Unmasking China

Unmasking China
By Bharat Verma
Issue: Vol 24.3 Jul-Sep 2009

China will launch an attack on India before 2012.

There are multiple reasons for a desperate Beijing to teach India the final lesson, thereby ensuring Chinese supremacy in Asia in this century. The recession that shut the Chinese exports shop is creating an unprecedented internal social unrest. In turn, the vice-like grip of the communists over the society stands severely threatened.

Unemployment is on the rise. The unofficial estimate stands at a whopping fourteen percent. Worldwide recession has put thirty million people out of jobs. Economic slowdown is depleting the foreign exchange reserves. Foreign investors are slowly shifting out. To create a domestic market, the massive dole of loans to individuals is turning out to be a nightmare. There appears to be a flight of capital in billions of dollars in the shape of diamond and gold bought in Hong Kong and shipped out towards end 2008.

The fear of losing control over the Chinese masses is forcing the communists to compulsorily install filtering software on new computers on sale to crush dissent on the Internet, even though it is impossible to censor in entirety the flow of information as witnessed recently in Tibet, Xinjiang and Iran.

The growing internal unrest is making Beijing jittery.

The external picture appears to be equally dismal. The unfolding Obama strategy seems to be scoring goals for democracy and freedom without firing a single shot. While Bush unwittingly united and arrayed against himself Islamic countries and radical Islam worldwide, Obama has put radical Islam in disarray by lowering the intra-societal temperature vis-à-vis America and the Muslim world. He deftly hints at democracy in his talk without directly threatening any group or country and the youth picks it up from there – as in Iran. With more and more Chinese citizens beginning to demand political freedom, the future of the communists is also becoming uncertain. The technological means available in the 21st century to spread democracy is definitely not conducive for the totalitarian regime in Beijing.

India’s chaotic but successful democracy is an eyesore for the authoritarian regime in Beijing. Unlike India, China is handicapped as it lacks the soft power – an essential ingredient to spread influence. This further adds fuel to the fire.

In addition, the growing irrelevance of Pakistan, their right hand that operates against India on their behest, is increasing the Chinese nervousness. Obama’s AF-PAK policy is primarily a PAK-AF policy. It has intelligently set the thief to catch the thief. The stated withdrawal from Iraq by America now allows it to concentrate its military surplus on the single front to successfully execute the mission. This surplus, in combination with other democratic forces, enables America to look deep into resource rich Central Asia, besides containing China’s expansionist ambitions.

To offset this adverse scenario, while overtly pretending to side with the West, the Chinese covertly ordered their other proxy, North Korea, to test underground nuclear explosions and carry out trials of missiles that threaten Japan and South Korea. The Chinese anxiety is understandable. Under Bush’s declared policy of being ‘a strategic competitor’ alongside the ‘axis of evil’, they shared a large strategic maneuverability with others of similar hues. However, Obama policies wisely deny such a luxury by reclaiming more and more international strategic space ceded by the previous administration.

The communists in China, therefore, need a military victory to unite the disillusioned citizenry behind them. This will assist in marketing the psychological perception that the 21st century belongs to China and assert their deep belief in the superiority of the Chinese race. To retain the communist party’s hold on power, it is essential to divert attention from the brewing internal dissent. In an autocratic system normally the only recipe to unite the citizenry is by mannpulating their nationalistic feelings. The easy method for Beijing to heighten the feeling of patriotism and forging national unity is to design a war with an adversary. They believe that this will help them to midwife the Chinese century. That is the end game rooted in the abiding conviction of the communists that the Chinese race is far superior to Nazi Germany and is destined to “Lord over the Earth”.

At present, there is no overall cost benefit ratio in integrating Taiwan by force with the mainland, since under the new dispensation in Taipei, the island is ‘behaving’ itself. Also, the American presence around the region is too strong for comfort. There is also the factor of Japan to be reckoned. Though Beijing is increasing its naval presence in the South China Sea to coerce into submission those opposing its claim on the Sprately Islands, at this point of time in history it will be unwise for recession-hit China to move against the Western interests, including Japan. Therefore, the most attractive option is to attack a soft target like India and forcibly occupy its territory in the Northeast.

Ideally, the Chinese believe that the east-wind should prevail over the west-wind. However, despite their imperial calculations of the past, they lag behind the West, particularly America, by many decades. Hence, they want the east-wind to at least prevail over the other east-wind, i.e., India, to ensure their dominance over Asia. Beijing’s cleverly raising the hackles on its fabricated dispute in Arunachal Pradesh to an alarming level, is the preparatory groundwork for imposing such a conflict on India. A sinking Pakistan will team up with China to teach India “the final lesson”.

The Chinese leadership wants to rally its population behind the communist rule. As it is, Beijing is already rattled, with its proxy Pakistan, now literally embroiled in a civil war, losing its sheen against India. Above all, it is worried over the growing alliance of India with the United States and the West, because the alliance has the potential to create a technologically superior counterpoise.

All these three concerns of the Chinese communists are best addressed by waging a war against pacifist India to achieve multiple strategic objectives. But India, otherwise the biggest challenge to the supremacy of China in Asia, is least prepared on ground to face the Chinese threat.

How will India repel the Chinese game plan? Will Indian leadership be able to take the heat of war? Have they laid the groundwork adequately to defend India? Is the Indian military equipped to face the two-front war by Beijing and Islamabad? Is the Indian Civil Administration geared to meet the internal security challenges that the external actors will sponsor simultaneously through their doctrine of unrestricted warfare?

The answers is an unequivocal ‘NO’. Pacifist India is not ready by a long shot either on the internal or the external front.

It is said that long time back, a king with an excellent military machine at his disposal could not stomach the violence involved in winning wars. So he renounced war in victory. This led to the rise of the pacifist philosophies. The state either refused to defend itself or neglected the instruments that could defend it.

Any ‘extreme’ is dangerous, as it tends to create imbalance in statecraft.

We saw that in the unjust unilateral aggression in Iraq. It diminished the American aura and recessed the economy. China’s despotic regime is another extreme, scared to permit political dissent. This will fuel an explosion worse than the Tiananmen Square. Despite the use of disproportionate force and the demographic invasion of Tibet, Beijing’s hold remains tenuous. Pakistan’s over-aggressive agenda in the name of jihad haunts it now to the point of fragmentation of the State.

Similarly, India’s pacifism is the other extreme. 26/11s will occur on a regular basis as it infects policy-making. Such extreme postures on either side invariably generate wars. Armed with an aggressive Wahabi philosophy, Pakistan, in cohort with China, wants to destabilize a pacifist India. India’s instruments of state steeped in pacifism are unable to rise to its defence.

In the past sixty years, the deep-rooted pacifism contributed to the Civil Administration, ceding control of forty per cent of the Union’s territory to the Maoists and ten percent to the insurgents, effecting a shrinking influence internally, as well in the ‘near abroad’.

India must rapidly shift out from its defeatist posture of pacifism to deter China. New Delhi’s stance should modify, not to aggression, but to a firm assertion in statecraft. The state must also exclusively retain the capability of intervention by use of force internally as well as externally. If it permits the non-state actors to develop this capability in competition, then the state will whither away. On the contrary, the state machinery should ensure a fast-paced development in the Red Corridor even it if has to hold Maoists hostage at gunpoint. The state’s firm and just intervention will dissolve the Maoist movement.

Keeping in view the imminent threat posed by China, the quickest way to swing out of pacifism to a state of assertion is by injecting military thinking in the Civil Administration to build the sinews. That will enormously increase the deliverables on ground – from Lalgarh to Tawang.

Bharat Verma, Editor Indian Defence Review.

Barack Obama admits Bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan

Barack Obama admits Bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan

Press Trust of India

World’s most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden, mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, is hiding in Pakistan, the United States on Friday admitted for the first time, implying that he was still alive. President Barack Obama, while unveiling his administration’s new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri are hiding in Pakistan’s “unruly” tribal areas. He said Al-Qaida is planning attacks against the US from its “safe havens” in the tribal areas, which his government is determined not to let it happen. Declaring an all out war against Al-Qaida and its other affiliate terrorist organisations, Obama said the outfits leaders have now moved from Afghanistan to the safe havens in Pakistan. “Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaida is actively planning attacks on the US homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan,” he said. “I the Afghan government falls to the Taliban or allows Al-Qaida to go unchallenged that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can,” he said. Observing that the future of Afghanistan is inextricably linked to the future of its neighbour, Pakistan, President Obama said, “In the nearly eight years since 9/11, Al-Qaida and its extremist allies have moved across the border to the remote areas of the Pakistani frontier.” “This almost certainly includes Al-Qaida’s leadership: Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri,” he said. The terrorists have used the mountainous terrain as a safe haven to hide, train terrorists, communicate with followers, plot attacks, and send fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan. “For the American people, this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world,” he said. However, Obama said this is not simply an American problem. This is a global problem, he asserted. “It is, instead, an international security challenge of the highest order. Terrorist attacks in London and Bali were tied to Al-Qaida and its allies in Pakistan, as were attacks in North Africa and the Middle East, in Islamabad and Kabul. “If there is a major attack on an Asian, European, or African city, it too is likely to have ties to Al-Qaida’s leadership in Pakistan. The safety of people around the world is at stake,” Obama said. “For the Afghan people, a return to Taliban rule would condemn their country to brutal governance, international isolation, a paralysed economy, and the denial of basic human rights to the Afghan people especially women and girls. “The return in force of Al-Qaida terrorists who would accompany the core Taliban leadership would cast Afghanistan under the shadow of perpetual violence,” Obama said. Insisting that as President, his greatest responsibility is to protect the American people, Obama said the US is not in Afghanistan to control that country or to dictate its future. “We are in Afghanistan to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States, our friends and allies, and the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan who have suffered the most at the hands of violent extremists,” Obama said.

