[Reader-list] Oranges won't work anymore
Kshmendra Kaul
kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com
Mon Aug 25 17:40:47 IST 2008
Dear Sonia
You MUST be a Kashmiri Pandit pretending to be of some other ethnicity.
OR Maybe you too are an "Agent" of the Govt. of India. You could also be from the Hindutva cadre of BJP or VHP or Bajrang Dal. Heavans forbid.
These are shots in the darkness of SARAI caused by postings that are at most times filled with bias, prejudice and presumptions with added liberal (pun not intended) doses of ignorance and misrepresentations.
Whatever else you are, you come across to me as an independent thinker who is not a bandwagon-person nor is tempted into taking fashionable 'liberal' positions on issues (pun intended). That does not mean that you and I think alike on all subjects.
1. It is reported in August 2002 that 11 polling stations have been reserved for KPs (migrants) for the about to come elections. 8 in Jammu, 2 in Udhampur and 1 in Delhi.
The report also says that 150,000 KPs (migrants) in "other" parts of the country could cast their votes by postal ballot. This is as per an Election Commission official.
This would mean that apart from the majority of KPs (migrants) who had landed in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi there were some 150,000 KPs (migrants) more who had moved to places other than Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
2. A June 2007 report about one of the Prime Minister's Working Groups headed by Hamid Ansari quotes figures from this WG to say:
" ..........the total population of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley before migration was about 3.5 lakh. While a majority migrated to Jammu and other parts of the country, about 18,000 stayed back as of 1997."
The report also quotes another set of figures (note that these are figures for Jammu alone) to say:
"As many as 30,206 Hindu families, 2,120 Muslim families and 1,749 Sikhs are registered as migrants with the state government and are now living in Jammu."
3. The official website of J&K Govt in an August 2000 report mentions:
"According to the Koul Report, there were 56,689 families (migrants of all communities) in Jammu and elsewhere in the country in 1997. Of them 31,490 families were in Jammu alone and 19,339 families in New Delhi."
It might be pertinent to point out that "families" were not registered as "nuclear families" but covered the direct lineage (excluding girls married out and including girls married into the family). Most cross-references for registration were linked to the "residence" in Kashmir before the 'migration'. In most cases there were 3 generations who had been living together and who were registered as a "family".
4. CIA's "The World Factbook" mentions 600,000 IDPs in India anbd says that about half of those are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir.
5. The Geneva based (mandated by United Nations) Internal Displacement Monitoring Cell (IDMC) notes that the lowest number of Kashmir Pandit IDPs found from sources was 56,246 families. It translates that into the number 250,000 and credits GOI with being the source.
IDMC notes that the Highest estimates of (Kashmiri Pandit) IDPs found from sources was QUOTE "Maybe as many as" 450,000 UNQUOTE. It credits U.S Committee for Refugees (USCR) as the source.
Kshmendra
PS.
There is another aspect of Migration/Displacement of Kashmiri Pandits which never gets highlighted.
If one may call the post 1988 displacement an 'exodus', between 1947 and 1988 also there was an outflow of Kashmir Pandits from Kashmir for various reasons that had nothing much to do with being terrorised, even if they faced intimidation.
This was because of 'lack of opportunities' in Kashmir. This 'lack of opportunities' became a 'fait accompli' forced upon the KPs when admission to professional educational institutions (read Medical and Engineering) started taking place on the basis of religious ratio-proportions. (I think only 10% or maybe 20% of the admissions were on 'competitive' basis). This was followed by "recruitments" and "promotions" also following the same principle though this might be difficult to substantiate though there was such an "Executive Order" for "promotions" after a specified level.
This understandably led to a constant year after year diaspora out of Kashmir towards Educational Institutions and Jobs. They were not migrating out, strictly speaking, because the "permanent residence" continued to be in Kashmir with major part of the immediate family also left behind. So children studying 'out' had their parents back in Kashmir. Those who had taken up Jobs outside also had their parents in kashmir and in many cases also the spouse and children.
If this is understood, it might be easier for some to appreciate that the Internal Displacement of Kashmiri Pandits that occured as an exodus out of Kashmir post 1988 was not confined to those numbers who physically moved out of Kashmir but also those who used to but now could not go back. Many were 'forced out' by the situation. Many had to 'stay out' because of the situation.
Census figures and numbers from Electoral Rolls could never give the full picture of the Internal Displacement.
--- On Mon, 8/25/08, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com> wrote:
From: S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Oranges won't work anymore
To: "Kashmir Affairs" <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk>, "Sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Monday, August 25, 2008, 2:41 PM
Dear Murtaza,
The official figures of GoI put the Pandit refugees or internally displaced
persons (not migrants) at 100,000. The Pandit organisations dispute that
and claim a higher number.
You put the numbers of Muslims massacred in Jammu in 1947 as 250,000. The
Statesman correspondent in '47 had reported 60,000 dead. Since I found
this
a very high figure even when compared to massacres in the Punjab (because
the killings in Jammu happened within a much shorter period) I had
interviewed old-timers of Jammu who were witness to the times and
specifically asked about this figure. Each had felt the figure highly
exaggerated-- including Ved Bhasin, Balraj Puri and others who have
otherwise opposed communalism all their lives.
You also quote the number of Kashmiri refugees post-1990 in Pakistan as
100,000. This is again an inflated figure. The official Pakistani figure
is 15,000. When I met with Kashmiri youth in Rawalpindi 2 years ago and
they had asked me to do something to enable them to return, they had put
their figures at 30,000. I would guess it's somewhere in the middle.
In times of crisis some feel the need to inflate figures. If there are 6
rapes it's not good enough, it has to be the whole village of women. If
2,000 are killed it seems insignificant when other sites of horror like
Cambodia, Vietnam, the battlefields of the First World War, the
concentration camps of the Second can claim millions dead.
Can we pause for a moment and see what it is we are doing?
On 8/25/08 1:39 PM, "Kashmir Affairs" <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:
> Pawan,
- There is by no way, I repeat no way, more than 100,000 Kashmiri
> Pandits as migrants. And this number is almost same as those Kashmiri
Muslims
> who were forced to migrate to Muzzaffarabad. While I am not trivilizing
> migration (without any prejudice to the stated cause) I think it is
important
> that when we talk about migration - we have to talk about both. In
addition,
> two million Kashmiri migrants living in various Pakistani cities have to
be
> included into it as there is at least half a million of them who would
like to
> come back.
in solidarity,
Murtaza
--- On Mon, 25/8/08, Pawan Durani
> <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
From: Pawan Durani
> <pawan.durani at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Oranges won't work
> anymore
To: kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: reader-list at sarai.net, "Aditya Raj
> Kaul" <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>
Date: Monday, 25 August, 2008, 5:48
> AM
Murtazas figures seem to be as good as his "impartial" understanding
of
> Kashmir. What a figure ? 1,00,000 KP's migrated out of Kashmir !
I wonder how
> many marks Murtaza got in mathematics , unless he was very good only at
> divisions.
Pawan
On Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 3:48 AM, Kashmir Affairs
> <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Wonderful. Indian 'democracy' has only one
> policy prescription in Kashmir - whole scale murder. A friend who has been
at
> very top post in IB recently wrote back to me that 'those who
don't want to
> live in India should migrate'. It seems had they not attacked the LoC
March
> whole Kashmir would have gone to the otherside. Not a bad proposition in
my
> view - life is more precious than land.
In 1947 - quarter a million were
> massacred in Jammu and two million forced to migrate.
In 1990 - 100,000
> Pandits had to leave and similar number of Kashmiri Muslims from villages
> along the LoC migrated to Muzzaffarabad.
In 2008 - thousands of Muslim
> families have been forced to leave Jammu and adjoining Hindu majority
> areas.
- 'Democracy' is just getting better. And what a wonderful way of
> scapegoating - anti-nationls, terrorists.
Welcome to Rene Gerrard's world -
> Mimesis and Violence.
Murtaza Shibli
www.kashmiraffairs.org
--- On
> Sun, 24/8/08, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com> wrote:
From: Aditya
> Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>
Subject: [Reader-list] Oranges won't work
> anymore
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Sunday, 24 August,
> 2008, 7:16 PM
*Oranges won't work anymore*
By Joginder Singh,
> Ex-Director CBI
The CRPF Inspector-General was transferred from Srinagar
> on August 13 after
an uproar in the Kashmir Valley, led by terrorists and
> their supporters, who
alleged excesses by the Central paramilitary force. He
> was also denied the
President's police medal for fear of controversy and
> wider protests. There
is nothing new in this kind of approach as the
> decision-makers are far
removed from reality. Meanwhile, it is the police and
> the security forces
that continue to face life-and-death situations, standing
> between chaos and
order.
In 1990s, the then Governor of Jammu & Kashmir
> lost his job for taking a
tough stand against anti-nationalist elements. That
> did not help the
situation, nor will the recent transfer of the CRPF
> Inspector-General
restore peace. On the contrary, it will embolden
> separatists and terrorists
who will now think that they can get away with
> anything.
Wherever the Government of the day has pursued the policy of
> appeasement
and has compromised on basic values, it has invited trouble.
