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Dark face
of democratic
India
by
Ayesha
Munawar
India
claims to be the biggest democracy in the world, having over one billion
people, of which 600 million exercise their right to franchise. But it is
the respect of human rights and democratic values, and not mere population
and territory that is the gauge of declaring a country
democratic.
India's
dark face under a thin coating of democracy totally exposes on this
gauge.
All
minorities in India are victims of discrimination, persecution and
genocide at the hands of its armed forces. Kashmir being the glaring
example of all, where a 800 thousand strong army is crushing the freedom
struggle of Muslims whose right to self determination guaranteed by UN
resolutions has been usurped by India for the last 58
years.
India
has been pursuing a treacherous policy for the last 50 years on Kashmir
issue claiming to be serious in regional peace and security but at the
same time avoiding solving Kashmir dispute by delaying tactics. While
Delhi proclaims to be champion of democracy and liberties, its army has
committed large scale and gross violations of human rights especially in
Kashmir by killing, maiming, detaining people without charges and
custodial killings, raping, looting and arsoning during
crackdowns.
In
similar fashion it always adopted a stubborn stance at the negotiation
table with Pakistan, refusing to show any flexibility which is the main
reason that Kashmir talks always remained a failure. This inflexibility is
in stark contrast to its claims of friendship and peace with Pakistan. On
the other hand, Pakistani governments have always shown flexibility and
took initiatives for the sake of solving Kashmir like in case of Simla
Accord and negotiations at Agra and Saarc summits etc. The present regime
of Gen Musharraf has gone beyond all limits to befriend India and
strengthening relations on cultural, trade and public level. Particularly
the stance of Gen Musharraf towards India is unprecedented, resulted in
various bus services between the two country and increasing the mutual
visits of politicians, artistes, intellectuals, journalists, jurists and
people from other walks of life. Pakistani media has also adopted an
overtly pro India gesture that has damaged the Kashmir cause
though.
Despite
all the growing friendship Delhi's atrocities upon Kashmiri Muslims have
continued unabated as dozens of them being killed, wounded or tortured
everyday. What was more, India refrained from providing relief to the
earthquake affected Kashmiri Muslims and also refused to allow any NGO to
work in Indian held Kashmir. It was Pakistan that proposed and
materialized opening of LoC for free movement of Kashmiris across it but
India is opposed to that and has reluctantly implemented upon the proposal
under world pressure.
The
lengthy, unending negotiations between the two countries on Kashmir are
still continued at various levels, but fruitless as ever, due to
inflexible Indian attitude while its army is busy victimizing Kashmiri
Muslims, killing and wounding them to change the demographic status of the
Muslim majority state. The Indian attitude is typically reflective of
Chanakia philosophy which calls for adopting treacherous, conspiring
stance against the enemy instead of open hostility.
Philosophy
of this Indian philosopher is discussed by historians. Once he happened to
be traveling with his disciples as they came across a thorny bush in the
way. The courtiers desired to cut away or uproot the bush but Chanakia
stopped them and asked them to sprinkle some sugar on its roots instead.
After some time Chanakia and disciples again passed through that way and
found that the bush had withered away. Chanakia explained that after sugar
was sprinkled thousands of ants thrnonged at the bush and sucked away all
the fluid and life from its roots and trunk. Thus the bush was cut down
without cutting or uprooting.
The
Indian leadership is pursuing Chanakia philosophy regarding Kashmir. They
are silently changing the demographic status of Kashmir by a systematic
genocide of Muslims taking cover of repeated negotiations, talks and
promoting friendship through exchange of cultural and other delegations.
Pakistan and the world must see through the Indian moves and make Delhi
honor its commitments to UN resolutions by making the negotiations
productive and decisive. Delhi must respect the human rights and civil
liberties of Kashmiri Muslims in accordance with international laws and
ensure their right to self determination.
Pakistan should maintain its dignity by exercising some restraint
in allowing flexibility towards India and follow some limits in giving
concessions so that its national interest are not compromised. Instead of
fluid and changing stance for the sake of personal interests, Pakistani
government must adopt a clear and decisive policy on Kashmir so that
Kashmiris may not be deprived of their freedom as a result of Pakistan's
blunder. All sections of society should put pressure upon government not
to withdraw from its historic and principled policy on Kashmir
dispute.
Muslim
brethren of Kashmir deserve our committed approach to their cause because
it is our religious, national and social duty to help realize their
freedom from the Indian clutches. Muslims of Pakistan and Kashmir are
ideally close to each other as their hearts beat with each other in unison
of culture, history and traditions.
Every
year the nation observed Kashmir Solidarity Day on Feb 5 to express its
commitment with Kashmir's liberation and freedom struggle. But government
sometime joined it with enthusiasm, and at times gave a cold shoulder.
Likewise, the present day government is working against the Kashmiri
freedom struggle by floating various options and formulae that tend to
divide the state instead of winning freedom for it.
Such
policies give negative message to Kashmiris. The need of the hour is that
government must not ignore the matchless sacrifices of Kashmiris and make
efforts for the solution of Kashmir dispute according to UN resolution.
Rulers must remember that if they betrayed with the blood of the martyrs,
history will never forgive them. | 
