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Scotland referendum and Kashmiri separatists
Seeking to achieve the unachievable
9/19/2014 11:25:35 PM

Neha
JAMMU, Sept 19: Scotland referendum, which was held on Thursday and went in favour of England, has, it seems, motivated Kashmiri separatists to seek a similar referendum in the state. Reports from the Valley and elsewhere suggest that pro-Pakistan elements are seeking to "revive the question of Kashmir to embarrass New Delhi". A report in this regard said: " Kashmiri separatist leaders have seized on Scotland's referendum on independence to demand that India follow through on a promise to grant a similar vote in the disputed Himalayan region". The so-called moderate Kashmiri separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq cited it as an example to solve the Kashmir issue through peaceful means. "We hope India will also change its approach and realize the fact that people's rights can't be trampled upon," he was quoted as saying the other day.
It is disgusting that at a time when the flood-ravaged people of the state in general and Kashmir valley in particular are struggling for survival, insensitive Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who did not utter a word on the tragedy, is urging New Delhi to imitate England and hold a referendum in the state to find if they wanted to remain with India. Almost similar views were expressed by three British MPs in a Parliamentary debate over "Political and Humanitarian Situation in Kashmir" in the committee room of the House of Commons of the British Parliament. Debate was held on September 11. Pro-Pakistan Liberal Democrat MP from Bradford East David Ward had said: "We simply cannot escape the British legacy; we have an obligation to take an interest in Kashmir…offering help is far from interfering".
Interestingly, the view expressed by Conservative Party MP Gregory Barker, who countered David Ward, was an eye opener for booth Mirwaiz and Ward. Baker said: "There is a democratic process in place and around 61 per cent of the population participated in state elections in the region, which sits as part of the world's largest democracy". He was absolutely right when he referred to the deep rooted democratic traditions in the Jammu & Kashmiri society. It is a hard fact that despite Pakistan's policy to encourage insurgency in Kashmir, a vast majority of people there have never discarded the democratic processes. They know that their future is safe in India and that in case Kashmir became independent of India, the "Pakistani vultures - both its army and terror groups operating from there -- would destroy the new State". There are umpteen instances showing how Islamabad has been playing a dangerous game in Jammu & Kashmir since decades. Is it not a fact that it was Pakistan which encouraged Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) led by Amanullah Khan to spearhead a violent movement in the State resulting into migration of thousands of Kashmiri Brahmins from the valley? Again, is it also not fact that later when JKLF leadership began talking of a united Jammu & Kashmir consisting of both Indian and Pakistan Occupied-Jammu & Kashmir, its entire network and operation was destroyed by Pakistan's political leadership and new terror outfits like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba/Jamaat-ud-Dawa were floated to promote its interests against India.
As for the demand for referendum in Jammu & Kashmir, barring a handful of discredited separatist leaders and their supporters, an overwhelmingly majority of people of the state are religiously committed to India. They want to remain part of Indian Union and this can be seen from the fact that around 60 per cent voters of the state participated in the just-held Lok Sabha elections. For a safe, secure and prosperous future of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, it is imperative for them to be a part of democratic and liberal India. A commentator has rightly said: "It is unwise on parts of Kashmiri separatists to demand for referendum in Kashmir citing the same in Scotland as future of people of J&K will be unsecured outside Indian Union and Pakistani vultures- its Army and terror groups- will ruin it".
But Mirwaiz and his ilk are unlikely to appreciate the ground realities. After all, they only survive on the anti-India propaganda. Clearly, it is for the Indian State to take care of Mirwaiz and his ilk. They just can't be allowed to play nefarious games in the Valley.
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