Lal Chowk Encounter: Separatists pay tributes to slain fidayeen

Srinagar, Jan 08: The family members of a Sopore youth Manzoor alias Usmaan, who died in a 28-hour long gunfight in Lal Chowk yesterday, alleged that the highhandedness committed by the troopers during the 2008 Amarnath land row agitation prompted him to join the Fidayeen ranks.

Manzoor along with another Fidayeen was killed in the Lal Chowk encounter. His body was brought to his home town - Peth Seer, Sopore on late Thursday night. Later, thousands of people attended his Nimaz-e-Jinaza amidst pro-freedom, anti-indian army, and anti-India slogans.

Manzoor’s family claims that he joined militant outfit-Lashker-e-Toiba, one and a half year ago when the valley was up in flames during Amarnath land row agitation.

“He was class 9th drop out and worked as a painter to sustain his poor family. During the 2008 Amarnath Land row agitation, he alongwith thousands of people of the area participated in the protest demonstrations to express resentment over the transfer of forest land to Amarnath Shrine Board. On August 11, 2008, he joined the “Muzafarabad Chalo March” and saw the troopers firing on unarmed protestors, beating women and children,” said Manzoor’s uncle, Mohammad Akbar.

He said the highhandedness and excesses committed by the troopers changed his mind-set and prompted him to join the Fidayeen Ranks.

His father, Ghulam Rasool said Manzoor used to frequently talk about the excesses committed by the troopers during the “Muzafarabad Chalo March”. “Manzoor used to offer five-time prayers and recite Holy Quran daily in the morning. One the second day of Ramdan he told us that he will join NGO for some time. We allowed him for the sake of his happiness. However, I was aware about his intentions as his mindset has changed radically after Muzaffarabad Chalo March. After leaving home, he never returned. He had joined Lashkar-e-Toiba and we saw him with an AK-47 rifle after six months when he came to meet us,” said Ghulam Rasool.

He said owing to intense pressure from security and intelligence agencies, they had urged Manzoor to surrender and live a normal life but of no avail. “The security agencies harassed me and my family members after Manzoor’s refusal to surrender,” said father of the slain youth.

Manzoor’s mother Hafiza Begum, said she had a firm belief that her son is a martyr. “The death is inevitable but my son died too young. He was only 21 years old. It was the time when he could have enjoyed his life but alas he preferred death,” she mourns.

The family said that they saw Manzoor two days before his death. “Two days before his death he came to home and met all family members and had a cup of tea. He refused to stay for a longer duration and told us that he has some urgent work and had to leave the place as soon as possible,” said his grandfather, Ali Mohammad.

He said on Wednesday evening security forces came to their residence and informed them that Manzoor was trapped in an encounter in Lal Chowk. “They asked us for his contact number and told us that they will let us talk to him,” added grandpa of slain Fidayeen.

Hurriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front on Friday paid tributes to armed freedom fighters who were killed in Lal Chowk gunbattle. According to a statement meeting chaired by acting General Secretary Feroze Ahmad Khan paid tributes to the freedom fighters.

"We will not allow the blood of these martyars go waste. They sacrifice for our future. We continue to strive for safeguarding the movement till its logical conclusion," said the Hurriyat members.

"The best tribute to the martyars," the Hurriyat (G) spokesperson said," will be to support the demand for right to self-determination without any compromise."

Hurriyat Chairman Ali Shah Gilani who was perated on his right eye in New Delhi, also paid rich tributes to the slain fideeyens. National Front Chairman, Nayeem Khan visted the residence of slain fiydeen. " The armed rebellion was a compulsion for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Our movement is neither a terrorist movemnet nor it just a border dispute between India and Pakistan," said Nayeem while addressing a gathering on the occasion. Stressing on the importance of United Jehad Council's role in resolving issue, Khan sid, " the presence of UJC in any resoulation process is indispensable. They are sacrificing their present for the future of the masses,"

We are the heirs of the scarifices and have to support the resistance movement until its logical conclusion," siad Khan. A JKLF delegation also visted the house of the slain fidayeen and expressed solidarity with the family.

Meanwhile, Following the killing of a fidayeen in Lal Chowk gunfight who hailed from Peth Seer area of north Kashmir's Sopore town, the township observed a complete shutdown on Friday. Traffic remains off the roads and all business establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans youth come out on streets early in the morning and indulged in heavy stone pelting with Indian Army.

Thousands, locals gattheered after Friday prayers and raised pro-freedom and antiIndia slogans. The troopers reacted using lethi charge.

Troops martyr another two Kashmir Armed Fighters

Srinagar, January 08 : In disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian troops, in their fresh act of anti militancy, martyred two ArmedKashmiri youth at Anduruss in  Sheikh Aziz's Town Pampore, today.

In Sopore, 20  thousands of people attended funeral prayers of the mujahid, who was martyred during the 24-hour clash in Lal Chowk, yesterday.

The authorities have not handed over the dead body of the other mujahid, martyred in the clash. Forceful demonstrations marked with complete shutdown were held in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar and in Sopore to mourn the killing of the mujahideen. APHC leader, Nayeem Ahmad Khan was among those who led the demonstrations. Unknown gunmen shot dead a young man in the town. Anti-India protests were also staged in Banihal and Poonch areas.

Clashes between Indian troops  and pro-liberation demonstrators continued at Sopore, Nowhatta, Gojwara, Magherbal Bagh, Habbal Kadal, Maisuma and Badshah Chowk areas in Srinagar. Indian policemen resorted to excessive teargas shelling, injuring several protestors. The police raided the office of Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement in Srinagar, arresting nine of its workers. Patron of the party, Farida Behanji was placed under house arrest. The authorities of Kot Bhalwal jail, Jammu refused a lawyers’ delegation to meet the political detainees in the jail.

Kashmiri newsmen staged a peaceful protest in Srinagar, today, against unprovoked shooting at a photo journalist by a police officer in Lal Chowk area, when he was performing his professional duties. The Kashmir Press Association, news organizations and Hurriyet leaders in their statements strongly condemned the police officer’s action. (KMS)

Why S M Mushrif’s book “Who Killed Karkare?” not discussed in Indian Saffron Media

By Mohd Ziyallah Khan,

To tell a truth in front of a tyrant ruler is the biggest crusade in the sight of Lord. And perhaps, this saying sounds so true to Mr. S M Mushrif (retired IPS officer – former IGP Maharashtra) when he wrote his book ‘Who killed Karkare?’ published a couple of months back. Ironically, despite all the truth he has managed to jot down in his daring work, he couldn’t get the kind of coverage or response in the Media.

The sort of debate or discussion it should spark off in the market sounds missing though, the reasons are obvious, which he himself disclosed in his recent visit to Nagpur on 2nd and 3rd January 2010 in a conference organised by Bahujan Sangarsh Samiti Nagpur Chapter.

He said that 20-25 different journalists from the various big and small media houses – both the print and electronic – which interviewed him on 28th October 2009 at his Pune residence, but nothing really appeared the following day, except in small time newspapers of the city. His work was totally kept under the carpet; nobody really cared to debate or discuss it in public domain, thanks to the kind of pressure the Saffron brigade has created on the media industry. So one can imagine the fear in which they dwell these days. To this point Mushrif added a humor saying, “the saffron elements happen to be the real terrorist, but with my book they seems to be terrorized, so in this way I now call myself a more bigger terrorist than them”.

The most interesting speech in the two-day program of Bahujan Sangarsh Samiti, was in the symposium on ‘Hindu Nation and Bahujan Society’ (Bahujan Society is referred to the non-Brahmin communities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikh, Dalits, OBC’s etc). In his speech, Mr Mushrif said that the real trouble before the anti-national elements (saffron groups) were the true nationalist people like Karkare, Salaskar, Kamte etc, who managed to find the real culprit behind the series of bomb blasts executed in various places including, Malegaon, Nanded and Parbhani etc. The two laptops recovered by Karkare after Sadhvi Pragya’s arrest disclosed, how the Hindu terror network was responsible for the series of bomb blasts carried out, making Muslim innocent youths responsible for the same.

The laptop recovered had ample of information about how the Hindu terror group materialized this anti-national activities using people and groups of different expertise and resource. These groups of men included some high profile industrialists, politicians, media professionals, historians, academicians and so on. This new nexus coming into light was well exposed by our real hero, the ATS Chief, Hemant Karkare. This man made a promise to himself that he will leave no stone unturned to let the world know the truth. However, before he could do this, he was knocked out of this mortal world in a very mysterious fashion during the 26/11 Mumbai attack.

According to Mushrif, the elimination of Karkare was nothing but an innovative way of getting rid of a person who was likely to expose the anti-national elements which is nothing but the saffron brigade. This innovative way is – certainly killing people like Karkare under the shadow of some operation like 26/11, so it was a good team work between the so called Lashkar men and the saffron elements.