US Congress asks China to end ‘Tibet’ repression

Washington : The US House of Representatives has nearly unanimously passed a resolution asking China to end ‘repression’ in Tibet despite Beijing’s protests against the bill. 

The Republican lawmaker sneaked undercover into Tibet in 1997 and said he heard accounts of torture by monks and nuns who merely expressed support for the Dalai Lama. 

China broke up another round of protests on 2008′s anniversary of the 1959 uprising. Rights groups say more than 200 people died and 1,200 remain unaccounted for a year later.

 

An overwhelming 422 lawmakers on Wednesday supported the resolution, with only one voting against the statement asking China to “cease its repression of the Tibetan people and to lift immediately the harsh policies imposed on Tibetans.”

It also calls on China to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, to “find a lasting solution to the Tibetan issue” and salutes India for hosting tens of thousands of Tibetan refugees.

China warned that US criticism on Tibet would harm ties between the two countries. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was holding talks in Washington on Wednesday and was to meet on Thursday with President Barack Obama.

“I hope the foreign minister who’s in town today hears it — it is cultural genocide, systematically destroying the framework of Tibetan society,” said Congressman Frank Wolf, a sponsor of the resolution.

Kashmir Problem an interview with “Guruji”

Kashmir Problem

(With the Editor, Organiser, October 1967)
Q : Government does not seem to know what is to be done next in Kashmir. It does not want to lose Kashmir and it does not know how to keep it!
A : There is only one way to keep Kashmir – and that is by complete integration. Article 370 must go; the separate flag and the separate constitution must go too. If it is necessary to have, President’s Rule is a temporary thing. Within a year or two there will have to be fresh elections. And the new Vidhan Sabha may be more rabidly communal than the present one.
But as I see it, the basic question is whether we want to keep Kashmir or not. Since it is decided that we must keep Kashmir, all necessary steps must be taken to implement that decision. If the border area of NEFA can be centrally administered through the Army, why can’t the border area of Kashmir be administered the same way for the same strategic reasons?

Q : What will the world say?
A : We must decide what are our vital national interests and then proceed to safeguard them. We must not bother too much about so-called world opinion. Do you think it is favorable to you even now? Did this ‘world opinion’ favor you over Junagadh or Hyderabad or Goa? Bharat must be governed by Bharat’s interest and not at the bidding of foreign opinion, which is only a reflection of foreign interests.

Some time back the London Times correspondent in Delhi met me. He asked me, what I thought of the Presidential election in our country. I told him a new President (Dr. Zakir Husain) had been elected and I had nothing to say about it. But he persisted and said that some religious leaders had criticized his election. I told him, “So what? When Edward VIII wanted to marry Mrs. Simpson, the secular British dethroned him for wanting to marry a Roman Catholic!” These people come and lecture to us on the virtues of secularism! We must take their opinion with more than a pinch of salt. I say if we don’t integrate Kashmir, and lose it, this very world opinion will call us fools. To formulate policies on the basis of the world opinion will be like repeating the story of the old man, his son and his donkey.

Q : Do you think a Sikkim style status for Kashmir Valley will work? Some people think that Kashmiris do not really want to go to Pakistan; that will be their undoing.
A : It will not work. It is not working well even in Sikkim too. It was said of the Sindhi Muslim also that he was not communal, and that he did not want Pakistan. But all the same he voted for the creation of Pakistan. There is therefore no reason to believe that this Sikkim status for Kashmir will not be a half-way house to Pakistan. We should entertain no illusions in this regard. Sheikh Abdullah himself was willing to accede to Pakistan. He did not, only because Mr. Jinnah did not accept his terms!

(With Pressmen at Bangalore, November 1965)
Q : How do you view the ceasefire line in Kashmir?
A : If you say that Kashmir is ours, the portion of Kashmir which is in the hands of Pakistan should be taken back. A prominent leader is saying that we should give away part of Aksai Chin to China and make friends with China, in order to face Pakistan. The same gentleman had advocated the giving away of Kashmir to Pakistan during the time of Chinese aggression. Just imagine, if this process of giving away a part of our country whenever either of the country invades us continues, what will be our fate? Where would we be?

Q : Either in Pakistan or China!
A : We will be in the bellies of the fish in the vast Indian Ocean or Arabian Sea!
Therefore a line has to be drawn somewhere. That line was drawn in 1947 by creating Pakistan. But Pakistan has not cared for the so-called ‘international boundary’. It continues to violate it. That should not be tolerated. It should be taught a lesson.

Q : One of our esteemed leaders has said that our stand on Kashmir has been wrong always. According to him we should view the problem in the light of Junagadh and Hyderabad. In the case of the above two, the people, i.e., Hindus being in a majority opted to join Bharat, whereas the ruler, a Muslim, wanted to accede to Pakistan. Then we supported the cause of the people and ultimately people’s wish was made to win. In the same way we should view the case of Kashmir and give it away to Pakistan as it is having a majority of Muslims. Surely this argument appears quite logical.
A : But the fact is, the people’s wish was opposed by the rulers in Junagadh and Hyderabad. Whereas in Kashmir, the National Conference, the major political party, and its Constituent Assembly which was the representative body of the entire people had unequivocally decided to join Bharat. The ruler also opted for Bharat. Therefore there is no question of any rift between the wishes of the people and the ruler. And the question of joining Pakistan did not arise at all.

Q : What about the earlier resolution of UNO that there should be plebiscite in Kashmir if need be?
A : Where is the need now? Definitely we do not need it. The prerequisite for plebiscite such as withdrawal of Pakistani forces from the occupied Kashmir etc., have not been met with.
Secondly they in UNO have kept all their resolutions in cold storage all these years. They have not tried to implement them. Under such circumstances, they have no right to discuss other matters.
I have a definite charge against the UNO. The observers of UNO are there in Kashmir. In their presence the infiltrators have entered Kashmir. What was their duty? What did they do? Did they name them? General Nimmo has told that he knew that armed men have entered Kashmir. But nothing was done to check them. In such circumstances you cannot expect justice from that body.

Q : After all, it is not a judicial body. It is a political body.
A : Yes. It is not only a judicial body, but an organization formed by the big nations to serve their political interests.

(With Pressmen in Bangalore, February, 1973)
Q : Do you see anything new in the recent declaration of Sheikh Abdullah that he does not question the Constitution about Kashmir?
A : He has said this many years back also and has gone back upon his words. What is the use of believing what he says today unless he proves to be consistent? That is our difficulty. He can retract himself or change or say whatever he likes, in one place one thing and in another place another thing. He has said we have to believe him, but he must be believable!

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The Blunder of the Pandit Nehru

 

The Rediff Special/Claude Arpi

 

 

Forty years ago, India’s first prime minister passed into the ages. On his death anniversary, May 27, Lieutenant General Eric A Vas (retd) commenced rediff.com’s series to evaluate Jawaharlal Nehru’s legacy with a perspective of the premier’s relationship with the military.

Today, Claude Arpi, the well-known Tibet and Kashmir expert, analyses how Nehru’s obsession with the politics of his ancestral state eventually bequeathed a festering problem for the whole of India.

India’s first prime minister passed away 40 years ago; it should be time to assess his 17 years in office. Unfortunately, historians and researchers have never been allowed access to original materials to write about Nehru’s leadership during the troubled years after Independence. It is tragic that the famous ‘Nehru Papers’ are jealously locked away in the Nehru Memorial Library. They are, in fact, the property of his family!

I find it even more regrettable that during its six years in power, the NDA government, often accused of trying to rewrite history, did not take any action to rectify this anomaly. Possibly they were not interested in recent history!

Apart from Nehru’s official correspondence and notes, government reports such as the Henderson-Brookes Report (see earlier article, The Confiscation of History) are still classified more than 40 years after they were written. Some pretend that if published it would be too damaging for India’s security. It is just laughable!

As a result, today history lovers and serious researchers have only the 31 volumes published so far of the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru (covering the period 1946 to 1955) to fall back on. This could be considered a partial declassification of the Nehru Papers, except for the fact that the editing has always been undertaken by Nehruvian historians, making at times the selection tainted. The other problem is that these volumes cover only the writings (or sayings) of Nehru; notes or letters of other officials or dignitaries which triggered Nehru’s answers are only briefly and unsatisfactorily resumed in footnotes.

With these limitations in mind, it is interesting to try to assess Nehru’s role in the Kashmir question. Fifty-seven years after Independence, it has remained an unsolved (if not a ‘core’) issue for the subcontinent.

Everything started in early 1946 when the Indian National Congress had to elect a new president. It was an accepted fact that the leader chosen as Congress president would become the first prime minister of independent India. Three candidates were in the race: Acharya Kripalani, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel. The working committee of the INC and the pradesh committees had to send their nomination for one of the three candidates.

