Kashmiri Pandits by Dr. S M Yunus Gilani )JR210 YG01)
Introduction
In January 2020, the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the
valley has completed thirty years. The cultural and social roots of the Pandits
were in the Kashmir Valley. Before escaping from there, he had to face extreme
injustice, violence and humiliation. The main cause of this migration was the
communalization of extremism in the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. Since then, no
government has made a serious effort to solve the problem of Pandits. But the
communal elements have been continuously using the issue of Kashmiri Pandits to
silence liberals and human rights activists. Whenever they talk about the
plight of Muslim minorities in India, the underprivileged section immediately
asks them "what about Kashmiri Pandits". Now the situation has become
such that these minorities of Kashmir Valley are on the verge of losing their civil
rights.
Pandits used as
a ploy
Whenever there is communal violence in the country, human rights
organizations demand justice and rehabilitation for the suffering minorities.
Instead of supporting this demand, Hindu nationalists start shouting that where
were you when Hindus were being driven away from Kashmir. It is obvious that
the injustice done to one minority group in this process is being justified on
the grounds that another minority group also had to undergo tragic
circumstances. This is an attempt to normalize communal violence. It seems as
if those who draw attention to the situation of Muslim minorities or talk about
the rights of minorities are the only ones responsible for the present
situation of Kashmiri Pandits.
Center rule
In these three decades, BJP, Congress and United Front have
ruled the country from the center. At the time when Kashmiri Pandits escaped
from the valley, there was President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir and there was
Vishwanath Pratap Singh's government in Delhi. The BJP was supporting this
government from outside. After this, the NDA government under Atal Bihari
Vajpayee ruled for almost sixteen years from 1998. Since 2014, the BJP
government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ruling the
country. This government enjoys a majority in Parliament. BJP's allies are also
getting the benefit of power but they have no role in determining the policies
of the government. Modi is the surveyor of this government and after him is the
number of Home Minister Amit Shah. Those who are making a stir on the issue of
Kashmiri Pandits, their sole purpose is to hide their communal intentions. What
happened in Kashmir is certainly worrying and condemnable, but it is not right
to blame Indian Muslims for that. Communal forces are indirectly and directly trying
to blame the Muslims of India for the situation in Kashmir. The Government of
India has taken several steps in the matter of Kashmir. These include removal
of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution and reducing the status of Kashmir
from the state to Union Territory. All these steps have further undermined the
possibility of Kashmiri Pandits returning to the valley as the valley is
suffocated and the leaders of democracy are under house arrest under the PSA.
Under this act, these people can be kept under house arrest for a long time
without judicial review. Internet services are closed in the valley and
democratic rights have been limited. Clearly, this has made any problem in the
valley more difficult to solve.
Kashmir Issue
The problem of Kashmir is very complex. Extremism flourished
there by suppressing the autonomy of the state government. The extremists also
got the support of Pakistan. Meanwhile elements like al-Qaeda entered the
valley. He was in free time after dealing with the Russian army in Afghanistan.
He communalized the movement of Kashmiris. Initially, Kashmiriyat was the basis
of Kashmiri extremism, which has nothing to do with Islam. Kashmiriyat is a
synthesis of the teachings of Buddha and Sufi saints and the values of Vedanta.
The period of torture of Kashmiri Pandits started only after elements like Al
Qaeda entered the valley.
Prior to the exodus of the Pandits, they were requested by the Goodwill Mission
to remain in the valley. Local Muslims also promised that they will stop the
propaganda against the Pandits. At that time Jagmohan, who later became a
minister in the NDA government, was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead
of conducting intensive campaign against extremists and providing security to
the Pandits, they provided facilities for their mass exodus from the valley.
Why was this done?
Instead of using the issue of Kashmiri Pandits to bring charges and
counter-allegations and to put Indian Muslims and human rights activists in the
dock, there is a need to solve this problem. The previous NDA government had
proposed a separate residential area for the Pandits in the valley. Is this the
solution to this problem? Pundits need justice. The government should set up a
judicial commission that identifies the elements responsible for the exodus of
the Pandits and should take legal steps that make the Pandits feel safe in the
valley. Would the Pandits like to return to a Kashmir where democracy is being
strangled and armed with automatic weapons are deployed at every corner? For
the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, Kashmiriyat will have to be revived and
an appropriate cultural and religious atmosphere will have to be created for
them.
