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| Time to stem the rot in KU | | 'Special lecture' | | Neha
Jammu, June 18: University of Kashmir is not a house of learning. It has virtually become a den of anti-India activities. It is holding seminars and debates on topics which are essentially anti-India. It is also inviting certain anti-India "intellectuals" to deliver special lectures on the political future of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistani interests in the state. One such special lecture was delivered on Tuesday in the University of Kashmir and it was organized by Institute for Kashmir Studies (IKS). The man who delivered the lecture was none other than Haseeb Drabu, former Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir bank Ltd. The theme of the lecture was "Economic Cooperation in South Asia: Potential and Problems".
What did he say? He, inter-alia, said: "Post-World War the basic trend is moving towards 'bigger economic but smaller political spaces'. This is driven by globalization. Borders have gained economic significance and restrictions with regard to entry of people and/or fiscal barriers thereof have died down. Today capital and labour moves across freely…The notions of sovereignty have changed and because this has happened economic diplomacy has replaced political diplomacy. 'And, as a result, you think about where to focus on, and we too have a good reason to move in this direction'. The point is for the past 60 years or so, we are stuck up on the issue of J&K. Can we slightly change the focus and see the possibilities of the J&K resolution little differently? If you want the SAARC, which is a construct, a political lobby, to be successful in this regard, the basic premise has to be based on logic, not sentiments…we need to see what engagement is required? We need to go for regional integration, which broadly involves civil societies and is more enriching? Or we need regional cooperation which is more of a phenomenon at Government levels?"
He further said: "The biggest rationale behind regional cooperation and regional integration is, to me, Srinagar, wherein, in the past, no family would ever listen to Akashwani for weather updates but trust only Radio Pakistan. And the reason was not that Kashmiris were pro-Pakistan but because our geographical places are closer to Pakistan…(there is the need to set up) a framework for SAARC vis-a-vis J&K. First is our understanding of sovereignty has to change. Globalization has changed the notion of sovereignty. Where does sovereignty rest? There is a model of shared sovereignty in place today. So if people are interested in building SAARC for cooperation, the post-colonial baggage of sovereignty must change. We must be prepared to share the sovereignty and not get stuck in 1940s… And second, we need a robust economic policy. You must engage with the world so that the world engages with you. The economic liberation is a must where you let markets decide what competencies your economy has. What will happen is you'll voluntarily create zones of growth in areas, products etc. We can't be living in pre-globalized era. There has to be a liberal economic policy".
Drabu did not stop just there. He further said: "How do you look at sub-regional integration? There is a need to empower sub-regions. But the moot point is: are your systems ready to sub-regional integration. If yes, what will eventually happen is you'll consequently start resolving regional conflicts and regional tensions by engaging at sub-regional level…Can we start from two parts of J&K and coordinate our economic policies, or say, weather policies or jointly coordinate disaster management. There is no politics in this. Can we undertake joint management of horticulture? Let's start engaging at levels which are important for us. Let the tariffs remain in place for all this, except that 'let's put them at zero'. So the policy stays, but its effect changes. The policy makers have problems with the structure, not the numbers…Then let's allow some degree of minimal benefit or coordinated financial sector. We can also calibrate taxes so that the space is neutral to tax regime. And after we have gained confidence, we can think of common economic space and harmonizing economic legislations…The Cross LoC trade didn't take off as desired 'because of the archaic notion of sovereignty'. We can have the Preferential Trade Agreement in 'Greater J&K' -- kind of a sub regional space without compromising the sovereignty. But the point is does India have confidence to do it? We can have the regional free trade/bilateral free trade while maintaining our own external tariffs on imports…The third stage is 'we can make both currencies valid in both parts of Kashmir. I call it co-circulation of two currencies whereby we de-territorialize currency. And then, we can also go for some harmonization of fiscal spending". Besides, he advocated "regulatory and dispute resolution mechanism in place with regard to PTA".
The meaning of what he said was as clear as crystal and, hence, it is hardly necessary to reflect on it. Gul Mohammad Wani, head of the IKS, introduced the theme of the lecture and expressed almost identical views. "The entire region is held by hostage by kind of enmity between India and Pakistan" and "there is new theory of national interest 'looming large' over international politics," he said. Wani, like Drabu, is known for sectarian approach towards J&K and has a very soft corner for Pakistan. In fact, he has been airing pro-Pakistan and anti-India views since long in and outside the Kashmir University. The message from the University of Kashmir was that there is the need to endorse former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf's four-point Kashmir formula as a first step towards the final destination. Will Governor N N Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of Kashmir University, discharge his constitutional obligations by discouraging anti-national activities on the campus? He must ensure that the sanctity of the institution is maintained. He cannot and must not allow break-India activities on the campus. |
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