Sardar Patel was easily the most popular. Everyone knew his efficiency and his toughness for tackling difficult problems. Twelve out of 19 Pradesh committees nominated him. None nominated Nehru.

From the start Gandhi had indicated that he favoured Nehru. His reasoning was that his British education was an asset: ‘Jawaharlal cannot be replaced today whilst the charge is being taken from the British. He, a Harrow boy, a Cambridge graduate, and a barrister, is wanted to carry on the negotiations with the Englishmen.’

Another point Gandhi made was that while Sardar Patel would agree to work as Nehru’s deputy, the reverse might not happen. He also felt that Nehru was better known abroad and could help India play a role in international affairs.

Eventually, in deference to Gandhi, Kripalani nominated Nehru and withdrew from the race. Patel had no choice but to follow his colleague ‘so that Nehru could be elected unopposed.’ Dr Rajendra Prasad later stated: ‘Gandhi has once again sacrificed his trusted lieutenant for the sake of the glamorous Nehru.’

It is how India got a Kashmiri Pandit as its first prime minister.

I have always found it strange that a man professing to be above caste or religion agreed to be called ‘Panditji.’ Nonetheless, the fact that a Pandit was the prime minister made Kashmir a state different from the 500 other princely states.

Soon, the conflicting aspects in Nehru’s persona came to the fore. On one hand, he was a democrat and revolutionary; on the other, he was often carried away by his ‘Socialist’ ideals to the point of blundering with India’s destiny.

After his election as Congress president, he gave his support to his friend Sheikh Abdullah (he called him his ‘blood brother’) who had been jailed by Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir. In June 1946, he decided to go to the valley to free Abdullah. The situation was certainly not shining in Kashmir (as in the rest of India), but to take on the maharaja at this point in time was a serious mistake.

However, for Nehru, ‘Anything that happens in Kashmir has a certain importance for the rest of India, but recent events there have had an even greater importance, [they] became symbols of a larger struggle for emancipation. Thus Kashmir became symbolic of the [princely] States in India.’ He wanted to take on ‘the autocratic and often feudal rule that prevails there.’ He did not realise that the princes’ support and collaboration would be indispensable during this all-important transition period for the nation.

Though prohibited to enter the maharaja’s state, in July 1946 Nehru decided to defy the ban. Patel and other members of the working committee tried to dissuade him: there were more important matters to tackle in Delhi after the Cabinet Mission had come to discuss the transfer of power.

In a letter to D P Mishra, Patel explained: ‘He [Nehru] has done many things recently which have caused us great embarrassment. His actions in Kashmir … are acts of emotional insanity and it puts tremendous strain on us to set the matters right.’ However, Patel, always fair, added: ‘but in spite of all these innocent indiscretions he has unparalleled enthusiasm and a burning passion for freedom.’ Patel, thus, pointed out the two powerful (and opposing) aspects of Nehru’s personality.

A year later, hardly two weeks before Independence, Nehru still wanted to go to Srinagar. He wrote to Gandhi: ‘I shall go ahead with my plans. As between visiting Kashmir when my people need me there and being prime minister, I prefer the former.’ Once again he had to be dissuaded.

At the stroke of the midnight hour on August 14, India awakened to life and freedom. Unfortunately, Maharaja Hari Singh remembered the events of the previous year and while most princes signed the Instrument of Accession of their state to the Dominion of India, Hari Singh prevaricated. What would happen to him and his state under Nehru’s rule? He also knew that the future of his state could not lie with Jinnah and his government.

In September, he decided to offer Kashmir’s accession to India. This was refused by Nehru, who first wanted Sheikh Abdullah to be freed and installed as prime minister of the state. This was not acceptable to the maharaja.

Things came to a head at the end of October 1947 when raiders from the North West Frontier Province entered the state, killing, looting, and raping along. On October 26, they had reached the outskirts of Srinagar. Hari Singh agreed to sign the Instrument of Accession.

On the same day a historic meeting was held in Delhi with Mountbatten, the governor general, as chairman. A young army colonel named Sam Manekshaw, who attended the meeting, recalled: ‘As usual Nehru talked about the United Nations, Russia, Africa, God Almighty, everybody, until Sardar Patel lost his temper. He said, ‘Jawaharlal, do you want Kashmir, or do you want to give it away?‘ He [Nehru] said, ‘Of course, I want Kashmir.‘ Then he [Patel] said: ‘Please give your orders.‘

This anecdote perfectly exemplifies Nehru, who could make the greatest speeches, but was unable to take a decision at a crucial moment. Thanks to Patel’s decisiveness, troops were flown to Srinagar the next morning and the airport, the only link with India, was saved. Military operations to expel the raiders started.

Nehru’s colleagues soon discovered they had made another serious blunder, a collective one. They had chosen Mountbatten to be the first governor general of independent India while Jinnah had kept the post for himself in Pakistan. At that time, it was probably easier for the Congress to have a foreigner as the head of the Dominion; it conveniently avoided having to choose among themselves. However, Mountbatten manipulated matters so well that he became chairman of a newly created defence council. Nehru did not see a problem in this: Mountbatten (and his wife) were his best friends.

But this was to have grave repercussions on Kashmir policy. Mountbatten, a British officer, was now at the helm of the executive defence machinery. British generals still serving in India reported to him. Mountbatten was not working for India’s interests, but the British crown’s.

Nehru’s sentimental attachment to the Mountbattens deeply vitiated the Kashmir issue. It was certainly the most important factor for the failure to find a solution in the first years of the conflict.

Events took a turn for the worse at the end of December 1947 when the governor general managed to convince Nehru that India had to refer the Kashmir issue to the UN instead of conducting a military counterattack in West Punjab. Patel did not agree. But at this precise point in time the Sardar, who had so far looked after the relations with the princely states, was sidetracked. On December 23, he wrote his resignation, but was prevented (by Gandhi) from pressing for it. From that day, with Patel out of Kashmir affairs, things went from bad to worse.

In the first months of 1948, during the UN hearings, the British showed where their interests lay. The original Indian complaint was completely left aside and the Security Council began adopting anti-India resolutions.

Abdullah had already started his crusade (particularly with the US administration) for Kashmir’s independence. He remained Nehru’s friend till his scheming became too dangerous for India. In August 1953, he was finally dismissed by Karan Singh, the sadar-i-riyasat. Two months earlier, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, who had been arrested by Abdullah and left without medical care in Srinagar, died in mysterious circumstances. Nehru had visited the capital of Kashmir a few days earlier, but did not find the time to call on his former Cabinet colleague. He later wrote to Mookerjee’s mother: ‘Indeed, I hoped that the healthy climate of Kashmir might lead to an improvement in Shyama Babu’s health.’

Though in the following years Nehru hardened his position when different UN commissions (Dixon, Graham, Jarring) visited Delhi, it was too late. Pakistan was certainly not interested in vacating the so-called ‘Azad Kashmir’, rendering the plans for a plebiscite mentioned in the UN resolutions of August 1948 and January 1949 irrelevant.

A few days before his death Nehru sent a freshly released Abdullah to meet Ayub Khan with a proposal to have a confederation of India, Pakistan and Kashmir. The proposal was contemptuously rejected as ‘absurd’ by the Pakistani military ruler. It was Nehru’s last attempt to solve the issue and it failed.

In retrospect, despite Nehru’s love for great principles, his incapacity to take decisions in time, his inability to work with colleagues like Patel, and his friendship with individuals such as the Mounbattens or Abdullah, who had their own interests, blinded him so much that he did not further India’s national interests. The consequences have been tragic and the muddle created 57 years ago remains far from being sorted out.

Nehru, 40 Years On

Sheikh Abdullah’s Photograph: Pana-India

Image: Uday Kuckian

Cortsey by: Acharya Kriplani 

Letter of Maharaja Hari Singh To Lord mountbatten

Letter from Maharaja Hari Singh
to Lord Mountbatten
on the eve of Pak invasion on J&K in 1947