> Terrorism in
the Valley flourishes in direct proportion to the political will
> to deal
with the same. It commenced with the kidnapping of Ms Mehbooba Mufti,
> the
daughter of Mufti Mohammed Sayed, former Home Minister, who is now a
> former
Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. To secure her release, the
> then
Government had freed five dreaded terrorists. This emboldened
> the
separatists and the terrorists, and was enough to start a series of
> chain
reactions in the Valley from 1988 onwards. I am an eyewitness to
> these
events as I was the InspectorGeneralof the CRPF in Srinagar at the
> time.
The Government's tendency to sweep such incidents under the carpet
> has
today resulted in terrorists openly dictating terms to the people;
> enforcing
the *purdah* system for women, closing down beauty parlours and
> cinema
houses, etc. The Prime Minister, like many before him, gave a
> laudable
speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence day this
> year as he
appealed to the masses to shun communalism.
But unfortunately,
> the whole agitation in the Kashmir Valley is based on a
communal ideology.
> The truth is, communalism in one community generates
communalism in others.
> Otherwise, how could hordes of people led by
terrorists start a rally with
> the declared aim of crossing the LoC into
Muzaffarabad? The Government should
> have responded that those who cross the
LoC illegally will not be allowed
> back into the country.
A series of misconceived policies, or the so-called
> people-to-people
contact, have brought about this situation. Otherwise, how
> could a
mainstream political party demand that Pakistani currency be declared
> legal
tender in Jammu & Kashmir? It would be wrong to say
> that
'transferring' 97
acres of forest land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board
> has led to the present
crisis. The separatists and terrorists have been going
> all-out to create
disturbances and problems as per the following report of
> the Jammu &
Kashmir
Government:
"A total of 42,147 people, including
> 20,647 militants and 5,024 security
personnel were killed in the State
> between January 1990 and the middle of
February 2007... Violence left 33,885
> people, including 12,124 security
personnel and 21,659 civilians injured
> during the same period in the
State... 11,221 civilians were killed by
> militants and another 1,678 lost
their lives in grenade and Improvised
> Explosive Device explosions, while 173
civilians were killed when they were
> caught in clashes between militants. A
total of 3,404 civilians were killed
> in cross-firing incidents between
security forces and militants... The
> highest number of 1,438 civilians were
killed in 1996, the year elections
> were held after a gap of seven year,
while the highest number of 3,602 Army
> and other paramilitary personnel lost
their lives fighting militants in the
> same year. Jammu and Kashmir Police
lost 537 personnel since January 1990. As
> many as 438 Special Police
Officers engaged by the police in
> counter-insurgency operations were killed.
127 Village Defence Committee
> members were killed fighting militants in the
State. 613 security personnel
> were killed in a single year in 2001, which
was again the highest."
Now,
> the question arises as to what can be done. Also whether what is being
done
> is sufficient. In 1990, the midnight protests were sparked by the call
given
> by 1,100 mosques, which had installed loudspeakers to call the
faithful to
> prayer. Loudspeakers in Kashmir's mosques, then as now, are
used
to give
> calls for anti-national activities, asking the people to gather in
the
> streets or at a particular spot to stage demonstrations. The then
Governor
> had ordered the disconnection of these loudspeakers, which itself
led to
> protests.
It is a fact that many terrorists take shelter in places of
> worship. During
my recent visit to the US I was told that the police had,
> with the
co-operation of the Muslim community and their religious leaders,
> installed
CCTV cameras in mosques to monitor any criminal activity. In a
> situation
like that which prevails in the Kashmir Valley, which has been
> highly
communalised, it is impossible to get any kind of evidence to
> prove
anti-national activities as no witness will be willing to come forth
> to
depose. Mrs Margaret Thatcher used to say publicity is the oxygen
> of
terrorism. Any publicity which eulogises terrorism should be discouraged,
> if
not completely banned.
Terrorist leaders, their supporters and
> sympathisers should be immobilised
by using the present laws and detained
> outside Jammu & Kashmir. The
Government has announced financial assistance
> for the families of terrorists
on the grounds that it is not their fault if
> the only earning member of
their family becomes a militant. This approach is
> fraught with danger and
the sooner it is given up the better. It should not
> become a scheme to help
traitors.
Many so-called intellectuals talk about
> a referendum in the Valley. With
Pakistan having hijacked the anti-India
> movement, any referendum or election
will be irrelevant at this point of
> time. The first priority is to drive the
Pakistani terrorists out of the
> Valley and send them to the country of their
origin. The Government should
> stop all dialogue with these militants who are
nothing more than agents of
> Pakistan. Only a tough approach will send the
right signal that the
> Government means
> business.
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