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We’re all Indians

It saddens me to read the story “Kashmir solution should satisfy majority: Omar” (May 14) wherein the Chief Minister of J&K has played the majority card as a tool of divisive and cheap politics. It is painful to observe that our leaders continue to divide society in many classes.

Sometimes it is majority versus minority, while other times, it is caste or religion lines. If Omar Abdullah is only worried about the majority in his state, who will take care of the minorities there? And if majority appeasement is applied to the other states of India, what will be the plight of the minorities?

Leaders at the helm should talk about only one identity -- that we are all Indians first. Majority and minority should not be the issue.

Other problems such poverty, illiteracy and unemployment which need to be tackled by the governments. If the leaders speak the language of division, no problem can be solved, including the Kashmir imbroglio.

In fact, the Kashmir problem will cease to exist the moment the leaders stop stoking the fire of divisive politics.

LR Sharma, Sundernagar

Honour Kashmiris’ wishes

Abrogation of Article 370 is neither feasible nor based upon scientific analysis of the most discussed issue, especially during elections. It has become a custom to raise issues that appeal to the fabricated emotions of the masses. Kashmir was not a naturally aligned region as far as the Indian Independence Act is explained and interpreted. It was decided by Maharaja Hari Singh as well as the negotiators on the Indian side that barring defence, foreign affairs, communications etc, the state government shall be empowered to act upon the rest of the matters. Some argue that the Constitution itself has laid down in Article 44 that India shall strive to achieve a uniform civil code. But they forget that the annexation of Kashmir and insertion of Article 370 are later series of events that required urgent attention.

We can never achieve harmony by going against the wishes of the Kashmiris. If any kind of attempt is worked upon them to fall in line with the eccentric emotions of some fading minds, it would be one of the gravest mistakes that India has committed. Such an attempt will shake their already shaken faith in the Indian establishment. The Indian government should make J&K such a prosperous state that the question we are discussing becomes irrelevant.

SUDHIR NAIN, Jind

Article 370

This refers to Rajindar Sachar’s article “Abrogation of Article 370 not possible” (May 13). It’s about time the BJP faced reality and scaled down its rhetoric on Article 370 which it has been clamouring to scrap since Independence. There are already enough problems in keeping Kashmir united with the rest of the country. By giving special status to Kashmir, India is not losing anything, but by raising the bogey of abrogation of Article 370, may yield ground to Pakistan which is bent upon severing Kashmir from India.

The BJP must act as a mature party and wean away from its rightist ideology and work for an inclusive India rather than divide it on communal lines. The issue needs to rest once and for all if we want everlasting peace in the valley.

Ashok Goswami, Amritsar

370 justification

The article “Abrogation of Article 370 not possible” says: “Apart from the legal angle, Togadia’s hate speech against Muslims and a politically dishonest attempt by the BJP and RSS leaders to paper it over should be a justification enough for the retention of Article 370 for the Muslim majority state of J&K.” Interesting logic here. By this same token, huge tracts of India would come under Article 370. In UP, for instance, where Bhagwan Singh Chauhan of the SP offered Rs 1 crore for the head of Baba Ramdev and Gujarat where Sonia Gandhi called Modi a “maut ka saudagar”.

In his obvious enthusiasm for the BJP, the author may be inclined to overlook the fact that all major political parties in India count in their ranks such distinguished gentleman who can advance similar forceful views in such elegantly vigorous language. In all fairness, credit should be given to these worthies.

AK Vijayakumar, via email

Valley Talibanised?

The recent reports emanating from the Kashmir Valley regarding the beating up of citizens who voted during the elections are very disturbing and do not augur well. The loyal citizens in the Valley who defied the dual threat of boycott and gun and put their lives at stake to participate in the democratic process of electing their MP should have been lauded. Instead, they are being harassed and beaten by the anti-national elements. Does it tantamount to the ‘Talibanisation’ of the Valley? Such a culture was prevalent in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime.

The J&K Government should act tough against these elements, lest they cause more harm to the fragile democratic institutions in the Valley.

Brig Anil Gupta (retd), Jammu

Khap liberates women

Apropos the article “Winds of change in khap panchayats” by Reicha Tanwar (May 7), it is heartening that the Satrod khap mahapanchayat has taken a bold step towards the emancipation of women of Haryana. It has paved the way for the other khaps to open up their minds to the needs of the day.

Finally, the women of Haryana have started lifting their veil, which is a big step towards ensuring their rights as also heralding a civil society.

Col R D Singh (retd) Ambala Cantt

Farmers’ suicides

The Punjab Government is finally addressing the issue of suicides by farmers after directions by the high court. But, it is not enough. If subsidy on diesel, pesticides and fertilisers is restored and some bonus over MSP is provided to the farmers, like our neighbouring states, it would help control the suicides to some extent.

Vishal Munjal, Abohar

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