My dear Lord Mountbatten,
I have to inform Your Excellency that a grave emergency has arisen in my State and request the immediate assistance of your Government. As Your Excellency is aware,the State of Jammu and Kashmir has not acceded to either the Dominion of India or Pakistan. Geographically my State is contiguous wit h both of them. Besides, my State has a common boundary with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and with China. In their external relations the Dominion of India and Pakistan cannot ignore this fact. I wanted to take time to decide to which Dominion I should accede or whether it is not in the best interests of both the Dominions and of my State to stand independent, of course with friendly and cordial relations with both. I accordingly approached the Dominions of India and Pakistan to enter into standstill agreement with my State. The Pakistan Government accepted this arrangement. The Dominion of India desired further discussion with representatives of my Government. I could not arrange this in view of the developments indicated below. ln fact the Pakistan Goernment under the standstill agreement is operating the post and telegraph system inside the State. Though we have got a standstill agreement with the Pakistan Government, lhe Govemment permitted a steady and increasing strangulation of supplies like food, salt and petrol to my State.
Afridis, soldiers in plain clothes, and desperadoes wnh modern weapons have been allowed to infiltrate into the State, at first in the Poonch area, then from Sia1kot and finally in a mass in the area adjoining-Hazara district on the Ramkote side. The result has been that the limited number of troops at the disposal of the State had to be dispersed and thus had to face the enemy at several points simultaneously, so that it has become difficult to stop the wanton destruction of life ad property and the looting of the Mahura power house, which supplies electric current to the whole of Srinagar and which has been burnt. The number of women who have been kidnpped and raped makes my heart bleed. The wild forces thus let loose on the State are marching on with the aim of capturing Srinagar, the summer capital of my government, as a first step to overrunning the whole State.The mass infiltration of tribesman drawn from distant areas of the North-West Frontier Province, coming regularly in motortrucks, using the Manwehra-Mazaffarabad road and fully armed with up-to-date weapons, cannot possibly be done without the knowledge of the Provincial Govemment of the North-West Frontier Province and the Government of Pakistan. Inspite of repeated appeals made by my Government no attempt has been made to check these raiders or to stop them from coming into my State. In fact, both radio and the Press of Pakistan have reported these occurences. The Pakistan radio even put out the story that a provisional government has been set up in Kashmir. The people of my State, both Muslims and non-Muslims, generally have taken no part at all.
With the conditbns obtaining at present in my State and the great emergency of the situation as it exists, I have no option but to ask for help from the Indian Dominion. Naturally they cannot send the help asked for by me without my State acceding to the Dominion of India. I have accordingly decided to do so, and I attach the instrument of accession for acceptance by your Government. The other alternative is to leave my state and people to free booters. On this basis no civilised government can exist or be maintained.
This alternative I will never allow to happen so long as I am the ruler of the State and I have life to defend my country. I may also inform your Excellency’s Government that it is my intention at once to set up an interim government and to ask Sheikh Abdullah to carry the responsibilities in this emergency with my Prime Minister.
If my State is to be saved, immediate assistance must be available at Srinagar. Mr. V.P. Menon is fully aware of the gravity of the situation and will explain it to you, if further explanation is needed.
In haste and with kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
Hari Singh
October 26, 1947

Reply from Lord Mountbatten to Maharaja Hari Singh
My dear Maharaja Sahib,
Your Highness’ letter dated 26 October 1947 has been delivered to me by Mr. V.P. Menon. In the circumstances mentioned by Your Highness, my Government have decided to accept the accession of Kashmir State to the Dominion of India. In consistence with their policy that in the case of any State where the issue of accession has been the subject of dispute, the question of accession should be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State, it is my Government’s wish that, as soon as law and order have been restored in Kashmir and its soil cleared of the invader, the question of the State’s accession should be settled by a reference to the people.
Meanwhile, in response to Your Highness’ appeal for military aid, action has been taken today to send troops of the Indian Army to Kashmir, to help your own forces to defend your territory and to protect the lives, property, and honour of your people. My Government and I note with satisfaction that Your Highness has decided to invite Sheikh Abdullah to form an interim Government to work with your Prime Minister.
Mountbatten of Burma
October 27, 1947

Amarnath land issue ends

Core issue of land to Shrine Board, majority of other demands conceded
Govt-Samiti ink agreement at 4.40 am
*Samiti suspends agitation, Sangarsh rally converted into Victory rally

By Sanjeev Pargal
& Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Aug 30: Sixty two days long agitation and 39 days consecutive bandh, during which majority areas of Jammu region not only put up a united face but converted the strike into a mass movement which spread even in rural and remote areas creating a history, has finally led to the victory of the people of the region with the Government and Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) striking an agreement at 4.40 am on Sunday morning after nearly 9 hours marathon meeting during fourth round of talks, which started at 8 pm tonight exactly a week after the three rounds of dialogue were held last Saturday. Only hitch which delayed the signing of agreement for a couple of hours till late mid-night tonight was withdrawal of Public Safety Act (PSA) detentions and attachment of SSP Samba Prabhat Singh on which both the sides had taken divergent stand. However, the issue was resolved and the deal was clinched at 4.40 am when the Government’s panel reportedly agreed to transfer Prabhat Singh and withdraw the PSA cases imposed against two persons including Swami Dinesh Bharti during the agitation. Soon after the agreement was signed between the two sides, the Samiti leaders hugged each other and loudly chanted ‘Bum Bum Bhole’. Majority of Samiti leaders agreed that tomorrow’s ‘Sangarsh rally’ at MA stadium, on which the administration was undecided to allow it or not, could well be a ‘Victory rally’ dropping enough hints that two months long agitation has ended positively.

While majority of demands of the Sangarsh Samiti have been conceded, the core issue of restoration of 800 kanals of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has been addressed with the Government agreeing to set aside 800 kanals of land at Baltal for exclusive use of the SASB.

After the agreement, SAYSS convenor Leela Karan Sharma announced suspension of the agitation and declared that Sunday’s ‘Sangarsh rally’ has been declared as a ‘Victory rally’.

Both sides signed the agreement at Guest House, the venue of talks, which was already thronged by a large number of youths who had started dancing to the tunes of ‘dhols’ and drum beats after getting reports that the Shrine Board has got the land back, a core issue of the people of majority parts of Jammu region for which they had been observing 39 days of continuous bandh and agitating for the last 62 days. Prior to 39 days of consecutive bandh, Jammu had observed bandh for nine days from June 30 to July 8. The previous bandh was called off after the fall of Ghulam Nabi Azad led coalition Government on July 7.

After preliminary hiccups, the dialogue between four member Governor’s panel and an equal number of Samiti delegation, started around 8 pm today. The talks were scheduled for 4.30 pm but the Samiti members were busy in mobilising people for tomorrow’s rally of Jammu region at MA stadium and also held their full house meeting before going in for much delayed fourth round of talks. After three rounds of talks last Saturday, the Governor’s panel led by Dr Sudhir S Bloeria, Advisor to Governor, had told the Samiti that they would report back to them on reservations voiced by the Samiti members over previous agreement, within two-three days.

Besides Dr Bloeria, the Governor’s panel comprised Justice (Retd) G D Sharma, Jammu University Vice Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo and B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to Governor. The SAYSS panel, which held talks with the Government, include Brig (Retd) Suchet Singh, Tilak Raj Sharma, Dr Narinder Singh and Pawan Kohli.

The core issue of land to the SASB has been addressed to our satisfaction, a number of jubilant Samiti leaders told the Excelsior.

The talks were stalled last Saturday when the Government had offered 800 kanals of land at Baltal to the SASB for ‘use’ for a period of three months. However, the Samiti wanted categoric allotment of land to the Board, a demand which has been conceded by the Government despite objections raised by former Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed in a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh yesterday.

After nearly three hour long talks tonight, the four member Samiti panel reported to ‘Full House’ of the Samiti and all of them expressed satisfaction at the agreement and reached the Guest House where both sides signed it and held a joint press conference in wee hours of Sunday morning.

Sources said setting aside 800 kanals of land for exclusive use of SASB has clearly addressed the Samiti’s demand on the core issue.

All powers of the Shrine Board will remain unchanged as per the proposed agreement. The Board, whose members had resigned during the agitation to facilitate its re-constitution, will continue to be headed by the Governor, who will have free powers to choose the members. All powers of the Board as they existed before Amarnath land row controversy erupted will remain unchanged, sources said.

They added that there will be no change in autonomous status of the Board.

Regarding withdrawal of cases registered by police against the protesters during the agitation, sources said, the Government has agreed to withdraw bailable offences as well as the PSA detention. For few cases including criminal it proposed to set up Nodal Officers. The Government has agreed to set up Nodal Officers as per the choice of the Samiti.

Sources said the Government was initially hesitant on withdrawal of PSA cases as they would have to do the same in Kashmir Valley where half a dozen separatists have also been detained under the same Act. Besides fire brand Saint Swami Dinesh Bharti, a Hiranagar youth Dalip Kumar have been ordered to be detained under PSA. While Dinesh Kumar, a youth of Mertha, Hiranagar, has already been lodged in Kot Bhalwal jail merely for pelting stones on trucks, Swami Dinesh Bharti has gone underground. However, after more than two hour long negotiations, the Government agreed to withdraw the PSA detentions.

Another major hitch pertained to Samiti’s demand for suspension of SSP Samba Prabhat Singh. Later, the Samiti leaders came down to his attachment saying this was the crucial demand of the people of Samba. The Government proposed that Prabhat Singh would be transferred after sometime, a demand to which the Samiti agreed.

A judicial inquiry has already been ordered on police role and desecration of the dead body of Kuldeep Dogra on July 23 night. Dogra had ended his life in support of the movement on July 23 afternoon at Samiti’s dharna venue at Parade Chowk fuelling the agitation and since then Jammu has been observing a complete bandh.

Regarding demand for action against police officers for excesses on the protesters, sources said, the Government has proposed a panel to examine other cases of excesses.

Insiders in the Samiti said their tomorrow’s rally at MA stadium, which was earlier named as Sangarsh Rally, will now be converted into a ‘Victory Rally’.

The Government has also worked out modalities for compensation to traders and transporters etc, who have suffered heavy losses during over two months long agitation. The Government was also ready for compensation to dead and injured in firing and violence during the agitation, sources said.

