Paradise divided

PRINT LINE JAMMU

• The ongoing stir is not motivated by communal overtones. Those who are accusing it of being communal are the people who themselves are exposed to the charge of hobnobbing with the fundamentalists. Kashmiri politicians view the entire issue through tainted regional and religious glasses. Secessionists have revived the slogan of Muslim Kashmir and mainstream parties have also chosen to be on the same fence as that of the separatists. Whereas the fact remains that the agitation is a public movement and what is being witnessed in Jammu is a genuine expression of sense of hurt in an intensely patriotic people against denial of equal status in the same state. New Delhi must understand that the only way to find lasting peace in the state is to catch the bull by the horns. No purpose will be served by brushing the problem under the carpet when both the separatists and mainstream politicians have started fishing in the troubled waters of Jhelum again.

Noteworthy is the support extended to separatist elements by the mainstream leaders Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti who also extended support to what is called Muzaffarabad chalo movement. Nothing is now under the carpet or behind the curtains. The real face of Muzaffarabad movement is being concealed not only by Hurriyat, non-Hurriyat extremist and mainstream politicians but also by the administration.

It is a sad state of affairs when a Governor goes to the press complaining, “in Jammu they tell me you are a Hindu Governor so solve the problem. The problem is we have reached a situation where we talk of secularism only in the constitution”.

... contd.