According to Mushrif, the IB was well informed about the LeT men hatching a plan to attack the Taj, they had been knowing this fact since 18th November 2008, but unfortunately, they never passed on this information to the Navy or to the Mumbai police, rather they preferred to give it to the coast guard which has nothing to do with the internal security. So it was nothing but efforts done too little too late, failing thus to avert this attack. The IB despite being informed about the movement of the boat carrying the men with lethal weapons remained tongue tied. Earlier the IB was provided with 35 different suspicious cell no’s by the RAW, the same numbers used during those 72 hours of terror in Mumbai, including many ISD calls and only one call made in Mumbai, just before the death of Karkare. In this way Hemant Karkare was killed by the men as per the directions of the saffron elements, while the message went to the masses was, ‘LeT men killed him’.

According to Mushrif, he had found 11 stark contrasting elements in two operations. The Taj-Oberoy-Trident was completely different from the one at Cama and Rangbhavan lanes. How can same people be at two different places at the same time? Also, he came across so many loopholes, in the 26/11 investigation. Sr. IAS officer Rangari told Times of India, Mumbai edition that during the attack at CST, out of 35 CCTV cameras, 16 were shut down at that particular day for no valid reason. The SIM recovered at CST station of the terrorist belonged to a person based at Satara (a city in Maharashtra), the police investigation was intervened in the midst of the due process, and this owner of the SIM was never brought to books. The lady beside the coastal area identified these men who came from boat, and was the eyewitness to the massacre perpetrated at Taj in the broad daylight, but was soon forced to leave for US.

The interesting remark made by Mr. Mushrif at the end of his speech was, that the IB in India is worst than any RSS Shakha, and that if these men who happen to be custodians of our security and who remain hand in glove with the enemies of our society, then its time to stand up for a new revolution.

(The writer is a freelancer and media activist based in Nagpur, can be contacted at writeziya@gmail.com)

NGO launches new schemes

PUNE: City-based Annapurna Pariwar, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) engaged in providing financial assistance for self-employment to people in  over 80 slums, on Sunday launched two new schemes: Sattapurna and Srushtipurna.

While Sattapurna will undertake capacity building training for women members on various elected bodies, Srushtipurna will focus on environment- and employment-related projects. The two schemes were launched on Saturday, when the NGO celebrated its tenth anniversary.

According to executive trustee Medha Samant, the NGO, under its flagship projects, Arthapurna and Udyampurna, had helped over 3,000 women and 500 men from slums so far.

While loans worth Rs 2.5 crore have been disbursed to women under the first scheme, Rs 25 lakh have been disbursed to men under the second scheme, she said. The highlight of these schemes was the 100 per cent recovery rate.

Tantrapurna, a project that offered vocational training to youth, has received encouraging response, and the organisation was successful in getting jobs for over 150 trained candidates with the help of a placement service called Sandhipurna, which was started by Annapurna, Samant said.

Another scheme, Swasthyapurna, a health fund, provided financial aid for medical expenses and organised regular check-ups and awareness programmes in all slums. The project extends to over 900 slum families and covers over 5,000 individuals, she said.

Samant pointed out that the NGO has also launched 'Shantipurna', to assist slumdwellers in procuring important documents like birth certificates and ration cards and in providing family and legal counselling. The scheme was currently operational in four slums, and covered 300 families.

To mark the 10th anniversary, Whay mi Savitri Boltey (Yes, I am Savitri speaking), a one-act play on the life of Savitribai Phule, was performed by Sushama Deshpande. (Writer-South Asia)

Reservations must for Dalit Muslims & Dalit Christians: NCM Study

NEW DELHI – December, 15: – An independent research study commissioned by the National Commission for Minorities finds that there is a strong case for offering Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians the same constitutional safeguards already available to Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist Dalits. After a comprehensive survey of the available social scientific literature on the status of Muslim and Christian Dalits, the study concludes that they continue to be subjected to discriminatory and exclusionary practices, including untouchability, even though such prejudice receives no doctrinal support in either Islam or Christianity. However, the forms and intensity of the social humiliation they suffer differ from those faced by their counterparts in other religions.

The study was conducted by Professor Satish Despande of the Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi over an eight month period. The study breaks new ground in analysing the latest available statistical data from the National Sample Survey Organisation's 61st Round survey of 2004-05. The data shows that Muslim Dalits are generally the worst off among all Dalits by most economic and educational criteria. Christian Dalits, too, lag far behind non-Dalit and specially upper caste Christians.

Despite their small population and hence relatively low representation in the sample survey, the data unambiguously establish the backwardness of Muslim and Christian Dalits by the common criteria of human development. In fact, the statistical analysis demonstrates that religious affiliation makes no difference for the poorest 75% of all Dalits, with only the top 25% showing some differentiation.

This study is specially relevant in the context of the judiciary's frequent demand for objective evidence when deciding petitions seeking extension of constitutional protections to Muslim and Christian Dalits. It makes it amply clear that there are no good reasons – moral, logical, empirical or practical to keep Muslim and Christian Dalits out ofthe Scheduled Castes category. (Writer-South Asia)

CIA agents killed Benazir: War

CIA agents killed Benazir: War

PPP Celebrates Benazir’s Second Death Anniversary

Srinagar, 27 December, 09: The Second death anniversary of former Pakistani Prime Minister and former Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed is observed throughout the globe. A large number of PPP party workers, office bearers and supporters from every nook and corner of the country are reaching Bhutto's home town Naudero in southern Sindh province to attend the anniversary. Great enthusiasm is being witnessed among the fans and followers of Bhutto’s in Kashmir at PPP Headquarters.

If  Asif Ali Zardari , President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan  truly loved Benazir Bhutto and mourn her death in true spirit, then he must pledge not to support  the International Agencies who have masterminded the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Judicial murder of Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and must follow the principles and ideals of  Z.A. Bhutto . He must also follow the Foreign Policy followed Kashmir Policy of Z.A. Bhutto the founder of  PPP.

On the Second Death Anniversary of late Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a function was organized at PPP headquarters, Rajbag, Srinagar, Kashmir and rich tributes were paid to Late Benazir Bhutto who died when a bomb planted in her cavalcade went off. “The function was presided over by Er.Hilal Ahmed War,Chairman, People’s Political Party ( PPP)  who is also the founder Chairman of  Bhutto Memorial Trust (BMT).
 
Special and important aspects of political life of Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto were highlighted. All the members unanimously and strongly condemned all those conspirators who were directly or indirectly responsible for the gruesome and barbaric murder of Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto,” said the statement.

People’s Political Party, Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War alleged Benazir Bhutto and her father were eliminated at the behest of “American intelligence agency CIA as the two leaders were opposed to the US policy of making Pakistan a satellite state for carrying out its plans”.Benazir’s killing is part of the policy of the US to disintegrate Pakistan into four independent states”. “US was creating atmosphere in which it can give good reason for the takeover of nuclear arsenal of Pakistan,” he claimed.

The leaders of PPP and BMT  unanimously appealed to the people of Pakistan that they should rise above regional, racial and ethnic prejudices and considerations and unite together whole heartedly in the direction of national and emotional integration because “such a course only can save Pakistan from external conspiracies aimed at disintegrating the country once again like December 1971”.
 

“The speakers emphasized that the concept of ‘Greater Pakistan’ floated by Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and his Kashmir Policy for realization of right of self-determination for struggling people of J & K were and are the source of inspiration for the political and armed activists of Kashmir Liberation Movement . The participants also disfavoured and disapproved the proposed idea of showing any flexibility by Govt. of Pakistan with regard to settlement of Kashmir dispute, as such a flexibility is bound to cause irreparable damage to Kashmir cause and shall adversely affect Kashmir liberation movement .After conclusion of speeches delivered by various participants, special prayers (fateha khwani) were held for peace and comfort of the souls of Z.A.Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. (Writer-South Asia)

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Youth denied passport for being kin of separatist leader Hilal Ahmad War

Writer-South Asia (Jammu and Kashmir): Youth denied passport for being kin of separatist leader Hilal Ahmad War

Youth denied passport for being kin of separatist leader Hilal Ahmad War

Srinagar, December 25: Successive state governments have often been accused of resorting to the pick-and-choose policy, especially in the militancy-scarred Kashmir region, when it comes to clearing people’s names for things like the issuance of passports or jobs. One victim of such policy, Ajaz Ahmad War says he is very much a victim of this official high handedness.

A resident of  Maisuma, a separatist bastion, Ajaz Ahmad War , by proffession working journalist , has lodged requests for a passport at all offices which matter, right from Chief Minister’s to that of CID bigwigs, and received words and letters of sympathy and assurance from everywhere. But he is yet to receive a passport as his police verification done by the CID remains pending. He had applied for a passport on February 27, 2008.

