[Reader-list] Territorial integrity is 'non-negotiable': Govt.

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Aditya
 
Looks like Govt. of India might finally be willing to show that it is serious about competently governing India in the areas where it has acted as a "Soft State".
 
They should simultaneously act against all those too who are supposedly citizens of India, who avail of the freedoms that are their right under the Constitution of India but who (even if purely by word) act in a manner that is subversive towards the Constitution of India. 
 
Criticism of any aspect of India is the right of every Indian Citizen. It is in fact neccessary, desirable and welcome if any such criticsm, howsoever harsh, serves or is meant to serve towards making better the lives of the people. 
 
But, those who indulge in Sedition or make Seditious Remarks or express support for Sedition should be prosecuted. The difference between 'criticism' and 'sedition' is easily recognisable.
 
 
Kshmendra


--- On Sun, 8/24/08, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>
Subject: [Reader-list] Territorial integrity is 'non-negotiable': Govt.
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 1:34 PM

*Territorial integrity is 'non-negotiable': Govt.*

New Delhi (PTI): Rejecting calls for separation of Jammu and Kashmir, the
government has asserted that the country's territorial integrity is
"non-negotiable" and the borders cannot be "altered or
redrawn".

The government also ridiculed the Hurriyat Conference leaders for claiming
to be the representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying it had
no justification as the separatists have never tested their popularity in
elections.

"Any such talk (of secession) is preposterous and in conflict with
Constitution and law of the land," Minister of State for External Affairs
Anand Sharma said here.

"The country's borders cannot be altered, or redrawn and Constitution
cannot
be rewritten," he said, adding "territorial integrity is
non-negotiable."

His comment came in the backdrop of calls for secession of Jammu and Kashmir
made by separatist leaders as well as a few prominent people like author
Arundhuti Roy.

Sharma said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had maintained that all issues can
be resolved through dialogue.

On whether talks would be held with Hurriyat which is leading a stir in the
valley, the minister said the government is ready to talk to "all those
who
are willing and positive."

He lashed out at the Hurriyat, saying "those with separatist agenda cannot
claim to be representatives of people. Those who have never contested
elections, can't claim to represent people."

Sharma also accused BJP of "keeping partisan political agenda above
national
interest" and "supporting communal polarisation which is hurtful to
the
national interest."

"When we have an unsettled situation, it is expected of all responsible
leaders and mainstream political parties to work together in the interest of
the nation," he said.
_________________________________________
reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
Critiques & Collaborations
To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in
the subject header.
To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list 
List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>