[Reader-list] Cunning and scheming Displaced Kashmiri Pundits(?)

[Wali Arifi]

With apologies for cross-posting, this is an unusual version of a situation
many have come to believe in. One wonders, is it the state, the people
living in Kashmir or a militia the displaced KPs are looking up to for their
return or rehabilitation. Five hundred thousand Shiv Sainiks sounds like the
number of Indian soldiers already in the state! An unusual perspective here!
Is it a case of ethnic flooding? A psychological operation? Or just
commodifying a displaced community for use in right wing politics?





http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=16402



Cunning and scheming Displaced Kashmiri Pundits

(Hem Raj Jain)

Publication Date  9/3/2009 11:41:26 AM(IST)



This refers to permanent complaint of DKPs from different forums that 1.5
million of them are refugees in their own country as they left



Kashmir valley in nineties and onwards in the face of Muslim fundamentalist
terrorism in valley. The latest such complaint was heard from a Kashmiri
Pundit lady  (during almost three hours address and question answer session
of Pakistan’s ex-President Musharraf to a prominent T.V. Channel of India on
Mach 7, 2009 evening).



But very few people know that these DKPs are simply not interested in going
back to J&K, even if they are assured of their security and restoration of
their lost properties. Rather these DKPs are allowing Government of India to
use them merely as stick to beat Pakistan (which, even as per Musharraf
during said T.V. session, is responsible for Muslim militancy in J&K in the
aftermath of Afghanistan war of eighties, when mujahidins free from
Afghanistan were diverted to Kashmir). This is evident from the following:-



(1)- In 2002 Shiv Sena (having its registered office at Sena Bhavan, Dadar
Mumbai) participated in a meeting with Kashmiri Samiti President Sunil
Shakdar and other members of its executive body at Kashmiri Bhavan, Amar
Colony, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi where -



 (2)- Shiv Sena offered to send 5,00,000 (five hundred thousand) Shiv
Sainiks (male & female) along with 5,00,000 DKPs (who reportedly wanted to
go back to Kashmir valley) on one to one basis till DKPs feel secured to
live in Kashmir valley on their own.



(3)- These 5,00,000 Shiv Sainiks though were not to be a financial burden on
rehabilitated DKPs but it was expected from  DKPs that they would extend
every possible non-monetary help, assistance & support in making livelihood
in Kashmir valley easy for these Shiv Sainiks.



(4)- For this program a study team consisting of equal number of Shiv
Sainiks and DKPs was supposed to go in Kashmir valley. Therefore 20 Shiv
Sena office bearers participated in this 2002 meeting at Kashmiri Bhavan,
with 20 members (mostly from executive body) of Kashmiri Samiti.



(5)- But Kashmiri Samiti later on backed out from this proposal and program.



(6)- Shiv Sena still stands by this program and 5,00,000 Shiv Sainiks are
still prepared to go along with DKPs in Kashmir valley.



(7)- Shiv Sena does not believe in giving political sermons while sitting at
Delhi but believes in solving this problem by going in the field and talking
to other citizens of Kashmir valley so that these Hindu DKPs may live
peacefully & harmoniously with Muslim majority population of Kashmir valley.



(8)-  Here it is in context to add that during this 2002 meeting, in reply
to  Kashmiri Samiti’s query (that what is the guarantee that these
rehabilitated DKPs will not be attacked and  killed in Kashmir by
terrorists), Shiv Sena told that only guarantee is that the accompanying
Shiv Sainik will lay down his life before such DKPs is killed.



(9)- But the way DKPs backed out in 2002 and the way Government of India is
supporting DKPs financially and economically, the Shiv Sena suspects that
the DKPs have clearly developed a vested interest in remaining out of
Kashmir valley as refugees.



(10)-  If DKPs believe that Shiv Sena is wrong in this inference then even
now let these DKPs go with Shiv Sena to Kashmir valley and then only (if
Shiv Sena fails in its commitment) DKPs should air their so called
grievances and even  such sweeping statements by some DKPs about the alleged
impotence of entire Indian political class.



(11)- Therefore, for God sake if there is a problem of Displaced Kashmiri
Pundits (DKPs) who want to go back to Kashmir valley but cannot, due to
violence by terrorists then (whether Sunil Shakdar of Kashmiri Samiti or
not) Shiv Sena can still help them by sending equal number of 5,00,000 Shiv
Sainiks (both male & female) on one to one basis in Kashmir valley (without
putting any financial burden on these DKPs) in order to get DKPs
rehabilitated and to get their evacuee properties restored back.



(12)- But if there is no problem of DKPs and if Kashmiri Pundits are quite
satisfied with what India is doing in Kashmir then this bluff of DKPs should
be called off where they are making huge hue & cry and lamenting day in and
day out, in media, at various forums, political demonstrations etc. that
they are refugee in their own country, no body helps them etc. etc.



(13)- Here it is pertinent to add that the above mentioned ought to be kept
in view before Obama administration (which is reportedly committed to find
an early Kashmir solution) chalks out its foreign policy regarding south
Asia especially about  Indo – Pak relations in context of Kashmir solution.