January 24, 2011
राजोरी । सरकार द्वारा यात्री वाहनों के जम्मू जाने पर रोक लगाने के अलावा सतर्कता बढ़ाए जाने के बावजूद रविवार को भाजयुमो कार्यकर्ता गुप्त बैठकें कर आगे की रणनीति बनाते रहे ।
हालांकि किसी भी दल ने जम्मू कूच नहीं किया लेकिन सोमवार को भाजयुमो कार्यकर्ताओं के अलग-अलग दलों में जम्मू निकलने की संभावना जताई जा रही है । हालांकि इस संदर्भ में भाजयुमो नेताओं ने अपनी रणनीति नहीं बताई, लेकिन उन्होंने कहा कि सरकार कुछ भी कर ले उन्हें एकता यात्रा में भाग लेने से नहीं रोक सकती। उधर, पुलिस ने भाजयुमो नेताओं की गतिविधियों पर अपनी पैनी नजर जमा रखी है
(Courtesy : jagran.com, 24.01.2011)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Contradictory signals over Kashmir
By DR. JITENDRA SINGH
On the eve of Republic Day and in the background of the row over hoisting of tricolour at Srinagar's Lal Chowk, it makes an interesting case study to follow the sequence of events of the last one year beginning around the time of Republic Day last year.
Exactly a few weeks before the Republic Day last year, the Union Home Minister made a dramatic disclosure that his ministry was engaged in what he described as ‘‘quiet’’ talks with Kashmir based groups including separatists. But, what the Home Minister failed to realise that by going to the press he had himself unleashed a ‘‘disquietening’’ or a rather deafening controversy over the issue.
Then followed the announcement regarding withdrawal of 30,000 troops from the State on the pretext of improved security situation but the announcement simultaneously coincided with a ban on prepaid mobile though later reverted and at the same time the claim in improved security scene was not befittingly matched by a reduction in the personal security of the high-ups who pompously announced this claim.
Then came the claim of fully controlled security situation on the eve of Republic Day but precisely on the Republic Day, mobile phones were jammed for five hours.
Soon thereafter came a statement from the Union New and Renewable Energy Minister during his visit to Jammu that there could be no possibility of talks with Pakistan unless Islamabad brings to book the culprits of Mumbai terror attack but then within a week came the announcement of foreign secretary level talks and by the end of the year, the Union Renewable Energy Minister also seemed to have stage a volte face to favour talks with Pakistan.
Amidst all these contradictory conflicting signals as well as the confusion resulting therefrom, came the Union Home Minister's announcement endorsing the demand of the so called mainstream but Kashmir-centric political parties to bring about a plan facilitating return of Kashmiri youth who have over the years voluntarily crossed over to PoK which the Union Home Minister adds on to claim as a part of India. However, while exuding human compassion, the Union Home Minister conveniently forgets the Govt of India's twenty year old promise of repatriating, resettling and rehabilitating tens of thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits who did not leave the Valley voluntarily but were forcibly thrown out of their homes and hearths in one of the history's most shameless ever mass exodus. And, what about the Sikh youth who fled the State and some the country in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star followed by Indira Gandhi's tragic assassination and whose applications for repatriation are pending with the Government for over quarter of a century.
The present rulers of the State take pleasure is declaring publicly that they are aware of their his- tory.... personal or collective! If that be so, the people of the State expect them to be aware also of the history of 1947 refugees from PoK as well as from the then West Pakistan who continue to languish as outsiders for the last 63 years without being granted their legitimate rights as the residents of the State where three generations of theirs have lived or grown up. The displaced persons of 1965 of whom there is little record. The dislocated victims of 1971 war for whom a resettlement authority was set up without much consequence.
Meanwhile, three high profile ‘‘Interlocutors’’ appointed by the UPA Government came and went interlocking themselves in new controversies instead of unlocking the earlier existing ones.
Be that as it is, neither the people of India nor the polity of India is going to allow this harakiri to happen. Incidentally, those advocating such unrealistic proposals from either Union Government or State Government also know this but continue to do so simply for strategic reasons of ‘‘political posturing’’. And, this is precisely what the common man needs to be educated about. To clear the air of confusing signals over Kashmir, Umapathy cites poetic inference ‘‘Takhaliyaat Ke Dhoke Hain Subh-o-Shaam, Na Aaa Raha Hai Na Jaa Raha Hai Koi !’’
