- If we want Kashmir to stay in India we will have to see where our faults lie: Morarka
- ‘Article 370 critical to the relationship between India and Kashmir’
People of India do not know the truth of Kashmir and if they come to know about it then many righteous Indians would understand our problems and position, senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani told a delegation of Indian civil society.
The delegation was led by former Rajya Sabha member and minister in charge of PMO, Kamal Morarka here Monday. He was accompanied by senior journalist Santosh Bhartiya.
Briefing mediapersons about the delegation’s meetings with separatist and pro-India politicians, Morarka said, “Geelani sahab told us if there is a referendum in Kashmir and people decide to stay with India, then no one will have any objection.”
“Referendum was promised by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It was a promise by a nation to other nation. Kashmir was never a part of India and it was a separate nation. Nehru had taken this issue to UNO. Kashmiris were promised a referendum which has not been fulfilled yet. India must fulfill it,” Morarka quoted Geelani as saying.
The Hurriyat (G) leader added that India’s civil society must come forward to demand immediate stop of use of force and atrocities in Kashmir.
Reacting to the situation prevailing in Kashmir, Morarka said he was amazed to learn that government is not even allowing normal political activities in the valley.
“If some people want to hold a political meeting in a hall, then what is in it that is problematic to the government? Or if people sit on a dharna or hold a march, what’s wrong in it? Why does the government stop them? Geelani sahab told me that people hurl stones when the armed security personnel stand in their way, stop them from moving forward or harass them. When I asked him why they don’t allow him to go out he said I should ask them (authorities) that. What law and order situation would arise if he goes to a function to commemorate Eid-Milad-un- Nabi,” questioned Morarka.
He said people of Kashmir have shown that they are united when it comes to their demand for the political solution of Kashmir Issue. “The resolve of Kashmiri people to follow a calendar in letter and spirit for months together while suffering losses speaks for itself.”
Questioning Indian media’s coverage of Kashmir issue, Morarka said, “It is very unfortunate what happened to Burhan Wani and subsequently to the people of Kashmir. Ironically in Delhi media portrays a different picture.”
He also rebuffed those who claim that boys are being paid for pelting stones in Kashmir. “No one will throw his life into danger for mere Rs 500.”
Commenting on the present situation and the recent verdict of Supreme Court, Morarka said Article 370 is important for the connection between India and Kashmir because it is under this Article Kashmir had acceded not merged with India.
“The orders like this are only coming from the Supreme Court because Article 370 was eroded from 1953 to 1975. The Indira-Sheikh accord had mentioned about revisiting the Central laws which had been implemented in the state during those 22 years. But unfortunately it never happened. We as civil society will put forth all our suggestions and then it is up to the government in Delhi,” said Morarka.
He rued use of pellet guns and other lethal weapons in the valley “to blind and maim young people”.
“Nowhere in the world are these pellet guns used. The government is maiming young people. How do they expect next generation to be worshipers of democracy because for them it is only on paper. The irony I saw here is that even the High Court orders aren’t implemented and thousands of young people are languishing in jails,” he said.
Commenting on the steps needed to be taken immediately to restore normalcy, Morarka said, “The people we talked to, everybody wants peace. The government at the Centre should uphold the human rights in the valley along with strengthening Article 370. If we want Kashmir to stay in India we will also have to see where our faults lie now that Kashmiri people are hostile towards us”.
Moraka hit out at those asking for separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits and settling the ex-army officers in Kashmir.
“Such people are actually vitiating the atmosphere in the valley. Any attempt to change the demography of the state is unacceptable. The successive central governments have failed to win the hearts and minds of the people of the state. People here felt cheated in 1983 when the Farooq Abdullah government was overthrown by the centre,” he added.
During the press conference, Editor-in-Chief of ‘Chauthi Duniya’ Santosh Bhartiya said: “The mainstream media in India, particularly electronic media, isn’t doing justice to either journalism or for that matter to the country. Their biased reporting and agenda setting techniques are presenting Kashmir and Kashmiris in a very bad light. Such practices should be avoided by all.”
