Dear Editor,
Why the condition of Kashmir has become so explosive? What, when and where the mistakes have been done? Let us analyse in a point form.
* Lot has been said for late forties and early fifties. Many people hold Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru responsible in mishandling the whole Jammu and Kashmir State including merger of state to Indian Union and introduction of Article 370.
* Central Government of India always sided with Kashmir Valley and ignored more populated, with thirteen times bigger area and patriotic people of Jammu and Ladakh.
* The balance of political power was always given tilt in favour of Kashmir while devoiding Jammu and Ladakh from their due rights.
* Although Ladakh with largest area is scariestly populated but Jammu has equal population and nearly twice area than Kashmir has been given 37 Sssembly seats in comparison to Kashmir with 47. Seventy percent of revenue comes from Jammu and only 25 per cent is spent for this area, the expenditure and developmental share of Kashmir is vice-versa. All the other emoluments for Jammu are far less.
* After loosing two third of part of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan, Government of India never remained serious to get this part back, instead by passing year by year Pakistan not only consolidated its position but always remained aggressive in the game strategies of warfare.
* What happened to the Indian Government. It was our land, our people and to protect it one of the best armies of the world was at disposal then why we conceded? There is definitely something wrong with our psyche.
* After 1971war, all the advantages the army gained were lost in Simla Agreement. Neither we could make any good bargain nor could get any assurance from Pakistan for permanent peace.
* Again before 1975, there was a good governance in the State. Indira Gandhi opted for political empowerment of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah by sacrificing its own Congress party government. It proved as an onset of disaster.
* Then again 1989-90, large scale massacre and exodus of Hindus particularly Kashmiri Pundits occurred.
*In course of time, instead of putting a check and curbing anti national activities of separatists and extremists our government started wooing and appeasing these elements. Our renowned journalists, social activitists, political leaders and leading columnists went further ahead to sabotage the national interests.
* A few families of Kashmir Valley were only the beneficiaries and whole of the public of Jammu and Kashmir State remained looser.
* Let us analyse where we went wrong, what are the ways to be adapted to save the State of Jammu and Kashmir from the enemy and prepare ourselves to meet the challenges.
Dr Satya Dev Gupta,
Public Opinion Forum
Jammu.