(Courtesy : www.dailyexcelsior.com)
On the eve of Republic Day and in the background of the row over hoisting of tricolour at Srinagar's Lal Chowk, it makes an interesting case study to follow the sequence of events of the last one year beginning around the time of Republic Day last year.
Exactly a few weeks before the Republic Day last year, the Union Home Minister made a dramatic disclosure that his ministry was engaged in what he described as ‘‘quiet’’ talks with Kashmir based groups including separatists. But, what the Home Minister failed to realise that by going to the press he had himself unleashed a ‘‘disquietening’’ or a rather deafening controversy over the issue.
Then followed the announcement regarding withdrawal of 30,000 troops from the State on the pretext of improved security situation but the announcement simultaneously coincided with a ban on prepaid mobile though later reverted and at the same time the claim in improved security scene was not befittingly matched by a reduction in the personal security of the high-ups who pompously announced this claim.
Then came the claim of fully controlled security situation on the eve of Republic Day but precisely on the Republic Day, mobile phones were jammed for five hours.
Soon thereafter came a statement from the Union New and Renewable Energy Minister during his visit to Jammu that there could be no possibility of talks with Pakistan unless Islamabad brings to book the culprits of Mumbai terror attack but then within a week came the announcement of foreign secretary level talks and by the end of the year, the Union Renewable Energy Minister also seemed to have stage a volte face to favour talks with Pakistan.
Amidst all these contradictory conflicting signals as well as the confusion resulting therefrom, came the Union Home Minister's announcement endorsing the demand of the so called mainstream but Kashmir-centric political parties to bring about a plan facilitating return of Kashmiri youth who have over the years voluntarily crossed over to PoK which the Union Home Minister adds on to claim as a part of India. However, while exuding human compassion, the Union Home Minister conveniently forgets the Govt of India's twenty year old promise of repatriating, resettling and rehabilitating tens of thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits who did not leave the Valley voluntarily but were forcibly thrown out of their homes and hearths in one of the history's most shameless ever mass exodus. And, what about the Sikh youth who fled the State and some the country in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star followed by Indira Gandhi's tragic assassination and whose applications for repatriation are pending with the Government for over quarter of a century.
The present rulers of the State take pleasure is declaring publicly that they are aware of their his- tory.... personal or collective! If that be so, the people of the State expect them to be aware also of the history of 1947 refugees from PoK as well as from the then West Pakistan who continue to languish as outsiders for the last 63 years without being granted their legitimate rights as the residents of the State where three generations of theirs have lived or grown up. The displaced persons of 1965 of whom there is little record. The dislocated victims of 1971 war for whom a resettlement authority was set up without much consequence.
Meanwhile, three high profile ‘‘Interlocutors’’ appointed by the UPA Government came and went interlocking themselves in new controversies instead of unlocking the earlier existing ones.
Be that as it is, neither the people of India nor the polity of India is going to allow this harakiri to happen. Incidentally, those advocating such unrealistic proposals from either Union Government or State Government also know this but continue to do so simply for strategic reasons of ‘‘political posturing’’. And, this is precisely what the common man needs to be educated about. To clear the air of confusing signals over Kashmir, Umapathy cites poetic inference ‘‘Takhaliyaat Ke Dhoke Hain Subh-o-Shaam, Na Aaa Raha Hai Na Jaa Raha Hai Koi !’’
(Courtesy : www.dailyexcelsior.com)
Government duty-bound to hoist tricolour at Lal Chowk: Swamy
NEW DELHI : Holding that the Centre is “duty-bound” to unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy today said central rule should be imposed in Jammu and Kashmir if the State Government fails to cooperate in hoisting the national flag there.
“The UPA government is duty bound under the Transaction of Business Rules framed under the Constitution to officially unfurl the tricolour national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, J&K,” he said in a statement here.
He said a resolution to this effect was adopted by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs in January first week or thereabouts in 1991 when Chandrashekhar was Prime Minister and he was Union Minister for Law and Justice and Commerce.
“As a senior minister and member of CCPA, I had raised the issue in the CCPA because the V P Singh Government had considered the matter and decided to discontinue the practice of unfurling the flag in Lal Chowk in 1990 as it might hurt the feelings of the people of the state.
“After hearing the service chiefs, the intelligence chiefs, and the cabinet secretary, Chandrashekhar had agreed with me and directed that it be resolved that the Government unfurl the flag and the army defend it if there was any problem,” Swamy said.