What has apparently gone against Ajaz is that one of his elder brothers, Hilal War, is a separatist leader, Chairman of People’s Political Party (PPP). The victim Ajaz Ahmad War further said holding political belief different from that of State is the birth right of every human being, if this is a sin committed by Paul. Then why should Peter be punished for the sins of Paul.

“It’s all about connections. They have given passports to all sorts of former militants and their kin. And all separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz, Shahid-ul-Islam etc.have passports. Why punish me then?,” he asks. He has a clean record and is not involved in any activity,and there is nothing adverse in CID record, he claims.

Police officials say they have kept an index of all militants, present and former, and separatist leaders and their Kith and kins used to be denied passports even if they were not themselves involved in such activities as a matter of precaution.

In fact, the issuance of passports and its renewal used to be seen as a yardstick of how dangerous somebody was perceived by the government. However, things have become liberal, as the police slowly but surely got better of militants. (Writer-South Asia)

Kashmir Has Become Human Rights Graveyard: PPP Chief, Hilal War

Srinagar,  December 11: People’s Political Party (PPP) Chairman, Engineer Hilal Ahmed War has urged the international community to ensure that human rights in Kashmir are respected and that the security forces guilty of committing excesses against people are brought to book. Speaking at a seminar organised by the Kashmir Bar Association to observe Human Rights Day, War said Indian forces have turned Kashmir into Human Rights graveyard.

War said Kashmiris have seen constant human rights violations since the India-Pak partition of 1947. “We the unfortunate people of Kashmir have never enjoyed this universal right ever since the partition of India,” said War adding

“This is the part of the world where Human Rights is itself in detention. The occupational forces of India have converted the whole Kashmir into a Human Rights Graveyard.”

War said Human Rights & Self-determination are inseparably inter-linked and originate from U.N.Charter with top priority and are very vital for maintaining International peace, seurity and fraternity of human beings.

“The United Nations Charter says that fight for human right is just and right. PPP also disapproves extra-ordinary penal laws which root out the very existence of fundamental human rights, because such laws are generally misused by governing body of concerned states and the men in uniform get a free license to behave like outlaws,” said the PPP Chief.

Deliberating on AFSPA, War said such laws are so draconian that they give security forces a license to kill on mere suspicion and this is one of the major reason why forces unleash constant terror against innocent civilians without any fear of action or accountability.

“AFSPA gives special powers to the army and other central forces operating in J & K,” said War. “Under Section 4, Clause a,b of the Act says even a non-commissioned officer can enter a house, search and can arrest without any warrant. He can even shoot a person on mere suspicion. No penal action can be taken against the forces without sanction of Central Government. Even the Chief Minister of J & K can’t punish the soldiers, even if proved guilty in a court of law, without New-Delhi’s consent.”

War said J&K has witnessed torture at the hands of the State police despite torture being prohibited under section 330 -331 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

“In time of war, humanitarian rules must be observed, even with regard to the enemy. These rules are set out mainly in 4 Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 8 June 1977,” said the PPP Chairman. He said the Geneva Conventions are based on the idea of respect for an individual and his dignity. “Once armed conflict breaks out, the Conventions and Protocols shall be applicable in all circumstances, though with restrictions in the case of severe non- international armed conflicts.”

War questioned the role of ICRC in Kashmir saying, “Since ICRC claims to be the custodian of Geneva Conventions, a number of questions crop up in one’s mind regarding ICRC stationed in Kashmir. What kind of protection is ICRC providing to the distressed persons and who are the distressed persons in the eyes of ICRC? What assistance is ICRC providing to prisoners and their families including civilian population? What does ICRC mean by Optional Protocol? How do they differentiate between Occupying Power and Protecting Power?”

“The Indian Government,” War said “is signatory to Geneva Conventions and has been violating the said conventions particularly in our Nation, Jammu and Kashmir. As the custodian of Geneva Conventions, what action has ICRC taken so far against Indian?”

The PPP Chairman reminded the international fraternity that the UN Security Council has voted unanimously in favour of a resolution classifying rape a weapon of war. “The document describes a deliberate use of rape as a tactic in war and a threat to international security,” said War.

He further said, “We dare not forget today that we (Kashmiris) are the symbol of peace and the heirs of that first revolution which was fought in this subcontinent immediately after the partition of British India for our birth right of self-determination as enshrined in United Nations Charter. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a New Generation of Kashmiris- born in this oppressed period, tempered by subjugation , proud of our ancient heritage –and unwilling to witness or permit any treaty on the Pattern of Osolo Accord , unwilling to tolerate the Pseudo Freedom Fighters any more, unwilling to give them a room to go for any secret deal with Govt. of India , and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.”

War said the denial of Self-determination right amounts to denial of the human rights. “Since International Peace, Human Rights and Self-determination Right is the foundation of U.N. Charter. Therefore the denial of Self-determination right is denial of Human Right and is violation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The violations of Human Rights and humanitarian law are perpetrated daily in the Valley of Kashmir occupied illegally and unjustifiably by India, since 1947.”

War demanded the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination must be firmly reaffirmed. “The International Community cannot enforce human rights laws anywhere on this planet unless they follow United Nations Charter in letter and spirit,” he said. (Writer-South Asia)

Of The 200 Killed In Mumbai, A High Number Were Muslims

In Indian state of Mumbai, after the numbing sorrow came the blame game and the solutions. Loud voices amplified by saturation TV: Why don’t we amend our Constitution to create new anti-terror laws? Why don’t we arm our police with AK 47s? Why don’t we do what Israel did after Munich or the USA did after 9/11 and hot pursue the enemy? Solutions that would lead us further into the abyss. For terror is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It thrives on reaction, polarisation, militarisation and the thirst for revenge.

Those who invoke America need only to analyse if its actions after 9/11 increased or decreased global terror. It invaded oil-rich Iraq fully knowing that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, killing over 200,000 Iraqis citizens but allowing a cornered Bin Laden to escape from Afghanistan. It recruited global support for Islamic militancy, which began to be seen as a just resistance against American mass murder. Which begs the question of who created Bin Laden in the first place, armed the madarsas of Pakistan and rejuvenated the concept of Islamic jehad? Israel played its own role in stoking the fires of jehad. The very creation of Israel in 1948 robbed Palestinians of their land, an act that Mahatma Gandhi to his credit deplored at the time as an unjust way to redress the wrongs done to Jews during the Holocaust. What followed has been a slow and continuing attack on the Palestinian nation. At first Palestinian resistance was led by secular forces represented by Yasser Arafat but as these were successfully undermined, Islamic forces took over the mantle. The first, largely non-violent Intifada was crushed, a second more violent one replaced it and when all else failed, human bombs appeared.

Thirty years ago when I first went abroad there were two countries my Indian passport forbade me to visit. One was racist South Africa. The other was Israel. We were non-aligned and stood for disarmament and world peace. Today Israel and America are our biggest military allies. Is it surprising that we are on the jehadi hit list? Israel, America and other prosperous countries can to an extent protect themselves against the determined jehadi, but can India put an impenetrable shield over itself? Remember that when attackers are on a suicide mission, the strongest shields have crumbled. New York was laid low not with nuclear weapons but with a pair of box cutters. India is for many reasons a quintessentially soft target. Our huge population, vast landmass and coastline are impossible to protect. The rich may build new barricades. The Taj and the Oberoi can be made safer. So can our airports and planes. Can our railway stations and trains, bus stops, busses, markets and lanes do the same?

The threat of terror in India does not come exclusively from the outside. Apart from being hugely populated by the poor India is also a country divided, not just between rich and poor, but by religion, caste and language. This internal divide is as potent a breeding ground for terror as jehadi camps abroad. Nor is jehad the copyright of one religion alone. It can be argued that international causes apart, India has jehadis that are fully home grown. Perhaps the earliest famous one was Nathuram Godse who acting at the behest of his mentor Vinayak Savarkar (still referred to as “Veer” or “brave” although he refused to own up to his role in the conspiracy), murdered Mahatma Gandhi for the crime of championing Muslims.

Jump forward to 6th December, 1992, the day Hindu fanatics demolished the Babri Mosque setting into motion a chain of events that still wreaks havoc today. From the Bombay riots of 1992 to the bomb blasts of 1993, the Gujarat pogroms of 2002 and hundreds of smaller deadly events, the last 16 years have been the bloodiest since Partition. Action has been followed by reaction in an endless cycle of escalating retribution. At the core on the Hindu side of terror are organizations that openly admire Adolph Hitler, nursing the hate of historic wrongs inflicted by Muslims. Ironically these votaries of Hitler remain friends and admirers of Israel.