Beginning of August 2019 all yatris, tourists & even Bihari
labourers were evicted by the government ( governor raj) to pave way for
scraping article 370 & crush the locals. The details of that week / month
are easily available on all your news sites and still fresh in your memory...The
same way in 1990 Kashmir pandits(hindus) were one night transported out under
Governor’s rule while curfew had been clamped to “treat” local Muslims.The
nonMuslims who refused to leave stay comfortable all through...“.... the then
communal Governor of Kashmir Jagmohan, under a plan coerced the Pandits to
migrate ... According to the plan, the pandit migration would help him in being
successful to carry genocide of the Muslim youth of Kashmir and crush the
“insurgency”. The migration was deemed necessary in order to have minimal
collateral damage of the Kashmiri Pandits. The Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims
were undistinguished as they shared the same attire, language, skin color and
culture. Maybe the other Non Muslim minority of Kashmir i.e. the Sikhs were
distinguished by their turbans and beards, hence they were not ordered to leave
under clandestine plans. It is being stated that Jagmohan assured the Pandit
leaders that once the genocide of youth and suppression of armed insurgency is
over, they would be let to return to their homeland. A promise that was never
honored and respected, resulting in the homelessness of Kashmiri Pandits.....”The
age old wits were outwitted , befooled & rendered refugees & homeless
in the country they “loved”...Also see how this
famous KP viewd this Issue .(We may not be comfortable with all his views but
it is good to know thier view from their mouth/ pen)* ...https://www.maryscullyreports.com/sanjay-kak-on-the-exodus-of-kashmiri-pandits-from-kashmir/
Unanswered Questions
“In January 2020, the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the
valley has completed thirty years. The cultural and social roots of the Pandits
were in the Kashmir Valley. Before escaping from there, he had to face extreme
injustice, violence and humiliation. The main cause of this migration was the
communalization of extremism in the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. Since then, no
government has made a serious effort to solve the problem of Pandits. But the
communal elements have been continuously using the issue of Kashmiri Pandits to
silence liberals and human rights activists. Whenever they talk about the
plight of Muslim minorities in India, the underprivileged section immediately
asks them "what about Kashmiri Pandits". Now the situation has become
such that these minorities of Kashmir Valley are on the verge of losing their
civil rights.”
This begs several questions to be a answered:
1. What did the congress
governments since 1948 to 2015 and the present day BJP government do for
preventing their exodus? Whose responsibility it was to create peaceful
understanding among these 2 Kashmiri residents? Main Indian govts or
underdogged Kashmiri govts?
2. How many Pundits were evacuated and how many Kashmiris killed in
this period of 71 years?
3. These Pundits migrated to their own country India, so why this
loud hue and cry?
4. What is your answer to the present curfew in Kashmir for these more
than six months?
5. Did you condemn Modi for his transferring this occupied area
into open jail on Earth to promote atrocities and killings there for the last
six months under 900,000 military men?
6. IS THIS ENORMOUS MILITARY FORCE A PEACE KEEPING FORCE? THEN WHAT
IS ITS PURPOSE THERE?? ARE THEY HUMANS OR BUTCHERS? WHY DID THESE PUNDITS
CAUSED SENDING 900,000 WELL ARMED FORCES THERE.
7. WHYDIDN'T THE INDIAN GOVTS ARRANGED THE PLEBISCITE VOTING THERE
AS PROMISED TO UNO??
8. YOU PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SWALLOWED JUNAGADH, MANAWADER AND
HYDERABAD STATES BEFORE AND NOW KASHMIR, WHY?? ARE YOU HINDUS PEACEFUL WHERE
YOU RULE??
9. WHY MUSLIMS, LIVING FOR CENTURIES IN INDIA ARE DENIED
CITIZENSHIP, WHERE AS YOU INDIANS GET CITIZENSHIP IN 5 YEARS IN WESTERN
COUNTRIES, WHY THIS PARITY?? ARE YOU NORMAL PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET??
10. WHY DO YOU PEOPLE URGE TO DECIDE MUTUAL DISPUTES ON BATTLE
FIELDS? CAN'T YOU DECIDE THESE DISPUTES PEACEFULLY THROUGH MUTUAL
NEGOTIATIONS?? DO YOU HINDUS HAVE A SINCERE WILL TO DECIDE DISPUTES THROUGH
MUTUAL NEGOTIATIONS??
11. WILL YOU INDIANS ALLOW UNO TO RESOLVE THESE DISPUTES FOR THESE 2
COUNTRIES? IF NOT, WHY NOT??
WHY DON'T YOU INDIANS LIVE AND LET OTHERS LIVE IN PEACE?IS YOUR MIGHT IS
RIGHT IN ALL SITUATIONS??