Samiti leaders confirmed that majority of their demands including core issue of return of land to the SASB have been addressed much to their satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the administration had initially decided to impose curfew to thwart Samiti’s ‘Sangarh Rally’ at MA Stadium which was expected to draw more than 5 lakh people from all parts of Jammu region. Still, the authorities have directed all districts not to allow any bus carrying rallyists to move towards Jammu. However, after the agreement, the authorities didn’t impose curfew but maintained their direction to the districts to stop movement of buses towards Jammu. Even some roads leading to the City in Jammu district have also been fenced.

“We will take a decision tomorrow morning on whether to allow the Samiti to hold the rally or not. In view of changed circumstances (the agreement between the two sides), we might allow the rally but with few people”, sources said.

A number of Sadhus and Saints including a Shankaracharya and Sadhvi Ritambara are proposed to address the rally.

Adding to problems of the administration was a report that two militants have been spotted in a house at Sang Talab near Nardani Nullah in Raipur area, close to the site of Wednesday’s encounter at Chinore in which 11 persons including all three fidayeens were killed.

SSP Jammu Manohar Singh said two militants in police uniform were spotted in a civilian’s house at Sang Talab late tonight. Army, CRPF and police have been sent to the spot in large strength and entire areas has been cordoned off. However, there were no reports of firing from either side till late in the mid-night tonight.

Sixty two days long agitation and 39 days consecutive bandh in Jammu for restoration of land to the SASB is being described by many a veterans, who were witness to several agitations here including 1952-53 Praja Parishad agitation, as historical with mass participation of the people in most parts of the region.

Praja Parishad agitation against withdrawal of permit system, abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution granting special status to the State and ‘Ek Vidhan, Ek Pardhan Ek Nishaan’ from October 28, 1952 to June 24, 1953. Sixteen persons were killed and scores others were injured while a large number of agitationists including Pt Shyama Prasad Mukherjee were arrested. Mukherjee had died under mysterious circumstances on the intervening night of June 22 and 23 in a temporary jail at Nishat Bagh. The agitation had ended on June 24, 1953 following a call from the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. The agitation was a success as permit system and ‘Sadar-e-Riyasat’ were abolished while Article 370 continued.

Another important agitation in Jammu was launched in November 1987 when the then Farooq Abdullah Government had decided to keep the Civil Secretariat permanently in Srinagar. After over a fortnight long agitation, the then Union Home Minister and Congress leader Buta Singh had rushed to Jammu and his intervention had resolved the agitation leading to maintenance of status quo i.e. shifting of Durbar offices to half a year in Jammu and another half year in Srinagar. However, bandh in Jammu then was mostly confined to City and peripheries.

In 1968, people in Jammu had launched an agitation against discrimination with Jammu region after which the Government had set up Gajender Gadkar Commission.

Four persons were killed in Roti agitation in Jammu in 1937 when ration system was introduced to overcome food shortage.

However, the veterans even maintained that they have not seen such an agitation in Jammu like the present one.

Earlier during the day, rallies and mobilisation for tomorrow’s ‘Maha Rally’ at MA Stadium, being organised by Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS), continued across the region on 39th day of consecutive bandh in Jammu as the agitation, spearheaded by the Samiti, today entered into 62nd day.

Meanwhile, life remained completely paralysed in majority of areas across Jammu region, which observed a complete bandh for 39th day today. Traffic also remained off the roads on highways, cities and towns.

Anger of the youths in Purani Mandi and surrounding localities of Old City didn’t cool down as they continued to subject police to stone pelting despite fresh deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) at Parade Chowk and other vulnerable areas.

Reports said the RAF was deployed at Parade Chowk following regular stone pelting at the cops in Purani Mandi, Moti Bazaar, Link Road and adjoining localities. However, the youths, who were protesting against arrests of their colleagues, continued stone pelting on the cops, who retaliated by firing tear smoke shells. No major injuries were reported on either side during teargassing.

Stray incidents of stone pelting were also reported from Nai Basti.

In Digiana also, police had to use lathicharge and teargas to disperse the protesters. A scooterist and his two children were injured in the blockade.

Leaders and activists of SAYSS and their Mohalla and Village wise units today held a massive mobilisation campaign in most parts of Jammu region to garner public support for Samiti’s ‘Maha Rally’ at MA Stadium at 11 am tomorrow. At several places, people took out rallies and held door-to-door campaign advising the people to attend the ‘Maha Rally’ in large number and make it a grand success.

In Udhampur, youths intruded into a Government office of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) at Dhar Road, which was found open in the morning. They damaged furniture of the office and four vehicles parked in its premises. Wind screens of all four vehicles bearing Nos. 4322 JK14, 2364 JK02A, 1845 JK14 and 4134 JK02AC were smashed by the protesters. The office was forcibly closed down. It may be mentioned here that majority of Government offices were closed down in bandh affected areas as they were being targeted by the protesters.

Youths took out a rally on two wheelers in Udhampur town this morning and tried to march from Dhar Road to TCP Udhampur on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. However, they were prevented by the police and not allowed to move towards the highway. A huge rally was taken out with people from almost all localities of Udhampur town and outskirts, majority of them women, children and girls, which dispersed peacefully after more than two hour long protest.

A complete bandh was observed in Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar, Majalata, Manwal, Jib, Thathi, Garhi, Rhembal and other towns and rural areas of Udhampur district for 39th day today.

Women took out a massive rally in Mareen area of Chadwal in Kathua district denouncing police for the detention of a local youth, Dalip Kumar of Mertha under Public Safety Act (PSA) and teargas shells fired by police inside an ‘ashram’ few days back. The women urged Human Rights Commissions to take note of the detention of PSA of an innocent youth. A separate anti-police and pro-agitation rally was taken out by the people in Hiranagar town. In Budhi, the native village of Dalip Kumar, people held a demonstration against his PSA detention and shouted slogans against police.

In Kathua town also, a large number of women continued to lead the rally from the front. People from all localities of Kathua town joined the rally which was taken out this evening. After passing through different bazaars, the rally culminated at Main Chowk. People chanted religious and anti-Government slogans in the rally.

Reports of rallies and a total shutdown for 39th straight day were also received from other towns of Kathua district including Lakhanpur, Barnoti, Bani, Basohli, Billawar, Mahanpur, Ramkot and Nagrota. Bandh was also complete in Kathua and Hiranagar towns. All shops along Jammu-Pathankot highway were also closed.

In Samba town, people again came out of their houses this morning and gathered at Chowhatta Chowk. Joined by a number of women and children, the people marched towards Main Chowk in Samba town chanting ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and ‘Omar-Mehbooba Hai Hai’. They burnt an effigy of the Government before dispersing.

In Vijaypur town of Samba district, the people marched from Railway Chowk and after passing through Vijaypur town ended the rally at Canal Road where the women held a ‘kirtan’ in praise of Lord Shiva and Durga Mata. The fast-unto-death by Panthers Party leader Ram Prasad Klandri today entered into second day. Two NPP leaders had earlier been lifted by police while observing the fast-unto-death.

All major towns and rural areas of Samba district including Samba, Ghagwal, Vijaypur, Bari Brahamana, Ramgarh, Soankha, Sarore and Tarore observed a complete bandh for 39th day today.

In Reasi town, the people took their regular rally from Chowk Chabutra to Bus Stand where they burnt J&K Bank calendars describing them as ‘biased towards Kashmir’. Women outnumbered men in the rally, which is being taken by the people daily raising slogans like ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and ‘Mehbooba Mufti Hai Hai’. Shops and business establishments in entire Reasi town and surrounding areas like Jyotipuram and Talwara observed a complete bandh for 39th consecutive day today.

Katra town, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, also observed a complete bandh for 29th day with all shops and business establishments remaining closed.

In Rajouri town, youths took out a scooter rally which started from the town and passed through Narian and Dungi areas before culminating. Carrying tricolor and saffron flags, the youths chanted ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and ‘Omar-Mehbooba Hai Hai’ all along the route.

Shops of minority community remained closed in Rajouri. Sunderbani town of Rajouri district also observed a complete bandh.

In Arnia town of Jammu district, people took out a rally which ended at Treva Chowk, the relay hunger strike venue of six youths, which today entered into second day. In Bishnah town, the protesters marched from Bishnah Mata Mandir to Main Chowk. The protest was also joined by former MLA Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma. Rallies were also taken out by the people in different areas of RS Pura tehsil.

People of Muthi, Domana, Patoli Brahamana, Purkhoo and Barnai areas held a demonstration at Muthi Chowk and blocked Jammu-Akhnoor road for an hour while raising religious, anti-Governor and anti-Kashmir leaders’ slogans. The people dispersed peacefully.

A massive rally was also taken out by the people in Khour town of Akhnoor tehsil which was joined by the villagers of Mirpur, Pallanwalla and other areas. Akhnoor, Jourian, Khour, Pallanwalla and other areas in Akhnoor tehsil observed a complete bandh.

At Rehari Chungi area of the City, people held a demonstration and burnt the effigy of the Government. However, people in City and other areas of Jammu district today remained busy in mobilising support for tomorrow’s rally and collecting food packets for the people who would join the rally from outside Jammu. The SAYSS has set up a target of collecting 5 lakh food packets for the people attending tomorrow’s rally at MA Stadium from outside Jammu City. The people were seen visiting door-to-door for collecting food packets.