On the Muslim side of terror are scores of disaffected youth, many of whom have seen their families tortured and killed in more recent pogroms. Christians too have fallen victim to recent Hindutva terror but as yet not formed the mechanisms for revenge. Dalits despite centuries of caste oppression, have not yet retaliated in violence although a small fraction is being drawn into an armed struggle waged by Naxalites.

It is clear that no amount of spending on defense, no amount of patrolling the high seas, no amount of increasing the military and police and equipping them with the latest weaponry can end the cycle of violence or place India under a bubble of safety. Just as nuclear India did not lead to more safety, but only to a nuclear Pakistan, no amount of homeland security can save us. And inviting Israel’s Mossad and America’s CIA/FBI to the security table is like giving the anti-virus contract to those who spread the virus in the first place. It can only make us more of a target for the next determined jehadi attack.

As for draconian anti-terror laws, they too only breed terror as for the most part they are implemented by a state machinery that has imbibed majoritarian values. So in Modi’s Gujarat after the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in 2002, despite scores of confessions to rape and murder captured on hidden camera, virtually no Hindu extremists were punished while thousands of Muslims rotted in jail under draconian laws. The same happened in Bombay despite the Shiv Sena being found guilty by the Justice Shrikrishna Commission. Under pressure a few cases were finally brought to trial but all escaped with the lightest of knuckle raps. In stark contrast many Muslims accused in the 1993 bomb blasts were given death sentences.

The bulk of our media, policing and judicial systems swallows the canard that Muslims are by nature violent. Removing democratic safeguards guaranteed by the Constitution can only make this worse. Every act of wrongful imprisonment and torture that then follows is likely to turn innocents into material for future terrorists to draw upon. Already the double standards are visible. While the Students Islamic Movement of India is banned, Hindutva outfits like the RSS, the VHP, the Bajrang Dal, and the Shiv Sena remain legal entities. The leader of the MNS, Raj Thackeray recently openly spread such hatred that several north Indians were killed by lynch mobs. Amongst these were the Dube brothers, doctors from Kalyan who treated the poor for a grand fee of Rs.10 per patient. Raj Thackeray like his uncle Bal before him, remains free after issuing public threats that Bombay would burn if anyone had the guts to arrest him. Modi remains free despite the pogroms of Gujarat. Congress party murderers of Sikhs in 1984 remain free. Justice in India is clearly not there for all. Increasing the powers of the police cannot solve this problem. Only honest and unbiased implementation of laws that exist, can.

It is a tragedy of the highest proportions that one such honest policeman, Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who had begun to unravel the thread of Hindutva terror was himself gunned down, perhaps by Muslim terror. It is reported that Col. Purohit and fellow Hindutva conspirators now in judicial custody, celebrated the news of Karkare’s death. Until Karkare took charge, the Malegaon bomb blasts in which Muslims were killed and the Samjhauta Express blasts in which Pakistani visitors to India were killed were being blamed on Muslims. Karkare exposed a hitherto unknown Hindutva outfit as masterminding a series of killer blasts across the country. For his pains Karkare came under vicious attack not just from militant Hindutva but from the mainstream BJP. He was under tremendous pressure to prove his patriotism. Was it this that led this senior officer to don helmet and ill-fitting bullet proof vest and rush into battle with a pistol? Or was it just his natural instinct, the same courage that had led him against all odds, to expose Hindutva terror?

Whatever it was, it only underlines the fact that jehadis of all kinds are actually allies of each other. So Bin Laden served George Bush and vice-versa. So Islamic and Hindutva jehadis have served each other for years. Do they care who dies? Of the 200 people killed in the last few days by Islamic jehadis, a high number were Muslims. Many were waiting to board trains to celebrate Eid in their hometowns in UP and Bihar, when their co-religionists gunned them down. Shockingly the media has not commented on this, nor focused on the tragedy at the railway station, choosing to concentrate on tragedies that befell the well-to-do. And it is the media that is leading the charge to turn us into a war-mongering police state where we may lead lives with an illusion of safety, but with the certainty of joylessness.

I am not arguing that we do not need efficient security at public places and at vulnerable sites. But real security will only come when it is accompanied by real justice, when the principles of democracy are implemented in every part of the country, when the legitimate grievances of people are not crushed, when the arms race is replaced by a race for decency and humanity, when our children grow up in an atmosphere where religious faith is put to the test of reason. Until such time we will remain at the mercy of “patriots” and zealots.

DEMOCRACY AND SECULARISIM OF INDIA IS A FARCE

Srinagar: In disputed of Jammu and Kashmir India deals with the people according to their religion. In Jammu Fanatic extremist Hindu parties and their activists and the people of Jammu who being armed with swords trishuls( a three edged spear)petrol bombs, who torch lynch and cut Muslims and Muslim cops as well are given cold drinks by Indian Army and Hindu dominated Jammu police. they are given a free passage for attaching Offices of Kashmir based newspapers, Throw petrol bombs on the trucks of Muslim drivers plying on pathankot Srinagar highway. Who set on fire whole Gujjar (Muslim) huts in Jammu.Sambha, Kathua. Indian communal army watches them with pride and pats them.People like Brig.Suchet sing(retd) Who during the time of service took oath under secular constitution was found shoulder to shoulder assisting advising communal and fanatic Hindus how to attack and enforce economic blockade against Muslims of Kashmir, Doda, poonch . And harass Muslims of Jammu region.

If a person of such calibre and post in Indian army can be of dubious character what about the common solider of this army. After the events of Jammu it should be eye opener of everyone who harbour illusions about the secular fabric of Indian army. We remember that during Gujarat massacre of Muslims we were told that had there been army called out by George Fernandez ,Muslims could have been saved but time has proved wrong. What is the difference now when in Gujarat an ex M.P (Muslim) is killed by throwing burning tyre on him in the absence of Army and fanatic Hindu youths who on riding a motorcycle throw petrol bombs on a Kashmiri Muslim truck driver who got burnt 90% and is waiting for death to overcome him as all the burnt people die of septicaemia. Sure death. This all was done in broad daylight in the presence of Hindu police and Secular army of India.Now the question arises how many Suchet singhs will be in the Indian army having masks of secularism on their face and when they get an opportunity to inflict harm to the Muslims they would be doing that without any let or hinderence.If Govt.of India wants to give an example to others then it should annulate the pension of this communal ex Brig.Take the medals if any from him as a punishment for defaming the army,otherwise this taint will remain on the army and secular fabric will be always disputed.

Now lets talk about what the same army does when they are in Kashmir.Unarmed protestors whose weapon is faith and trust in Allah, Who never pour venom against Hindus.Who consider Common man of Jammu their own.Who take Hindu piligrims on their shoulders to their place of worship high up in the mountains of Kashmir.Who at the time of the adventure of tribals in 1947 saved the Hindus in Kashmir only for their betrayal in 1990 when the same Hindus left valley in order to Give Jagmohan a free hand to Kill the Muslims in Kashmir which he did with full impunity. Freedom is a right of every Human being.Kashmiris who were betrayed and deceived by Sheikh Abdullah want freedom from Indian occupation and want use the right of self determination as promised to them by UN and the first prime Minister of India.When Kashmiris raise their voice against the oppression and ask for eroding the cease fire line so as to avoid confrontation with Hindu fanatics of Jammu, ask for freedom. The secular army of India spray them with bullets and such tear gas shells which are supposed to used during combat. Beat them with Bamboo sticks to pulp. In 21 century a protest rally in other parts of world is stopped by spraying water on the protestors so that no life is lost. But India doesn’t consider Kashmiris their citizens which have been proven again again and again from 1947 till date. Why then kashmiris should consider themselves Indians. In Kashmir when people protest army gets so frustrated that they enter residential houses and beat the immates break windows, Molest women.

The cold blooded killings of last two days have revealed again the real face of secular India and its secular army. Kashmiris who were caught between a rock and hard place by the economic blockade were just trying to get their Just voice heard by the higher authorities of India. If govt. of India would had clamped curfew in the city as soon as the time of March towards Muzzaffarabad was announced we would have understood that all this is done in good faith but Unfortunately The occupational forces have long ago tasted the blood of unarmed Kashmiris and they want to taste it again and again.The unknown graves in Kashmir. The fake encounters.Criminal attacks on ambulances and doctors who were transporting injured. Beating women and children have again proven the dubious attitude of Indian army and its sister forces towards Kashmiris.Now it’s a high time for kashmiri’s to understand that its do or die situation now and as we all know that Independence from Indian occupation cannot be a reality until we all fight together against those who have deprived us of it fro centuries.We must listen to our leaders and act as per their command so as to get success. (Writer-South Asia)

Indian Home Ministry orders 'communication' gag in Kashmir

Srinagar: 5, November: Critics say that behind this decision the percept of security threat is less but of money game is more. Having population of slightly more than 1 crore, there are six mobile phone service providers and most of them have not been able to earn profit.

