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

[Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्]

Actually the ISI refused to finance my trip because Pakistan is not
taking any interest in Kashmir. Separatists here are both surprised
and relieved that PTV did not pay attention to the mass uprising. So
my employers were forced to finance my trip. Would you like to look at
the bills and accounts? You might also wants to ask the Shri Amarnath
Shrine Board, in the same vein, to publish their accounts. As a Hindu
I demand to know how they have been spending the money they collect
from Muslim (Gujjar, Kashmiri) ponywalas and tentwalas, which they
collect as compulsory taxes but show as voluntary donation. Oh and the
20 years old Vaishnu Devi Shrine Board has never published its
accounts either...

On Fri, Jul 4, 2008 at 12:57 PM,  <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> wrote:
> 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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