Question - Answered
(1) Q. There is a countrywide apprehension
that trifurcation of the state amounts to handing over the Kashmir Valley
to Pakistan. Then India's security will be far more endangered.
Ans. This apprehension is entirely
due to total ignorance about the ground reality in the Valley. Firstly,
the Muslims in the valley are dead afraid of joining Pakistan: The blood
curdling memories of 1947 Oct when hordes from N.W.F.P. descended on Kashmir,
killing raping plundering and turning the fair land of Kashmir into a veritable
hell for the Kashmiris. Even National Conference is against merging with
Pakistan.
2) Q. Kashmir Valley may decide
to declare its independence and sever its ties with the rest of Bharat.
Ans. Once that step is taken and
the Indian security forces are withdrawn, within hardly a day or two, the
Pakistan will overrun the Valley and the same fate described above will
await the Kashmiris. Even now, Indian Security forces are there in full
strength and the Kashmiris are able to breathe a free air. The leadership
there is well aware that this would be a suicidal step. So long as Indian
Army is there, there is no chance of any part of J & K State going
to Pakistan. Pakistan knows its.
(3) Q. The Govt. and our other leading
opinion makers condemn the demand for Trifurcation as communal.
Ans. This again is born out of
awful ignorance of the complexion of the Jammu region. It contains 3 districts
with overwhelming Muslims majority and they are as insistent on this demand
as the other district with Hindu-majority. In fact, the very name Jammu
And Kashmir State implies two natural regions right from the beginning
of the formation of the state. And the Jammu region consists of precisely
the same districts as those included in the area being demanded as a separate
State. As regards the Ladhak region, both the BJP and Congress have already
passed resolutions for making the Ladhak region into an Union Territory.
(4) Q. Why the Jammu people are
pressing for separate Statehood?
Ans. There is scorching discrimination
against them vis-à-vis the Kashmiris. For ex: in services admission
of students to higher studies, development, allotment of Central funds,
formation of electoral constituencies, while 2 lakhs Hindus who have settled
in Jammu, after the end of Pak aggression in 1947, are stranded as stateless
citizens in the state who can vote only to parliament, but not to the J&K
Assembly. Muslims who had then fled to Pakistan and become full-fledged
Pak-citizens are now invited back to the state as full-fledged State citizens.
Added to this is the systematic settling of Kashmiri Muslims in Jammu region
giving them all facilities whereas the Hindus hounded out of the Valley
are even now living in tents or other make-shift arrangements. All this
naturally resulting in a dangerous demographic shift.
5) Q. But the Govt. has outright
rejected the demand?
Ans: They will be forced to reconsider
their stand once the demand is backed up by a massive expression of the
people's will. This is what happened in the case of Punjab, Jharkhand and
Uttaranchal.
(6) Q. Have you discussed the demand
with the Govt.?
Ans: Yes, quite a few times-but
they have no answer. Probably, they are also helpless in forcing Dr. Farooq
Abdulla to act fair and justly. Hence no other way is left except taking
to agitation.
(7) Q. Do you think the people's
protest will be powerful enough? What will be the role of R.S.S.?
Ans: Definitely, yes. The RSS will
extend its wholehearted support to the movement, which is headed by a separate
forum, which includes representations from all parts of the region including
Muslim majority districts mentioned above.
(8) Q. How could you assess the
people's mood before deciding to support the movement?
Ans. It has been going on, specially
for over the last two years. In 2001, our Akhil Bharariya Pratinidhi sabha
had resolved to assess the feelings of the various regions of the state.
Towards that end, a 3-member team headed by Shri Jitendra Veer Gupta, ex-Chief
Justice of Punjab and Haryana toured extensively the entire area and submitted
its report and the present decision is based on that report.
(9) Q. Do you expect that the opinion
of the Jammu will be reflected in the Assembly elections due for October?
Ans. Definitely provided the elections
are conducted in a free and fair manner. But we do not feel that with the
present Govt. in power that will hardly happen. The only way out is imposition
of Governor's rule - which possibility has already been voiced by our Prime
Minister.
(10) Q. Will there not be adverse
international opinion?
Ans. Our Country has already had
the bitter experience for over 50 years of what it nature is. It has never
supported any of the genuine issues gravely affecting the interests of
our country. On the contrary it has always sought to pressurize us to act
against our national interest. It is also equally true that whenever our
national leadership took a firm stand and went ahead executing it, the
so-called international pressure had to keep quiet.