Politics has no religion of its own

Religion plays an important role in ethnic conflicts. Gandhi once said “The religion can never be divorced from politics” which is true in a sense, and it was Jinnah who used this religious symbolism and succeeded in creating a state not on the basis of color, not on the basis of language, but this time on the basis of religion. Had he not used, religion he would not had succeeded in creating “Pakistan”, although debate remains what forced him to do so because he had joined Muslim League only with a purpose to act as bridge between League and Congress. He might have not anticipated the consequences in which more than million died and nearly ten million people migrated – the biggest in the modern history. Religion has become an epiphenomenal factor in politics and society.
Jinnah’s problems with the Congress began with the ascent of Gandhi in 1918, who espoused civil disobedience and most importantly Hindu values as the best means to obtain swaraj for all South Asians. Jinnah differed, saying that only constitutional struggle could lead to independence. Unlike most congressmen, Gandhi did not wear western style clothes, did his best to use Hindi language instead of English, and was deeply Hindu religious. Jinnah criticized Gandhi’s support of Khilafat Movement, which he saw as an endorsement of religious zealotry.
Now even sixty years after the end of alien rule, we are still grappling with religious politics. Now we have no one to blame but ourselves. Advani’s mere statement of praising “Jinnah” and quoting his historic speech caused a big controversy in India. Still India clams to be the biggest democracy of the world. We have seen dozens of communal riots, among which barbarity of Gujrat will always remind the ugly face of modern Indian democracy in which more than 2000 innocent people lost their lives, several hundred Muslim girls were reportedly stripped and dragged naked before their own families and then raped. Still I have good reasons to believe that no religion gives permission of killing innocents, raping,  and if someone is doing it in name of religion, it is not religion but the so called  followers who are doing wrongs in the name of religion.
The recent row over the land transfer to the SASB was also given a religious color and was politicized. So many peoples have lost their lives and there has been a major setback to the tourism and fruit industry as well.  The parties who are voicing for a separate state of Jammu are in a way echoing with the voice of separatists, who have already started the slogans of Muzaffarabad chalo. And the recent demand to merge Doda , Poonch and Rajouri with Kashmir division is due to the growing unrest of Muslims in these areas, and if the atrocities continues against the Muslims, the day will come when these voices will be heard from every corner of the country. I wonder will there be another division? And are we really ready to see and face another barbaric genocide?
Our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, democracy and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, and laid the foundation of the country with the words, “It is a birth  of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Right from our childhood we were taught the definition of democracy as “the government of the people, for the people and by the people”, but the whole world sees how a democratic government is being formed in Kashmir, with leaders booked under Public Safety Act (PSA). And it is not for the first time that the people took to the street and raised slogans just as the Indians did against the Britishers, but we have grown up seeing this happen. And the government is following the same policy, which was followed by the Christians to overthrow the Islamic government of Andlas, the present day Spain. In the book “Andlas Mai Islam “( Islam in Spain), the writer has beautifully portrayed the sufferings of Muslims and has compared it with the policies of the Britishers in India. The writer has portrayed the Islamic history in a short poem from the Battle of Badar to the conquering of the Andlas (Hasfania) by Tariq bin Ziyad in the west and Mohamad bin Qasim in the East (Sindh). We used to read it on the eve of Eid and other important occasions of our small town, what is called the ‘Chota Kashmir’, and now I could understand the real meaning and importance of these lines.
Is India or Pakistan really serious about resolving the Kashmir issue? And if by the grace of God some solution is reached, I wonder what will be the content of the speeches of the leaders from both sides, as they will be left with the topics of development, poverty reduction, employment generation and problems relating to environment. And if the two countries are really serious in resolving the Kashmir problem, then just do it in accordance with the democratic values and let the people decide what they want. The elections have been taking place right from the beginning. They have ruined the life of millions of not only Kashmiris but themselves and surely we have lost our lives and they have lost their dignity. The whole world has now recognized the Kashmir problem and its solution which is essential for maintaining peace in South East Asia. The recent remarks of President Obama regarding appointing Former President Clinton as a special envoy to Kashmir has invited strong criticism in India.
(Hamid Iqbal is a Research Scholor from AMU, Aligarh)

State after Article 370.

State after Article 370.

The events leading after 2016 Assembly elections have proved out to be yet another watershed movement in the geo-political movement of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The decision of PDP aligning with the BJP has once again proved fatal as has been the previous alliances with the center. But those who were responsible for the alliance from back door working as shadows have been gifted well. The last time when G.M Sadiq was awarded Padam Vibhushan the state lost the title of head of state and resulted in erosion of article 370.

In last 70 years the status of once an Independent kingdom has changed drastically. The state has witnessed these changes from Prime Minister to Chief Minister and Sadr-e- Riyasat to Governor and now the Lieutenant Governor as an agent of Centre. The latest move to downgrade the state to the status of Union Territory (UT) was just to prove that India has the sovereign right to change its status and that people in J&K over the years have been made too weak to resist. It shows the rise of India’s might and dominance while the state over the period has been weakened. The state machinery which had taken oath to protect the constitution of the state is being used by the center to take away all the rights of the people.  Kanan Gopinathan stands lone example who resigned in protest for not allowing descent.  The question is for those who took oath to protect and preserve the state constitution? They should take the responsibility as they failed not only to protect and safe guard the interest of the state but even found themselves being used to take away the fundamental rights of the people.

