[Reader-list] 'Thank you, Governor' - editorial in Etalaat

[Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्]

Thank you Governor
24 June, 2008 09:00:00
http://www.etalaat.net/english/viewpoint/editorial/1039.html


The Action Committee against Land Transfer has a strong argument when
it says that the local Pandits must be entrusted with the job of
facilitating and conducting the Yatra. They have done it in the past
and, therefore, have the experience to conduct a smooth Yatra. There
is absolutely no need of politicizing a pilgrimage which till
yesterday was a symbol of communal harmony. Entrusting the job to
local Pandits  shall restore sanctity of the pilgrimage.  The
involvement of the Rajbhawan has created problems for New Delhi.

There is a silver lining for Kashmiris in the transfer of forest land
to the SASB. The SASB tried its best to dub Kashmiri Muslims as
communalists and religious fanatics but failed. The world knows that
Kashmiri Muslims have always upheld the high traditions of universal
brotherhood. In 1947 when the whole of sub-continent was hot Kashmiris
remained cool and protected their non-Muslim brethren. This was
acknowledged by the father of Indian nation, MKC Gandhi.   As far as
Amarnath Yatra is concerned, the local Muslims have always taken an
active part in the pilgrimage.

There have been occasions when Kashmiri Muslims have protected the
pilgrims at the cost of their own lives.  The Muslims used to carry
the pilgrims on their shoulders. The Muslims used to feed the Yatries.
The Muslims helped them on the difficult terrain.  But those were the
good old days. Now the situation has changed. The Raj Bhawan has
deliberately excluded the local Muslims. It has not only deprived them
of their livelihood but caused a serious injury to their sentiments as
well. The area from Baltal to Cave is ecologically very fragile.
Similarly the
route via Pahalgam is equally fragile. The heavy rush of pilgrims is
going to have an adverse effect on the environment. It also hinders
with the process of formation of the lingum.

The Shrine Board should have followed the Uttarakand Chief Minister
who despite severe opposition from Hindu fundamentalists restricted
the number of Yatries to a glacier in the state. This indicates that
the Shrine Board has a hidden agenda. It is not interested in the
Yatra but something else. If the Governor intends to Indianise
Kashmiris, he is destined to fail in his misadventure. For the past
sixty years the army could not do it. The puppet regimes installed by
New Delhi from
time to time resorted to administrative and legislative terrorism but
nothing has changed.

The alienation is as deep as it was in 1947.  The misadventures of the
shrine Board, rather Rajbhawan are not going to serve any purpose. The
reaction that the transfer of land has evoked does not fit anywhere in
the scheme of New Delhi. The Governor must have been taken to task for
putting Kashmir on fire at a `crucial' juncture. The transfer of Land
and the arrogance of the Shrine Board chairman forced the warring
factions of the Hurriyat Conference to forge
unity much to the pleasure of the people of Kashmir. It also revived
the movement which people by and large believed had almost died down.
The movement has once again reached a stage where people willingly
come forward to strengthen it. The land transferred to the SASB shall
remain in Kashmir. It shall not be taken to New Delhi or elsewhere.
But its transfer has done the much needed miracle. Thank you SASB.
Thank you Governor.