMIR

KS Correspondent

SRINAGAR: An unprecedented natural event has taken place in South Kashmir as the walnut trees produced second crop in a single year. The Sher-e-Kashmir Agricultural University has started experiments in this matter. Untimely flowering of fruit trees, particularly pear trees, in rainy season is not uncommon in Kashmir, but this year many walnut trees in some villages in South Kashmir not only sprout the flowering but walnuts also. These walnuts are reportedly smaller in size.

It is reported that due to long spell of draught in Kashmir, these trees shed their leaves earlier. But once it rained in September, these trees sprout leaves and flowers and the crop, though very less, was produced in less than two months.
 
 

INDIA PROTESTS PAK ON LET

KS Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Dec 8: Union External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh today informed Lok Sabha that the government has launched formal protest with Pakistan against recent congregation of militant organisation Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) at Lahore in which threats were held against India.
He said that there were no reports about Pakistan talking any action against LeT or condemning it which manifests Pakistan support to international terrorism.
 

LETTERS

Bhasin’s remarks resented

He should know that the Pakistan has initiated proxy-war in the State. The terrorists deployed by her for subversive activities are disturbing the normal life and destabilising the elected democratic State government. The heinous crimes and massacres are committed by these terrorists. The people of the Kashmir valley have been pushed out in lakhs from their ancestral homes and hearths.

The Indian Army and other forces are protecting the lives and properties of the people at the cost of their lives. The Indian Army and the security forces discharge their national responsibility with full dedication in very difficult situation to restore peace and to protect the lives and the properties of the civilians.
So the enemy of the nation deserves no mercy. Pak-supported enslaved ideologically human rights lobbies are defaming the Central and the State governments as well as Indian Army and the security forces by twisting the facts.

--Sh. A.N. Bhardawaj
President
International Human Rights
Protection Council, Jammu
 

Not Pity-But Love

Sir,
Reference S.Pandit’s letter (Kashmir Sentinel Dt: 1st-15th Dec ‘99) the sentiments embodied in the third para are appreciated in the sense that building of Mandirs and Ashrams is much but establishments of temples of education is more. To keep alive our religious faith is a beauty but to shape the future is a grandeur.

We have lost our homes, hearths and roots for which we are pitied expresses with regret that inspite of our big losses, the dimension of social demerits and moral evils have duped us by modern models of living.
1) A Kuldeep shuns his father to count his last breaths on a roadside.
2) A Kuldeep shunts out his mother to live on alms.
3) A Kuldeep returns to her parental hour within six months of marriage to seek divorce.
4) A Kulbhushan shuts his door to Ardangni within fifteen days of their wedding. The mother-in-law found lecturing at a public place advocating her innocence and her son’s physical fitness besides promulgating the loss of four lakh rupees spent on marriage.
5) A dignified lady rustles the engineering degree of boy selected on migrant quota.

There are various instances of social evils and moral ills having infected the community in one or the other way simply because we know to pity but not to love.

Christianity is a worldwide religion for they spread the message of love.

In the Valley we were almost leaderless. It was said that every member of the community was a leader. We have had no organisation. Today we are not leaderless. We have many agencies having local-national and international links. We have strong voice through print media. Some institutions agencies and individuals render effective services to the community and shall be remembered by future generations.

Last but not the least. I venture to add that raising of memorials-temples etc is to give credit to our great ancestors who expected us to live gracefully by following their teachings. Moreover; to perform Yagnyas and to lift the sacred fire tells us to light the fire of introspection with the Mantras of self discipline-self-reliance and self realisation to enjoy worthy society and morale.

Let us love but not pity.

--N.N. Mujoo
Panchkula

Sir,
I have enjoyed reading Kashmir Sentinel over the last three years. I enclose a cheque of Rs 1000/- as a token of my appreciation for the effort to keep alive the culture of Kashmir and its undying ties with the rest of India.

I wish you every success in your effort.

--T.N. Kaul
Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi

Sir,
Wishing you a happy and healthy year two thousand along with your dedicated team, fulfillment of the cherished goal and a speedy end to our prolonged great ills. I am sending a humble donation of Rs 1000/- one thousand for the yeomans service you are doing for the community. Please keep it up sincerely.
There are three things that need to be highlighted and constantly imposed upon the young and the old and men of all the categories.

i) The flame of going back to our beloved land with honour and dignity one day should be kept burning at all costs. No complacent attitude.

ii) It is the need of the hour. The exigency of circumstances warrant us to forge unity at all fronts and at all levels. We feel it but our self ego comes in the way. It is high time to shun it if we mean to survive as a community. Let us learn to speak in one coherent voice which alone carries weight.

iii) Kashmiri language should be given due place in our house hold. Let us learn from the rest.

--Swami Keshvanand
Virat Nagar
Pinjore, Haryana

PRIYADARSHNI MATTOO CASE

Sir,
On Dec 9, 1999 some KP organisations demonstrated outside the headquarters of CBI on Priya Mattoo rape and murder case in which they demanded a national debate on the judgement which acquitted son of IGP for lack of evidence.

The probe in the murder case has been subverted by influential men at the helm. The KP organisations in Delhi and in Jammu have called for a fresh inquiry into the Priya Mattoo case to ensure speedy justice to the aggrieved family. Otherwise Kashmiri Hindus will feel that neither they got justice in Kashmir  nor in Delhi where influence and corruption works.

Delhi police and CBI which were once so famous for quick and prompt action have dismayed Indian people. Common people are now discouraged for approaching to the court.

Let PM, Mr Advani and Delhi police rekindle the faith of common people in justice and win the hearts of crores of people. Killers should not be let loose as it poses a threat to democracy and is a threat to basic fundamental right to live.

Priya Mattoo was raped and killed on 2 January, 1996 at New Delhi.

--Omkar Nath Moza
Jammu

US DOUBLE POLICY OF NUCLEAR DOCTRINE

Sir,
Recently when India came out with its nuclear doctrine, seeking to formalize its credible minimum deterrence posture, the US State Department spokesman, James Rul.. condemned it as a wrong direction saying that it was a bad for the security of India, to region and to the world. Bot US and China demanded that India should give up its nuclear weapons and missiles.

But US is the only country who has actually used nuclear low-level forms of nuclear weapon and have regularly used uranium weapons in Iraq and Yugoslavia which create radio active hazard. US zealously retains its right to nuclear first use despite its conventional superannuity. US has no problem with Chian possessing nuclear weapons but has problem when India says, “No first use”. India voluntarily restrained but was forced to go nuclear as it saw the current nuclear establishment wanted to retain its weapons without .. towards universal total disarmament.

Deteriorating focus.. situation in its neighbourhood, growth of medieval Islamic terror and unsche.. nuclear and missile system of China to Pakistan competed India to get ready to defend itself by all means and Kargil is the best proof. Only total disarmament is .. to solve global nuclear problem.

--Omkar Nath Moja
Jammu