Mandeep Singh
The separatists need a wake up call. Pakistan – and Kashmir – are being trashed, and thrashed by the Indian, and international, media and we have been hearing quite a lot from politicians of all hues, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, on “tough measures”.
We now hear (not surprisingly, though) that the “high and the mighty” in Kashmir, who have the blessings of Pakistan, are, in fact, enjoying security cover and other perks meant only for the VIPs and a privileged few. Why?
One of the leaders, we are told, has a luxury hotel coming up in the Valley; another has a flourishing business; yet another is a trader. And, all that at India's expense! And, of course, they continue to spit venom at anything India, call India the “occupying force” and Pakistan a “friend”.
The Congress governments over the decades have royally goofed up on Kashmir – all of them, without exception. But the fact is that we have had some non-Congress governments as well and they have continued to play ball and ignored the goof-ups of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Narashima Rao and Rajiv Gandhi. Why?
Modi has been at the helm for nearly half his term and only now has he started speaking about what many knew (and most did not) about Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the others. Take with that the Abdullahs and state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. No one, it seems, has a clear vision on what needs to be done, even as curfew and sporadic violence continues to make people's lives miserable.
Why cannot the government withdraw security for these enemies of India? Why are they able to get phone connections? Passports? Voter cards? Why are their family members allowed to work in India? (We now know their relatives are well placed in India and abroad, including Pakistan.)
What is the source of their funds? Their children study in India's schools and colleges, they enjoy Indian water, power and internet; they drive on India's roads; they eat Indian vegetables; they drink Indian water. Yet, for them, India is the “occupying force”.
I am appalled this is being allowed to go on and on – not for one, two, three years but for decades. The all-party delegation, the Union home minister and every other leader has been given the cold shoulder and yet we tolerate this nonsense.
Withdraw all facilities, close their bank accounts, attach their properties, take away the guards and let's see how brave they are. Leave these people on the streets to roam around like the urchins they are and all anti-India utterances they spew will be over, once and for all.
And, if that does not happen, they should be shown the door. After all, what are friends for?
