CAA and Persecuted Minorities in Kashmir: Lalit k kaul

 

CAA & Persecuted Minorities in Islamic State of Kashmir

                                                                                 Lalit K Kaul

Whenever our Prime Minister, Sri Narendra D. Modi, speaks in an international forum he never forgets to make use of the phrase: “World is One Family" and he relates this world-view to “Bhartiya Sanskriti" as derived from the Vedic thought. But what he doesn't tell his audience is that membership of this family is a privileged one in India as it comes at a premium. An individual or a community and a religious sect naturally qualify to be a member of this family if capability to engineer riots, plan bomb blasts, plan balkanization of India, gherao Delhi for months end on, and change the electoral fortunes of a political outfit has been proven. The communities that haven't multiplied in numbers to inflate population and have consistently contributed to the economic growth of their country without having got favours from the governments or derived benefits from reservation schemes and without showing the capability to incite violence, those ones in India don't qualify to be members of that “One Family".

CAA:

Essentially an Act that allows the persecuted minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to become Indian citizens. Those who came to India before 2014 and have been staying since are entitled for Indian citizenship. One should not lose sight of the fact that they all are foreign nationals. And according to Nehru-Liaqaut pact, the minorities are free to cross over and, therefore, entitled to respective citizenships. This crossover has been one sided. While there is nothing reprehensible in implementing CAA, what about persecuted minorities in the Kashmir Valley?

The much-maligned Taliban Government & highly touted BJP Government:

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has declared that resident Hindus and Sikhs-who had migrated from Afghanistan to India and other places due to then prevalent unfavourable conditions- are welcome back and that all their properties, houses and business enterprises would be returned to them. The Taliban have been able to make such a path breaking offer (unthinkable until a few years ago) to such communities who were hitherto persecuted on religious grounds because they are in full command of the contemporary situation as their administrative writ works in entire country, despite threats from IS(KS) and Al Qaeda.

Yes, it could be related to the Taliban's urge to improve relations with India, yet such an offer couldn't have come if the Taliban were not in total command of Afghanistan and, therefore, capable of providing security to the lives and properties of Hindus and Sikhs. In their desire to improve relations with India the latter couldn't have put this condition that Afghan Hindus and Sikhs be rehabilitated in Afghanistan because India too has similar interests if she has to restrain China from making Afghanistan another Pakistan for it. Afghanistan also affords entry into Central Asia and therefore India needs to have some foothold in there. Therefore, in inviting Sikhs and Hindus back to their mother country, it may be safely stated that the Indian influence had no role to play in it.

On the other hand, the BJP government in India-in existence for ten years, now- hasn't had the courage to make a statement in the Lok Sabha that the properties of minorities persecuted on the basis of religion will be returned to them and that they will be rehabilitated in the towns, villages and cities where they resided prior to 1986. That the properties occupied by the local Muslims; obtained from the exiled minorities under coercion at throw away prices will be returned to their original owners; the unoccupied dilapidated properties will be renovated for their use and the persecuted minorities will be helped in restarting their businesses in Kashmir, etcetera, etcetera.

The 2014 and 2019 election manifestos of BJP talked about rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit community and other minorities in the Valley-though nothing perceptible was done except that the Pandits who were on the target of their tormentors were forced to be the chosen prey for the hunter and that ended up in the Pandits losing their lives and thus satiating the hunger of religiously motivated barbaric. In BJP election manifesto of 2024, the issues related to Kashmiri Pandit community and other minorities have been dropped. And, this is tantamount to total capitulation of the BJP to the religious ideology that was primarily responsible for the near total exile of the minorities from the Valley.

De Facto Implementation of Nehru-Liaquat Pact: India and Kashmir

To the extent that the minorities exiled from Kashmir have been allowed to stay in different parts of India and that those in command of Kashmir have been assured-directly/indirectly by the acts of the Government of India- that no “Return & Rehabilitation” of the Kashmiri Pandit community and other minorities in the Valley is envisaged and that, in fact, the very idea has been dropped. This is one way implementation of the said pact as no Muslim in India shall be persecuted on religious grounds to seek residence in Kashmir.

