Amarnath land row

The communal forces are at it again and Kashmir is in flames. The original issue being transfer of land to the Amarnath shrine board and now we are talking about Azad Kashmir and succession to Pakistan.

40 hectares of land have acted as a catalyst and triggered off a bloody outburst killing people and painting a very sorry picture of India among the international community especially at a time when our nuclear deal is about to be put to a vote at the NSG.

I do not understand what was the need to transfer land to a shrine board cant the government own the land and the shrine board just be concerned with the responsibility of setting up all the preparations for the yatra. What difference does it make if the land is owned by the shrine board or the govt. For the yatra to take place the ownership of the land is a real non issue, all a yatri will be concerned with are the facilities that are provided and how well the yatra is managed considering the fact that it takes place under trying environmental conditions. Yet we have protests bandhs economic blockades highly irresponsible and communal statements being made by the BJP and the shrine board leaders. If this transfer will in anyway facilitate and improve the yatra, I give it the thumbs up but if it makes no difference then why is such hue and cry being raised do we not have enough to worry about then to indulge in such vociferous arguments over something that will make really no difference whatsoever.

The separatists have started raising slogans of Azad Kashmir and I wouldn’t blame them. Indian and Pakistan gained independence in 1947 but has Kashmir ever been independent? From the time the Shah of Kashmir acceded to India, Kashmir I must say has been literally under the rule of the army. Three wars have been fought over Kashmir ,it has been divided into three parts and there is still no freedom.

It’s been 61 years now and any government with a real commitment to solve this issue would have long done so. We have seen what 4 years of real good Vajpayee diplomacy could do but now the very same BJP has undone all its efforts and has managed to do what the separatists couldn’t mange to do in all these years’. It’s sad our politicians are so short sighted and just focus on short term electoral gains. Our home minister has been sleeping through all this conflict there is absolutely no will displayed to come up with any solution, all party meets are being convened but no solutions are coming out of these meetings. Is it so difficult to come up with a solution to the problem?

Possible solutions to the existing crisis

1) Regarding the land transfer issue stick to the high court order and issue licenses to the shrine board to use the land for the duration of the yatra

2) Eliminate the use of force in the valley. Maintain a heavy police force. Use water pipes tear gas shells rubber bullets before actually firing on people. Killing some one should be the last resort. The police action of firing on protestors reminds me of General Dyer and the Jallianwala Baug massacre. Are we trying to emulate the great general Dyer?

3) Open up the trade routes to PoK do everything needed on our side and throw the ball in Pakistan’s court. Make an extra effort to ensure that there is no economic blockade or even a perception of one use the media if needed.

4) Make the place secure, the security force personnel should be present like an invisible silent force making the place secure and facilitating the peaceful living of the people not being the very reason why this can’t happen. Our forces risk their lives fighting for the country they should be loved but why is the government portraying such villainous images of them through their policies and lack of communication and lack of political foresight.

I earnestly and sincerely hope this issue is resolved at the earliest.