Dear Editor,
Till Karnataka government minister Mahadevappa invited Indian-origin Professor Nitasha Kaul, born in Gorakhpur of Uttar Pradesh and the Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster in London, people had hardly known about her. Thanks to the invite of Kaul by Congress from Karnataka, people have come to know who she is. She was invited to attend the state government sponsored conference on the Constitution and Unity of India. She was to deliver a speech on international relationship. It was not widely known that she was the ardent critic of laws enacted for Kashmiris. She had reportedly alleged that the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) was talking of killing the Muslims who are manufacturing bombs and suggested to molest the Muslim women. RSS is a patriotic organization. There is no reference to the statements attributed by her to RSS. Pakistan sympathiser Kaul needs to be reminded that 34 years ago, Kashmiri pundits fled away following threat from Islamic radicals. The Kashmiri pundits were given three choices; either to convert themselves as Muslims or face death or leave Kashmir. They were ‘instructed’ not to take women along with them. She believes that the terrorists operating on Kashmir soil are innocent persons. This view is very much akin to the views of Mehbooba Mufit who called the terrorists “sons of soil”. Mufti had advocated to save the terrorists. Arundhati Roy had opined that Islamic terrorists are not a problem. Real terrorists are teachers and mothers, according to Roy. Kaul is of the view that the Kashmiris always stood behind Palestinians because they are also facing a situation of the kind Palestinians are facing. She has alleged that military has been stationed in the areas where people are living. If the people have to live peacefully in the disturbed part of the country, the military protection is absolutely necessary. Reports have it that between 1990-2017, terrorists neutralized were 22,000, death of civilians 14,000 and army men martyred were 5,000. Between 2017-2023, there were 791 instances of terrorist attacks claiming 1193 people. She has drawn parallel between China treating Tibetans and India treating Kashmiris. She has alleged that the army has been exercising power without any authority and responsibility. Recrimination among political parties is common. But what was the need to invite a person who is sympathetic to Pakistan? The authorities concerned did well to send her back to UK from the airport itself. What can be expected from the speech of a Pakistani-sympathizer? By inviting her to speak on Constitution and Unity, Congress has demonstrated that it is more comfortable with anti-nationals than the pro-nationals. To corroborate this, immediately after the Rajya Sabha election result was announced that Nasir Hussain from Congress won in Karnataka on 27/02/2024, his supporters raised slogans “Pakistan Zindabad”. Congress must refurbish its sagging image if it wants to be an effective force to reckon with.
Yours faithfully,
K. V. Seetharamaiah