Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 31: Maintaining that Kashmiri Pandits are major stakeholders of Kashmir, Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent Charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that without Pandits’ participation no solution was possible to the issue.
Addressing a function organized by Athrot, an organization of displaced artists, here today, Dr Singh said that Kashmiri Pandits have played a great role in building the pluralistic and composite culture in Valley. The two generations of Kashmiris have suffered after the mass exodus of Pandits from Valley and it is evident from the situation prevailing there now as the educational institutions are being openly targeted and torched in Kashmir, he added.
Dr Singh told the gathering of Pandits on the occasion that they have to say repeatedly and forcefully that they are the main stakeholders of Kashmir. “If any kind of dialogue is held on Kashmir, first Pandits be consulted and their views sought that what will be their status and role in future format of Kashmir’’, he added.
Lambasting at the separatists, he said they are misleading the common masses and hoodwinking them. “By torching the educational institutions they are axing their own feet. They (separatists) have a vested interest in the so called movement as they are not separatists by conviction but by connivance. They are sending their children in higher educational institutions while forcing the closure of educational institutions where the wards of common Kashmiris are studying”.
Dr Singh, while citing the example of Guru Gobind Singh, said the great Guru made supreme sacrifices of his children and father for a noble cause.” But the separatists in Kashmir impart quality education to their own children and make common people a scapegoat. This they are not doing for any cause but for their vested interests”, he added.
The Union Minister while ridiculing the statements of the separatists that Pandits don’t want to return, asked “do they have any proof about it and what right they (separatists) have to say that Pandits don’t want to return? “Pandits should not be lenient on this issue but time has come to take the bull by horns’’.
“They (separatists) can construct their houses in Noida, (UP) Malvya Nagar, New Delhi but Pandits can’t return to Kashmir why’’?, he asked.
He said Pandits have to take a bold initiative now and see what happens. Maintaining that it is the evidence based era and unlike past when a politician was making one statement at Srinagar, another at Jammu and changing it to his convince by reaching Delhi, he said this can’t be done now because of internet and the youth will not tolerate this dishonesty now.
Taking a dig at separatists, he said on one hand they talk of composite culture and on the other they want KPs to remain out of Valley.
While criticizing the intellectuals who returned awards, he said that they needed to be taught in their own language. He said one of the writers who returned the award was a Kashmiri writer but she did not do it at the time of mass exodus of her community. So to teach such writers is also a responsibility on us, he added.
He said after mass exodus education was hit in Kashmir to a great extent and even the services in GMC, Srinagar and SKIIMs were also affected.
Dr Jitendra made it clear that Kashmir is no issue and if there is any issue it is PoK which is under forcible occupation of Pakistan and India is committed to take it back.
Maintaining that KPs have solved many issues in India and where the architects of Simla Agreement hence they being the stakeholders of Kashmir will solve this issue also.
Later talking to reporters Dr Singh turned down the allegations of Congress that the eight SIMI activists were deliberately killed by police and the jail break issue was a stage managed show said that this being an evidence based era every thing is before the public.
Earlier talking to the media persons at IIIM in the morning on occasion of leading the run for unity, Dr Singh accused the separatists of hoodwinking the people.
He said had Sardar Patel given the free hand in 1947 the course of history would have been different in J&K today.?
He said the public opinion is going against the separatists now as the children, their parents and common Kashmiri is not going to tolerate their dictates any more.
He said the parents of students are perturbed as the career of their children is at stake and they are against the separatists.
He said those who want to turn Kashmir into Afghanistan are under an illusion or delusion as Kashmir has come through composite culture and ethos and those few of the Kashmir leaders doing politics on the issue have been exposed fully.
Dr Singh said the situation in Kashmir at present is that the common man wants to be part of PM’s developmental programme and they have to be the part of that otherwise they will be pushed to the wall.
He said among the separatists many leaders have been the part of main stream political parties and former Legislators who are taking pension and other facilities also from the Government.
Hitting out at separatists for torching schools and resorting to violence, he said that this type of Mayhem can’t be carried for long as youth of J&K can’t afford to lag behind in taking benefit of various welfare schemes launched by PM Modi.
He said it will be in the larger interests of the people of the State that the present disturbance should come to an end.
Dr Singh said that the morale of both people living along borderer as well as security forces is high. The people on borders say that the government instead of caring about them should teach enemy a lesson while jawans too say that they are proud of doing their duty on border with the result the Pak army and Rangers are on back foot.
Dr Singh said that there has been no such retaliation in past as during the Modi Government at present because there is total clarity in the deeds and thoughts of present government at Centre.
Strongly condemning the obnoxious behavior of Pak sponsored terrorists who mutilated the body of an Indian soldier recently in border area of Kashmir Valley, Dr Singh said this is an eye opener for HR activists and they should see through this as the act is open violation of Geneva Agreement, he added.
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