He said that then chief minister Farooq Abdullah “later concurred and cooperated in ensuring a peaceful unfurling of the tricolour national flag on January 26, 1991.”
Maintaining that Lal Chowk is a historic place and not some “bazaar area” “as the present chief minister blandly and ignorantly states”, he said, “I demand, therefore, that on January 26th the flag be unfurled, and if the state government does not cooperate in the unfurling, then central rule be declared in the state, and the army be handed the administration of the state”.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday stepped into the controversy over BJP’s plan to hoist national flag in Srinagar on Republic Day saying the ‘solemn occasion’ should not be used to score ‘political points’ and appealed for maximum restraint in ‘sensitive’ Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah Government has opposed the flag hoisting on the grounds that it will vitiate the atmosphere in the State.
The BJP reacted with shock and disappointment to the Prime Minister’s disapproval of the plan accusing him of letting down the nation and said he will be emboldening separatists. (AGENCIES)
(Courtesy : www.dailyexcelsior.com)
“The UPA government is duty bound under the Transaction of Business Rules framed under the Constitution to officially unfurl the tricolour national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, J&K,” he said in a statement here.
He said a resolution to this effect was adopted by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs in January first week or thereabouts in 1991 when Chandrashekhar was Prime Minister and he was Union Minister for Law and Justice and Commerce.
“As a senior minister and member of CCPA, I had raised the issue in the CCPA because the V P Singh Government had considered the matter and decided to discontinue the practice of unfurling the flag in Lal Chowk in 1990 as it might hurt the feelings of the people of the state.
“After hearing the service chiefs, the intelligence chiefs, and the cabinet secretary, Chandrashekhar had agreed with me and directed that it be resolved that the Government unfurl the flag and the army defend it if there was any problem,” Swamy said.
He said that then chief minister Farooq Abdullah “later concurred and cooperated in ensuring a peaceful unfurling of the tricolour national flag on January 26, 1991.”
Maintaining that Lal Chowk is a historic place and not some “bazaar area” “as the present chief minister blandly and ignorantly states”, he said, “I demand, therefore, that on January 26th the flag be unfurled, and if the state government does not cooperate in the unfurling, then central rule be declared in the state, and the army be handed the administration of the state”.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday stepped into the controversy over BJP’s plan to hoist national flag in Srinagar on Republic Day saying the ‘solemn occasion’ should not be used to score ‘political points’ and appealed for maximum restraint in ‘sensitive’ Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah Government has opposed the flag hoisting on the grounds that it will vitiate the atmosphere in the State.
The BJP reacted with shock and disappointment to the Prime Minister’s disapproval of the plan accusing him of letting down the nation and said he will be emboldening separatists. (AGENCIES)
(Courtesy : www.dailyexcelsior.com)
Flag issue: Advani claims State surrendering to separatists
NEW DELHI : Questioning the Prime Minister’s reservations on BJP’s plan to unfurl the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, party veteran L K Advani today said the “State is surrendering” to the separatists who have declared that they will not let the tricolour be hoisted.
“If the rationale for the prohibitory orders is apprehension of breach of peace, curbs should be targeted towards those who have declared that they will not let the tricolour be put up at the Lal Chowk....
“And certainly not against those who have been repeatedly asserting that they will peacefully, and respectfully, unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk,” Advani wrote in his latest blog posting titled ‘Let not the State surrender to separatists’.
Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement on the issue yesterday, Advani voiced hope that he would realise that BJP Yuva Morcha activists were “not trying to score a political point” but were instead challenging the separatists.
“And the State is surrendering to them,” he said.
Dubbing the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Government not to allow BJP hoist flag at Lal Chowk as “perverse”, he said the Government should realise the “enormity of the shame our authorities are inviting for themselves” by their move.
The BJP parliamentary party chairman recalled how separatists had hoisted the Pakistani flag on Eid at Lal Chowk last year in full media glare and wondered why Indian flag cannot be hoisted at the historic place on Republic Day.
He also referred to Congress MP Naveen Jindal’s legal battle seeking freedom for the common man to hoist and wave the national flag.
“About the same time as the Home Ministry had taken cognisance of the objections many private citizens had expressed to the restrictive Flag Code that prevailed, a Delhi citizen Naveen Jindal, today a Member of Parliament, had taken the matter to the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court in its judgement in Jindal’s case described the citizen’s right to fly the national flag a fundamental right subject only to reasonable restrictions spelt out in the two statutes,” Advani wrote.
