x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Back Issues  
 
news details
Politics should remain out of the domain of social activism
Jasbir Sarai10/20/2011 9:47:52 PM
The fissures in the core group of Team Anna are very palpable now. The basic reason is that some of the team members are attempting to give a political tone and tenor to the group’s activities which is not to the liking of those who wish to continue in the social activism arena. The more committed cadre is not happy with the interference of the group in the Hisar elections, the Kashmir imbroglio and the security environment in the North East. The recent statement by Prashant Bhushan, an eminent member of the Anna team, that a plebiscite should be held in Kashmir has been contradicted by Anna himself. This is because not one member of the group can tolerate even a whiff of anti-nationalism to their collective credentials and the issue of plebiscite is downright anti-India. There can be no second thoughts about Kashmir’s merger with India. This aspect has been accepted in principle by Pakistan also as endorsed by none other than Pervez Musharraf when he was President. One wonders as to what propelled Prashant Bhushan to make such an irresponsible statement. Media across the country has severely criticized the same; Prashant Bhushan has also been subject to an avoidable physical assault by some more radical elements of society. This act of violence, though not very palatable, indicates that the Indian public is intolerant towards any talk of facilitating Pakistan with respect to Kashmir.
One hopes that this incident will deter other such people who periodically surface to give a somewhat warped tenor to the Kashmir issue with the intention of garnering media attention on the basis of the sensationalist statements , they achieve nothing more that further complicating the already very complex issue. Earlier, the likes of Arundhati Roy, Gautam Navlakha etc have come up with some really lopsided and vague ideas on Kashmir. They have already invited brickbats for their efforts and now Prashant Bhushan has been added to the bandwagon, even as his disgusted patriarch has opted for a Maun Vrat (A fast of silence) in order to distance himself from the controversy.
A second point of concern is the activities of a group which calls itself the “Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign” (SSSC) and also professes allegiance with the Anna movement. The objective of this group is to show solidarity to Irom Sharmila who has been on a hunger strike since the last one decade to press her demand for abrogation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in her home State – Manipur. It has launched a march from Srinagar to Imphal to press a demand for abrogation of the AFSPA in J&K and the North-East States. Anna has, once again, remained isolated from the movement and taken recourse in his Maun Vrat to avoid making a statement. This action by him is, by itself, reflective of the fact that he does not endorse the movement. Anna’s reluctance is probably the result of his appreciation that this movement is misconceived and anti-national. Manipur, especially Imphal, towards which this movement is predominantly directed, is presently in the throes of a debilitating blockade. The blockade is causing acute misery to the already very poor common man who is suffering hunger, spiraling prices, shortages, lack of development, education, health care etc due to this internal political wrangling. Such blockades are a common feature in Manipur; a similar one took place last year and lasted for 62 days.
Are these blockades being caused due to the imposition of the AFSPA in the region? Certainly not; in fact, such anarchy and mayhem came about only after the AFSPA was removed from Imphal giving way to rampant political opportunism. It is very evident that the current agitation launched by the SSSC is out of sync with reality and not in tune with the actual problems which plague the regions in question.
It is quite interesting to note that the moment a person manages to gain some media attention he/she suddenly becomes a champion of the so insurgent causes, more so Kashmir, which garners maximum media attention. Now we have in our midst the newly anointed media persona, Prashant Bhushan, waxing eloquent on the Kashmir cause and the SSSC which is agitating for a cause on the basis of some a bizarre, surreal idea. What is it that suddenly impels these people to take an anti-national, pro-separatist, anti-people postures? It cannot be concern for the people about whom they know less and care for lesser. By talking of plebiscite Prashant Bhushan most aptly demonstrated his lack of knowledge on the subject of Kashmir. He spoke out of turn and out of context, no wonder he was manhandled and his mentor was forced to go on Maun Vrat. SSSC failed to generate much attention during its launch, only a few segments of motivated Kashmir based media covered the event, undoubtedly it will go unnoticed in the future also.
The mandate of the people of India is loud and clear, Kashmir is an integral part of India and the responsibility to handle the North East is that of the government. All those who say otherwise are anti-national. Further, imposition or abrogation of the AFSPA is a decision to be taken by the government after due deliberation and assessment of the security situation, interference in this very sensitive subject by social activists is neither called for nor is it in order. The fact that the people of India fully support these views will become very apparent as SSSC withers into ignominy.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
top stories of the day
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU