[Reader-list] 'Tolerant Kashmiris': An editorial in Etalaat

[radhikarajen at vsnl.net]

Hi, Shivam,

     who is financing your stay in Srinagar, it looks like you are being held hostage with good food and your thoughts are that of a hostage talking good about his kidnappers.! By the way I hope you are guest of Gulam nabi or Mufti as both are known spin doctors who use the bakras like you.?

 Regards.

----- Original Message -----
From: Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् <mail at shivamvij.com>
Date: Thursday, July 3, 2008 8:53 pm
Subject: [Reader-list] 'Tolerant Kashmiris': An editorial in Etalaat
To: sarai list <reader-list at sarai.net>

> Tolerant Kashmiris
> 26 June, 2008 08:10:48
> http://www.etalaat.net/english/viewpoint/editorial/1111.html
> 
> Vested interests are all out to communalize the on-going agitation
> against transfer of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. Time and
> again it has been made clear that the on-going agitation is not
> against the Yatra or the Yatries. The agitation is against
> politicization of the Yatra. Kashmiris want the government to entrust
> the job of conducting and facilitating Yatra to the local people who
> have been conducting it effectively since 1860.
> 
> To understand the on-going agitation against land transfer in its
> right perspectives one has to look into the history of Kashmir.When
> important decisions concerning the future of Kashmir were taken
> Kashmiris were always ignored. In 1947 a decision was imposed on the
> reluctant people and since then the trend continues. In early 60s the
> government of India omitted Article 238 from Indian constitution and
> thus rendered article 370 infructious. The Article 370 which
> guarantees a special status to the state of Jammu Kashmir reads: "Not
> withstanding any thing nothing in Article 238 shall apply to the state
> of Jammu Kashmir." Article 370 is still there but article 238 which
> contained the heart and soul of 370 is not there in the constitution.
> Kashmiris to this day do not know about this fraud.
> 
> Similarly the government of India abolished the permit system which
> required the non-state subjects to obtain a permit for entering the
> state. Again the people were not taken into confidence.  In 1975 a
> popular movement was strangled. Again the people did not protest. In
> 1978 the draconian public safety act (PSA) was framed. People did not
> protest. In 1984 TADA was extended to the state. People remained
> silent. The Gulmarg issue shook them and the transfer of land did the
> miracle. Even this time the government had taken the people for
> granted.
> 
> People are angry but they have not thrown caution to the winds. They
> have upheld the high traditions of tolerance and have not harmed any
> Yatri or a tourist. This is exactly what Islam teaches them. The
> Yatries are welcome and so are the tourists. Kashmiris are known for
> their hospitality and they will not disappoint the pilgrims and other
> guests.
> 
> History is witness to the fact that Kashmiris have always protected
> their non-Muslim brethren.  Hundreds of instances can be quoted to
> prove the point. However, the following incident shall suffice. A
> person who retired as the Chief Conservator of Forests lived in
> Shahr-e-Khaas during his college days. One day while on his way to the
> college he was intercepted by a crowd. Taken for a Bakra (A supporter
> of Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah) he was given  sound thrashing. Somehow he ran
> away but only to be caught by another violent group. This time he was
> taken for a Sher (Supporter of Sheikh Abdullah) and beaten to pulp.
> Again he managed his escape. When caught for the third time, he
> shouted: "I am a Pandit." Nobody touched him this time. He was given
> safe passage.
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