He said the changed Flag Code clearly mentions that there shall be no restriction onthe display of the national flag by members of general public, private organisations and educational institutions.
In his statement, the prime minister had said that it is not an occasion to score political points, to embarrass state and local administrations, to create situations that could lead to entirely avoidable problems, or to promote divisive agendas. (AGENCIES)
(Courtesy : www.dailyexcelsior.com)
“If the rationale for the prohibitory orders is apprehension of breach of peace, curbs should be targeted towards those who have declared that they will not let the tricolour be put up at the Lal Chowk....
“And certainly not against those who have been repeatedly asserting that they will peacefully, and respectfully, unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk,” Advani wrote in his latest blog posting titled ‘Let not the State surrender to separatists’.
Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement on the issue yesterday, Advani voiced hope that he would realise that BJP Yuva Morcha activists were “not trying to score a political point” but were instead challenging the separatists.
“And the State is surrendering to them,” he said.
Dubbing the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Government not to allow BJP hoist flag at Lal Chowk as “perverse”, he said the Government should realise the “enormity of the shame our authorities are inviting for themselves” by their move.
The BJP parliamentary party chairman recalled how separatists had hoisted the Pakistani flag on Eid at Lal Chowk last year in full media glare and wondered why Indian flag cannot be hoisted at the historic place on Republic Day.
He also referred to Congress MP Naveen Jindal’s legal battle seeking freedom for the common man to hoist and wave the national flag.
“About the same time as the Home Ministry had taken cognisance of the objections many private citizens had expressed to the restrictive Flag Code that prevailed, a Delhi citizen Naveen Jindal, today a Member of Parliament, had taken the matter to the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court in its judgement in Jindal’s case described the citizen’s right to fly the national flag a fundamental right subject only to reasonable restrictions spelt out in the two statutes,” Advani wrote.
He said the changed Flag Code clearly mentions that there shall be no restriction onthe display of the national flag by members of general public, private organisations and educational institutions.
In his statement, the prime minister had said that it is not an occasion to score political points, to embarrass state and local administrations, to create situations that could lead to entirely avoidable problems, or to promote divisive agendas. (AGENCIES)
(Courtesy : www.dailyexcelsior.com)
The Real Face of Interlocutors
Er. Maqsood Ahmad Shahdad
This is with reference to the statement of the India's Kashmir interlocutors that UN Resolutions have few takers in Kashmirin J&K. This is an eye opener for Kashmiris in general and the leaders of the present movement in particular. This statement of the interlocutors is indicative of the mindset and the motive of the interlocutors and their sponsors that is Government of India.
They appear to be working strictly in accordance with the instructions of their bosses in New Delhi by issuing a few favourable statements for trying to cool down the tempers and subsequently pursue their agenda for diverting the people from supporting the movement and get them towards their fold.
The only thing Govt of India has been serious and fast about was appointing two high powered committees for Jammu and Ladakh province to look into their grievances regarding development and other issues as if more than 100 innocent and unarmed young Kashmiris had laid down their lives for the development of Ladakh and Jammu.
The interlocutors arte talking about improvement in Governance and Development etc and ensuring some basic rights to the people as if these are the issues for which Kashmiris have been fighting for the last 63 years and in the process have paid huge sacrifices which are known to all.
The irony of the whole issue is that every official agency in India or Kashmir and the interlocutors as well as other political parties including the All Party Delegation that came to Kashmir last year are talking about measures to be taken to bring peace back to Kashmir and no one is talking about the political resolution of Jammu & Kashmir and even if sometimes some leaders or parties or individuals of Govt. of India or the Indian political parties talk about the resolution within the parameters of the Indian constituition which is not what we have sacrificed for or laid down our lives, honour and dignity for.
They should know that even if peace returns to Kashmir for some time, it is temporary and should not be construed as the issue having been settled. Let me mention here that even if the whole wealth of India is pumped into Kashmir, the people will not give up their demand for the Right to Self Determination
It is not known how they have come to the conclusion that the people of Kashmir are not in favour of settlement of Kashmir Problem in accordance with the UN Resolutions and who are the people who have given them this feeling. If they want to ascertain truth about it, let them in the first instance hold a referendum or free and impartial survey to find the truth about it.
