Only United Kashmiris Will Win Freedom

INDIA has over six decades has successfully militarized Kashmir, dismantled the Grand Babri Mosque, converted the Muslims in India and Kashmir into the so-called terrorists, thereby legitimately denying them their own share in national development in jobs, education and other privileges. Hindus thus now view the Muslims as undesirable elements in the society, though it is they who are the real culprits, the base criminals and strategists who engineer destructive and discriminate policies against Muslims. It is a known fact that India has been looking for right opportunity to teach lessons to both Pakistan and Bangladesh for not saluting New Delhi.

Like the Indian Muslims, the Muslims in Kashmir have supported the Indian national parties and that was the root-cause of all ailments affecting the Kashmiris and Indian Muslims alone. It has been the tactics of the Indian strategists to make the Muslims sub-serve them as subordinates, and not as equal citizens, and this could be easily comprehended in their dealings the Muslims and their attitude in general towards the fellow Muslims. While the national parties use the Muslims as vote bank, the regional parties have taken the votes of these people for granted:" where will these Muslims go in India, they have to vote for us", although the Hindu communal parties encouraged by the non-communal parties like Congress, hurl abusive language against Muslims in public meetings in the very presence of the Polices and other intelligence guys. It is common to hear slogans slammed against the hapless Muslims: Throw your votes in to sea and get out of here".

But the situation is extremely alarming in the case of Kashmiris. The Kashmiri support for Indian political parties is very cleverly misrepresented by Indian strategists in international forums as being their supporting Indian case for Kashmir. This is erroneous and misleading and also mischievous. Kashmiris should at least now boycott the Indian national parties and those who are in such parties should either quit the present ones to join another party or float a strong Kashmiri party that emanates Kashmiri fragrance filled with the emotional feelings of freedom loving Kashmiris. Boycotting of Indian leaders would certainly send a clear signal not only to New Delhi, but the world over, including the UN ad UNSC-5 of resolve of Kashmiris to have their own nation free from exploitation, genocide and destruction by the neighboring countries, particularly India.

The need to make Kashmiris realize their folly of supporting the Indian political parties should be stressed as the most vital step and it should be done in a converted manner by involving all sections of Kashmiris. Only when the people are united, their freedom movement gains momentum. People should be involved in a positive manner for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir's re-independence issue, though India would use its force and would like to put down the movement with iron boots.

Since USA, badly caught in its misadventure in Middle East, is not in a mood to support any Islamic nations claiming independence and re-independence, India is quite keen to use the USA to advance its own agenda of keeping Kashmir under New Delhi, fully equipped with latest military ammunition purchased from USA, UK, Russia, Israel and South Africa, among other countries. Nor the Arabs want to take any active part in the settling the Kashmir issue, as if it were an internal Indian problem. The fact is that there seems to be marked perception in Arab world about global Muslims as "Arabs and non-Arabs" and they have strong economic relations with cash rich India, New Delhi intrudes in every possible strategy to influence the Arabs not to support the Kashmiris' cause.

What is interesting is that Pakistan plays seemingly a double role. Kashmir freedom struggle could not succeed due to lack of courageous political leadership in Pakistan. Present rulers in Pakistan are busy in struggle of their own survival and have forgotten the appalling destitution and suffering of Kashmir people. He said India and Pakistan seem to be unanimous to install puppets politician in Azad Kashmir and occupied Kashmir who could serve their interests. The pro- Pakistan forces in occupied Kashmir are being pushed to the wall and the politicians aligned to India are being promoted with the aim to harm Kashmir peoples' struggle for right of self determination.

Right of self determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir has not been bestowed on them by India or Pakistan-it is their inherent right which no one can take away from them. The ruler in Azad Kashmir which is base camp of Kashmir freedom movement had done nothing but stashing away millions and billions on their luxuries and foreign tours. The victims of the earthquake have not been rehabilitated

Kashmiris should not abandon their freedom struggle at any point of time, ether on their own or under pressure from India or Pakistan, till their legitimate goal is achieved. Kashmiris should have full faith in their just cause and, like any to the freedom longing nation, they too would gain their re-independence form arrogant colonial power, India. However the Kashmiris should use all available diplomatic channels to negotiate a peaceful settlement without losing more lives and spilling blood any where in the valley. Since India is making all out efforts to deny re-independence to Kashmir, and Pakistan is also slow-peddling its own part of struggle to gain freedom for Kashmiris, the need of the hour id  make a united forum of all Kashmir is to declare independence on their own, with proper notice to UN for further action. The first goal should be non-cooperation with Indian authorities, boycotting the central party meetings, and dismantling all Indian political wings in Kashmir valley. So long as they allow Indian political wings to Indians in Kashmir, there is very little chance of obtaining re-Independence from South Asian hegemon, because Indian mind-set does not permit any real freedom and independence of thinking, a proof reflected by the media.

(Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal is based in Delhi)