news details |
|
|
| Why not (posthumous) Bharat Ratna for Kukka Parrey? | | Opinion | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, February 3:-If assistance given to security agencies in eliminating militants by any individual or a group of people is definite guide for winning Padma Shri award there should have been a large number of Kashmiris who deserved the award. Ghulam Mohammad Mir, a former militant and later a counter insurgent, has been selected for Padma Shri award which has triggered a political controversy in which the very prestigious award is getting soiled. No doubt Mir has said that he deserved the award because of great help he had given to security forces in eliminating militants it had to be seen whether he was the only counter insurgent to do so in the Kashmir valley. He has said that he had not grabbed the award because his name had been recommended by top officers of the police, the paramilitary forces, including two former DGPs besides one former Governor and one former Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.
Those who question Mir's entitlement to the award say that if people of the size and shape of Mir deserved Padma Shri award then Kukka Parrey, who headed the Ikhwan movement against the militants, should have been the first recipient of the award. One police officer, who has described Mir as an extortionist, today said that if Mir deserved Padma Shri award, Kukka Parrey should have then received Bharat Ratna award on the plea that as head of the Ikhwan group of counter insurgents he was instrumental in eliminating scores of militants in various areas of the valley especially in Sumbal-Sopore belt. Yes, he won the 1996 Assembly election on his own strength. That was all he got and finally he was killed when militants attacked him with gunfire.
Those who question Mir's credentials for the award say that if direct or indirect help to the Government agencies in eliminating militants can secure a Padma award, it means that each intelligence sleuth and every cop, who collect specific information that results in the killing of militants, deserves the award. Police say that there have been a number of Mirs in Kashmir who have and who continue to help the security forces in carrying out successful anti-insurgency operations. If not any other political group the PDP has begun berating the National Conference led Government for having recommended Mir's name for the award. But Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has been quick in reacting by saying that he and his Government had not recommended Mir's name for the award.
Wajahat Habibullah has confirmed that he had recommended Mir's name for the award. He has, at the same time, stated that the committee entrusted with the task of screening the bona fides of the names recommended, should have examined whether Mir's case was fit for a Padma award. This would mean that either the committee has followed the recommendations without proper review or has been influenced by the reports from bigwigs like former Governor, G C Saxena, two DGPs, J N Saxena and B S Bedi and other senior police and CRPF officers.
However, those who support Mir's candidature for the award say that if Padma Shri award is given to people like Mir it could encourage others to follow his footsteps by helping security forces in accounting for militants. They say had people like Kukka Parrey and his associates received Padma awards earlier it would have helped the security agencies and the Government in building a strong grid of counter insurgents. They say that if a cricketeer gets the award for hitting five centuries or a film actress gets one for entertaining people with her art of running round the shrubs in swim suits why should not counter insurgents receive it when they risk their lives and those of the members of their families.
Political and constitutional pundits are of the opinion that by giving Padma awards to people of Mir's standing may amount to slighting the grace of the award. They say if the award is given to those who help the security agencies in eliminating militants it should be then given to those who give up antisocial activities and become social reformer. They suggest to the state and the centre governments to institute different awards for Mir type people which may provide encouragement to others without diminishing the sanctity and importance of the Padma awards. Let the counter insurgents be given pecuniary assistance which could help them lead a comfortable life for years to come.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