They are trying to dilute the strength of the movement and the leaders of the movement by talking to people, individuals , academicians and some political parties who have no dispute over accession with India as those are all INDIA based/sponsored political parties. They instead need to talk to those parties/groups and leaders who represent the aspirations and feelings of the majority of the people of the state and who are fighting for liberation of Kashmir from the continued forcible military occupation of the State by INDIA as well as PAKISTAN and denial of the Right to Self Determination to them.UN Resolutions are international commitments to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and both INDIA anmd PAKISTAN are signatories to the Resolutions. Any other solution outside UN Resolutions can only be possible if acceptable to all the three parties concerned i.e INDIA, PAKISTAN and most importantly the majority of the people of Jammu & Kashmir for which the representatives of all the three parties will need to sit down for discussion and negotiation and the representatives of the majority of Jammu & Kashmir will have to be ascertained through a proper impartial process.
(Courtesy : www.kashmirobserver.net)
This is with reference to the statement of the India's Kashmir interlocutors that UN Resolutions have few takers in Kashmirin J&K. This is an eye opener for Kashmiris in general and the leaders of the present movement in particular. This statement of the interlocutors is indicative of the mindset and the motive of the interlocutors and their sponsors that is Government of India.
They appear to be working strictly in accordance with the instructions of their bosses in New Delhi by issuing a few favourable statements for trying to cool down the tempers and subsequently pursue their agenda for diverting the people from supporting the movement and get them towards their fold.
The only thing Govt of India has been serious and fast about was appointing two high powered committees for Jammu and Ladakh province to look into their grievances regarding development and other issues as if more than 100 innocent and unarmed young Kashmiris had laid down their lives for the development of Ladakh and Jammu.
The interlocutors arte talking about improvement in Governance and Development etc and ensuring some basic rights to the people as if these are the issues for which Kashmiris have been fighting for the last 63 years and in the process have paid huge sacrifices which are known to all.
The irony of the whole issue is that every official agency in India or Kashmir and the interlocutors as well as other political parties including the All Party Delegation that came to Kashmir last year are talking about measures to be taken to bring peace back to Kashmir and no one is talking about the political resolution of Jammu & Kashmir and even if sometimes some leaders or parties or individuals of Govt. of India or the Indian political parties talk about the resolution within the parameters of the Indian constituition which is not what we have sacrificed for or laid down our lives, honour and dignity for.
They should know that even if peace returns to Kashmir for some time, it is temporary and should not be construed as the issue having been settled. Let me mention here that even if the whole wealth of India is pumped into Kashmir, the people will not give up their demand for the Right to Self Determination
It is not known how they have come to the conclusion that the people of Kashmir are not in favour of settlement of Kashmir Problem in accordance with the UN Resolutions and who are the people who have given them this feeling. If they want to ascertain truth about it, let them in the first instance hold a referendum or free and impartial survey to find the truth about it.
They are trying to dilute the strength of the movement and the leaders of the movement by talking to people, individuals , academicians and some political parties who have no dispute over accession with India as those are all INDIA based/sponsored political parties. They instead need to talk to those parties/groups and leaders who represent the aspirations and feelings of the majority of the people of the state and who are fighting for liberation of Kashmir from the continued forcible military occupation of the State by INDIA as well as PAKISTAN and denial of the Right to Self Determination to them.UN Resolutions are international commitments to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and both INDIA anmd PAKISTAN are signatories to the Resolutions. Any other solution outside UN Resolutions can only be possible if acceptable to all the three parties concerned i.e INDIA, PAKISTAN and most importantly the majority of the people of Jammu & Kashmir for which the representatives of all the three parties will need to sit down for discussion and negotiation and the representatives of the majority of Jammu & Kashmir will have to be ascertained through a proper impartial process.
(Courtesy : www.kashmirobserver.net)
BJP firm on march to Lal Chowk
22.01.2011
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur addresses BJP workers during the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra at Mohali on Saturday. MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and Punjab BJP chief Ashwini Sharma look on. Photo: Akhilesh Kumar. The Hindu Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur addresses BJP workers during the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra at Mohali on Saturday. MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and Punjab BJP chief Ashwini Sharma look on. Photo: Akhilesh Kumar
Insisting that no one can stop citizens from peacefully hoisting the national flag anywhere in the country, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said that opposition to its peaceful unity march to Srinagar would strengthen the separatists. “We are living in a free nation and we have the right to hoist our national flag anywhere in the country. So what is the problem in hoisting the Tricolour at Srinagar's Lal Chowk in Kashmir Valley?” said Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president and MP Anurag Thakur.
