EDITORIAL

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The latest attack by Fidayeens on Police Control room killing 9 cops amply proves that there is something amiss both on the security front as also efficacy of the unilateral ceasefire. The fact that only two terrorists were killed and others escaped shows the level of preparedness on either side. There are indeed gaping holes that need to be plugged. If PCR itself is not safe, how other places where hapless citizens have become wanton targets of ultras could be provided fool-proof security. There was a time when Police HQ in Srinagar was targeted during conclave of many top brass of police, and para-military forces. But those were the times when administration did not have full grip on the situation and militants called the shots. Today's scenario is entirely different in that State police has been assigned prominent role in the counter insurgency operations. It is now a highly motivated force with many achievements to its credit. SOG has been doing excellent job and preparing for doing things on its own like the Punjab Police. That fidayeens succeed in entering the PCR and indulge in indiscriminate firing calls for some self-introspection ....more

POLITICAL COMPULSIONS

Come election time and strange bed-fellows surface with reckless abandon.....more

By Mohan Singh Kala

After Chittisingh Pora carnage, Sikhs living in the Kashmir valley were feeling insecure. At that time assurance was given to them that their lives and property will be protected, they will be provided employment in the State Services and other type.....more

Ceasefire in J&K :
Questions and answers

By Fazal Mehmood

Was the ceasefire decision wise ? Yes, it was and still is, but as a prelude to inducing genuine Kashmiri organisations to enter into a dialogue with the Government. Unfortunately, it has been made to appear as a gesture to Pakistan and.....more

The international fleets
salute to the Indian President

By Avinash Shirodkar

There will be 19 foreign navies with 25 ships saluting the President of India on February 17, 2001, during the International Fleet Review (IFR), of which 12 are Indian Ocean states. Clearly, there appears......more

EDITORIAL

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The latest attack by Fidayeens on Police Control room killing 9 cops amply proves that there is something amiss both on the security front as also efficacy of the unilateral ceasefire. The fact that only two terrorists were killed and others escaped shows the level of preparedness on either side. There are indeed gaping holes that need to be plugged. If PCR itself is not safe, how other places where hapless citizens have become wanton targets of ultras could be provided fool-proof security. There was a time when Police HQ in Srinagar was targeted during conclave of many top brass of police, and para-military forces. But those were the times when administration did not have full grip on the situation and militants called the shots. Today's scenario is entirely different in that State police has been assigned prominent role in the counter insurgency operations. It is now a highly motivated force with many achievements to its credit. SOG has been doing excellent job and preparing for doing things on its own like the Punjab Police. That fidayeens succeed in entering the PCR and indulge in indiscriminate firing calls for some self-introspection asto why things go wrong exactly at a time when entire police force is supposed to be on alert in the wake of massacres in Mehjoornagar. Much more than that there is definite deficiency in intelligence inputs. This explains why fidayeens and other Pak sponsored ultras continue to operate right from the capital. Their hideouts within the city and the harbourers thereof remain beyond the knowledge of police. This needs necessary correctives immediately.

The above incident coupled with many more during the week also puts a big question mark on the unilateral ceasefire. Ceasefire on the borders is holding and to that extent it is welcome. Borders are quiet. Border residents feel relieved. It lessens the burden on the civil administration due to frequent exodus of the people under incessant fireworks. There is indeed no harm in continuing with it. It keeps the armies of both the countries disengaged which indeed averts the possibility of any major clash. But as regards situation within, it is bad enough. In fact, many incidents have happened after unilateral ceasefire was declared which is already in its third month. It is certain that the enemy has used this interregnum for regrouping and accelerating subversive attacks. Sikhs have been massacred in random shootout creating fear in the community which feels quite unsafe and insecure in Valley. One tends to appreciate their courage in as much as they yet remain steadfast in their resolve not to fall in the trap of Pakistan which is hell bent upon ensuring second phase of ethnic cleansing. Many attacks and ambushes of the security forces have also been carried out during this ceasefire period. There is the news from Nowshera, Rajouri/Poonch sectors that many ultras who infiltrated recently have been killed. This means infiltration is on and Pak cover continues to be available to them for crossing LoC. One can as well put it this way; rate of infiltration of men and material is more than rate of elimination/seizures which explains spurt in militant related incidents. Roasting alive of 15 innocent citizens to nomadic tribes shows how well entrenched militants are and how helpless our Security apparatus happens to be. One would have expected positive response from Pakistan as regards reining in Pak based ultras continuing to carry out heinous acts in Jammu & Kashmir. Musharraf has not done it which shows his penchant for blood spillage of the innocent. If only he was sincere, further infiltration would have been prevented by him. That has not happened.

