Neela
Butt yatra and ideology of an independent Kashmir
Dr Shabir Choudhry 02 September 2013
Recently a President of
one Kashmiri party which ironically claims to be a ‘nationalist’ party; and
which happens to be in many groups (and each group claims to be a true follower
of Maqbool Butt and working for the cause of united and independent Jammu and
Kashmir), visited a place called Neela Butt in Pakistani Administered Kashmir
to attend a ceremony associated with Neela Butt and made a speech there. He was
criticised in the social media and in print media for this action, as many
thought it was a political somersault and back stabbing of the true ideology of
an independent Jammu and Kashmir.
Many true Kashmiri
nationalists challenge nationalist credentials of this party, as they believe
the top leadership of this party has a long history of colluding with secret
agencies of the countries that occupy Jammu and Kashmir. Both top leaders, at
one time, accused each other for working for the secret agencies of India and
Pakistan.
Anyhow, after the Neela
Butt yatra the President of this party came under fire. Some members with
conscience in protest resigned from the party; and some others acknowledged
that it was a political blunder. However, in line with this party’s tradition
to defend its blunders, some stalwarts with tunnel vision and blind following
came to defend the party President by saying that the previous Chairman Sardar
Saghir also attended similar seminars, so there was nothing wrong with that.
In view of political
analysts this is another blunder. It was best to remain quiet. By saying that
the previous Chairman of this party also attended similar functions prove that
there is a serious flaw in the ideology and strategy of this party. It is like
saying that Mr ‘B’ has stolen something because before him Mr ‘A’ did the same
thing. How does it diminish the crime of Mr ‘B’? As the saying goes two wrongs
don’t make one right. Wrong is wrong, stealing of Mr ‘B’ is a crime, so is the
stealing of Mr ‘A’; and Mr ‘B’ should not get less punishment just because
before him Mr ‘A’ also stole something.
Now let us look at what
Neela Butt signifies and what damage has been caused to the cause of an
independent struggle and its ideology of a democratic and secular society.
Rightly or wrongly Neela Butt is remembered as a place where Sardar Abdul
Qayyum Khan, ardent supporter of the ideology of accession to Pakistan who claims
to be ‘unpaid soldier of Pakistan’ shot the first bullet to start his ‘jihad’
against the Ruler of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and to make Jammu and
Kashmir part of Pakistan.
Sardar Abdul Qayyum
Khan was a soldier in the Maharaja army, so he betrayed his oath by rebelling
against the Ruler of the State. He conspired to make Jammu and Kashmir part of
Pakistan because of the religious affinity. He and his colleagues attacked and
killed non - Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir because of religious differences and
promoted religious intolerance. They also invited savage tribesmen from
Pakistan to attack Jammu and Kashmir. These tribesmen with help of Pakistani
officials attacked Jammu and Kashmir territory and killed innocent Kashmiri
people, pillaged and destroyed houses and shops, raped and kidnapped Kashmiri
women and took them to Pakistan.
Neela Butt signifies
all the above and much more. Every year Sardar Abdul Qayyum and his party
commemorate the ‘great achievement’, as explained above and fool people in name
of religion, promote violence, religious hatred and above all propagate against
independence and national identity of Jammu and Kashmir.
How can true
nationalists of Jammu and Kashmir forget that Sardar Abdul Qayyum called
Maqbool Butt a ‘bank robber, a dacoit and a killer (daku, chor and qatil)? Also
he called Maqbool Butt and his followers ‘Indian agents’; and continually
opposed Maqbool Butt and his followers and promoted hatred against them.
Furthermore, he called
people of Mirpur who adhered to the ideology of an independent Jammu and
Kashmir as illegitimate – jahrioon ke paidaish. And despite this hostile,
aggressive and full of hate background which is known to all nationalists some
people with ‘nationalist’ hat on their heads proudly went to the Neela Butt and
defend it as well.
Meeting Sardar Abdul
Qayyum Khan and or his son, Sardar Atiq Khan is no crime. Even sharing a
platform is acceptable, for example, if there was a meeting to discuss plight
of the Mangla Dam who were uprooted to meet energy and water requirements of
Pakistan. Or if there was a meeting to discuss problems of ordinary people,
there is no problem in becoming part of such meeting.
However, taking part in
a public meeting to commemorate the ‘great achievement’ associated with Neela
Butt is a unpardonable national crime, as it tacitly confirms everything Sardar
Abdul Qayyum and his people did on that day and continue to do. Attending and
supporting the Neela Butt function confirms that:
1.
Sardar Abdul Qayyum’s ideology of
accession to Pakistan is true and ultimate destination of the Kashmiri people
is Pakistan;
2.
His betrayal of his oath and rebellion
against the Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir was correct;
3.
Sardar Abdul Qayyum and his colleagues’
attack on non – Muslims and killing them, and subsequent burning of houses and
looting was not a crime;
4.
Muslim Conference leaders’ invitation to
the Tribesman to attack Jammu and Kashmir and subsequent killing, looting,
raping and kidnapping of women was not wrong;
5.
Whatever he and his followers said about
Maqbool Butt and his followers was true;
6.
Various Muslim Conference leaders’ and
workers’ promotion of hate, sectarianism and violence which had its roots to
the Neela Butt incident is also justified.
We
all make mistakes, and people in the public life also make mistakes. What is
important is our response to our mistakes. Good people acknowledge their
mistakes, learn from them and try to rectify the damage caused. Bad people on
the other hand, take pride in their bad deeds, show stubbornness and go out of
their way to justify what they did.
If
new yatries of Neela Butt don’t want to acknowledge their mistake, it doesn’t
surprise Kashmir watchers, as this is an established tradition of their
political guru, who despite big blunders which brought death, destruction and
misery to the people of Jammu and Kashmir never accepted any liability. Only
thing he acknowledged in his autobiography was that he closely worked with
secret agencies of Pakistan- a country that also occupies territory of Jammu
and Kashmir.
Islamic
scholars say, technically Prophet Adam also made a ‘mistake’ by eating the
forbidden fruit. He was ashamed of his ‘mistake’ and asked the Almighty Allah
SWT for His forgiveness, which was granted. The Satan also made a mistake by
not accepting the command of the Almighty. However, unlike Prophet Adam, he
refused to acknowledge his mistake and tried to justify his wrong action.
These
two distinct and opposing behaviours characterise our attitude and response to
our mistakes, and how we conduct ourselves when we make mistakes. May Allah SWT
keep us on the right path, give us courage to accept our mistakes, rectify the
damage caused and do such deeds that promote peace, love and harmony among the
people of different faiths and sects.
Writer is a political analyst and author of many books and booklets.
Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs.Email:drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com
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