Mr. Thakur, who is an MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, is leading the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra (March for national unity) which started on January 12 in Kolkata. The march is to culminate on January 26 at Lal Chowk. Unfazed by repeated urgings of Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah not to come to Lal Chowk as it might trigger violence, Mr. Thakur invited Mr. Abdullah to join the march and honour the Tricolour at Lal Chowk.
“Separatists go to Delhi, make derogatory remarks about the country and claim that Kashmir is separate from India but they are not held responsible for sedition. Why is the government lending support to that agenda of anti-national forces by protecting them under the right to freedom of speech? But when we are trying to unite the county by performing a basic national duty we are neither supported nor protected!” he said.
Mr. Thakur also accused the Jammu & Kashmir government of supporting separatists in the Valley. “While the Omar Abdullah government is not doing anything about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it has adopted a very lenient attitude towards separatists and is least concerned about their own people. It has given Rs.5 lakh as compensation to each of the accused of stone-pelting who had injured over 2,500 policemen but has not done anything for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs,” he said, and added: “There is a need for Article 370 to go. Jawaharlal Nehru gave this as a temporary solution which has now become a permanent problem.”
“If the Government decides to stop our Yatra when it enters Jammu, the onus will be on it. If the Yatra is stopped, it will be a victory of the separatists and anti-nationalist forces who want to divide this country. Our basic purpose is unity and integrity of the country and to end the gap that is there between Kashmir and the country,” he added. The 15-day Yatra, which was flagged off by BJP president Nitin Gadkari from Kolkata, is expected to cover a distance of over 3,000 km and pass through 12 States.
(Courtesy : www.thehindu.com)
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur addresses BJP workers during the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra at Mohali on Saturday. MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and Punjab BJP chief Ashwini Sharma look on. Photo: Akhilesh Kumar. The Hindu Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur addresses BJP workers during the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra at Mohali on Saturday. MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and Punjab BJP chief Ashwini Sharma look on. Photo: Akhilesh Kumar
Insisting that no one can stop citizens from peacefully hoisting the national flag anywhere in the country, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said that opposition to its peaceful unity march to Srinagar would strengthen the separatists. “We are living in a free nation and we have the right to hoist our national flag anywhere in the country. So what is the problem in hoisting the Tricolour at Srinagar's Lal Chowk in Kashmir Valley?” said Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president and MP Anurag Thakur.
Mr. Thakur, who is an MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, is leading the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra (March for national unity) which started on January 12 in Kolkata. The march is to culminate on January 26 at Lal Chowk. Unfazed by repeated urgings of Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah not to come to Lal Chowk as it might trigger violence, Mr. Thakur invited Mr. Abdullah to join the march and honour the Tricolour at Lal Chowk.
“Separatists go to Delhi, make derogatory remarks about the country and claim that Kashmir is separate from India but they are not held responsible for sedition. Why is the government lending support to that agenda of anti-national forces by protecting them under the right to freedom of speech? But when we are trying to unite the county by performing a basic national duty we are neither supported nor protected!” he said.
Mr. Thakur also accused the Jammu & Kashmir government of supporting separatists in the Valley. “While the Omar Abdullah government is not doing anything about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it has adopted a very lenient attitude towards separatists and is least concerned about their own people. It has given Rs.5 lakh as compensation to each of the accused of stone-pelting who had injured over 2,500 policemen but has not done anything for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs,” he said, and added: “There is a need for Article 370 to go. Jawaharlal Nehru gave this as a temporary solution which has now become a permanent problem.”
“If the Government decides to stop our Yatra when it enters Jammu, the onus will be on it. If the Yatra is stopped, it will be a victory of the separatists and anti-nationalist forces who want to divide this country. Our basic purpose is unity and integrity of the country and to end the gap that is there between Kashmir and the country,” he added. The 15-day Yatra, which was flagged off by BJP president Nitin Gadkari from Kolkata, is expected to cover a distance of over 3,000 km and pass through 12 States.
(Courtesy : www.thehindu.com)
U.N. urges India to curb powers of security forces in Kashmir
22 Jan 2011
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) – The United Nations has called on India to repeal a controversial law which gives security forces, who are battling militancy in the troubled regions of Kashmir and the northeast, sweeping powers to search, arrest or shoot people.
Human rights groups say the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is a draconian law which the military is arbitrarily using to violate the fundamental freedoms of innocent civilians. But the authorities and the Indian army dismiss the allegations, saying the legislation is essential to root out insurgents.
