Hurdles in reunification of divided Jammu
and Kashmir, Dr Shabir Choudhry’s presentation in a seminar held in
London.
President JKNAP Britain, Sajjad Raja, Chief Guest, Gulchain Singh Charak,
President Dogra Sardarsabha and former Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Manu
Khajuria Singh, Fonder of Voice of Dogra, Shazia Shaukat Butt, Chairperson,
JKNAP Ladies wing, Amjad Yousaf, President UKPNP Europe and friends and
colleague Asalamo alaykam and good after noon.
It is pleasure to share a podium with fellow citizens from Jammu. I am
grateful to Sajjad Raja and JKNAP for arranging this seminar that we can
interact with each other and share our views.
After a comprehensive speech by Sajjad Raja and few others, there is not
much left to add on this topic. However, I would take this opportunity to
elaborate some of the points and hurdles from a different perspective.
If Kashmir means State of Jammu and Kashmir, which represents regions of
Jammu, Valley of Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, then in that
sense I can be called a Kashmir. However, I live in Bhimber, which is part of
Jammu. In that sense, I belong to Jammu. Culture and history of Kashmir is
different to that of Jammu. I have more in common with Jammu than Kashmir.
Our demand is simple. We want reunification of the State of Jammu and
Kashmir that existed on 15 August 1947. My demand is not Kashmir of Budshah.
Whether someone like it or not, the founder of the State we demand was Gulab
Singh. Its last ruler was Maharaja Hari Singh.
I am not interested in what religion the Dogra rulers followed, or
whether they believed in any religion or not. They were our rulers. We cannot change
history according to our whims. If we want to judge their rule, don’t judge
them by the standards of 2018, and what we see in Britain and in Geneva. Judge
them by the standards of that time, and then see how they ruled us.
We criticise non-Muslim rulers, but ignore rule of Muslim rulers of Princely
States. Take one example of Ruler of Junagarr, when he had to flee his State,
in his plane he did not bring any of his subjects, he brought more than hundred
his beloved dogs and close family members to Pakistan. He was not a people
friendly ruler, but no one speaks about him because he was a Muslim.
Murder of history
In my considered opinion, the first hurdle is the murder of history by
Pakistan. Pakistani government, media, secret agencies, their political
parties, their proxies and paid authors have worked hard and systematically to
distorte history of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. They have fooled us and the
people of Pakistan in name of Islam.
People of Jammu and Kashmir realised that the name of Muslim Conference
did not appropriately reflect the sentiments of all sections of Jammu and
Kashmir State. Therefore, the name of Muslim Conference was changed to National
Conference in 1938. When the Lahore Resolution was passed in the 1940, the
leaders of Muslim League instructed Muslim Conference leaders of Jammu to
revive the old Muslim Conference. Muslim League knew they will play a religious
card in the British India and in Jammu and Kashmir; and for that purpose,
proxies were needed.
One can see the logic of starting a Quit India Movement in India against
the British, as they came from Britain. What was the logic of starting a Quit
Kashmir Movement against Maharaja Hari Singh? He was ruler of the State of
Jammu and Kashmir. Did not this Movement have inbuilt religious and regional sentiments?
Provisional
Government
Syria is controlled by different warring factions. Even the capital is
not under the control of President Bashar Al Asad. Anywhere in the world you ask
who is the President of Syria they will say, Bashar Al Asad. Similarly, in
neighbouring Afghanistan, majority of the territory is not under the control of
government in Kabul. If you ask people in the world who is president of
Afghanistan, they will say Ashraf Ghani.
Now look at our foolishness. A few people sit in Rawalpindi, a city in
Pakistan, a country that has obsession to capture Jammu and Kashmir. These
political non-entities who had no support of any political party, issued a
statement that they have dismissed the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and formed
a Provisional government. We illogically have embraced that statement as a
gospel truth, and believe that on strength of the statement the Maharaja was
dismissed and his right to rule was abrogated.
No one ask who gave them this right to issue this statement? What
authority they had to dismiss the Ruler of a State? What happened to the person
who issued that statement? People failed to understand that it was another
conspiracy against the Maharaja and Jammu and Kashmir State.
