Million
March- what is the game plan?
Dr Shabir Choudhry 18
October 2014
A campaign is in full
swing to find people who can travel to London for the Million March, which, in
view of many analysts, is against the national interest of people of Jammu and
Kashmir State, and against their struggle to unite the divided homeland. Those
who occupy us first started a proxy war and proxy politics, in which ordinary
people of Jammu and Kashmir suffered; and now, in view of some people, proxy
protests are being encouraged to score points against each other.
Those who have been at
the forefront of either defending a pro India stance or a pro Pakistan stance,
for example, Farooq Abdullah on the Indian side, and politicians with similar
qualities on the Pakistani side, no matter which new slogan they promote,
people will always question their motives.
I had a phone call from
Halifax in west Yorkshire, England. One old friend said that after the Friday
prayer it was announced that free coaches and free food will be provided for
the volunteers who will join the Million March to help the Kashmir cause. He
asked me who was paying for the coaches and the food. I said to him why you
didn’t ask the man who was recruiting people for a free return trip to London.
He asked me if the
Million March will help to promote the Kashmir cause. I said in my opinion it
will send a wrong message because the Million March is designed to focus
attention on the parts of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by India and remain quiet
about the problems and occupation of Pakistan. Members of the world community
are not fools. They know if a struggle or a protest is supported by one
occupier to expose the other occupier, it is not considered as a genuine
struggle. It is an attempt to divert attention from the problems of people
living on the Pakistani side, and give it a religious touch, which will further
divide the people of Jammu and Kashmir on religious and ethnic lines.
Rumour is that this
March is sponsored by those who want the Kashmir pot boiling, as it suits their
political and economic interests. Kashmiri struggle has become their business.
Blood of Kashmiri people and their suffering is essential for their business
enterprise. According to this rumour, one million pounds has been allocated to
this project, and this is why it is called a ‘Million March; and not that the
organisers will be able to muster one million people. With the team at work,
and the resources at their disposal, it is possible that they can get around
four thousand people in London. Even if they get three thousand people to
protest in London, it will be a successful event.
No matter how many
thousands people turn up for the protest, but we know there is something there
for the sponsors and the managers; but million dollar question is, what is
there for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Is this March designed to project
the Kashmir cause, as claimed by the organisers; or is it going to harm it?
When we talk of Kashmir
dispute, we mean areas under India, China and areas under Pakistan, namely
Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. But the sponsors of this protest and those
who are managing it are more interested in areas of Jammu and Kashmir under
India. Because they think Azad Kashmir is ‘Azad’, and they want to make Gilgit
Baltistan part of Pakistan.
Like in the past, they
want to fool the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. The Million March
website only quotes part 3 of the UNCIP Resolution of 13 August 1948, and makes
no mention of the part 2, which held Pakistan ‘guilty’ of sending troops and
tribesmen to capture Kashmir; and demanded Pakistan to withdraw. The UNCIP
Resolution part 2, 1A says:
A. (1) As the presence of troops of Pakistan
in the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes a material
change in the situation since it was represented by the Government of Pakistan
before the Security Council, the Government of Pakistan agrees to withdraw its
troops from that State.
(2) The Government of Pakistan will use its
best endeavour to secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of
tribesmen and Pakistan nationals not normally resident therein who have entered
the State for the purpose of fighting.
(3) Pending a final solution the territory
evacuated by the Pakistan troops will be administered by the local authorities
under the surveillance of the Commission.
B. (1) When the Commission shall have notified
the Government of India that the tribesmen and Pakistan nationals referred to
in Part II A2 hereof have withdrawn, thereby terminating the situation which
was represented by the Government of India to the Security Council as having
occasioned the presence of Indian forces in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and
further, that the Pakistan forces are being withdrawn from the State of Jammu
and Kashmir, the Government of India agrees to begin to withdraw the bulk of
their forces from the State in stages to be agreed upon with the Commission.
As a person who believes in
right of expression and democratic values, I acknowledge that it is for the
people to decide what they want to do; whether they should stay at home or take
a free ride to London to support the March. However, it is responsibility of
the thinking people to analyse issues and tell people what is happening, and
who is doing what in name of helping the Kashmir cause.
I know instructions are
being issued to all who generally act as a ‘B team’ of the Pakistani
establishment on the issue of Kashmir that they must support the Million March.
Some Kashmiri nationalists opposed the March initially, as they rightly thought
it was counterproductive, and not meant to promote the cause of Jammu and
Kashmir. However, after dictation from both sides of the LOC, they have
reluctantly expressed their support for the Million March; but in order to
satisfy their ego they requested a meeting with Barrister Sultan Mahmood, which
was honoured to massage ego of these nationalists.
Some other nationalists also
don’t want to annoy the people who call shots in this matter, and are looking
for excuses to support the cause which is very close to heart of Islamabad. I
am sure their presence will be welcomed and they will be given appropriate
media coverage to convey the message that Pro Pakistan and nationalist
Kashmiris are against Indian occupation only; and that they trust Pakistani
efforts on Kashmir.
In view of many thinking
people, to support the Million March is to support Pakistani policy on the
Kashmir dispute. It means people of Jammu and Kashmir have no complaints
against Pakistan; and they are only interested in liberation of Kashmir under
India. It also means justifying everything Pakistan has done in name of Jammu
and Kashmir since August 1947. It means justifying the violation of the
Standstill Agreement, and supporting the Tribal Invasion which led to
provisional accession to India; and forced division of Jammu and Kashmir. It
means justifying everything they have done in Azad Kashmir and in Gilgit
Baltistan. It means justifying actions of Punjab Constabulary in Poonch in
1950s. It also means justifying their sponsored militancy and extremism with
disastrous consequences for Jammu and Kashmir and its people.
In this regard, alliance of nationalist
parties (Jammu Kashmir National Independence Alliance) has taken positive steps.
They have arranged token hunger strikes outside the Indian and Pakistani High
Commissions in London on 25 January, followed by a press conference in London
to tell the world that the entire Jammu and Kashmir is occupied and disputed;
and that we want unification and independence of the State of Jammu and Kashmir
that existed on 16 August 1947.
In conclusion, the Million
March can attract 4-5 thousand people, but it will not help to promote the
Kashmir cause. If anything, the event will send a wrong message and will
further divide people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the event
will surely make some people rich, and enhance political standing of aspirants
of power politics.
Writer is a political
analyst, TV anchor and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director
Institute of Kashmir Affairs.
1 comment:
Dr saab can you continue with this time extension and thank Ch Saab for giving Kashmiris platform to air our voices for time being,Dr saab you and Butt saab doing good job but we kashmiris need to look for more permanent way to take this kashmir issue to one level up i.e our own Media House under the name i once suggested and it was adopted and later spoilt due to lack of support that led to closer of KBC its lack of Unity and in somecases Some Business persons arrogant attitude of not seeking or taking on advice that also is problem as much as Pakistan Political parties influence that some kashmiris cower under.however there are lot of aspects that can be disscussed regarding how we can start making our own Marks as kashmiris Independently,there are lot of things we can do to Highlight Kashmir on International scene i.e introducing kashmir through tourist areas via tv adverts on mainstream tv Channels i.e Aljazeera CNN etc Arab tv etc.advert not need to be lengthy.our priority shall be our own TV Media outlet we should have atleast one Company Registered in Kashmir to be recognised at International level.We need to get together to Discuss about this matter or others that would help our cause.short term measures not going to help nor are the Million march that are sponsered.There are Additional Ideas that can be shared but cannot be discussed on Open communication i.e interceptible or spied on.Ch Khan
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