Just two days after, the Prime Minister of India delivered his speech at disputed Kashmir’s Anantnag region without a bullet proof glass, the Union home Minister P Chidambram announced ban on issuing and recharging of pre paid mobile service in state from November 1.

It is worth to mention that permission for starting mobile phone service was given in Jammu & Kashmir in 2003 as Confidence Building measure. This step of Chidambram has come only when the Prime Minister has announced his intentions for Kashmir solution when he talked of White Dialogue, White Diplomacy.

“The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has decided that no pre-paid mobile connections should be issued and existing pre-paid SIM cards should not be renewed in Jammu & Kashmir after November 01, 2009. The Ministry has asked the Department of telecommunications to take appropriate action in the matter for implementation of the decision. The step comes in the wake of the reports that proper verification is not being done while providing such pre-paid mobile connections by the service providers/vendors. In some cases, a single person had been issued with multiple numbers of connections. The fake documents/identity numbers are also reportedly being used by the vendors particularly, in the case of pre-paid connections. This situation had given rise to serious security concerns. Hence, the decision.”

On 14th of this month Union Home Minister has announced in the Editors meet that Pre Paid mobile service is likely to be banned in the disputed Kashmir and the connection holders will be given sufficient time to switch over to post paid connections. But few days after that Union MoS for telecommunication Sachin Pilot denied the same during his visit to Jammu.

Critics say that behind this decision the percept of security threat is less but of money game is more. Having population of slightly more than 1 crore, there are six mobile phone service providers in the state and most of them have not been able to make profit.

In total these companies have provided about 40 lac pre paid connections and almost all the companies are running in loss in the State and there is no space for growth for the new entrants as saturation has already taken place and there is very little scope for Growth.

The companies can grow only if these pre-paid connections are converted into post paid and the consumer shall have lesser range of services available to choose from. It may be recalled that till recently only BSNL and Airtel the oldest player in the state had the major share of consumers. Aircel which came late in the day and could mange very little clientage and same was the situation fwith Reliance. Now with fresh entrants like Tata Indicom, Vodafone and Idea cellular have reportedly not been able to make much of the dent with the consumers despite launching huge campaigns and offering big soaps to the consumers. With this step all these companies will be getting a minimum fixed sum as monthly rental which is missing in case of pre paid connections.

Critics see this as a move too for creating equal level playing field for all the companies and suggest that in today’s world of information technology such gimmickry should be avoided. Not to mention the latest raid on telecom ministry by CBI wherein the ministry has been accused of showing undue favoritism to some telecom companies in allotting 2G spectrum.

As per the statement issued by Union Home Minister the reason for banning is “The fake documents/identity numbers are also reportedly being used by the vendors particularly, in the case of pre-paid connections. This situation had given rise to serious security concerns. ”

Critics say If this is the only reason for the ban then only service providers are responsible for this. It is the duty of the service provider to verify the documents before issuing any connection. In case of any short coming or negligence on the part of the provider, there is provision of penalty for the companies. For this fault of the companies, harassment to 40 lac connection holders is not justified.

On one hand Omar Abdullah boasts of his achievements of bringing militancy in the state and claims only because of his administration Prime Minister of India can dare to deliver His speech in Kashmir without Bullet Proof Glass. This was watched by whole world via live telecast. But on the other hand he remains mum on this vital decision of the Union Home Ministry. It is worth to mention that even President of India and Prime Minister deliver their speech from Red Fort under Bullet proof glass protection. (Writer-South Asia)

PPP welcomes P.M’s Offer for unconditional talks with Pakistan and Kashmiris. PPP's Roadmap is the only solution to Kashmir Problem: Er. Hilal War

By: Ed. Sheikh Gulzaar

Srinagar, October, 29: Kashmir history reveals that no political party ever since the partition of India has been able to put forth a viable, practicable roadmap for the resolution of the Kashmir tangle. Hilal War, a young, energetic, enthusiastic and visionary leader and a fiery orator, presented his Roadmap on August 10, 1996 for the resolution of Kashmir tangle. Known for his vision and farsightedness coupled with political insight, disclosed his formula before a healthy media conference 13 years back. To him the credit goes, of presenting first ever roadmap for resolution of Kashmir conflict, which is slowly and steadily being adopted by India and Pakistan these days. The visible example of this is, starting the “Goodwill Bus Service”, between both sides of Control Line. He is the architect and author of the concept of ‘Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus Service’. India and Pakistan have also started Truck Service between both sides of Line of Control (LoC). The first two points of aforesaid Road Map have been recognized and acted upon, by India and Pakistan, pertaining to the Human and Economic aspect of Kashmir problem.

Er. Hilal War’s Roadmap got an international recognition and the first major acknowledgement came from none other than the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair who sent an official letter to Hilal War approving the formula and congratulating him in August 2001. The said Roadmap containing Hilal Formula was referred by the British Government to the External Affairs Ministry for ‘necessary examination’. Hilal War who is the Chairman of political outfit Peoples Political Party (PPP) got another shot in the arm when International Crisis Group (ICG) also acknowledged and virtually endorsed the Hilal War’s Road Map in 2002 when it impressed upon India and Pakistan to open the control line for people of J & K State for trade and traffic. This, as a matter of the fact, the endorsement of the first two points of the Road Map.

Another approval was from SAARC Summit in Pakistan in 2004 when India and Pakistan decided to soften the control line for the people of J & K for trade and traffic. Former Indian Defence Minister, Pranab Mukerjee said earlier in year 2004 that he would adopt a 3-pronged approach to resolve the Kashmir Problem. The 3- Point program that he put forth put a stamp on the approval of ‘Hilal Formula’, which was released by a young Kashmiri leader and human rights activist, Hilal Ahmad War some 13 years back. This move by Defence Minister was treated by many as a virtual approval and recognition of Hilal formula. ‘The announcement of the Defence Minister is the victory of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the victory of self-determination right. It is the victory of peace and justice. It is the victory of the South-Asia’ said a jubilant Hilal War after the Defence Ministry discloses formula to the media.

Hilal War’s Road Map amply reflects his ideology and thinking which is the restoration of peace, international brotherhood and a conducive atmosphere for coexistence and a resolution for all the unresolved issues so that all the obstacles in the way to progress and prosperity are removed.” Recalling the statement of Dr.. Farooq Abdullah, On May 03,2009 , where he has asked pro-freedom leaders to prepare a roadmap for resolution of Kashmir Issue, assuring that his party would help take it up with New- Delhi and Omar Abdullah , Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir , State has yesterday declared that Centre will talk to all those political parties who have roadmap. We welcome the Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh’s offer for unconditional dialogue with Pakistan and Kashmiris.He further said PPP is not averse to talks but the talks should be meaningful and result oriented. To make talks on the resolution of Kashmir Dispute a success there should be no pre-condition from both sides. Dialogue between Kashmir, India and Pakistan to create mutual trust and understanding is indispensably paramount and this is an important step towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute. Resolving Kashmir requires tough diplomacy of important countries of the globe like USA. UK. United Sates of America has already begun the diplomatic efforts to address the Kashmir Issue in order make South-Asia terror free and a peace constituency. Last year, in an excusive interview to London’s Guardian, British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, categorically said that Resolution of Kashmir Dispute is very vital for the peace and security of South Asia. This statement gave a significance to Kashmir Dispute and impressed upon the peace lovers of South Asia to rise to the occasion and press India and Pakistan to start a dialogue to resolve Kashmir tangle if they really want to be at peace . Bruce Riedel, Obama’s election campaign advisor, in his recently published book, urged Washington to resolve the Kashmir Dispute and only then can the influence of Al- Qaida decline. The first step towards the Kashmir resolution will have to be the withdrawal of all military and paramilitary forces from the Jammu and Kashmir. Bruce said India should withdraw forces from J & K and Pakistan should withdraw its troops from its administered Kashmir. The withdrawal of the forces from both parts will have to be simultaneous. General David Petraeus who heads US Central Command has confirmed that the United States has begun the diplomatic efforts to address the Kashmir Issue so that Pakistan can focus more effective on fighting Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. Before taking control of the White House, President Obama, had argued that Kashmir is the root cause of the terrorism in the region and he had pledged to address Kashmir Issue with India and Pakistan. General said together with my great diplomatic wing man Ambassador Richard Holbrook, this effort actually has started. The task-force formed by US- based Asia Society has called on the Obama administration to find the lasting settlement to Kashmir Dispute and encourage behind the scene efforts to deescalate tensions between India and Pakistan over the issue. The independent task force set up last year included Richard Holbrooke, the Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, and General James Jones, National Security Advisor. Mr. War said, “in the contemporary world, the political issues should be resolved through dialogue. We want process should be inclusive now onwards. The UJC and other resistance groups should also be involved. The consensus is being evolved in the international community that resolution of Kashmir is very imperative for the world peace. (Writer-South Asia)

'Love Jihad' - A Jihadi Organisations to trap Hindu girls

Pathanamthitta (Kerala): Few days back a secular Malayalam Daily, Kerala Kaumudi exposed shocking revelations about a jihadi organisation named ‘Love Jihad’ which has been conveniently ignored by rest of the media.

