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Separate State for Gujjars

Sir,

Out of the total population of 93 Lakh in Jammu & Kashmir, 30 lakh Hindu of Jammu Division are demanding Jammu as a separate State. Four lac Kashmiri Pandits of Kashmir valley are also pressing for a separate homeland for them. Five lac Ladakhi people are demanding a union territory. Status 31 lac Muslims of Kashmir valley are longing for independence from the Govt. of India.

Out of total population of 93 lac of Jammu and Kashmir State, Gujjar Bakerwal population is reckoned to be twenty (20) lac. This Gujjar and Bakerwal population had so far been keeping mum and had demanded nothing from the Govt. of India. Now time has come that a new State called 'Gujjarsthan" be carved for 20 lac Gujjars. Gujjar Bakerwal have a different civilization, language and culture and that they have an identity of their own. Gujjar Bakerwal community is continuing to be economically backward, devoid of education and social status. The community is logging behind politically as well. To give them their due the only way out is to grant and set up a separate State for them.

Yours etc...
Shamsheer Hakla Poonchi
Bandichechian
Poonch J&K

Peace in Kashmir

Sir,

Anyone who is following the events in Kashmir very closely in recent two years will comprehend the fact that problem is not only complex but beyond real solution. How can we come up with a solution which will appease every one involved in the conflict. It is no doubt that the real sufferer is a common Kashmiri but this doesn't limit there. It is definitely true that India is paying heavily in terms of men, money and morality, the worst sufferer is still Pakistan. It is too easy to say that Pakistan must stop is activity but Pakistan cannot roll forward without something going on this front. It is not that it does not realize the potential doom it may have to face by engaging more and more in to this issue, it intentionally continues to ignore the implications of its current policy on the future of Pakistan itself. Even Pakistan knows that the future is not very bright but still instead of mending things at home it misses no opportunity to advice India on how to solve its problems which India does not need.

India is a vast nation, I will say miniworld in itself. It does not matter to India if it cut off from the rest of the world. India demonstrated its resilience in the wake of recent sanctions. Even USA had to admit that sanctions did not make any difference to Indian capacity to evolve and invent what ever technology India wanted. India was able to make its own supercomputer when the western powers refused to impart technology . Now we have our own light combat aircraft which will take India into the category of few in the world. India plans to manufacture its own submarines infuture. India has a program in every field we can imagine and recently it was is news that it is considering manned mission to Moon. The newly discovered opportunity of exporting information technology manpower to developed world has not only brought economic strength to nation but it is continuously putting Indians in powerful positions around the globe.

The topic is vast and the discussion endless. Returning to the beginning that the future of Kashmir is known to no one except India. India very well knows what it has to do and how far it has to go in resolving this issue. If this complex problem the solution lies only with India.

It is only the above facts which Hurriyat has realized and is prepared to bring peace in the State. But time is slowly slipping away even from them. Leaders who fervently support merging with Pakistan must read Hamdoon report also. They must see how can Pakistan behave with their own part. They must also see that it not religion alone which makes the life go. Our soul needs much more in today's world.

So let not the Kashmiris be led to disaster. Let them not play with the future of Kashmiri youth. Who knows now if even Hurriyat has capacity to control this blood spilling. But I hope they are in real control. Let us see what is in store in their much stated Pakistan tour. I do not have any idea of what they will do from there. May be they may make Pakistan realize to let Kashmir go its own way or to withdraw its Mujahideen.

Yours etc...
Mohinder Pal Singh,
4571, Kirk Road, Apt#5
Austintown, OH-44515
<mpsingh70@netzero.net>

Air strikes on Iraq

Sir,

This refers to the statement of the Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, issued recently in Mumbai, on the US air strikes on Iraq. Mr. Vajpaye has very rightly condemned the US aggression on Iraq and has shown that India is committed to the cause of sister nations and is also capable enough to criticize openly the hawkish designs of those nations who want to maintain their so-called supremacy. Moreover, the statement further confirms India's concern and sympathy for the growth and sovereignty of the other nations.

The unprovoked, barbaric air attacks of the US on an already wrecked nation deserve a widespread condemnation. It hardly reflects wisdom on the part of the president of a super power to debauch and crush the people of a small nation just to settle political scores. Already millions of Iraqi children and women are suffering from malnutrition, infectious diseases and other ailments because of the undue repression by the US for the last several years. Now, it has started killing the innocent citizens by unprovoked air raids.

On the one hand the US is mobilizing the global support to generate a consensus to limit arsenal proliferation and to curb terrorism and on the other hand it is itself involved in missile testing and undertaking mega terrorist acts, ignoring the international law and the UN resolutions, like one in case of Iraq recently.

It is very ironical that US has done this all brushing aside the UN resolutions. But more ironical is that the UN (which is more or less a puppet in the hands of the US ) is always a silent spectator on the breach of its those very norms which, in fact, lay down the foundation of international human rights.

I think it is the right time for all other nations to come on a common platform so as to bring this muscular gaint to keens than to continue 'yesmanism' and shedding perspiration of undue fear, so that the international norms (UN resolutions) which have come into being by the co-ordination and will of majority of nations could be respected and the unprovoked and arbitrary attacks on other nations, the people of which have also an equally important right to live happily, could be stopped.

Yours etc...
Abrar Naseem Chowdhary
Colony, RRL, Jammu
e-mail:abrar7862k1@yahoo.com