JAMMU: Known for his controversial overtures, the highly articulate politician, Dr Farooq Abdullah has stirred up hornets’ nest by terming Pak occupied Kashmir as part of Pakistan while asserting that Jammu and Kashmir shall remain to be part of India. He has not just stopped there. After a pause of good 24 hours, he elaborated his argument, though in a different context, saying “Ever since I came into politics, I have always said that this State (PoK and J&K) can never become one. Neither do we have the power to take back their part (PoK) nor have they (Pakistan) the power to take our part.” The BJP may dub such observations as defeatist mindset of the Kashmiri politician, who, they may say, undermines the strength of its valiant soldiers apart from 1.2-billion-strong population but those at the helm of affairs in New Delhi or their predecessors cannot escape from the reality, which Farooq Abdullah has unfolded rather bitterly.
As regards Farooq Abdullah’s observations, based on his experience since coming into the politics, that the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir can never be one State, questions can be asked to his National Conference as to why didn’t they abolish reserved seats in the Legislative Assembly for the occupied part of Kashmir or confer ownership rights to the occupants of evacuees property. Why he and his party have been opposing grant of citizenship rights to the West Pakistan refugees? Why the National Conference blows hot and cold when the demand for Kashmir’s total integration with India by revoking temporary Article 370 is vociferously raised? Why state subject laws are not abolished? Why Jammu and Kashmir should have special status in Indian Constitution? Why should he always rake up the bogey of autonomy, which has no takers in Jammu and Ladakh regions? But at the same, the BJP and other political parties treating the Parliament Resolution of 1994 as sacrosanct owe an answer as to what they did during the past seven decades or 22 years at least in annexing the PoK with Jammu and Kashmir. By taking to streets and burning the effigies of Dr Abdullah, the BJP must have some sort of introspection and once they do that they will come to know how much they yielded vis a vis Kashmir by keeping Article 370 in the back-burner and taking pride in moving around under the shadow of two flags.
Actually, Dr Farooq Abdullah appears to be dejected and frustrated over the prospect of PDP-BJP completing its full term, notwithstanding the turbulence in Kashmir for over past four months. He must be wondering how Mehbooba Mufti could hold the post on the face of mass uprising, forcing it (unrest) to die its own death.
Having said that, Farooq Abdullah has a point in questioning, “They say there is a resolution in Parliament; but tell me what the Parliament has done so far to reclaim that part (PoK)”. The nation has practically not done anything to implement the unanimous Parliament Resolution of 1994.
Firstly, resolutions lose meaning when these remain confined to the pages of history. The Parliament had passed almost a similar resolution on 22nd February 1994 which, inter alia, resolved “India has the will and capacity to firmly counter all designs against its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity; and demands that – (c) Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression; and resolves that -(d) all attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely…” Despite this resolution Pakistan continues to inflict scars on the Indian pride. What happened to ‘will and capacity to firmly counter all designs’ when Pakistan engineered 26/11, attacked Parliament on 13th December 2001 and created mayhem in Samba, Pathankot, Uri and Baramulla? Where did that bravado evaporate when Paki lunatics beheaded soldiers and mutilated their bodies?
What to speak of getting the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir vacated from Pakistan occupation, New Delhi ‘gratefully’ accepted to undertake business with its own part of Kashmir via Salamabad Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch under the aegis of Pakistan Government. Isn’t it acceptance of Islamabad’s position of occupied Kashmir? Merely saying India will meet interference in its affairs ‘resolutely and with the complete unity of the nation’ sans commitment when actions do not match words.
Secondly, like many other Indian politicians, especially those aligned to the so-called mainstream camp in Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah sees answer to all problems confronted on account of Pak sponsored terrorism in dialogue. He pitches for it vehemently. But, he and his likes need to remember that if Indians want to live in peace, they must not see it dawning through dialogue and discussions with Islamabad, a neighbour which former premier Atal Behari Vajpayee had said can’t be changed. True, but Indians will have to make a difference between neighbour and an enemy. Pakistan is an enemy; a reptile, which is vertebrate, has backbones, is completely covered with scales, has the traits of being cold-blooded, produces shelled eggs or bear live young. All snakes of this family are carnivorous and swallow their prey whole. They continue to increase in length throughout their lives and shed their outer layer of skin, usually in one piece beginning at the tip of the snout. Those wanting to get rid of snakes should bear in mind that they don’t vanish by just killing, their heads are required to be crushed and smashed because the poison in snake fang is dangerous even after it dies. Crushing a snake’s head destroys it, rendering it powerless, if not dead. This is a common belief; nothing bad in trying. Perhaps Dr Farooq Abdullah will agree. Therefore, while endorsing Line of Control to be converted as International Border, the former Chief Minister must seek a feedback from the radicalised Kashmir as also friends in Pakistan who have been vowing to give India thousand cuts until ensuring ‘Kashmir Banega Pakistan’. Can Farooq Abdullah volunteer himself to bring them in loop? (Concluded)