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

[Pawan Durani]

If only you know the facts , Mr Jor Na Less Stick.....

On 7/5/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् <mail at shivamvij.com> wrote:
>
> 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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