Trapping naive Non Muslim girls (Read as Hindu girls) in the web of love inorder to convert to Islam is the modus operandi of the said organisation. Already more than 4000 girls have been converted to Islam by this Jihadi Romeos.

Special branch of Police started investigation when marriages of such large scales are reported within last 6 months. As per the instructions to recruits of this organisation, they have to love a Hindu girl within the time frame of 2 weeks and brainwash them to get converted and marry within 6 months. Special instructions to breed atleast 4 kids have also been given. If the target won’t get trapped within first 2 weeks, they are instructed to leave them and move on to another girl.

College students and working girls should be the prime target. Once completed their mission the organisation will give 1 lakh Rupees and Financial help for the youth to start business. Free Mobile Phone, Bikes and Fashionable dresses are offered to them as tools for the mission.

Money for this Love Jihad comes from Middle East. Each district have their own zone chairman’s to oversee the mission. Prior to College admission they make a list of Hindu girls and their details and target those whom they feel vulnerable and easy to be brainwashed.

It’s upto our Secular parents and Hindu Soceity as a whole to decide whether they should inculcate the ethos of Sanathana Dharma upon their Sons and Daughters before getting targeted by these evil doers. The story of a Marxist MLA’s daughter which hit even National Headlines (Although for Maligning Hindu Organisations) is only the tip of the iceberg.

‘Love Jehad’ is a new phrase coined by the Sangh Parivar – that is being echoed in courtrooms and cabinets across the country. The Sangh Parivar has claimed that thousands of Hindu girls are being lured by Muslim boys into conversion to Islam and recruitment into ‘jehadi’ outfits. And what is extremely worrying is that the Kerala HC, Karnataka HC and even the Maharashtra Government have expressed the same sentiments.

The Kerala HC made its comments on ‘Love Jehad’ in the context of two cases where Hindu women had eloped to marry Muslim men. The women’s parents had filed complaints claiming the women had been abducted, and the Kerala High Court ordered them to stay with their parents for a week. At the end of the week one of the women had given a statement claiming she had been brainwashed into adopting Islam and shown ‘jehadi’ CDs. Based on this single statement, the Kerala HC chose to order the Kerala Government and the Union Home Ministry to probe what it alleged was a nationwide ‘Love Jehad’ racket. Following this, the Karnataka HC passed similar observations in the case of a 23-year old woman civil engineer who told the Court clearly that she had converted to Islam of her own accord and wished to marry her lover Ashgar and live with him. The HC chose to suspect the veracity of the woman’s statement, ordered her to stay with her parents, and ordered a probe by the Karnataka police saying the matter had ‘national ramifications concerning security, besides the question of unlawful trafficking of women.’ Earlier, the Congress-NCP Government of Maharashtra had passed an order to investigate into every case of Muslim men marrying Hindu women, alleging a trafficking racket, but had to withdraw this probe in the face of protest.

The Kerala State DGP has submitted a report to the Kerala HC declaring that there is no evidence of any ‘Love Jehad’ movement anywhere in the country. Karnataka’s Dakshina Kanada district police has also busted the myth of ‘Love Jehad.’ Recently when Anitha (22) went missing in June this year, Sangh Parivar organisations claimed that she was forcibly converted to Islam by a Pakistan-backed, professional ‘jehadist lover’. The police, however, established that Anitha was poisoned to death by Mohan Kumar, a serial killer arrested on October 21, who allegedly confessed to having murdered her and robbed 17 other women by luring them with offers of marriage. A top police official told an English daily: “By cracking the Anitha case, we hoped to put an end to this ‘Love Jehad’ controversy once and for all….certain fundamentalist groups that have been carrying out vigilante attacks against inter-community couples for several years have now started using the ‘Love Jehad’ theory to justify their attacks.”

Let us recall that in innumerable cases of inter caste/inter religious marriages, where the girl has voluntarily married, her parents have falsely accused her of being an “abducted”, “brainwashed” minor, and have pressurized her into denying the relationship. Nari Niketans in every city are full of adult women imprisoned for months because their parents have accused them of being minors; the Nari Niketans separate the women from their husbands but freely allow their own parents to meet and coerce them. In the Nitish Katara case and Rizwanur Rehman case, the girls (Bharati Yadav and Priyanka Todi) eventually refused to complain against their fathers and brothers, even after overwhelming evidence that their lovers had been killed or forced to commit suicide in cold-blood. The Kerala and Karnataka HCs has absolutely no right to order adult women to stay with their parents; statements taken by such women in forced parental custody are certain to be taken under coercion, and the Courts are highly irresponsible to make such statements the basis for sweeping orders that perpetuate communal myths without a shred of evidence. Such “enquiries” into every marriage of a Hindu man with a Muslim woman – be it by Courts or the Maharashtra Government –violate the Constitutional right to privacy and choice in matters of marriage, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution, and upheld by numerous Supreme Court verdicts.

Let us also remember that the Sangh Parivar leader Babu Bajrangi of Gujarat boasts of having ‘rescued’ thousands of women who have married outside the caste or community, and forced them to give up their husbands. Sadhvi Pragya’s organization too used to indulge in the same activity. And the Sri Ram Sene in the Dakshin Kanada district has indulged in innumerable attacks on Muslim and Hindu women who befriend each other – one young 15-year old schoolgirl even committed suicide after public humiliation by the Sene. The Courts’ observations provide a shot in the arm for the Sri Ram Senes and Babu Bajrangis – they can now claim their attacks on women are acts of ‘nationalism.’ We wonder why neither the Courts never pass orders to ban Khaap panchayats and the Sri Ram Sene; why Courts never order enquiries into suspected cases of honour killing, but the same Courts are so eager to fan up communal and anti-women flames by making irresponsible comments about ‘Love Jehad’?

‘Love Jehad’ is a communal fantasy – a new pretext to attack the freedom of women to love and marry by choice, and to witch-hunt Muslim men. In the name of ‘Love Jehad,’ every Rizwan-ur-rehman can be branded a terrorist; every Priyanka’s right to choose can be denied on the grounds that she is ‘brain-washed’ by jehadis; every police officer as well as every Pramod Muthalik justified in harassing the Rizwans and Priyankas in the name of ‘national security.’(Writer-South Asia)

DEMOCRACY AND SECULARISIM OF INDIA IS A FARCE

By: Dr. Sheikh Bilal

Srinagar: In disputed of Jammu and Kashmir India deals with the people according to their religion. In Jammu Fanatic extremist Hindu parties and their activists and the people of Jammu who being armed with swords trishuls( a three edged spear)petrol bombs, who torch lynch and cut Muslims and Muslim cops as well are given cold drinks by Indian Army and Hindu dominated Jammu police. they are given a free passage for attaching Offices of Kashmir based newspapers, Throw petrol bombs on the trucks of Muslim drivers plying on pathankot Srinagar highway. Who set on fire whole Gujjar (Muslim) huts in Jammu.Sambha, Kathua. Indian communal army watches them with pride and pats them.People like Brig.Suchet sing(retd) Who during the time of service took oath under secular constitution was found shoulder to shoulder assisting advising communal and fanatic Hindus how to attack and enforce economic blockade against Muslims of Kashmir, Doda,poonch . And harass Muslims of Jammu region. If a person of such calibre and post in Indian army can be of dubious character what about the common solider of this army. After the events of Jammu it should be eye opener of everyone who harbour illusions about the secular fabric of Indian army. We remember that during Gujarat massacre of Muslims we were told that had there been army called out by George Fernandez ,Muslims could have been saved but time has proved wrong. What is the difference now when in Gujarat an ex M.P (Muslim) is killed by throwing burning tyre on him in the absence of Army and fanatic Hindu youths who on riding a motorcycle throw petrol bombs on a Kashmiri Muslim truck driver who got burnt 90% and is waiting for death to overcome him as all the burnt people die of septicaemia. Sure death. This all was done in broad daylight in the presence of Hindu police and Secular army of India. Now the question arises how many Suchet singhs will be in the Indian army having masks of secularism on their face and when they get an opportunity to inflict harm to the Muslims they would be doing that without any let or hinderence.If Govt.of India wants to give an example to others then it should annulate the pension of this communal ex Brig.Take the medals if any from him as a punishment for defaming the army,otherwise this taint will remain on the army and secular fabric will be always disputed.