Following a ten-day fact-finding mission to India, the U.N.'s Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders urged New Delhi to end this law, which she said was only causing suffering to ordinary people, but also those speaking out against violations such as lawyers and journalists. "While I acknowledge the security challenges faced by the country, I am deeply concerned about the arbitrary applications of security laws at the national and state levels such as in Jammu and Kashmir and in the northeast of India," Margaret Sekaggya told a news conference.
"The Armed Forces Special Powers Act … should be repealed and application of other security laws which adversely affect and safety of human rights defenders should be reviewed." Sekaggya, a Ugandan lawyer and academic, said that she had visited five states, including Kashmir and Assam, where she heard numerous testimonies from families of human rights activists who had been killed, tortured, ill-treated, disappeared, threatened or arbitrarily arrested and detained. The repeal of the AFSPA was one of the main demands of protestors in the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir last year which led to serious unrest.
Between June and September, over 100 people were killed by government forces during the biggest protests since a separatist rebellion in 1989, fuelling anger in Kashmir where sentiment against Indian rule runs deep. The violence raised fears that anger at New Delhi could spin out of control and that if the government failed to check the protests, deaths and rights violations, the region could slide into a renewed phase of armed uprising, as happened in 1989.
The AFSPA allows an officer of the armed forces to fire upon or use force, even to point of causing death, against anyone acting in contravention of any law against assembly of five or more persons or possession of deadly weapons. Officers can also arrest without a warrant anyone who has committed or is suspected of committing certain offenses. The entry and search of any premise in order to make such arrests is also permitted. The act also bestows legal immunity to the officials, which means that they can not be sued or prosecuted.
Sekaggya said she met with senior government officials including the foreign secretary and the home secretary and recommended that they repeal the Act, as well as other laws affecting the human rights of Indians. "The government said 'We have the issue of security, we have the issue of terrorism,' and so they are explaining it that way," she said. "But the issue is how do you balance between security and the freedoms of the people?"
(Courtesy : www.trust.org)
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) – The United Nations has called on India to repeal a controversial law which gives security forces, who are battling militancy in the troubled regions of Kashmir and the northeast, sweeping powers to search, arrest or shoot people.
Human rights groups say the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is a draconian law which the military is arbitrarily using to violate the fundamental freedoms of innocent civilians. But the authorities and the Indian army dismiss the allegations, saying the legislation is essential to root out insurgents.
Following a ten-day fact-finding mission to India, the U.N.'s Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders urged New Delhi to end this law, which she said was only causing suffering to ordinary people, but also those speaking out against violations such as lawyers and journalists. "While I acknowledge the security challenges faced by the country, I am deeply concerned about the arbitrary applications of security laws at the national and state levels such as in Jammu and Kashmir and in the northeast of India," Margaret Sekaggya told a news conference.
"The Armed Forces Special Powers Act … should be repealed and application of other security laws which adversely affect and safety of human rights defenders should be reviewed." Sekaggya, a Ugandan lawyer and academic, said that she had visited five states, including Kashmir and Assam, where she heard numerous testimonies from families of human rights activists who had been killed, tortured, ill-treated, disappeared, threatened or arbitrarily arrested and detained. The repeal of the AFSPA was one of the main demands of protestors in the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir last year which led to serious unrest.
Between June and September, over 100 people were killed by government forces during the biggest protests since a separatist rebellion in 1989, fuelling anger in Kashmir where sentiment against Indian rule runs deep. The violence raised fears that anger at New Delhi could spin out of control and that if the government failed to check the protests, deaths and rights violations, the region could slide into a renewed phase of armed uprising, as happened in 1989.
The AFSPA allows an officer of the armed forces to fire upon or use force, even to point of causing death, against anyone acting in contravention of any law against assembly of five or more persons or possession of deadly weapons. Officers can also arrest without a warrant anyone who has committed or is suspected of committing certain offenses. The entry and search of any premise in order to make such arrests is also permitted. The act also bestows legal immunity to the officials, which means that they can not be sued or prosecuted.
Sekaggya said she met with senior government officials including the foreign secretary and the home secretary and recommended that they repeal the Act, as well as other laws affecting the human rights of Indians. "The government said 'We have the issue of security, we have the issue of terrorism,' and so they are explaining it that way," she said. "But the issue is how do you balance between security and the freedoms of the people?"
(Courtesy : www.trust.org)
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