The Budgam Protests by Kashmiri Pandits and the Police Action: Lalit K Kaul

 

The Budgam Protests by Kashmiri Pandits and the Police Action

Lalit K Kaul

For a handful of unfortunate specie, born in “Bharat”, protesting for the killing of one of their kith and kin and asking for criminals to be brought to justice; the Indian State responds with tear gas and lathi charge; the nadir was hit when a cop was seen physically handling a woman protester and dragging the male one!

Having drawn fullest political advantage from the release of the Classic “Kashmir Files” by sermonizing all the opposition parties on their indifference to the plight of the Pandits and projecting itself to be the one whose heart always bled for the Pandits; the true face of the ruling elite at the Center is exposed beyond debate. It is not the first time that Indian State has displayed its might against the most vulnerable; the self proclaimed “Gandhian” the PM of India, Sri Morarji Desai, ordered lathi charge on a rally of the blind! There are many more such instances that expose the barbaric nature of the State. The State condemns “terrorist” attack as an act of “cowardice”; for Heaven’s sake! What then is the classification for barbarism of the police? 

The Shaheen Bagh and No Police Action:

Guess what? There was nonexistent police force in Delhi when the anti national elements in Shaheen Bagh were in full cry; shouting slogans to break up India; the involvement of the students of the educational institutions like AMU, Jamia Islamia and the JNU proclaiming that they don’t recognize India as a single entity; the speakers from the dais of Asaddudin Owaisi hailing Pakistan and raising slogans like “Pakistan Zindabad”. What was police doing? It was protecting the anti national elements by providing them with a security cover by raising barricades; causing daily commuters to experience an unprecedented trauma. Was the police incapable of clearing the sit-in? Was women police not available in Delhi? No, it was not the reason at all.

The self proclaimed “Bharat Mata Kae Sapoot” who untiringly scream “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Matram”, the Home Minister of their clan was looking the other way because Delhi elections were round the corner. The “Sapoots” had decided to barter away the integrity of their “Bharat Mata” for the prospect of forming a government in Delhi and therefore the anti national elements had to be tolerated and their representatives squatting in Shaheen Bagh protected because Muslim votes always matter in the elections. The gamble was ON, but Delhi people gave the “Sapoots” the hardest slap on their faces by humiliating them in the elections.

The Farmers’ Gherao of Capital City and No Police Action:

The most humiliating experience as the National Capital had been kept under siege for nearly 16 months. It can happen nowhere in the world because no self respecting Nation can tolerate siege of its Capital. The most ridiculous part of the Gherao was that the goons in the garb of farmers were demanding repeal of such laws as had been insistently demanded by the greats like Mahendra Singh Tikait, Sharad Joshi, Prof Nanjundaswamy and others; they all wanted Swaminathan Commission Report to be fulfilled in its totality; what the 3 laws tried to accomplish was to move a step in that direction. The hoisting of Khalistani flag at the Red Fort and bringing down the National Tri Colour; the provocative statements by netas like Kejriwal and other opposition leaders; the harassment caused to daily commuters; the vandalizing of mobile towers; to all such acts were offered blind eye and deaf ear.

The dubious narrative churned out, on a near daily basis, was “Loktantr Mein Sab Jayaz Hai”! Even the integrity of India is allowed to be put at stake, Mr. Home Minister? Why was Gherao of the Capital city allowed? The answer: the Jat votes in Western UP that is always crucial to the outcome of the election results.

But, then came an unprecedented act of opportunism; the real character of the “Bharat Mata Kae Sapoot” was out in the open. It was settled once and for all that the “Sapoots” could go to any extent to keep the prospect of winning the elections open.

Capt. Amrinder Singh turned out to be the smart guy in that he thoroughly understood the opportunistic character innate to the “Sapoots”. Capt had been consistently opposing the new Agri laws for his own reasons; knowing the “Sapoots” he threw a carrot at them; he hypnotized them into believing that abrogation of 3 Agri laws can lead them to victory in the elections more so because his party would jointly contest the elections with “Sapoots” as the major partner. What more could they ask for!

Then came the moralistic stand from master opportunists; the PM arrogating onto himself the highest pedestal of morality pronounced “since some of my farmer friends continue to disagree with the laws I am withdrawing them” Thus, he undermined dignity of the Parliament for the lure of a win in Punjab elections. Can anybody ask the PM: Sir, since when did democracy started functioning on consensus basis?

