Save Kashmir Front - An Appeal to the Nation

Here we reproduce an appeal by 22 eminent men from different walks of life, urging the people lift the nation out of the morass it is in. Editor

Fellow Countrymen,

You are aware of the outrageous developments in the Kashmir valley for the last two years and longer. About 3 lakhs Hindus and even Muslims have been hounded out. They have become refugees in their own land and are barely managing to survive in make-shift camps. Scores of temples have been desecrated, hundreds of place names changed with the connivance of the State Government, and a reign of terror has been let loose by gun-toting fundamentalists. Rape, arson, murder and kidnappings have become the order of the day. The writ of the Union and the State Governments has long ceased to run there.

Confessions made by captured militants have fully confirmed the finding of the intelligence community that terrorist activities are the handiwork of Muslim youth trained, armed and funded by Pakistan. Having failed to grab Kashmir through war in 1947-48 and 1965, Pakistan has now unleashed a proxy war on India through subversion and terrorism. It has received valuable assistance from organisations such as the Jamaat-i-Islami which have promoted fanaticism and revivalism through a network of Madrasas and other channels.

Conspiracy

The sinister conspiracy aims at nothing less than a second partition of the motherland along religious lines. In fact, Pakistan's President has specifically referred to the question of Kashmir as 'an unfinished agenda of Partition". Understandably the people in Ladakh and Jammu regions are anxious not to become victims of the impending disaster. That is why the Ladakhis are agitating for the Union Territory status and the people in Jammu are demanding integration with the Indian Union. Even in the face of so brazen a conspiracy by Pakistan and its cohorts in the valley, some self-styled 'human rights' activists are still engaged in a disinformation campaign specifically intended to discredit our security forces which are fighting forces of subversion in the face of heavy odds. The recent report by the team sent by the Press Council of India has fully exposed the manner in which utterly false charges are fabricated and propagated. The report has been published in newspapers and published in the form of a book. But the human rights activists have not yet thought it necessary to explain their conduct in maligning the security forces.

Criminal Negligence

Successive Governments of India, too, have shown criminal negligence by failing to grasp the magnitude of the problem and to evolve an effective approach to overcome it. Indeed, the impression has spread that the Government is only waiting for a 'suitable' time and formula for surrendering to the secessionists, as the recent statement about granting 'greater autonomy' shows.

It saddens us to have to point out that Muslim intellectuals and representative organisations have chosen to remain silent on this issue. They have as much at stake in Kashmir's membership of the Union as any other section of the Indian nation, if not more, and it is time that they stir themselves into action. Pakistan's successful campaign to mislead Muslim countries, as was evident at the recent meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, makes it particularly urgent that Indian Muslim intellectuals and leaders speak out boldly against the bid to divide the country once again.

After a day-long deliberation, we feel impelled to appeal to all our countrymen who already realise the gravity of the situation, to join us in an attempt to make the Government rise to the occasion.

Appeal

We appeal to our fellow citizens to launch a "Save Kashmir" movement all over the country through peaceful rallies, demonstrations and other democratic means and press the following demands:-

ONE :

Before the end of the month, the Government must make an unequivocal declaration stating that-

a. Those who have taken up arms against the State are outlaws and would be treated as such.

b. There will be no negotiations with them, unless they surrender their arms and stop terrorist activities.

c. That there will be no negotiations with the terrorists for the return of innocent individuals who are kidnapped. The failure of the policy of exchange is already patent. Indeed, the Government itself has admitted that much.

d. Should abductions of employees of public sector undertakings and public utilities and others continue, any disruption of civil supplies that occurs as a result will be the responsibility of the terrorists.

e. No subsidy in any form would be extended to the valley for the present since it is by now clear that large part of it is going to terrorists.

f. Their supply routes for money and arms will be effectively closed by the security forces.

TWO:

The local administration must be urgently purged of all subversive elements.

THREE:

Since the civil administration has failed to cope with the forces of terrorism and secessionism in the valley the Government should seriously consider whether the time has not come to call in the army to handle the situation effectively.

FOUR:

Pakistan's massive and fully established involvement in the insurgency in the valley has made nonsense of the Shimla Agreement in both its spirit and letter. The Government of India should, therefore, feel free to adopt whatever measures it regards necessary to meet the threat and not remain fettered by the Line of Control.

FIVE:

At the root of the disaster, confronting us in the valley, lies Article 370. It was intended to protect the identity of Kashmir and not to pave the way for a Pakistan-backed reign of terror and secession. It ought to be a abrogated without loss of time.

SIX:

Effective steps should be taken to ensure the safe and honourable return of all Kashmiri refugees to their own homes in the valley with full guarantee of the preservation of their culture and dignity. Immediate proper relief should be extended to these hapless citizens of India.

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Courtesy: 1991 December Koshur Samachar