It cannot be denied that the state has largely been under lockdown. It is also a well-known fact that it is only in darkness, the democracy dies in silence. Delhi used some Muslim organizations of India to justify its claim of abrogating article 370. The opposition parties largely failed to protect it even though they knew that its essence has already been taken away and now it will be used as a hollow slogan for elections. But they largely failed to convince that the constitutional ground on which it has been abrogated will not set a good precedence and other states particularly the North East will start fearing that following similar practice their rights can also be taken away by simply first imposing Presidents Rule and then by assuming that the legislative powers of state rests with the Lok Sabha.

Historically the state has witnessed all changes and it has shaped political movements but state leadership has largely failed to learn the lessons. Unlike other states Jammu and Kashmir failed to protect the provisions enshrined in the constitution itself. Largely speaking the policy of the center has always been consistent and always resulted in erosion of Article 370 while the state leadership has always failed to protect it. It is primarily because of the fact that the politicians in Kashmir knew and understood well that in order to remain in power they have to remain on the right side of the central government. To put it in simple words “When Sheikh was told to give up his cap, Bakshi agreed to give his cap and his Coat and when G.M. Sadiq was contacted he agreed to give up his shirt also along with the Cap and his Coat and this process continued until there was nothing left now”. The same statement has been written by A.S. Daulat who emphasized that Mr. Farooq Abdullah knows in order to remain in power he will always have to remain on the right side of Delhi and will not follow his father’s foot step who had to live half of his life in incarceration. However, now I find it very difficult to understand as to how the National Conference will chalk out its agenda for the future political process. It will be difficult for Dr. Farooq Abdullah who has danced on the tunes of Delhi to remain on the right side of Delhi. The restoration of statehood as some of the regional political parties have already started demanding can never form a new political discourse at this point of time. By this action of the Delhi, it is the mainstream political parties who have lost ground and not the separatist. It can be seen as a victory of the separatists. I fear that their idea will gain more support than before and it is only the mainstream political parties who are at the cross roads.

As per the Govt. of India three of the Ex. Chief Ministers are threat to peace and security of the state and therefore have been placed under house arrest and now Public Safety Act. Mr. Farooq Abdullah who has been used by Delhi at the National and International forums to undermine the Independent Kashmir movement was the first to be charged with Public safety act (PSA). The narrative was initially built that these leaders have won elections with 1 to 2 percent votes. But the question remains unanswered. Who conducted elections? Was India not aware of this fact before? Does Govt. of India admit that past leadership which has been ruling the state represented the wishes and aspirations of only 2% voters? Why were wishes and aspiration of the rest of the population not listened if India claims to be largest democracy? So this is an admission of the fact that democracy has been ruthlessly murdered in Kashmir. Now in the statement of PSA, Omar is charged with potential to mobilize support as he had successfully called to defy boycott and therefore has the potential to create an atmosphere which will destabilize peace. Means they are looking for person who does not hold the potential to mobilize people (lame duck).

Next step of the Delhi which seemed to be launching an alternative to NC and PDP has come true but they have nothing to sell in their basket. Delhi may find a Mir Jaffer  but it will not lead to the resolution of the long standing dispute. This time the politicians of the state will have to justify before initiating any political discourse as to how they will be different. Why they will not be labelled as the leaders of 2% when their part of conspiracy gets fulfilled.  The safe guard given by the constitution of India and the promises made by the then leadership have not been honored. Kashmir is in the middle of a very difficult of path. If India is serious on resolving the dispute then instead of carving out a new political class it should start a dialogue and listen to people. The people also have the responsibility to listen and not fall prey to false and propaganda which will start once the curbs are lifted.

Kashmir has been very unfortunate not to have people’s leader who would guide them through this rough sea. If we compare any national movement with the Kashmir movement, the sacrifice rendered by the people of Kashmir has no comparison. There are thousands of stories of brutal repression, mass graves, rapes, war crimes, political killings, rise and fall of Ikhwani’s and towards the past few years the use of pellet guns which has not even spared a two year old Hibba. Kashmir movement largely remains under-covered at international level not only because of the darkness which is created to kill the democracy but by divided voices which come out. But post Aug 5 the Kashmir has found place in the news across the globe with UN discussing it at least two times.

It is for this reason I see it as a watershed movement. If all the leaders become united under one umbrella and choose and draft the idea of Jammu and Kashmir in joint declaration as and when the political discourse starts, it is only then, not only India but the world will see and look at you seriously. Many of the leaders have danced on the tunes of Delhi and did everything to convince them about their Indian character and if Delhi has been suspicious of them they can’t and won’t trust anyone from Kashmir. So even if the new political party comes up from the faction of National Conference or Peoples Democratic Party, it will only throw the state into another cycle of violence and then after some time even these leaders will be labelled as threat to peace.

Lot of lives have been lost, lot of bloodshed has happened. The leaders instead of thinking “apna apna or apni apni” should join hands for a peaceful and just resolution of dispute which is true representation of the aspirations of the people of entire Jammu and Kashmir. The people should stop looking at the outside world for help and rather get united to develop an idea for peace. Stop trading blood as you will be no different than the past leaders. Kashmir will prosper only when there will be peace. Development of few can be no substitute to peace. 

By: Hamid Iqbal