So, the police looked the other way because UP and Punjab elections were round the corner!

Hats Off to Kashmiri Pandits who protested in Budgam:

For once, since long, the Pandits exhibited courage and conviction to stage public protest in not so friendly an environment. The Pandits – the community to which the author belongs - need to realize that they have to fight their own battles; it’s encouraging to see new leadership emerging to take up the issues upfront; but they need to guard themselves from the stooges of “Sapoots” who abound in the community and mostly come from the section that did not undergo the humiliation and trauma starting 1988.

The protesters should know that they are up against a political mafia that has no value for the community because in no assembly constituency is this community in a position to decide the outcome; the more “Sapoots” are relied upon the more they will exploit the community for their political gains. To keep a distance from them, may turn out to be beneficial in the long run.

The innate strength of this community is that since centuries now against all odds and religious repressions including political persecutions; has managed to find a respectable way out to live a life of dignity and honour; has done exceedingly well in whatever professions were adopted; the outstanding part being that a KP is what he/she is on his/her own strength, conviction and irrepressible will to fight all odds and face all difficulties.

The True Nature of party of “Sapoots” – the BJP:

When the Pandits were thrown out of the Valley lock, stock and barrel it was V P Singh’s government running on support from BJP; the Home Minister was Mufti Mohammed Sayeed – the rabidly communal specie and perpetrator of 1989 riots and temples destruction in the Valley.

For all the noises made by BJP post Kashmir Files, the BJP never questioned the then government on the exodus; when V P Singh said “Who Pandits”, the BJP never responded.

Sri A B Vajpayee was the PM of India for 13 days, 13 months and 5 years; never initiated a discussion in the Parliament about the exodus of Pandits; never thought of introducing a bill in the Parliament for immediate reversal of the exodus. Instead he glorified “Kashmiriat, Insaaniyat and Jamooriat” thus indirectly sanctifying the exodus and the barbaric events preceding it. There are many things he did and one of them was to give birth to PDP via Mufti Mohammed Sayeed – the leading perpetrator of inhuman acts against the Pandits.

Sri Narendra Modi, now in office of PM for nearly 8 years with absolute majority in the Parliament never thought of introducing a bill to formulate laws that would honourably rehabilitate the Pandits in their land of home and hearth. On the contrary they continued to provide security cover to the perpetrators of crimes against the Pandits; the BJP government has charged Yasin Malik for some criminal act in 2014; thus decreeing him to be innocent until 2014; the Delhi Doordarshan live interview with Yasin Malik on his inhuman acts against the Pandit community, notwithstanding. The “Sapoots” have not found courage to charge sheet and punish the Yasins and Bittas for their acts of rape, murder, kidnapping etc.

The BJP is busy gaining confidence of Moulvis, Maulanas and Muftis including the leaders like Asaddudin Owaisi for ensuring bigger and bigger chunk of Muslim votes; that’s the reason why none of them have been charged under sedition act despite their pronouncements/videos during anti CAA hooliganism.

The farce of CAA is that 600 Hindus have gone back to Pakistan because they were not accommodated even under CAA. Hardik Patel was charged under sedition act just because he spoke a few sentences against police while Asaddudin and Akbaruddin are roaming free even after rendering highly provocative speeches in Aurangabad recently.

Why should I – a Kashmiri Pandit- call myself an Indian?

Since more than 3 decades now I have been asking this question in group discussions within and without the Pandit community; only to be reprimanded and admonished if not always greeted with choicest invectives.

Post 1990, I am convinced that that there is no reason why I should call myself an Indian; because whatever I am – like any other KP- it is due to my own efforts; the influence of upbringing and associated culture. A KP – be he/she a peon, a officer, an ambassador, an artist, an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, a business person etc, in the effort leading to qualifying for a respectable position in the society, there were no government sponsored reservations, no economic grants, no job reservations, etc.

The only overwhelming reason that binds me to this land is Cultural Heritage & the Mother of my heritage has been snatched from me by the depraved politicians who took reins of power in their hands. The second best place is the land (outside Kashmir) called India insofar as cultural heritage is concerned; if there was any option I would have opted for it. It is my cultural heritage that binds me to this land and not my being an Indian- surely not after 1989.