[Reader-list] Indian Civil Society supports the Right of Self Determination of J&K people

[Khurram Parvez]

Press Release 
  
At a public meeting organized in Delhi by Janahastakshep, PUCL and PUDR on 9th September, speakers stressed that respecting the right of self-determination was the only way forward. It was the opinion of the speakers at the meeting that the agreement reached between the Jammu based agitation and the Indian government, through its Governor, is an appeasement of the Hindutva forces and singularly fails to follow the recommendations of the Nitish Sengupta Committee (1996) which had proposed curtailment of the Amarnath Yatra to 30 days and restricting the number of yatris to one lakh. This appeasement was compounded by the blood-letting in valley resulting in death of 50  and injury to more than 2000 persons. Moreover, repression is back in vogue with security forces singling out local leaders in the villages with arrests, beating, booking some under preventive detention act of J&K, Public Safety Act, and filing of more than 250 cases. In contrast, as part
 of the agreement with the agitators in Jammu persons charged with various violent acts have been allowed to go scot free and may in fact, as part of the deal struck,  be provided with compensation.  It was the considered opinion of almost all speakers that there was no basis to support Indian state's approach of military suppression accompanied by politics of manipulation and empty promises or though an election process which severely lacks credibility. 
  
The meeting was held against the background of over two month long agitation and counter agitation in Kashmir and Jammu which  brought home Indian state's precarious hold over  J&K. In just four days on August 11-14  Indian security forces shot dead thirty two people  in Kashmir valley. The Valley saw lakhs of people coming out to protest against the blockade and for their inalienable right to exercise the right of self-determination. The people of the state groan under draconian laws like AFSPA, Disturbed Areas Act, PSA  etc and unarmed people are fired upon. Despite the unprecedented violence against the protestors in  Kashmir their quest for 'azadi' from Indian Union remained non-violent. 
  
In contrast the agitation in Jammu, spearheaded by BJP and Congress, conducted what is essentially an anti-Muslim agitation. There was competition between the two leading parties in harnessing majority Hindu chauvinism. Their top leaders in Jammu  participated in blockade while the Congress led UPA went into a denial mode on the fact of blockade despite extensive proof of the same. The economic blockade which severely affected the life in the valley imperiled the right to life of people in the valley.  The message conveyed was that Indian State was unmindful of even the physical well-being of the people in Kashmir. 
  
Speakers at the meeting stressed that erosion of Article 370 along with India and Pakistan resiling from their commitment to refer the matter to the people of J&K has been a major reason for the irresolution of the dispute for over 61 years. They also opined that massive and peaceful outpouring on the streets of Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir ought to be met with meaningful political dialogue. For this dialogue to be meaningful it ought to revolve around the right of self-determination of the people of J&K. 
                                                               
The prominent speakers who spoke in the meeting were: 
Arundhati Roy, Prem Shankar Jha, Javeed Naqvi, Sanjay Kak, Dr. Aparna - CPI(ML) New Democracy, G.N. Saibaba - Revolutionary Democratic Front, Retd. Juctice Rajinder Sachar - People's Union for Civil Liberties, Gautam Navlakha - People's Union for Democratic Rights, S.A.R. Geelani - Commitee for Release of Political Prisoners  
  
Janahastakshep, PUCL and PUDR (Delhi) 
9th September, 2008