In the light of the above spurt in indiscriminate killings of the innocent as also hitting security forces targets, police included, many discordant notes have begun to manifest calling for review of the unilateral ceasefire. BJP President Bangaru Laxman wants Vajpayee Government to ponder over the utility or futility of ceasefire in the prevailing circumstances when it largely remains one-sided. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) team after its visit to Valley has asked the Government to review ceasefire as it has failed to achieve desired results. They have also asked induction of more forces to provide adequate security to the minorities which have become target of the militants belatedly. The high level meeting held in Delhi has decided to divert para-military forces from Kumbh mela to J&K State immediately. This means there is no room for scaling down forces level and instead there is the imperative necessity of positioning more in the vulnerable areas. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is quite blunt when he says that failure of peace efforts initiated by India in the form of unilateral ceasefire necessitates telling the enemy that 'enough is enough'. In the broader context he hates ultras indiscriminate attacks at the time and place of their choosing which brings his Government into disrepute because law and order ultimately is a State subject and Unified Headquarters function under his stewardship. He is thus in no mood to pay for the follies or fallout of many unilateral decisions. In the given situation some review is indispensable which roughly revolves round holding the ceasefire on borders but allowing enough of latitude to the security forces of all hues to engage the enemy agents effectively to keep them on the run rather than provide them oxygen for revitalisation and regrouping. The initiative which was held (upper hand) by the security forces before unilateral ceasefire was announced from Nov 28 should be retained. For doing that whatever is needed must be done. Enough is enough.

POLITICAL COMPULSIONS

Come election time and strange bed-fellows surface with reckless abandon. Scruples, principles and ideologies are given short shrift. Instead, it is the theme of 'running with the hare and hunting with the hound'. They weigh and gauge winning aspects and obviously opt for the likely clincher. The two States namely W. Bengal and Tamil Nadu which go to the polls in about two months time have shown these tendencies amongst traditional rivals and miniscules alike. In W.Bengal Congress Party which has about 50 MLAs in the assembly has done some quick ground work and felt the pulse of the people. The mood is upbeat to give the vote either to the Leftist amalgam led by CPI (M) or the Trinamool-BJP front. Congress MLAs have strong reasons to hold the view that it is tantamount to mass political suicide at the husting if Congress Party fights on its own. It is this gory prospect of eclipse that has compelled 20 MLAs to serve virtual notice on Congress High Command to join the Mahajot led by Trinamool Congress to remain in the reckoning or else they would do it on their own. A good balanced political approach. But Congress High Command is in Catch-22 situation. It cannot be where BJP is. Yet it can ill-afford total rout in W. Bengal. In Tamil Nadu which also goes to polls in April/May, the situation is no different. PMK sensing the mood of the electorate has quit NDA and joined AIADMK led by Jayalalitha Congress is already aligned with AIADMK. PMK is a pro-LTTE party and as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms Jayalalitha had asked Centre to ban it for its closeness with LTTE. PMK is also anti-Dalit and to that extent Tamil Manila Congress tends to look elsewhere with Karunanidhi holding the olive branch for their entry into DMK-led front. For Sonia's Congress it is a Hobson's choice. It is zero on its own. It stands to gain nothing in any third front. It thus clings on to AIADMK, entry of sympathisers of Rajiv killers notwithstanding . And this clinging game is not liked wee bit by the Tamil Nadu Congress unit. There could be more such marriages of convenience as the election approaches nearer.

Chittisinghpora to Mehjoora Nagar
Where Sikhs stand in Kashmir

By Mohan Singh Kala

After Chittisingh Pora carnage, Sikhs living in the Kashmir valley were feeling insecure. At that time assurance was given to them that their lives and property will be protected, they will be provided employment in the State Services and other type of help will be given. They were given moral support, apart from political and material support, by the Muslims, Hindus, Bodhs and Christians. It was exhorted by the majority community not to Migrate and fall into the trap of ISI run militant organisations. At that time, Sikhs as a mature community, thought it better not to leave their hearths and homes on this selected killings and not to migrate from the Valley.

State Government failed to full-fill its promises given to the Sikhs at that time. No full- proof security was provided to them living in far flung villages numbering about 120, even no steps were considered for security for those living in the cities. Young educated boys and girls were not provided jobs and those who deserved seats in the professional colleges, were denied that right. In fact no follow-up action was taken by the State Government to full fill its promises. No other confidence building measures were taken by the authorities and the majority community.

Inspite of the fact that migration means leaving behind one's hearth and homes and start a new life- a painful process, Sikhs continued to live, as before. This apart, Sikhs have not forgotten their history and teachings of their great Gurus. History is witness that they fought against the tyranny and injustice of the Mughal might and Hindu Princely states and others. They always kept in mind the teachings of the great Gurus, who believed and in one-ness of God and brotherhood of man and followed the principle of unity in diversity and the principle of tolerance and mutual respect. Sikhs could not reconcile to the actions of the militants from across the border who have been taught and trained in the Madrasas and training camps that ethnic religious diversity is a threat. Our way of life is different than those who resort to the killings of innocent people.

