Understand an average Kashmiri

 

 

No doubt the time has come to introspect on 'Why not azaadi for Kashmir?' It may appear that all Kashmiris want the Indians to go away, that they want azaadi. However, it must be remembered that the noise is made by some (may be a few or many) and not all Kashmiris. Even an year ago, it was reported that the average Kashmiri wants peace and wants to improve the living conditions and so on. The average Kashmiri probably cannot come out, gather a crowd and shout at the separatists and militants. For more than 20 years, Kashmir has been under the influence of external forces and it takes time for the influence to wane. In the meantime, the government should hold on, do what it can to douse the fire, and arrange for peace to return. Try to empower local government, improve the lot in Jammu and Ladakh. If an external power can influence affairs inside India, then parts of Arunachal may go to someone and parts of Assam may go to Bangaladesh. One may also have to reopen the accession of almost all states with India. We made a mistake in hoping the UN will drive out the invaders and hand over the land back to us. We thought Kashmiris understood that the invaders raped the nuns in Baramulla. We did not object when the Pandits were driven out of their homes. The invaders held on to the land they got, merged part of it into their own territory, donated part of it to China. No Kashmiri objected to this or when militants occupied their holy places and waged war from there. No Indian can afford to let the sacrifices of our jawans (officers and men) to go to waste.

G Venkataraman

Mumbai