Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: August 27, 2008
URL: http://specials.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/27sld1.htm
The agitation in Jammu over revocation of
the allotment of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has taken an unprecedented
turn. The only similar mass upsurge was during the Praja Parishad movement
in 1952 to end the two dual constitutional provisions (thanks to Article 370)
in Jammu and Kashmir that allowed two flags, a separate head of the state
and separate laws.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has been supporting
the agitation and the Congress's local leaders too have expressed their support
for fear of losing Hindu votes. The agitation has seen small children with
their mothers and grandmothers coming out on the roads with the tricolour
in their hands and demanding that the land be given back to the SASB.
Leela Karan Sharma, 68, a senior advocate
of the Jammu and Kashmir high court for 41 years, has been active in every
Hindu religious organisation including the Dogra Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha
as its vice-president. He emerged on the national stage as president of the
Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, which is leading the mass movement in
Jammu for the last two months. His day begins at 6 in the morning and ends
past midnight.
The agitation, which took shape on a modest
note on June 29, has taken an expanse none had imagined. Can he control the
tiger he is riding? Has it contributed more to divide society on communal
lines? He spoke exclusively to Tarun Vijay, director, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Research Foundation.
Q.: What was the need to form this Samiti? Was it just the Amarnath land row?
A.: Of course, taking back the land allocated to build facilities for Amarnath
pilgrims was a great insult and was the spur for the movement. Now it has
become an expression of accumulated anger against the (Kashmir) valley's discrimination
for the last 60 years.
In every walk of life, Jammu is treated like
a pariah, a discardable part just because we are patriots and lay our lives
for the tricolour. As far as the land for Amarnath pilgrims is concerned,
it has to be noted that we had not demanded it. It was the government which
felt the need and passed the order to allocate land to another government
body -- the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.
Still under pressure from the separatists,
the government took back its order, which was earlier signed by ministers
belonging to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's People's Democratic Party and the Congress.
The state government was hesitant to give facilities to the yatris from the
beginning.
Also this year, the governor, who is the ex-officio
head of the shrine board, was changed midway through the yatra, resulting
in confusion and mismanagement.
After the PDP and National Conference opposed
the allotment of land, the new governor, N N Vohra, who is an old confidante
of Sayeed, unilaterally took back the letter for land allotment to the SASB
and handed over the organisation of the yatra back to the state tourism department
on June 29.
The same day we decided enough is enough and
took a vow to wage a battle till the land was given back to the SASB.
Q.: Did you anticipate this kind of response?
A.: No, this has become the largest-ever mass movement I have ever seen. It's
beyond my imagination. Children, old men, ladies and youngsters, all are on
the road and it has become a self-propelled agitation growing every day. People
are using novel ways and innovative methods to make it more effective.
Q.: It is alleged the movement has communal
overtones.
A.: It is all the propaganda of the valley's lie masters and Delhi's politicians
who would have liked this movement to become a Hindu-Muslim issue. It hasn't
so they are baffled and disappointed. No one believes the calumnious charges
against us because we have the full support of various Muslim organisations
like the Muslim Front, Jammu Kashmir Muslim Federation and Gujjar and Bakkarwal
Muslim groups.
Apart from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the
doctors association, bar association, engineers, other professionals active
in various fields like IT, women's groups, Sikhs -- everyone has come out
to support us unequivocally. The BJP and Congress, both are supporting us
locally. Congress MLAs and MPs have publicly pledged their support to our
demands.
Q.: Why did you block roads that take essential
supplies to the valley?
A.: We had only appealed for a Chakka Jam (blockade). Immediately, the army
was deployed and supplies to the valley were restored. But no one speaks about
the stoppage of supplies to Jammu. Why? We are still facing difficulties and
essential daily needs are still not coming to Jammu.
In the valley, the separatists go on anti-India
strikes every other day and life comes to a standstill. Nobody complains then,
because the strike is against India.
When we agitate for securing national integrity
and the honour of the tricolour, they complain. Secondly, people are not told
that the separatists beat up truck drivers carrying supplies and burnt some
trucks too.
Q.: Have you seen the eruption in the valley?
They say you are the reason behind revival of the anti-India agitation in
the valley?
A.: As if before the Amarnathji Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, they were great patriots
and held the Indian tricolour high? Every now and then, for the last 60 years,
these separatists have used their affinity to Pakistan to blackmail Delhi.
The central government must allow them to
leave Kashmir if they are so keen to go to Pakistan. They will surely be treated
worse than the Muhajirs were treated. Even US has changed policies toward
them after 9/11. They can't get better opportunities outside India.
Q.: Don't you think if Jammu and Kashmir remains
friendly to each other it helps the national interest?
A.: Indian interests are served only when India lives in the valley. To safeguard
Indian interests, the Centre will have to take Jammu's help. You have to strengthen
Jammu to strengthen India in this region. After all, how long will we have
to suffer because we are patriots?
Kashmir has become the gateway of terrorism
in India. Someday this was going to happen and now is the time to take proper
remedial measures without any fear.
Q.: Are you not being led by a political party?
What's the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP? Why did you stop
BJP leaders from joining your rally?
A.: We are a completely non-political movement supported by all parties, organisations
and ideologies. We did not stop any leader of the BJP as none was coming,
but have issued a clarification that for the August 23 rally we have not invited
any BJP leader.
Q.: What's the next course of action? What
will make Jammu return to normal?
A.: We are beginning a complete non-cooperation movement on the Gandhian pattern
and no Jammu citizen will pay taxes to the government.
As far as the solution is concerned, since
day one we have just one demand -- give back the land to the SASB and we will
take back the agitation.