Mail

Burqa campaign

Sir,

The recent diktat issued by the Laskhar-e-Jabbar (LeJ) that 'Burqa' is a must for Muslim women has been criticized by majority of the terrorist groups. In fact this has created a wide rift between Kashmiri militants and foreign mercenaries amidst fears that Pakistan's ISI is attempting to 'Talibanise Kashmir'. The ISI has impressed upon some of its favourite organisations to insist only on rule of Islamic Shariat in Kashmir, which they think can help in bolstering the dwindling support to carry out militancy.

The very freedom and liberty, which the Kashmiri women enjoy in J&K, has been put at stake by the Lashkar-e-Jabbar (LeJ). The recent acid attacks on some women in Anantnag, in August this year prove this point. Significantly the threat by Lashkar-e-Jabbar (LeJ) has come in for flak from indigenous militant groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and even several members of Hurriyat conference, have criticized the obscure militant groups for ordering a dress code for women in Kashmir. It sought to leave it to the free will of Kashmir women whether they put on a Burqa or not?

Significantly, the call of Lashkar-e-Jabbar (LeJ) has supporters like Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Miliat, which have been attempting to disturb the secular and Sufi ethos of the State. Enforcement of dress code, by way of throwing acid on women, has already created divergence of opinion among Kashmir's militants and separatist political organisation. Even as Syed Ali Shah Geelani of Jamait-e-Islamic and Asiya Abdrabi of Dukhtaran-e-Miliat have sounded supportive of the Burqa campaign, all other major outfits have opposed the same. Till date, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen is the only militant outift has issued a statement in support of the Burqa campaign.

The locals of Kishtwar feel that the diktat, is not 'Islamisation' but is in effect a ploy to meet the need of terrorists where in they can masquerade in the Burqa which offers ample cover and concealment for carriage of their arms, ammunition and other equipment.

The Security Forces on their part have become more alert to this' trick' and have resolved not to let the "Burqa Warfare" get the better of them.

Yours etc...
Swaranjeet Kour Oberoi
134 A, RSS Enclave Nagrota

Construct Lanyal road

Sir,

We, the public of Lanyal Kishtwar want to bring into the notice of every body that after 54 years of independence how can we say that our nation is a developing one if a nursery class student has to cover 5 kms distance daily on foot to attend his school as our village Lanyal is still without road facility.

Every time during election days leaders assured as to provide road after coming in power, but after occupying musical chair they forget everything.

There is neither any dispensary or medical centre nor a branch of a post office or of any bank in the area. Even for a minor problem we have to shift our patients on stretcher or bedstead to hospital as even a two wheeler cannot reach our village. Besides lack of these facilities we are not given the benefits of SRO 126 as residents of backward area.

For the construction of road we approached concerned deptt. and Minister but no body paid any attention.

It is, therefore, requested to the Govt. and concerned Deptt. to look into the matter and do the needful without caring for the personal interests of any body because it is a question of welfare and development of the area.

Yours etc...
Public of Lanyal Kishtwar
through Nasir H Sheikh

Staging of 'Dhakghar' in Dogri

Sir,

This is with reference to the letter staging of play "Dhakghar'' by Moti Lal Kemmu which appeared in The Daily Excelsior on Oct 9, 2001.

In this context I would like to submit as under:-

The play "Dhakghar" has been staged at Abhinav Theatre on 4th of Oct, 2001 in Dogri by children first time as no threatre group of Jammu as well as of India has claimed to have staged the said play in Dogri.

Our intention to write first time was only just to provide the information about the play which was going to be staged in Dogri Language by Children but it has never been mentioned that play has not been staged in any language.

As far as the Moti Lal Kemmu's letter is concerned, he has just tried to let the people know through your esteemed daily that he also has staged the same, but he never mentioned the language. He also has not forgotten the name of P L Handu who is presently working as an Assistant Director of Doordarshan Kendra just to show that such a high ranking person had been working under his direction, whereas the total number of cast is about fourteen.

As far as annual report of the Institution is concerned there are hundreds of institutions, organisations recognised with the Cultural Academy and every year they check the report as well as the activities of the group before any financial assistance is sanctioned in their favour.

Mr. Kemmu also mentioned that the word "first time" has become a hit and in this context, I just want to bring to your kind notice that Jammu Drama/Theatre is still undeveloped as compared to other regions of the country and there is not only the play "Dhakghar" which has been staged first time in Dogri but in future there shall be a number of plays to be staged in Dogri as we have just fifty years of Drama history in Dogri.

At the end, I would firmly say that staging of "Dhakghar" in Dogri by children first time is a truth as no theatre group of Jammu as well as of India has claimed to have done the play "Dhakghar'' in Dogri till date.

Yours etc...
Varsha Dogra
Director,
C/o Samooh Theatre,
Jammu.