Free langars were organised in different localities by the people for poor sections of the society.

Meanwhile, Jammu City continued to wear a deserted look excepting Parade Chowk where exchange of stone pelting and teargassing between protesters and police took place. All shops and business establishments remained closed in the City, its outskirts and peripheries for 39th consecutive day today. All kind of traffic was also off the roads.

Other parts of entire Jammu district also observed a complete bandh. As reported, entire industrial and other business activity has come to a standstill in the entire district in view of the bandh, which was being observed by the people voluntarily with not even a single shop being seen opened in any part of the City and other areas of the district. All hotels and restaurants were also closed in the City. Business markets like Ware House and Kanak Mandi and tourist markets including Hari Market and Ragunath Bazaar were also closed.

All kind of commercial traffic remained off the Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar national highways and Jammu-Poonch road for 39th consecutive day today. All inter-State and local buses, matadors, three wheelers and taxis didn’t turn up on the roads even as there were no youths on the roads to enforce closure of traffic. Only trucks were plying on the highways under Army escort.

Dead, injured & violence in strike

*A total of 10 persons were killed including five in firing while two others ended their lives in support of 62 days long agitation. Seven other persons attempted to end their lives.

* Five persons were killed in police and Army firing—four in Samba town and one at Palli Morh in Kathua near Jammu-Pathankot national highway. Authorities, however, insisted that only three civilians were killed in firing as two persons dead in Samba were killed in group rivalry. Two youths, who were officially killed in police firing in Samba town, include Sanjeev Singh and Sunny Padha.

* A Bishnah youth Kuldeep Dogra gave a new twist to the agitation on July 23 by ending his life at dharna venue of Sangarsh Samiti at Parade Chowk. Since July 23, Jammu has been observing a complete bandh without even a day’s break.

* A retired ISM doctor of Hiranagar Dr Balwant Raj Khajuria also ended his life by consuming poison in support of the agitation.

* A protester Manjit Singh of Bhaderwah was killed in a grenade blast after returning from the agitation.

* Romesh Kumar of Pir Mitha was killed when he fell down from a roof while being chased by the cops during the agitation.

* A Bishnah youth Deepak Kumar was killed in an accident after a trolley turned turtle when the youth was returning from ‘jail bharo andolan’.

* Seven persons, who attempted to end their lives to support the mass movement, include Kamaljeet Choudhary in Samba, Jatinder Singh and Anil Kumar in RS Pura, Jeevan Singh in Akhnoor, Bunty Singh of Nagrota, Sunny Gupta of Bishnah and Rakesh Kumar of Jhajjar Kotli.

* An estimated 5000 tearsmoke shells were used by police and para-military during two months long agitation while about 500 shots were fired directly and in air by police and para-military.

* A total of 300 FIRs have been registered relating to the violence and other incidents during the agitation. About 150 police personnel and 2000 civilians were injured during the agitation. Among the injured were former BJP leader Dr Nirmal Singh, SSP Manohar Singh, SDPO Bakshi Nagar R Chalotra, SHO Pacca Danga Inspector K K Gupta, Incharge Police Post Jourian Balwinder Singh and all cops posted in Jourian police post, three of whom had to be airlifted to PGI Chandigarh.

* During violence, Jourian police post was completely burnt while Panjtirthi police post suffered extensive damage. Majority of police stations were converted into ‘satsang ghars’ by women and remained under control of the mob during three days ‘jail bharo andolan’ from August 18-20 during which nearly six lakh people including women and children offered themselves for court arrest.

* Since August 1 to August 24—the day of Janamashtami, Jammu and Samba districts and Udhampur town virtually remained under the grip of curfew. It was only on August 24 that curfew was completely lifted from Jammu district while Udhampur and Samba towns still reeled under night curfew. Army had to be deployed even in the City, outskirts and peripheries. It was still deployed on the national highways from Lakhanpur to Ramban to facilitate smooth movement of trucks to and fro Srinagar. Army had to be deployed even on the railway track after the track at Ghagwal and Kathua was damaged by the mob.

Chronology of agitation

June 17: Two month long annual Amarnath pilgrimage begins, a day ahead of schedule due to heavy influx of yatris.

June 22: Protests start in Ganderbal and spread to most parts of the Valley in protest against allotment of 800 kanals Forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

June 25: Counter protests begin in Jammu against PDP and separatists.

June 26: PDP threatens to quit Govt, Omar Abdullah asked SASB to return Baltal land on their own.

June 28: PDP withdraws support to Azad-led coalition Government, 9 party Ministers hand over resignations to CM.

June 29: PDP Ministers’ resignations accepted. Governor N N Vohra abandons Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) claim on land. Protests end in Valley.

June 30: Protests, bandh began in Jammu against cancellation of allotment of land to SASB. Bandh was extended for 72 hours thrice.

July 1: Curfew imposed in Jammu after violence, police opened firing on protesters.

July 7: Azad resigned as CM without facing confidence vote.

July 8: Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS), constituted to spearhead strike for restoration of land to SASB, suspended bandh for a week in the aftermath of Azad Govt’s fall but decided to go ahead with other agitational programmes.

July 16: Jammu again observed bandh for a day.

July 23: A Bishnah youth Kuldeep Dogra ended his life by consuming poison at dharna venue of Sangarsh Samiti at Parade Chowk, triggering fresh protests and since then began an indefinite bandh in Jammu region which continued till date, though the Samiti extended it after every 72 hours or 96 hours.

July 24: Massive anti-administration protests rocked Jammu as an attempt was made by police to cremate the body of Dogra before sunrise in Bishnah allegedly using liquor and tyres. SP Headquarters and DySP Bakshi Nagar were attached for the desecration of body while a judicial probe was ordered by the Government. Jammu district got three SSPs coming and going during the bandh including Alok Kumar, SD Singh and Manohar Singh while SSP Samba Vijay Kumar was replaced by Prabhat Singh, Additional SP Kathua Benam Tosh was replaced by Rajeshwar Singh and Anil Magotra was posted as SP City Udhampur.

July 27: BJP, Samiti, Bar Association top brass courted arrest on not being allowed to hold a rally at Parade. Bandh continued.

July 29: Another civilian tried to end life by consuming poison at Samba in support of the agitation.

August 1: Army called out in Jammu and Samba districts and curfew imposed after firing left two dead in firing at Samba; many offices burnt and damaged.

August 2: Curfew imposed in Udhampur too, Army deployed on highways for safe movement of truckers as people continued to block highway to stop trucks plying to and fro Srinagar.

August 3: Rajouri, Bhaderwah too brought under curfew after communal violence.

August 4: Two killed, 18 injured in police firing at Samba town.

August 5: Mob damaged rail track between Ghagwal and Kathua, burnt offices and police post in Jourian, several police personnel and protesters injured.

August 6: Army firing at Palli, Kathua, one protester killed. PM chairs all party meeting in New Delhi on Amarnath row.

August 8: All party delegation reached Jammu. Samiti leaders met them only after Farooq Abdullah, Saif-ud-Din Soz and Mehbooba Mufti were dropped from the delegation in Jammu.

August 9: Two killed, 80 injured, property burnt in communal violence in Kishtwar.

August 14: A retired doctor in Hiranagar ended his life on 23rd day of successive bandh.

August 18-20: Three day ‘jail bharo andolan’ of the Samiti drew massive response with lakhs of people including women and children offering court arrests. On last day of ‘jail bharo’, violence broke out at Janipura, Rehari, Akhnoor and Gandhi Nagar.

August 21: Mob gheroed veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma at Bhagwati Nagar, Canal Road but he was rescued by the police. His private vehicles and three cars parked near Canal police post were torched by the protesters.

August 22: Curfew was clamped and Army called out in Hiranagar town as mob protesting against arrest of youths torched a truck and fought pitched battles with the cops.

August 23: Communal violence in Poonch; curfew imposed, Army called out. A youth Dalip Kumar’s detention under PSA in Kathua for pelting stones on trucks sparked off protests in Hiranagar. Three rounds of talks were held between Governor’s panel and SAYSS but the dialogue remained inconclusive as Government side sought 2-3 days time on Samiti’s reservations.

August 24: Samiti extends Jammu bandh upto August 31. Another youth attempts suicide in Bishnah in support of agitation. Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma says Governor NN Vohra’s recall is not their demand.

August 25: Violence again erupts in Jammu and Kathua districts on complete ‘chakka bandh’ call and ‘self-imposed curfew’ in Jammu region. District administration ordered detention of Swami Dinesh Bharti, who had been spearheading the movement in every nook and corner of Jammu, under Public Safety Act. The Swami, however, remained underground.

August 27: Sangarsh Samiti cancels rally at Parade Ground as militants struck at Chinore. Eleven persons including all three fidayeens were killed at Chinore.

August 28: Agitation in Jammu completes two months as bandh entered 37th consecutive day. Talks between SAYSS and Government’s panel were deferred. Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma supports Sangarsh Samiti.

August 29: Sangarsh Samiti expressed doubts over seriousness of the Government as official delegation again didn’t turn up for the talks.

August 30: Government panel and Sangarsh Samiti met for fourth round and inked an agreement.