Back stabbing
Many of us are very keen in attacking India, even when Pakistan is at
fault. We had a written agreement with Pakistan. Did India ask Pakistan to
violate the Standstill Agreement and attack Jammu and Kashmir?
Tell me why I should attack India, is it because Pakistan attacked us by
violating the Standstill Agreement? Shall I condemn India because Pakistan attacked
us with intention of occupying our State and loot and plunder our resources?
Those who attacked us were told that anything which is removable is yours, it
means girls, women and everything else that can be carried on trucks belonged
to attackers.
Muslim soldiers of the Maharaja army were under oath to protect him and
his State of Jammu and Kashmir. For this they were trained, given guns and bullets,
given uniforms and other facilities which were available to other soldiers of
the time. When in name of jihad, the Pakistani sponsored attack came, these
soldiers, instead of honouring their pledges made to the Maharaja betrayed him
and joined the attackers.
For this betrayal of Muslim soldiers, shall I condemn the Maharaja Hari
Singh or condemn India. Shall I call these people heroes or collaborators, who
helped a neighbouring country to invade Jammu and Kashmir, kill innocent
people, rape women and loot and plunder.
India’s entry in
Jammu and Kashmir
1.
Unlike Pakistan, India entered Jammu
and Kashmir on request of the Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir.
2.
India entered Jammu and Kashmir
after a written treaty, which in my view is not final as people have the final
say on that.
3.
According to this treaty, India was
to push out the Pakistani attackers and clear the State of foreign invaders.
4.
India was to protect life and
liberty and property of the people.
India failed to fulfil its obligations; and people are suffering and are
being killed on both sides of the forced division. Still territory of Jammu and
Kashmir is under occupation of those who attacked Jammu and Kashmir in October
1947.
India is under obligation of this treaty; and also under obligation of
the UNCIP Resolutions to protect life and liberty, and protect other
fundamental rights of the people. India has miserably failed to do that.
Remember, if Pakistan sends trained militants to Jammu and Kashmir to
kill and destabilise the region, it is not my responsibility to stop them and
fight them. I am not trained for that purpose. It is India’s responsibility to
stop them and protect people of Jammu and Kashmir that everyone feels safe in
all parts of State.
If India cannot or does not want to protect life, liberty and property
of the people, then they should make it clear. Tell people that we can’t defend
you, or we have no will to defend you and protect your fundamental rights.
India cannot and must not allow its para military forces to commit human
rights abuses under the pretext that Pakistan is sending militants; and in
order to fight them they have to commit human rights abuses.
Accession or
independence
Nations seek independence; and sooner or later they get their
independence. Those who seek accession, they end up receiving what we people
Jammu and Kashmir have – forced division, oppression and injustice and no
future in sight.
Our struggle is for unification and independence of the State that
existed on 15 August 1947. I am not interested in state of Budshah. I am not
saying after unification impose a Dogra ruler on throne. I am not saying
glorify their religion, but at least, appreciate some of the good work they
have done. They have given us identity. A sense of belonging. We want that
identity and sense of belonging to a nation.
Here, I want to ask a question from our guests from Jammu. Your ancestors
established State of Jammu and Kashmir. They ruled this State up till 1947.
That state is forcibly divided. What have you done for the reunification and
independence of Jammu and Kashmir State?
If you are happy with accession to India, then what is difference
between you and Sardar Atiq and others who want accession to Pakistan?
A common point for all of us can be unification and independence of the
State. Our struggle must be peaceful. We know what gun has given to our fellow
citizens on the other side of the divide. Here, I must admire vision of Shaukat
Ali Kashmiri, who opposed militancy at a time when everyone wanted to jump on
the bandwagon of Jihad. He called it a proxy war.
Our struggle, therefore, must remain non-violent and non-religious, as
religions divide people on religious lines. State belongs to all of us;
religion is a personal matter.
Writer is a renowned
writer and author of many books. He is also a senior leader of UKPNP and
Chairman South Asia Watch, London.
Email: Drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com Twitter: @Drshabir
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