That the BJP is not fielding any candidate from Kashmir for Lok Sabha elections 2024, is proof enough that it recognizes Kashmir as an Islamic State within “Secular and Democratic" India and, therefore, the BJP being a “Hindu Party" is not qualified to field its candidates. Never mind sacrificing for “bigger goals”. The J&K BJP has said, “sometimes decisions are made to achieve a big goal”; “the BJP is supporting patriotic parties". Kashmir BJP Chief Ravinder Raina requested people to “reject the Congress, National Conference and PDP for the larger interest of region"

The representatives of Islamic State being provided three chairs in the Lok Sabha so that “Secular and Democratic” India is constitutionally authorized to cater to its needs while ensuring that this territory remains a part of India- loosely connected, though.

And, to ensure that that loose connection does not snap, huge investments will be ensured; tourism economy shall be increased astronomically by promoting religious tourism and for that the demolished temples of Kashmiri Pandit community – during Islamic rule and “Secular and Democratic” dispensation of India- will be renovated betraying overzealous commitment. This act of renovation serves many purposes like, 1) it conveys to Hindus in India that Vedic religion is safe in Kashmir more so because Muslims are participating in the renovation activities; it would take a discerning mind to conclude that Muslims are participating in the exercise because non-Muslims are not available (as they are targeted) in Islamic State of Kashmir and that it provides them livelihood, 2) it keeps Kashmiri Pandit community excited for the reason that their cultural heritage and religious faith is being restored even though they remain exiled ad-infinitum and out of their emotional and religious connect with their places of worship, they happily-in increased numbers year after year- make a pilgrimage to those temples in Kashmir; ironically,  they end up boosting the economy and lifestyles of their tormentors who exiled them to different parts of India and 3) it very deceptively betrays the secular tag of Muslims which more than them the Indian political leadership would like to display.

BJP: Reject Congress NC PDP in larger interest of the Region:

The Kashmir BJP Chief has not defined the region for it to remain ambiguous, but any simple interpretation of his statement would point towards Kashmir. For, the Kashmir region has to be non-chaotic for that loose connect to hold. Otherwise, instead of saying in the “interest of region", he would have stated in the interests of India. That he didn't say in the interest of India implies that the BJP recognizes India and Kashmir as two separate entities loosely connected to each other. Abrogation of Article 370 and formation of UT of J&K has gone for a toss!

If people have to reject NC PDP Congress in Kashmir, then what remains! The credentials of Apni Party are not sacrosanct as it is a conglomerate of erstwhile leaders in “mainstream" political outfits and the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party is too nascent to be expected to make a noticeable dent in Kashmir politics. The People's Conference too doesn't have credentials of being a pro-India political outfit. The less said the better for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for it remains thoroughly exposed for its dishonest ways and collaboration with Khalistani leaders stationed in the US UK and Canada. Yet the AAP remains a favourite with the Kashmiri Muslims as it too does not accept abrogation of the Article 370 and formation of UT.

Further, what would make the hardcore supporters of NC PDP and Congress to shun their respective outfits who have been consistently fed with the political agenda that Article 370 would be revoked, if they came to hold reins of political power in the UT. So, the locals see a clear political nexus between the AAP and the “mainstream” political outfits.

There is only one parameter that will decide the outcome of Lok Sabha elections in Kashmir and that is: whether Kashmiri Muslims have decided to divorce Pakistan in favour of India and that, in my considered opinion, is an unrealizable dream.

A wild assumption that they have decided to be with India, the exit of BJP has left them to be between the Devil and the Deep Sea. And, that’s the contribution of BJP to Kashmir politics!

The Way Out insofar as Minorities' interests in Kashmir are concerned:

For all the claims of having restored normalcy in Kashmir and taller claims of having solved the deliberately fueled “Kashmir Problem", it may be prudent on the part of the BJP led government in the Center- assuming that the BJP will come to power for 3^rd consecutive term- to engage the true leadership of Kashmiri Muslims that holds political and ideological sway over them for attempting to reverse the de-facto implementation of Nehru-Liaquat between India and Kashmir. Until then the Kashmiri Pandit community may enjoy the status of Non Resident Kashmiri in India.