Now lets talk about what the same army does when they are in Kashmir.Unarmed protestors whose weapon is faith and trust in Allah, Who never pour venom against Hindus.Who consider Common man of Jammu their own.Who take Hindu piligrims on their shoulders to their place of worship high up in the mountains of Kashmir.Who at the time of the adventure of tribals in 1947 saved the Hindus in Kashmir only for their betrayal in 1990 when the same Hindus left valley in order to Give Jagmohan a free hand to Kill the Muslims in Kashmir which he did with full impunity. Freedom is a right of every Human being.Kashmiris who were betrayed and deceived by Sheikh Abdullah want freedom from Indian occupation and want use the right of self determination as promised to them by UN and the first prime Minister of India.When Kashmiris raise their voice against the oppression and ask for eroding the cease fire line so as to avoid confrontation with Hindu fanatics of Jammu, ask for freedom. The secular army of India spray them with bullets and such tear gas shells which are supposed to used during combat. Beat them with Bamboo sticks to pulp. In 21 century a protest rally in other parts of world is stopped by spraying water on the protestors so that no life is lost. But India doesn’t consider Kashmiris their citizens which have been proven again again and again from 1947 till date. Why then kashmiris should consider themselves Indians. In Kashmir when people protest army gets so frustrated that they enter residential houses and beat the immates break windows, Molest women.

The cold blooded killings of last two days have revealed again the real face of secular India and its secular army. Kashmiris who were caught between a rock and hard place by the economic blockade were just trying to get their Just voice heard by the higher authorities of India. If govt. of India would had clamped curfew in the city as soon as the time of March towards Muzzaffarabad was announced we would have understood that all this is done in good faith but Unfortunately The occupational forces have long ago tasted the blood of unarmed Kashmiris and they want to taste it again and again.The unknown graves in Kashmir. The fake encounters.Criminal attacks on ambulances and doctors who were transporting injured. Beating women and children have again proven the dubious attitude of Indian army and its sister forces towards Kashmiris.Now it’s a high time for kashmiri’s to understand that its do or die situation now and as we all know that Independence from Indian occupation cannot be a reality until we all fight together against those who have deprived us of it fro centuries.We must listen to our leaders and act as per their command so as to get success.May god Help Kashmiris.

China emerging as global leader

China emerging as global leader

Er. Hilal Ahmad War

Srinagar: Before the partition there were about a dozen provinces in British India, each locally ruled by a governor under the overall control of the British Viceroy. There were also some centrally administered territories. The British Crown also enjoyed a Paramountcy over six hundred odd princely states under a treaty between them and the government of British-India. Each princely state was in essence a sovereign state in which the British-India government had posted its official ambassadors designated as British President. All these states had given the arrangement of communication and foreign affairs to the British-Indian Government. The Indian Independence Act was passed on 15th July1947 which got royal assent on 18th of July 1947, by virtue of which British-India was partitioned into two dominions i.e. India and Pakistan. The Section 7 (b) part I of Indian Independence Act, 1947 ceases the authority of Maharaja of Kashmir as a ruler. By virtue of the same Section 7 (b) of IIA-1947 all the treaties between the British-Indian Government and the rulers of the princely states got cancelled. Therefore all the princely states of the Indian sub-continent had automatically regained their full-fledged and independent sovereign status. By virtue of Section 7(b) of Indian Independence Act, the accession is illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional and in violation of the International Law. The document of accession was signed by a state subject of Jammu and Kashmir (Nation), namely Hari Singh in his personal capacity and not as a ruler de-jure.That is why the then Governor General wrote back to Dogra's that the accession has to be put to the ratification. The constitution of Jammu and Kashmir reserves 24 seats of the legislative assembly for Azad Jammu and Kashmir. There cannot be any constitutional amendment unless those are fulfilled. Even the so-called accession of the state with India cannot be justified on the same analogy. Ratification of accession is necessary for the simple reason that Dogra rule seized on 15 the august 1947.

China respects the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. China has demonstrated its conscience by recognizing Kashmir as a disputed territory which is highly appreciable. The role of China is laudable and an initiation of a new world order. The Chinese stance over Kashmir has laid the foundation of a peaceful world and mutual co-existence. China has opened a new chapter not only in the subcontinent but in world history by recognising the fundamental right of the oppressed. The dynamics of this great and historical decision has opened the Pandora’s Box for warmongers and it has opened a debate at world level among the peace-lovers and thinkers. If Barack Obama wants a change, he must change his foreign policy towards the world in general and China in particular and understand the good intentions of China. This historical and bold decision should be debated at the UNO. This debate will open a tunnel for world peace for which the key lies in the resolution of Kashmir problem. If Barack Obama’s recent statements are to be believed, then America must recognize China as a good friend without fearing that the China is a threat to the American supremacy. Debating the decision of China in the UNO will befriend china and America and America will emerge as a global leader De-Jure. The way China is upholding the golden principles of the United Nations Charter and swallows the bitter pills which originate from United Nations Charter in the interest of international security, peace and justice. The present global scenario leads the China towards a leadership role in the globe. The global developments are taking place so fast that the world is once again marching towards becoming bipolar after the fall of Soviet Russia. Since China is not ambitious to become a superpower but circumstances will ultimately lead China towards world leadership which will balance the power on the globe.

Immediately after Chinese troops had made incursions into Ladakh, the land bounded by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges – the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram – the two sides are again involved in a diplomatic spat, this time over China’s issuing of different visas to residents of Kashmir. They have given stapled visas earlier to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, over which China claims its sovereignty .The action is seen by the authorities in New Delhi as an attempt by China to question status of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India. Several people from Kashmir have been left stranded as India and China fight over the nature of visas Indian authorities have lodged official protests with Beijing over a new practice of issuing special Chinese visas for residents of Kashmir. Strategic affairs analysts, Brahma Chellany and Acharya agreed that the visa issue was yet another attempt by China to keep India under pressure for a variety of strategic reasons. "China is opening up pressure points on various fronts to put India on the defensive”, said Chellany.

Acharya felt the Chinese strategy was aimed at pushing India into a corner so that it doesn't ratchet up other issues, like the long-standing border dispute or Tibet. The forthcoming visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, to which China has staked claim, is a bone of contention and Beijing has asked New Delhi to have it called off.

China has also been issuing stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, saying that the north-eastern Indian state, of which China claims a portion is a disputed territory and that its natives are “Chinese”. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is likely to raise the issue with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi's visit to India October 26-27, top sources told IANS. Yang will be here to participate in the trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of India, China and Russia which will be held in Bangalore.

China’s visa policy has not only triggered diplomatic row but gives a clear signal that Beijing has reservation on the status of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India as claimed by successive Governments of India.

“It is a moral victory for the people of Kashmir that China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been accepting Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory,” The Chinese visa issue is not the only recent development to draw international attention to the Kashmir issue. Peoples Political Party (PPP) recognizes China as an ally and a strategic partner of Kashmir. China is the only country which follows the golden principles of United Nations Charter and recognized the plebiscite resolutions passed by United Nation. China has taken a very legal position by recognizing Kashmir’s disputed states and has mustered courage to take practical steps in this direction by issuing special visas to Kashmiris. Muammer Qadafi, the Libyan leader, had, in the course of his speech to the UN General Assembly on September 23, said that Kashmir should be an independent state. “We should end this conflict. It should be a Baathist state between India and Pakistan,” said a statement from the Libyan leader that not only encouraged Kashmiri leaders and parties but also won him local fans. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in a meeting, held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, said that it supported the people of Jammu and Kashmir in “realisation of their legitimate right of self-determination in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiri people”. The 56-member grouping also appointed its assistant secretary general, Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman al Bakr, a Saudi national, a special envoy on Kashmir after the meeting of its Contact Group on Kashmir at the UN headquarters. The United Jihad Council, an alliance of Kashmiri freedom groups, welcomes the new visa policy of China, for Kashmiri nationals and said China, being a giant regional power, has a “pivotal role” to play in resolving the Kashmir issue.

M J Akbar, a veteran Indian journalist and author, however, said China did not want war with India, but trade, which is now close to US$60 billion. “There is a rational reason why China has decided to exploit Indian weaknesses and contradictions through rhetoric and provocative gestures on the border and in its Delhi embassy. It seeks to keep India off balance, to the extent it can, at a time of great existential discomfort for its ally Pakistan,” he said. This time there appears to be a coordinated attempt by Beijing and Islamabad to intimidate India, If the turn of events leads to open hostilities India must chose the time and place most advantageous to its own troops rather than be rushed into an unequal contest”.

