This refers to the BJP protests in Jammu division against the Omar Abdullah government. It is appalling that the Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas believes that “the security forces have been doing a commendable job in the valley during all these decades of militancy and deserve appreciation for creating a congenial atmosphere”. By ‘commendable job’ was he insinuating at the carnage Kashmiris receive at the hands of the security force personnel? If open firing at a funeral procession, bloodshed of innocent youth and massive human rights violations is what they get paid for, then surely they are doing a commendable Job! Mr. Manhas seems concerned about the security forces being targeted, attacked and mercilessly beaten by the mobs, but what about the bullets and teargas canisters they fire in return? Why this bias over precious human lives? Is Kashmiri blood so cheap that in the pursuit of their “identity” they have got nothing except bloodshed and yet face the identity crisis! The folks in Jammu are staging protests against ‘defaming and demoralizing’ the security force personnel by the remarks of J&K Govt. ministers, but the reality is that when it comes to Kashmir, the so- called ‘saviors’ of the nation forgo all ethics and morals. The protests by Kashmiri people are regarded as anti-national and those put up in the other division are considered nationalistic! When just a remark against the CRPF by the CM or his ministers sparked protests in Jammu, then are we not justified in protesting when our very existence is being endangered? It is so unfortunate that Mr. Manhas doesn’t even have a simple word of sympathy for the innocent killings; instead he seems infuriated by just a statement against the security forces. Why is it that the people of the same state are gauged by different yardsticks? Not only do the security personnel fire bullets, but their defenders at the state or centre level come up with acerbic statements, which do nothing but rub salts on our wounds.

Dr.Shabnum Ara
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Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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