Kashmir imbroglio

( Leave past baggage, entrenched beliefs, patriotism, etc., and find a way out - Out of Box solution is required for which we have to think the unthinkable )

1. Two Germanys merged, erstwhile strong Soviet Union disintegrated to various countries, Czechoslovakia became two countries, two Koreas were created, a number of countries, retaining own flags and individual identities of countries have come together as a regional body ( EU ), China is making efforts to get Taiwan merged with China and at the same time facing strife in one part of the country seeking separation, Tamils in Sri Lanka seeking separation from Sri Lanka, - all happened in a short time. The above are only examples. Integration and disintegration - both processes would continue to take place.

2. When the time comes for a development to take place or fruitful culmination of an agitation, then no force can stop the same. Yes, at any time to gauge the situation somewhat correctly and come to the conclusion that the time has come to eschew the path tread, is not easy. There would be divided opinions. On such matters any number of logical arguments can be advanced, both pro and con. There would be a cost. The decision taken could prove later to be not a correct one. That risk is there in all such decisions.

3. Out of Box thinking we do in our lives once a while. The outcome may not be as predicted. Yet when it becomes intolerable to continue with earlier and existing position, individuals and so also nations take a plunge. Inherited land for most of us was precious. There is an emotional attachment. Yet as time goes by more and more families are dividing such inherited land or selling the same outright. Same goes for inherited gold, jewels and ornament. In the earlier times it was not easy for people to come to terms with the position of settling outside the village one is born. Now people settle in places all over the world. Love marriages were anathema. Now there is even same sex marriage. Joint family is changing to nuclear family. Most of such changes did not occur easily. There were stiff objections. The process of churning out was anything but smooth.

4. So can the country look at the Kashmir problem afresh. I quote from some of the eminent writers. Please see attachment.

5. Allowing Kashmiris to decide their future through plebiscite, as promised by Indian Government six decades back, could lead to a separate country being born or Kashmir joining India or Pakistan. That would solve the problem once for all. There is no such issue in respect of Jammu and Ladakh and hence these regions would continue to be part of India, irrespective of the solution opted for by Kashmiris for Kashmir.

6. Those who are against the above suggestion would raise a number of objections, as below, some valid and some only emotive:

· Such a step would give encouragement to elements in other parts of the country to make similar demands and agitate for the same.
· Such a step would encourage similar new demands being raised in one or another part of the country now or future.
· If the Kashmiris opt for a separate country or opt to join Pakistan, we may have a much bigger border problem than what we are facing today.
· The Hindu minority population in Kashmir today will face repression from the government. They would be virtually forced to come to India. A repeat of the tragedy of partition cannot be ruled out.
· It is not the done thing for countries to give away their land just because some people mount an agitation.
· Such a step gives a wrong message to people at large in as much as, prolonged agitation would force the government to yield.

7. Yes, there is some validity in the first argument, i.e., the
suggested step would give encouragement to elements which want to separate from India, to intensify their agitation. But then solution to such a thorny problem cannot be achieved without an element of risk and compromise about the future.

8. During the last few decades, concepts, approaches, thinking of people everywhere on all matters related to individuals, families and State have changed vastly, with passage of time accelerating such change. Unlike in the distant past, people traveling to various countries is now very common. Many countries allow dual citizenship. Many countries are allowing people who have come from other countries to own property, the latest being Dubai. Many a person who had got a good job abroad, marry there, send children to local schools, buy a house there and settle permanently there. The same could happen if Kashmir becomes an independent country or part of Pakistan.

9. The festering problem of Kashmir which had made India and Pakistan virtually enemies, once the Kashmir problem is settled, would thaw in the aftermath of the solution and then slowly lead to normal relations. While looking at the negative aspects of the solution, one should not overlook this brighter side.

10.Further, while mulling over the matter, remember the soldiers who died on both sides due to the military conflicts between India and Pakistan and the grief of their families. Do we want to perpetuate that situation.

11.We can go on blaming Pakistan for the Kashmir problem. But then that would lead us nowhere. Hence the possibility of the solution leading to Kashmir being part of Pakistan or independent country could be said to be part of the price we pay for the decision to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir.

12.We say that India has been extremely generous financially to Kashmir compared to other States, our troops have been defending Kashmiris from Pakistanis/terrorists at high cost, both human and resources, etc., Yet by far Kashmiris feel that they have been let down by India.

13.To the poser that the proposed solution will encourage separatist forces in the country to intensify their agitations, there can be no clear cut answer. The State would have to counter firmly such moves. At the same time in such matters firmness should not lead to our being adamant.

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Attachment

Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar.

· “I was once hopeful of Kashmir’s integration, but after six decades of effort, Kashmir alienation looks greater than ever.
· We promised Kashmiris a plebiscite six decades ago. Let us hold one now, and give them three choices: Independence, union with Pakistan, and union with India.”

Vir Sanghvi

· “ Nothing has really changed since the 1990s. A single spark – such as the dispute over Amarnath land – can set the whole valley on fire, so deep is the resentment, anger and the extent of secessionist feeling. Indian forces are treated as an army of occupation. New Delhi is seen as the oppressor. There is no engagement with the mainstream.

· It is not as though the Indian state has no experience of dealing with secessionist movements. Almost from the time we became independent 61 years ago, we have been faced with calls for secession from nearly every corner of India: from Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram, from Tamil Nadu, from Punjab, etc.,

· In every single case, democracy has provided the solution. We have followed a three-pronged approach: strong, almost brutal, police or army action against those engaging in violence, a call to the secessionist leaders to join the democratic process and then, generous central assistance for the rebuilding of the state. It is an approach that has worked brilliantly…

· The exception to this trend has been Kashmir. Contrary to what Kashmiris claim, we have tried everything. Even today, the state enjoys a special status. Under Article 370 of our Constitution, with the exception of defense, foreign policy and communication, no law enacted by parliament has any legitimacy in Kashmir unless the state government gives its consent. The state is the only one in India to have its own Constitution and the President of India cannot issue directions to the state government in exercise of the executive power of the Union as he can in every other state. Kashmiris are Indian citizens but Indians are not necessarily Kashmir citizens. We cannot vote for elections to their assembly or own any property in Kashmir…….Then there is the money. Bihar gets per capita central assistance of Rs. 876 per year. Kashmir gets over ten times more: Rs.9,754 per year. While in Bihar and other states, this assistance is mainly in the forms of loans to the state, in Kashmir 90% is outright grant.

· The current agitation in Kashmir demonstrates, far from gratitude, there is active hatred of India.

· The world looks at us with dismay. If we are the largest democracy on the planet then how can we hang on to a people who have no desire to be part of India.

· Why are we still hanging on to Kashmir if the Kashmiris don’t want to have anything to do with us? The answer is machismo. We have been conned into believing that it would diminish India if Kashmir seceded.”

Jug Suraiya:

· In the aftermath of Amarnath dispute, there was open display of crescent flag and massive anti India rallies in Kashmir. Separatism is no longer driven by fear of militant guns; today separatism is spearheaded by a far more serious threat: that of popular will. It would be facile to dismiss this groundswell of protest, which cuts across generational lines

· What Kashmir is witnessing today is fundamentally different: a cry for freedom backed not by guns but by the power of dissent – one of the foundation stones of the idea of India.

· After 60 years of concerted effort - military deployment, repeated elections, the giving of subsidies – India has been unable effectively to counter the demand for azadi.

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