State Government failed in building confidence measures. It did not meet the legitimate demands and aspirations of the community in providing jobs in the Government Services, allotting seats in the professional colleges. Had the Government been sincere, it would have set up a committee of MLA's, High Officials and prominent Sikhs to implement the assurances given. Apart from this the Government should have given representations to Rtd Government Officers in the Statutory bodies, like PSC/SRB's. Ministers and local MLA's should have visited the Sikh populated areas and intelligence agencies should have been directed to provide intelligence reports about the grievances of the Sikhs. No steps were taken to remove the genuine grievances of the Sikhs. Government miserably failed to appoint a Commission to inquire about the killings of Sikhs in Chittisinghpora. Sikhs have feelings that they are being discriminated against. Even majority community failed to install feelings of security among-Sikhs due to fear of militants.

As far security measures are concerned Government has miserably failed. Posting 3-5 cops in the Sikh Villages in the prevailing circumstances is nothing but eye-wash. State Government should have requisitioned at least 100 to 150 Companies of Para Military forces for security and protection of Sikhs living in the villages and cities.

Sikhs in the Kashmir valley waited and watched, after the Chittisingpora massacre, that State and Central Government will take measures to full-fill the promises given to them, and build confidence measures among the Sikhs. But alas: nothing has been done. They suffered in 1947 at the hands of tribal invaders, sacrificed during war in 1965 and 1971. Governments from time to time neglected them, they were not given representation in the legislature, their transport Industry was neglected and not modernised, they have still not been given proprietory rights of the evacuee lands, Punjabi (in Gurmukhi Scripts), has not been encouraged and Sikh representation in the Statutory bodies is almost nil. All this indicates that Sikhs, as a community, has been neglected.

After Chittisinghpora killings, there seems no change in the educational, economic and social conditions of the Sikhs inspite of assurance for their betterment. They were feeling shaky in view of the prevailing circumstances where writ of militants from across border runs. Circumstances in the Valley are such that no one is in control of the situation. Militants from across the border strike on the directions of ISI they are under the control of ISI and Jamat-e-Islami, Jamat-e-Islami believes in two- nature theory. They do not tolerate other religions and believe in ethnic cleansing. Pakistan was created on the basis of two-nation theory. Thousands of Madrassas are being run in Pakistan by Jamat-e-Islami, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia and Osama-Bin-Laden. These youngsters are taught that ethnic and religious diversity is a threat to Muslims and taught to wage Jehad against ohters. They are trained to keep different people away from one another by killings as far as possible. For this purpose there are more than 100 training camps and about 14 private armies, which recruit these boys. Out of these private Armies, Lashker-e-Toiba, Harkut-ul-Mujahideen, Al Badar and Jaish-e-Mohd are some of the Armies which send these trained boys to Kashmir to liberate it from the infidals. It is clear from this that war in Kashmir (Proxy war) is a religious one and not political one. Such a war suits Pakistan, as it is not interested in Political settlement of the Kashmir dispute. That is the reason that Pakistan has igored Simla Agreement and Lahore declaration. It consider Kashmir dispute as a religious one. Statement of Ali Shah Geelani confirms it. ISI and Jamat-e-Islami and militants want ethnic cleansing in the Kashmir valley, otherwise there is no reason ground in killing Sikhs, who never created any problem in their movement in Kashmir, Sikhs have all along been neutral in Kashmir from 1990, when Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of Kashmir, though they stood for communal harmony in Kashmir.

Under these circumstances, how Sikhs can live in Kashmir when they have been attacked and kiling three times in one year for no fault of theirs. Let the authorities at the helm of affairs think over this. In fact, Sikhs, as a brave community, is reluctant to migrate. But the atmosphere in Kashmir is not congenial for their continued stay. Sikhs in the valley never thought that they will be landed in such a situation. It is difficult to migrate and resettle, In such circumstances what should they do. It is very difficult to arrive at a final decision. Economic condition of the Sikhs in Kashmir is not that sound. They they can't stand on their on feet. They cannot leave their hearth and houses in haste, and after that where to go. They have to ponder over this. It is a mature community. Let them form a decision making body consisting of prominent Sikhs.

Sikhs in Kashmir appreciate role of Kashmiri Muslims. At the same time we are sore over the role of print media in Kashmir for its reporting, waiting and comments on communal lines. Similarly role of the intelligentsia and Administration has not been encouraging. Had the administration been alive to the situation, it would have taken measure to avert the killings at Mehjoor Nagar.

At this juncture, which is an hour of crisis for the community, after deliberations, a cool thinking they will arrive at such conclusion which will be in the best interests of the community and country.