Minor girl rescued from HM militants
Surrendered ultra killed in Kishtwar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 30: A surrendered militant of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit was killed in an inter-group clash between the militants at Mir Mohalla, Kuchaal while a minor girl was kidnapped by the ultras from Koti, Doda. Army and police rescued a teen-age girl of Reasi from captivity of the militants after about a month from Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district.

A 14 year old girl Zaroon Begum, who had been living with his grand father Haji Mohd Hussain, was kidnapped from her house at Bagan Kot in Mahore area of Reasi district about a month back by a Hizbul Mujahideen foreign mercenary Abu Dujaan alias Tariq. The girl was taken away to Kashmir where the militant was reported to have solemnised marriage with her.

On getting a report, Col P K Mishra of 13 JAK Li and SSP Reasi Varinder Sharma initiated efforts for the recovery of girl. Finally, the girl was rescued from Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam last night and shifted to Reasi.

Two activists of Hizbul Mujahideen, who had been escorting the girl, have been arrested by Army and police. They have been identified as Bashir Ahmed and Sharif Din, residents of Chasana, Mahore. Abu Dujaan was, however, absconding. Searches were on to apprehend him. The girl has been restored to her parents after medical examination.

A surrendered militant of HUJI outfit identified as Noor Hussain alias Commando son of Ghulam Rasool R/o Kuchaal, Chatroo was killed in an inter-group clash between the militants at Mir Mohalla in Kuchaal area of Chatroo in Kishtwar district late last night. The killers escaped.

Militants kidnapped minor daughter of Ghulam Hassan Malla from village Koti in Doda district. Police have started searches to recover the girl.

J&K situation far less serious than projected: Narayanan

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Even as curfew and protests continue in Jammu and Kashmir following the Amarnath land row, the Centre feels the situation in the State is “far less serious” than “portrayed” and normalcy should return within “a week to 10 days”.

National Security Adviser M K Narayanan refused to agree that the situation in Kashmir is similar to 1990 as is being suggested by various sections.

“I think the (situation is) far less serious than what is being portrayed but at the same time certainly something that we are very unhappy about,” he said on Karan Thapar’s ‘Devil’s Advocate’ programme on CNN-IBN.

“I mean people have started comparing it with the 1990s and what not. Certainly the situation is nowhere around that,” Narayanan said.

His comments came even as curfew continued to be imposed in Kashmir for the seventh day after a series of protests spearheaded by separatist leaders.

The National Security Adviser, however, conceded that the recent developments had eroded the signs of improvement in situation in the State.

“What is causing us concern is that four years of improvement in the situation, (we) believed that we have reduced levels of alienation, (there were) substantial signs of normalcy in the State. People had forgotten about issues,” he said.

“No major concern other than day-to-day problems of living, better electricity, internet connection etc. Suddenly (these) seem to have been sort of pushed into the background and mobs have come out onto the street,” he noted.

Narayanan said blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway produced certain “concerns” among people in the Valley but there are visible signs of improvement in the situation and normalcy should return in the State within a week to 10 days.

On the upcoming holy month of Ramazan, he said the Government will have to do “relaxation of various kinds and various purposes so normalcy should be round the corner.”

“We are hopeful that this could be achieved in the next one week to 10 days,” he said.

The National Security Adviser said the Government was trying to pacify the agitators in Jammu so that they don’t block the highway.

“In the cold comfort I would say the fact of the matter is that the concern about the blockade could have brought so many people out onto the street is a matter of concern for us.

“That is why we are placing so much emphasis on reducing the agitation in the Jammu region because as long as that agitation persists, the danger of the likelihood of the crowd coming onto the National Highway (will remain)”, he said.

Asked whether the Government agrees that there was a blockade of the highway considering that there have been differing versions, he said “For a day and a half, there were some discrepancies.”

He said the truck traffic had dropped. “If there was let us say 100 trucks going, it came down to 15 to 20 for a day and a half and today it is back to about 85 to 90.”

Commenting on the Hurriyat Conference’s claim of being the representative of people of the State, Narayanan said the amalgam was not the “principal voice” in the Valley.

Asked whether a mood for secession is brewing in the State, the National Security Adviser disagreed.

He said reference to the Amarnath land issue as “transfer” of land, which triggered the agitation, was wrong and should have been avoided.

“I think what really-there was an agitation over the issue of the what was wrongly referred to as handing over of land or diversion of land when actually (it was not), it was not necessary, it was an uncalled for…Mistake.”

Narayanan also insisted that police was not involved in killing of the Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

He claimed that there was “concern” among the Hurriyat after the killing of the leader as they also probably knew police was not behind it.

He said Aziz was shot in the back while police was in the front during the Hurriyat-led “march to Muzaffarabad’.

“This is a concern even among the Hurriyat and others saying that who is now amongst us who is trying to eliminate some of us,” he said.

Asked specifically whether Hurriyat knows that police did not kill him, he said “yeah, they will never admit it I suppose, but the fact of the matter is that it was certainly not the police. He was shot in the back.”

Asked who could be behind the killing of the Hurriyat leader, he refused to answer, saying “You will know at the right time, I presume and assure, of who it is or which group is responsible.”

When asked whether he was pointing fingers at Pakistan in connection with Aziz’s killing, Narayanan said the Government does not have any facts about it.

“No, we have no fact at the moment about A or B or C. What we are clear at this moment is that it was not the police…There are lot of things, circumstances… The fact of the matter is that he was not a martyr to the cause that is being made out to be.”

He said had the police been able to do a postmortem of the body, then facts could have been much “clearer”.

“They took the body away before there was a chance for postmortem. Then the fact would have been much clearer,” Narayanan said.

Justifying the Government’s crackdown in Kashmir, he said initially the Government allowed movement of the protesters but when the situation deteriorated, it had to resort to certain restrictions.

“There was a period Muzzafarabad Chalo, then there was a sort of one or two other bandhs relating to the funeral processions. First we allowed a lot of movement across. There was no effort by the administration to interfere with that ..And a new issue comes up all the time.

“When the Lal Chowk Chalo came up and the feeling was that now these people are moving from what could be concerns, worries and problem into really a problem of trying to build up other…Region thats when the crackdown took place.” (PTI)

Remarkable improvement in Kashmir situation
Geelani, Mirwaiz lodged at Cheshma Shahi huts

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Aug 30: Amid unconfirmed reports of the arrest of a senior functionary of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, heads of the two groups of the separatist conglomerate—Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq— have been lodged at two separate huts of Nehru Guest House at Cheshma Shahi. Meanwhile, remarkable improvement was witnessed in the situation in Kashmir valley today as the authorities granted four to 10 hours of relaxation in movement on the 8th consecutive day of curfew.

Highly placed official sources confirmed, on the condition of anonymity, that heads of the two factions of Hurriyat Conference—Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq—had been lodged at two separate huts of the State-owned Nehru Guest House, close to Raj Bhawan, at the picturesque Cheshma Shahi. Sources said that after a night stay at a rest house in Gulmarg, both the senior separatist leaders had been shifted back to the capital city on August 24th and lodged in the backyard of Nehru Guest House. Sources confirmed that both the detainees were in solitary confinement, with no facility of communication or interaction with anybody other than the security and staff of Hospitality & Protocol Department.

Sources said that Public Safety Act (PSA) of the initial term of six months had been slapped on half a dozen of the separatist detainees who were being shifted from different Police stations to Central Jail Srinagar. Government, according to sources, was still undecided about the fate of the old jailbird Geelani and Mirwaiz, who had been formally arrested and detained for the first time in his 19-year-long political career. Founder of Hurriyat Conference—a conglomerate of about two dozen political and religious outfits—in 1993, Mirwaiz had become chairman of his dynastic Awami Action Committee and Anjuman-e-Nusrat-ul-Islam on the day of his father Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq’s assassination on May 21, 1990.

Thirty-five-year-old cleric-politician has been detained months ahead of his scheduled fellowship programme at Harvard University’s Belfer Center of Science and International Affairs. His PhD thesis on “Annotated Translation of Zakheeratul Malook” —Mir Syed Ali Hamadani’s Persian classic on leadership and political ethics— is understood to be ready for submission. A distinction holder at graduation level, Mirwaiz has just completed his doctoral thesis at Department of Islamic Studies of the Faculty of Social Science of the University of Kashmir.

Septuagenarian Jamaat-e-Islami ideologue, Geelani, who broke away with Mirwaiz and floated his own Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, followed by a rival faction of the Hurriyat Conference in 2003, has spent years in jails and compiled several volumes of his memoirs in Urdu.

Sources said that, awaiting orders from higher echelons of power in Srinagar and New Delhi, officials of the State Departments of Home and Law, had already prepared dossiers and the top separatist leaders could be recommended for detention under PSA to District Magistrates of Srinagar and Budgam. According to these sources, a notification was being drafted for the purpose of declaring both the Cheshma Shahi huts as sub jails on the pattern of the previous one when Hizbul Mujahideen-turned-Muslim Mujahideen chief, Master Ahsan Dar, had been lodged at the same place in 1997-98.

Sources, nevertheless, said that releasing the top separatist leaders after a brief period of temporary detention was still the foremost possibility. Unconfirmed reports, meanwhile, said that the top wanted Geelani confidant and head of the Hurriyat Coordination Committee, Massarat Islam, had been arrested somewhere in the capital city this evening. All those contacted for confirmation in the State Government maintained that they had no such information. They, however, confirmed that Police were still looking for a number of separatist activists, including Nayeem Khan, Massarat and ‘General’ Moosa.

Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chairman, Shabir Shah, who had played a key role in unification of the two factions of Hurriyat besides some other separatist outfits in June this year, had been arrested in Rawalpora outskirts of the capital city yesterday. Retired engineer, Javed Shabir of Rawalpora, today denied media reports, also carried in today’s edition of this newspaper, that Shah had been arrested at his house. He claimed that he had no knowledge of Shah’s arrest as he had never visited or stayed at his home.

Meanwhile, situation in the curfew-bound Kashmir valley improved remarkably on the 8th consecutive day of curfew today when authorities granted four to 10 hours of relaxation in movement in Srinagar and all other towns. Baramulla, in North Kashmir, was the one-odd township that failed to get any relaxation as some people had gathered and clashed with Police and CRPF there late last evening. Valley has been reeling under curfew since morning of August 24th as the Government had frozen all movement to block Hurriyat’s proposed rally at Lalchowk on August 25th. One civilian has died in Srinagar and seven others in rest of the Valley on the first four days of curfew.

After brief periods of relaxation on Thursday and Friday, curfew was for the first time relaxed for a longer time of the day on the 8th day in Srinagar and elsewhere. Relaxation was however, restricted to just an hour or so in Beerwah and Soibugh towns in Budgam district.

Official as well as independent sources said that no violation of curfew or clash between people and Police or armed forces was reported from anywhere today. These sources, however, said that around 200 people gathered at Rajourikadal and 150 people at Rainawari in Srinagar to register their protest against the detention of separatist leaders, particularly Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Sources said that the demonstrators dispersed peacefully after shouting some slogans and Police or CRPF did not use any force.

Over 70 pc polling in LAHDC Kargil elections

Excelsior Correspondent

KARGIL, Aug 30: Over 70 per cent polling was recorded in the elections to 24 constituencies of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil today. The counting of votes and results will be declared on September 5, 2008.

The intensity of the enthusiasm among the voters can be gauged from the fact that despite being aware of scheduled timing of the polling from 8 am to 4.30 pm, the electorates were seen gathering outside the polling stations of their respective areas from 7 am making it difficult for the police to manage the crowd.

However, the polling passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the 24 out of 26 constituencies of LAHDC. The elections to constituencies of Silmo and Seliskote could not be held as Feroz Ahmed and Aga Sayeed got elected uncontested.

The enthusiasm about the elections was more among the youths, who had to exercise their franchise for the first time. Even the oldest persons of the district were seen travelling upto polling stations to cast their votes.

A 93 year old man Haji Ghulam Hussain polled his vote at polling station Aklchamal, 93-year old Safdar Ali exercised his right to franchise at polling station Trespone and Mohammadhu (91) polled his vote at GM-Pure.

Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Satish Nehru alongwith Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gareeb Dass were personally supervising and monitoring the election activities. They also visited about 16 polling stations including Akchamal, Indoor Stadium and Drass.

According to Mr Nehru, who is also District Election Authority, out of total 78500 electorates, 73500 participated in the elections to 24 constituencies. A total of 223 polling stations including 12 exclusively for women, were established keeping in view the topography of the area.

He said that law and order situation remained quite peaceful except at polling station Kanur where polling process was stopped for brief period due to some unavoidable circumstances.

Since 30 per cent polling stations were in the most inaccessible areas with no communication system, the exact percentage of polling there could not be worked out immediately, the Deputy Commissioner said. He, however, added that tentatively over 70 per cent polling was recorded.

The arrival of ballot boxes from these polling stations will take time of one or two days and the counting will start on September 5. On the same day, the results of 24 constituencies will be announced, Mr Nehru said.

Record tourist inflow in Ladakh in 7 months

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Aug 30: A record number of tourists visited the Ladakh region of the State during the first seven months of the current year giving massive boost to tourism industry there. The significant factor behind this was the large number of pilgrims of Shri Amarnath yatra diverting to Ladakh from Kashmir this year.

A total of 49,518 tourists visited Ladakh region during the first seven months—till July 31 this year as compared to 26,680 tourists in the whole of 2007, official figures available with the EXCELSIOR revealed.

Last year, a total of 12,533 foreign tourists visited the Ladakh region but in first seven months of current year the figure has gone upto 18,329. Similarly, as against 14,147 domestic tourists visiting the region in 2007, a total of 31,189 tourists from the country arrived in Ladakh till July 31, 2008.

With record number of tourists visiting Ladakh region during the first seven months of current year, the concerned authorities have been expecting the figure to touch the mark of 60,000 by the end of current month and 70,000 by the end of 2008, which would be highest ever in the region.

“The record pilgrimage to cave shrine of Shri Amarnath this year has also contributed in the increase in number of domestic tourists visiting Ladakh region this year”, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, said when contacted.

“This year a large number of domestic pilgrims diverted to Ladakh after performing the pilgrimage to enjoy the rich cultural heritage and witness unique landscape on earth before opting Leh-Manali route to reach their respective destinations”, he added.

Not only the domestic tourists even the foreigners, who had plans to visit Kashmir, diverted to Ladakh due to prevailing situation in the Valley in the months of July and August, the sources said.

The other reasons behind increase in the number of domestic tourists were massive campaign about promotion of tourism in Ladakh in all the metropolitan cities across the country and beginning of an affordable air service.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), said that it was due to the vast scope of adventure tourism and colourful heritage and culture of the region that the number of tourists visiting Ladakh region has been increasing with every passing year.

“River rafting, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, archery and double humped camel safari of Ladakh are most popular among the foreigners visiting the region”, he said, adding “unique landscape, monasteries and Gompas besides festivals are also attracting foreign as well as domestic tourists in large number”.

The citizens of United States of America (USA), Britain, France, Germany and Israel visit Ladakh region in maximum number followed by those of Dutch, Denmark, Japan and Italy, he further said.

PM briefs President on J&K

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today briefed President Pratibha Patil on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Amarnath land row.

During the 45-minute meeting, Singh apprised her of the steps taken by the Centre to restore normalcy in the State, official sources said.

The Prime Minister also gave her an update on violent incidents in Orissa and the grim flood situation in Bihar, they said.

Singh along with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil had visited flood-hit areas in Bihar on Thursday and announced a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said the two leaders discussed issues pertaining to national and international importance.(PTI)

Farooq, Omar meet PM on land issue

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: After failing to seek support from its one-time ally PDP, the Centre today had a meeting with National Conference following which the party said it wanted peace to return in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.

Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his son and National Conference chief Omar Abdullah had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh where the two sides discussed the present situation in the State besides broad contours of the agreement with the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti, a group spearheading the agitation in Jammu.

Emerging after one-hour meeting with the Prime Minister, which was also attended by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Abdullah told reporters that his party was only in favour of return of peace and normalcy in the State.

“Yatra has been and will remain there always. National Conference is only for peace and not for politics on religious matters. People with no base and having vested interests can play politics in Kashmir and in Jammu,” he said.

Abdullah said the land will be used for erecting temporary shelters during the yatra period and removed once it is finished. “No one should have a problem in this. After all land will remain only in Kashmir and no one will snatch it to Jammu or Delhi,” he said.

The National Conference delegation also impressed upon the Prime Minister to remove the miseries of people in Kashmir as the holy month of Ramazan was approaching fast.

“Peace is necessary. The Ramzan begins on September 3. No Muslim will like to have disturbance during this holy month,” he said.

The Centre had called in PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed yesterday for a lunche-on meeting during which the two sides could not bring around a solution following PDP’s reluctance for a unilateral agreement between Samiti and Jammu and Kashmir Government. (PTI)

Rajnath blames Cong for land row

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Blaming the previous Congress-led Government in Jammu and Kashmir for the Amarnath land row, BJP chief Rajnath Singh today said it is for “that party to solve the problem as they have created it.”

“They have created the problem and they have to find a solution to it as such,” Singh said in reply to a query on allegations of the BJP stoking communal fire over the issue.

Arguing that people of Jammu are incensed at the decision to cancel the land transfer, Singh said the agitation is likely to continue there unless the land is not given back to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Earlier addressing a conference of BJP’s Legal & Legislative Cell, Singh said it has been a normal practice in the country to welcome any facility accorded to any religious group by the Government.

Singh also chose to read a difference between the protests in Jammu and those in Kashmir.

“While the protesters in Jammu are agitating with Indian Flag, the separatist forces in Kashmir are protesting with Pakistan’s flag,” he said.

“BJP does not consider all living in Kashmir as separatist. We consider the majority of population living there as nationalist, who get along with handful of separatists due to fear,” Singh said.

He also exhorted the legal cell members to file PILs against anybody hoisting Pakistan’s Flag on Indian soil and told them to demand that such elements should be identified.(PTI)

LAST DAY AGITATION PHOTOS

A child chants ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ as people hold a protest rally in Samba town on Saturday.

Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration in Udhampur town on Saturday.

People including women taking out a procession in Reasi town on Saturday.

Women chant ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ as they take out a rally
in Khour town of Akhnoor tehsil on Saturday.

Women leading a rally in Kathua town on Saturday.

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