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| Azadi from what and from whom? | | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
Not the election but the Azadi fever seems to have gripped the Kashmir valley.People in the valley continue to chant rhymes in favour of either Azadi or for Kashmir's incorporation with Pakistan.Are they demanding Azadi from liberal democratic structure ?Are they favouring Azadi from enormous religious freedom they have been enjoying ? Are they demanding Azadi from the free flow of money from Delhi ?Do they want incorporation with Pakistan for getting flogged for any violation of the Islamic Shariat law ?
These questions haunt the well wishers of the people of Kashmir who feel perturbed over the rise of the Talibans in Pakistan and its border belt with Afghanistan.Those who are in the forefront of groups of people chanting Azadi,Azadi seem to have no knowledge about the political and security scenario in the border areas of Pakistan.They need to be reminded of recent events in Swat district and in north western Pakistan.In these areas the Talibans have established their foothold enabling them to take 300 school children as hostages.They were freed not by any Government agency but by the people of the village who stormed the building and killed two of the three terrorists.People in Kashmir need to be told that how.Islamic militants in the Swat district and adjoining areas hold open trial and order flogging or beating of anyone found violating Islamic Shariat Law.
The Valley's people,especially thosing humming Azadi songs need to be reminded that the Tehreek-e-Taliban had launched a campaign against female education.The Talibans have resorted to terror tactics for enforcing closure of girls' schools all over the tribal region.Do people in Kashmir want to get associated with such campaigners against female education? People in the Kashmir valley are not to be blamed for it.They have come under the influence of political and religious leaders who have,from time to time,raked up issue after issue for keeping the flock of their followers intact.If people today question the state's accession with India they learnt to do it from the leaders who were either in the opposition or were ruling the state from Sheikh Abdullah's time. Sheikh Abdullah was instrumental in the signining of the instrument of accession between Delhi and Maharaja Hari Singh.And the same Sheikh later harboured the wish of securing an independent staus for Jammu and Kashmir.People in Kashmir have been misled by these very politicians who have been supporting the State's accession with India whenever they are in power.When they lose power they start questioning the irrevocability of accession.
Sheikh Abdullah used to say that Kashmir is a bed for international conspiracies.He was correct partially because Kashmir has become a bed for political intrigues hatched by the politicians and religious leaders belonging to the valley.And it will not be wrong to say that if people in Kashmir want Azadi they want Azadi from these political and religious jugglers.But out of innocence and ignorance these very Azadi fanatics do not know that Azadi from the current political dispensation and arrangement they would land in deeper trouble where their political,religious and economic freedom would get muzzled.Instead iof crying for the moon they should see to it that their sincere and sensible participation in the poll process could help the state to have an elected Government comprising people of known reputation and excellence.If such a Government was installed in Jammu and Kashmir it would be Azadi from temporising political leaders and religious bigots. Let people treat it as the most viable alternative. |
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