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| Organizers of parallel concert accuse Omar of double standards | | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Sept 5: Accusing Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah of adopting double standards by allowing the musical programme of Zubin Mehta and resorting to safe approach towards the parallel programme being organized by Civil Society on the same day the organizers of 'Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir' today asked the people to boycott Mehta's programme.
Addressing a press conference here, the organizers of 'Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir' said that since political connotation has been added to the Zubin Mehta programme people should boycott the programme. The organizers said that there would be selected audience in the Mehta's programme while as the audience for their programme would be open.
"If Omar Abdullah as head of the state can allow the holding of Zubin Mehta programme then why does he want to remain aloof from granting permission to the programme being organized by us? This amply proves the double standards of the chief minister and he has been exposed once again before the people," said Khurram Parvez, Coordinator, Coalition of Civil Society (CCS) and one of the organizers of programme. Khurram said the state government is scared of allowing the organizers of 'Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir' to go ahead with the holding of the programme. He said it is due to this reason that Omar is putting the ball in court of district administration vis-à-vis permission for holding such a programme. "Legitimizing an occupation via a musical concert is completely unacceptable. Art as propaganda, as abundantly documented in history, is put to horrific use across the world. Art as propaganda in Jammu and Kashmir is unacceptable. The Zubin Mehta concert is organized and controlled by Government of India and the German Embassy, with extensive corporate sponsorship," said Khurram. Khurram said the musical concert serves to build on the state narrative that seeks to dilute the reality of Jammu and Kashmir and peoples' aspirations. He said the government wants to promote an image of a peaceful and normal Jammu and Kashmir though the musical programme. He added that Rs.100 crores are being spent on the event with invitations being sent to corporate India (Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis, Bajajs, CII, FICCI..), the film world (Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth, Katrina Kaif…) and sportsmen (Sachin Tendulkar, Boris Becker…). "It is most condemnable that the Government of Germany has chosen to be party to the Government of India's continued political machinations in Jammu and Kashmir. We protest German government's joining the efforts of Indian army. It appears an attempt by India to outsource its military psychological operations to the international community," said Khurram. Khurram said the people of Srinagar more so those living in the vicinity of Shalimar Garden are under surveillance and the invitees to the Zubin Mehta concert are verified by the intelligence agencies. He said certain Kashmiri civilians have been blacklisted from attending the concert adding that warning has been issued that 'anti-national' elements are not welcome to the concert. "A proposal to invite 230 Kashmiri students has also been turned down by the state. Based on available information, it appears that of a total of 758 invitees, only 102 are supposedly unaffiliated civilians of Jammu and Kashmir with no perceptible state connection. The German Embassy guest list runs into more than 1100 and includes only around 100 supposedly unaffiliated civilians of Jammu and Kashmir.
The German Ambassador is misleading the people by calling it an event for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," said Khurram. Khurram said that 'Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir' will include musical performances, poetry recitals, photography exhibits and other performance art, and is open to the public. He said the event is also financially and morally responsible as only Rs. 50,000 all from private donations from the organizing committee itself, will be spent on the entire event. |
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