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| Kashmir crisis: Mirwaiz, Mattoo, Dulat on the same page | | | RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Aug 4: On Monday, the NDTV India organized a discussion on Kashmir crisis. It was organized after the visibly upset and grim Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a two-minute-long press conference in New Delhi - press conference held immediately after his meeting with the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister and others.
Those who took part in the hour-long discussion included General GD Bakshi, Congress national spokesperson Munish Tiwari, NDTV correspondent Sanjay Ahirwal, former Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University Amitabh Mattoo (who is trying his level best to become Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu despite the fact that the people of Jammu province and the state government have opposed his appointment tooth and nail on the ground that his appointment will create law and order problem in Jammu), former Raw chief AS Dulat and APHC (M) chief Moulvi Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
As expected, Mattoo held New Delhi responsible for the spurt in the terrorist-related activities in Kashmir. He shamelessly said: "Delhi Ne Aag Lagai Hai." He did not agree with those who held Pakistan and Pakistan-based and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir-based terrorist organizations for the rise of stone-pelting force in Kashmir or for foenting secessionist violence in the Valley. He said: "They may have fished in the troubled waters, but it is New Delhi that is basically responsible." "New Delhi", he said, "doesn't understand the nature of the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir."
Mattoo did not even once hold the Kashmiri separatists, hooligans, anti-social elements and stone throwers responsible for what has been happening in Kashmir, particularly since June 20, when the defeated and desperate Kashmiri separatists, terrorists and rank communalists, plus the disgruntled PDP leaders, did all that they could to set Kashmir on fire and fish in the troubled waters. Not even once. In fact, he was so annoyed with the authorities in New Delhi that he virtually went astray, lost control over his tongue and made comments which no reasonable man, well-wisher of India and genuinely secular and democratic commentator would ever make.
Mattoo justified what has been happening in Kashmir, saying that (1) the "people of Kashmir (don't include the internally-displaced Kashmiri Hindus who have languishing in the refugee camps since 1990) have many complaints and grievances"; that (2) the "youth of Kashmir has only seen violence, curfew and strikes"; that (3) the "Kashmiri youths have only suffered harassment"; that (4) the "problem in Kashmir is political in nature" and that "it has to be dealt with as such"; that (5) "New Delhi should talk to those who are operating from above the surface and those are locked up in the various jails"; that (6) "it is time for New Delhi to appoint a special envoy in Kashmir whose task will be to talk to everyone in Kashmir"; that "the robust Indian civil society should go to Srinagar to meet the bereaved families"; and that (7) New Delhi needs to deal with the Kashmir situation both politically and economically."
The upshot of the Mattoo's whole argument was that the Kashmiris are fighting for a cause and the cause is genuine, democratic and legitimate. What he said during the debate was consistent with what he has been preaching all through. His recent political essays on Pakistan and Kashmir - "The water Factor" and "Fighting for a cause" - had established beyond any doubt that he is more a spokesman of Pakistan and Kashmiri separatists than an academician. It's no wonder then that the bulk of the Kashmiri Hindu community to which, he says, he belongs virtually excommunicated him from the society. It is, however, a different matter that there are elements in the establishment who give legitimacy to such controversial persons whose single-point agenda is to bail out and help out the extremists and separatists and hit the Indian nation below the belt.
Mattoo was not the only one who sided with the troublemakers and secessionists in Kashmir. AS Dulat also took more or less the similar line, notwithstanding the fact that he, unlike Mattoo, was somewhat sophisticated. He said: "Talks must go on. The situation is very critical. We are going back to 1990. We should not take things lightly. We must learn and do something. Talk to everyone in Kashmir. It is also a law and order problem. It needs political support and political answer. Talk to everyone who wants to talk. Omar Abdullah is right when he says Kashmir is a political problem. It is a problem. It needs to be addressed sincerely." However, unlike Mattoo, Dulat said: "those taking the law of the land into their hands need be strictly dealt with."
As for Mirwaiz, He said: "Time has come for you (NDTV) to present an accurate picture of facts before your viewers and India. The ISI is not involved. Lashkar-e-Toiba is not involved. Delhi doesn't understand that. Kashmir problem is a political problem. Talk to Pakistan and Kashmiris to resolve this political problem. Recognize the Kashmiris' right to self-determination. What is happening in Kashmir is indigenous. This is the people's verdict."
Even a cursory look at what the Mattoo, the Mirwaiz and Dulat said would make even a naive reach a conclusion in no time that none of them has any place in their scheme of things for Jammu and Ladakh and the internally-displaced Kashmiri Hindus. They all sang the same anti-India and militant and separatist-friendly provocative and seditious song: Kashmir is a political problem, solve it politically taking into consideration the (communal) aspirations of the people of Kashmir, excluding the displaced Kashmiri Hindus and all others who stand for India and the national unity and integrity. (To be continued)
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