Indian Defence Analysts says, “Nonetheless, given the heady nature of the season at this time of the year, India should be prepared for aggressive action by its neighbours. This time it is happening in unison with malice aforethought. The signal for it was given when Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kiyani visited Beijing and since then there has been a slow but steady escalation of tension India and her two neighbours. Calls for talks by Pakistan and China are subterfuges and camouflage for their joint intention of destabilizing India using a combination of terrorist and conventional military tactics. For both of them the jehadi organizations that constitute the United Jihad Council are the bedrock of their geopolitics in which Pakistan is the vanguard and the terrorists are their proxies. It is not for nothing that Beijing has invested so much in terms of nuclear weapons and the missiles for delivering them. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons capability is the shield from behind which the terrorist spear is hurled. It is not for nothing that at every occasion Pakistan should harp on its being a nuclear weapons power and that military confrontation could, very quickly, erupt into a nuclear exchange. It is bald-faced nuclear coercion particularly since it is the overtly stated policy of Pakistan to use nuclear weapons at short notice”.

There is a contested border with India, and India has not forgotten its defeat by China in a border row in 1962. China also borders Kashmir and the Indians do not recognise the border agreement the Chinese reached with Pakistan over the section of Azad Kashmir. Although the Chinese and Indian sides have been unable to resolve their border dispute, they have nevertheless agreed in recent years to take various measures to reduce tension and the possibility for conflict along the lines of control that separate their two forces .From a geopolitical point of view, China has consistently sought to constrain Indian power and confine it essentially to the region of South Asia. In addition to the strategic interest in not having to confront a single powerful neighbour to the south of the Himalayas, China is also concerned by the residual Indian interest in Tibet. After all India still harbours the Dalai Lama and his unofficial government in exile. Thus China continues to refuse to recognise India's claims to Sikkim, it encourages Bangladesh to stand up to India and above all China has supported India's arch-rival Pakistan. In the 1965 Indo-Pak war China went so far as to threaten to open a second front against India. But its main support has been expressed through the supply of arms. The Chinese have sought to redress the balance by helping Pakistan to acquire nuclear weapons and missile technology. From a international perspective, India and China were rivals in the Cold War era. Indeed India and the US held joint military exercises for the first time in May 2008. But China is anxious to avoid trouble with the US at a time of leadership succession, and at a time when it has to adjust to the terms of entry to the World Trade Organisation. Moreover, China has benefited to an extent from the "war on terror", which has enabled it to suppress resistance to its rule in its Central Asian province of Xinjiang. Nevertheless the Chinese eye warily the American military presence in Central Asia. Although they have not said so publicly, the Chinese are very much opposed to the possible use of nuclear weapons.

On September 28, 2009, China asked India and Pakistan to seek a solution to the Kashmir issue through peaceful and friendly consultations and offered to play a "constructive role" in resolving the "bilateral to issue". As a friendly country, China would also be happy to see progress in the peace process between India and Pakistan, said Hu Zhengyue, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, in charge of the Asian region. Kashmir is an issue that has been longstanding left from history. This issue touches the bilateral relations between the relevant countries," he told a group of visiting foreign journalists here.

China’s declared positions on the Kashmir issue have evolved through four distinct phases. In the 1950s, Beijing upheld a more or less neutral position on the Kashmir issue. The 1960s and 1970s saw China shift its position toward public support of Pakistan’s views on the issue as Sino-Indian relations deteriorated. Since the early 1980s, however, with China and India moving toward normalization of bilateral relations, Beijing returned to a position of neutrality even as it sought to balance between the need to satisfy Pakistan’s demands for support and the growing interest in developing a better relationship with India. By the early 1990s, China’s position became unequivocal that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter to be solved by India and Pakistan through peaceful means.

China’s Kashmir policy must be understood within the broader contexts of its South Asia policy in general and where this policy fits in Beijing’s global strategies and its bilateral relationships with India and Pakistan in particular. While in the past, Beijing supported Islamabad’s positions on the Kashmir issue to demonstrate solidarity with an “all weather” ally during periods of Sino-Indian estrangement and hostility, normalization with New Delhi has necessitated the adoption of a policy of neutrality to avoid unnecessarily alienating India and running the risk of entrapment. Indeed, as both India and Pakistan have acquired nuclear weapons capabilities, China has become extremely worried that any escalation of conflicts over Kashmir could precipitate a nuclear exchange, with horrifying consequences. Beijing is quite interested in the reduction of tension over Kashmir and therefore is particularly encouraged by recent developments, such as the ceasefire along the line of control, the defense secretary meeting on the Siachen Glacier demilitarization, the resumption of civilian flight and the opening of the bus service through Kashmir, discussion on reducing military presence along the line of control, and military confidence building measures including the agreement on missile launch notification..

Chinese analysts suggest that both India and Pakistan have a lot to gain from the current rapprochement. Prolonged tension and fighting over Kashmir has exacted severe tolls in human and material terms for both countries. For instance, maintaining supplies to the Indian troops stationed on the Siachen Glacier costs New Delhi $1 million a day. Since fighting began in 1984, some 2,500 Indian and 1,300 Pakistani troops have died over the years, not so much in direct combat but as a result of the treacherous weather and terrain conditions. Managing the Kashmir issue has become a critical consideration in New Delhi’s efforts to realize its great power potentials by channelling more resources to economic development. For Pakistan, the conflict consumes even more resources. The post-September 11 regional security environment and the U.S.-led global war on terrorism also exert external pressure for Pakistan to deal with cross-border terrorist activities. Beijing is also interested in the evolving negotiations over Kashmir due to its own entanglement, which is largely a result of the October 1963 Sino-Pakistani Border Agreement. India claims the Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin of approximately 35,000 square kilometres as part of the territory in Ladaakh, Kashmir. While a remote possibility, a resolution of the Kashmir dispute between New Delhi and Islamabad could re-open the sovereignty issue left over in the 1963 Sino-Pakistani border agreement. Beijing has growing interests in seeing a stable South Asia and is seeking a better relationship with India. That explains Beijing’s more unequivocal position on the Kashmir issue, which in turn is firmly grounded in the belief that the only realistic way to resolve the Kashmir conflict is through peaceful negotiation between India and Pakistan. As Islamabad’s trusted friend, Beijing could and should use its influence to convince Pakistan that it is also in their own interest to resolve the issue peacefully. China is also lays claim on a piece of land of Kashmir from Ladakh side.Over much of the last 40 years, China has been claiming Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory. They have given stapled visas earlier to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, over which China has a genuine claim of its sovereignty.

The China is also facing problems with Islamic Separatists in s ‘Xinjiang’ .Xinjiang actually shares borders with Ladakh in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Its size is 1.8 million sq km; almost one-sixth of China; half as much as India. The pre-August 1947 Jammu and Kashmir measures some 2, 65,000 sq km. of which some 86,000 sq km is under Pakistani control; some 37,500 sq km under China; the balance, 1, 41,000 sq km, is occupied by India. Some sources believe that turmoil in Xinjiang is fanned and funded by Indo-American secret intelligence Agencies. This secret Agency is bent upon to make ‘Xinjiang’ China’s East-Pakistan. They want to disintegrate China in the same way as they did in 1971 under Agartalla Conspiracy. Uprising in Tibet is openly backed by Indian Intelligence Agencies. The American hue and cry against Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Chechinya and in some parts of China, Philippine etc. is a camouflage to keep china and Russia in dark so that fatal network could easily be established for eliminating them from the map of Great Powers.


About Author
Er. Hilal Ahmad War is the victim of history. Logic and reasoning is his forte. He is forthright, unsparing and vociferous that makes him controversial. He is energetic, enthusiastic and does not approve of narrow mindedness and believe that in an era of electronic revolution, one has view issues in a holistic manner. He is the Chairman of a political party namely “People’s Political (PPP)” which is striving for peaceful resolution of Kashmir Dispute within the four corners International Law as enshrined in United Nations Charter. He also heads the “Bhutto Memorial Trust”. He has knowledge of Foreign Affairs and International Diplomacy. He always plead that International Peace, Human Rights and self-determination right are the foundation of United Nations Charter. To him the credit goes, of presenting first ever ‘ Road Map’ on August10, 1996, for resolution of Kashmir conflict, which is slowly and steadily being adopted by India and Pakistan these days. He is the architect and author of the concept of ‘Srinagar-Muzaffarabad -Bus Service’. The first two points of aforesaid Road Map have been recognized and acted upon, by India and Pakistan, pertaining to the Human and Economic aspect of Kashmir problem. He has authored a booklet entitled “Realities behind Kashmir Problem” .He has authored another best seller book entitled “The Great Disclosures (Secrets Unmasked)”. He plans to write another book entitled, “Global ambitions of America”.
The author can be reached at: ppp.kashmir@gmail.com,warhilal@hotmail.com