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J and K: Elections are a cure

HK Dua’s front-page editorial, “J&K: Elections are an antidote” (Sept 4), critically analyses the recent Jammu agitation which turned violent disturbing communal harmony in the state. As Mr Dua has pointed out, it would be wrong to believe that the Jammu trouble was only over the land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. It was, in fact, an explosion of the pent up anger of Jammu people over the Centre’s policy of appeasement of the Valley, ignoring their interests all over the years.

The editorial also suggests a way out — early elections to the State Assembly to diffuse the situation. Let the powers that be ponder over the points made in the editorial and take the remedial steps forthwith. Time and tide wait for none.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

II

I agree with Mr Dua that as the people’s voice is best expressed in the elections in a democracy, elections should be held in time in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has been a part of India since Independence and it will remain so in future.

The separatists should be made aware that the loyalty of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is with India. Assembly elections should not be postponed as elections would heal the sentiments and emotions of the people.

RAJAT KUMAR, Jalandhar

Double standards

G. Parthasarathy’s article “Separation needs firmness” (Sept 4) was like a whiff of fresh air. Six lakh Kashmiri Pandits were hounded of their own state, thus making them refugees in their own country. They are eking out a miserable existence, but no special package has come their way, whereas the Kashmiri Muslims have been given so many packages to no purpose.

Whenever Kashmir erupts into violent protests at Pakistan’s behest, the bleeding hearts come out with advice that as Kashmiris have valid grievances and their human rights have been violated, they should be dealt with due understanding 
and magnanimity!

When the whole of Jammu, which has been discriminated against for the last six decades, resents the cancellation of the land allotted to the Amarnath Shrine, a solution is found only after two months of violence. Clearly, separatists should be tried for sedition. The writer’s advice to take the separatists out of the state is bold and sensible.

PINNIE GUPTA, Dehra Dun

Orissa killings

I endorse the view in the editorial, “Murder of pluralism” (Aug 27) that the violence in Orissa is unacceptable, whether from the majority community or the minority community. The VHP activists, though acted in retaliation of the murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, indeed scarred the secular image of India.

The Centre keeps on raising the secularism bogey when the priorities of minorities clash with national interest. It also questions the very basis of majority belief in the Sethu Samudram project by asking the majority to prove Lord Rama’s existence.

The majority community has been provoked, be it in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir or in Orissa. It never initiated the violence; it only retaliated after being provoked and the authorities shed no tears when the majority rights were attacked. Sadly, the so-called progressive and intellectual people and rulers never help the majority community. Every major religion has countries for them to fall back but the Hindu religion in India is at the receiving end.

ARVIND DHUMAL, Advocate, Jalandhar

II

We fully support the sentiments expressed in the editorial, “Murder of pluralism”. Though the murder of Laxmananda Saraswati is reprehensible, the violence against the Christians and churches should be condemned by all sections.

We agree with you that the violence against the Christians has opened the wounds of the brutal murder of Australian missionary Grahm Staines and his two sons. We are ashamed before the Australians that this could happen in the Mahatma Gandhi’s land.

AMAR JIT SINGH GORAYA, Griffith NSW (Australia)