Civil Societies the world over have listened to the voice of their conscience. They react to injustice wherever it happens. They guard human sanctity and dignity from getting assaulted. They rise against the tyranny perpetrated by cruel and oppressive rulers on the subjects too weak to fight back. The father of Indian nation, Gandhi ji waged struggle against oppression irrespective of religion, caste and ethnicity. It was a struggle against oppression unleashed against human beings. He came to be known as the upholder of the philosophy of no-violence.  Indian rulers claim to follow his principles, but practically they do everything to disregard him.
 Unfortunately the Indian rulers have taken to the game of propaganda. They have disregarded Gandhi ji’s principles. He had clearly said:
“ Kashmiris will have to be given their rights according to their wishes. If it means shrinking of India in terms of territory, let it be; if her soul is pure and just, India can become the cradle of non-violence. If India cannot keep the Kashmiri people satisfied, then her image will be distorted in the eyes of world community.”
(Atesh-e-Chinar)
 Unfortunately, only some feeble voices are raised against the treatment meted out by Indian rulers and their local agents to the people of Kashmir. We can't understand as to why conscientious people of India are silent over the atrocities perpetrated on us. Is it India’s fake nationalism that prevents conscientious people from opening their mouth? Is it because of faith? Conscientious Indian civil society generally raises its voice against oppression anywhere in the world but not in Kashmir. Why is it so? Why is India bent on distorting her image in the eyes of the whole world?
 Is it because Kashmiri men, women and children have not guns in their hands? All they have is one and only one slogan “We want? Freedom (azaadi)”. For raising this slogan, Indian security forces and police rain bullets on them. In no civilized country of the world bullets are rained on peaceful protesting mass rallies.  Usually, mass rallies are peaceful but security forces baton charge them at every turn. They instigate the crowds to violence. Youth pick up stones in self-defence, cops kill them in return. That is  horrifying. It seems there is deliberate attempt to kill Kashmiri children and youth.
 Mass protests are not exclusive to India. They happen everywhere. Security forces generally use water canons and tear gas shells to disperse mobs. But here bullets are rained even on womenfolk. Security forces run riot almost every day shattering window and motor vehicle panes. Now people have begun covering the windowpanes with metallic sheets for protection.
 Parents of youngsters complain that the police pick up teenagers and put them under custody in police stations and then extort a sum ranging from 15 and 30 thousand rupees to set their wards free. Scarves of women are removed in public. What more proofs than these are needed about a dehumanised segment of society? 
The rulers in Kashmir call themselves Kashmiris but a deeper insight will reveal a horrendous story. They are foremost in perpetrating oppression on people. People would want to know why no fewer than 80 persons have been killed since this February, most of them innocent and young children both males and females. Now things have come to a pass that Pellet Guns used for shooting at animals are used to fire at human beings. 
We put a question to those who consider Gandhi ji as the model of humanism. Why they take Kashmir as a hunting ground and its people as preys? Can the sentiment of freedom be suppressed by throwing the youth and children into prisons? If this sentiment could not be suppressed for last 63 years then how can you do it now? Omar Abdullah and his father both should understand that whatever they have got or achieved has been achieved only on the behest of this nation. This does not mean that they should subject the entire nation to violence and oppression and thus secure their seats of power.  Many chief ministers have had heir day in the past, and Dr. Farooq Abdullah, by his statements, leaves no doubt in the minds about his being a member of Shiv Sena. 
Eighty killed since February this year and eight hundred maimed for their life. Which country’s law allows firing on peaceful rallies of people? In which country’s law book are we told to rain bullets and kill those who pelt stones. Let the Indian Civil Society shake up.
During “Bharat band, Shiv Sena and BJP destroyed property worth 64 thousand crore rupees in Mumbai alone. They humiliated the police in public but not a single casualty happened as a result of police firing. Demonstrations take place in many cities and towns of India. But nowhere happens as happens in Kashmir. Naxalites can kill 70 or 80 CRPF jawans at a time but still the Indian people call them their own people and do not ask for military operation against them. In comparison, Kashmir fire is opened on peaceful demonstrations and kids of 8 or 9 years are made the target. Kashmiris are forced to think that India has declared war against them?. India should remember that even a strong and big nation has not been able to suppress a smaller one. Vietnam, Algeria and Afghanistan are the examples before us.
 Recently Sikhs received a threatening from some unknown quarters. People smelt it as a conspiracy by rulers and miscreants to communalize Kashmir’s peaceful struggle for freedom.” Four and a half lakh Indians came to Kashmir on Amarnath pilgrimage. Sixty thousand Kashmiri Pandits participated in Khir Bhavani festival in Tulamula. The function continued for three days and the Kashmiris demonstrated their hospitality in full and invited them to their homes. If a Kashmiri Pandit dies in the valley, his Muslim friends arrange his cremation. Therefore the Indians should try to understand that the state rulers want to convert the freedom struggle of Kashmiris into communal clash with the sole motive of saving their seats of power. 
I appeal to the people of India. Do not become silent spectators to our tragedy. If you are not willing to rise in support of Kashmiris, at least rise to uphold the principles and ideals of Gandhi Ji. That way you will be doing good to yourselves. 

 (Hashim Qureshi is Chairman JK Democratic Liberation Party. Feedback at hashimqureshi6@yahoo.com)

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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