Friday, August 9, 2019
State of the Union: On Jammu and Kashmir
Early elections and full statehood are essential to the total integration of J&K with India.
Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s address to the nation on Thursday may not have reached its primary audience in Jammu and Kashmir which was in blackout. But he did well by speaking out on his decision to revoke its special status, and divide it into two Union Territories. Considering the secrecy and disinformation that preceded the decision that he rightly characterised as historic, and the triumphalism among his supporters that followed, the address was reassuring. The promises he made will be checked against delivery in the coming months, not only by the people of J&K but also by the rest of India and other countries.
In his 37-minute address, Mr. Modi promised restoration of statehood to J&K once normalcy returned, a participatory election, and growth in employment, commerce and opportunities in general for them. The PM urged industrialists to set up shop, and film-makers to shoot in the Valley, and asked people there to integrate with the global community. He even offered a catalogue of products and services that could make the State attractive in the global market. While these are desirable objectives, the PM could start with what is exclusively within his powers to effect — to call for fresh election and restore statehood at the earliest. While an elected government itself will be a sign of improvement in the situation, it will also make normalcy more organic. Revocation of statehood was unjustified in the first place, and its restoration must be immediate.
What actually triggered separatism and terrorism in J&K — whether the special status and autonomy it was granted by the Constitution, or the gradual erosion of these concepts over decades — is a difficult question, but the BJP has always claimed to have known the answer. The PM reiterated that position, stating that Articles 370 and 35A gave only “separatism, nepotism and corruption to the people of J&K”. Additionally, he also said these were hurdles in the region’s development; and now that these are removed, an era of development and progress could be ushered in. While the charges of corruption and nepotism are true to an extent, there is no reason to suggest that J&K has been any worse than other States in this respect. The implied reductionism in the address that political aspirations may be a price worth paying for material progress may not be a democratic path to progress. No other formation in India is more vociferous than the BJP on questions of culture, heritage and faith. National integration is essential for peace, stability and progress, and uniform development across regions, but this is not synonymous with an enforced cultural homogeneity. J&K needs a representative government and full statehood urgently for normalcy and integration with the Indian Union.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/state-of-the-union/article28968901.ece
Pakistan doesn’t have any bargaining chip to change Modi govt’s mind on Article 370
SESHADRI CHARI
It would be foolish on the part of Pakistan to think it could hurt India by snapping diplomatic ties and blocking trade deals.
As Pakistan launched a series of retaliatory actions against the Narendra Modi government’s move to repeal Article 370 and turn Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory, it failed to grasp the reality: none of its actions is really going to affect India. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan should have known that India’s move in Kashmir, while being a surprise on both domestic and international audiences, was planned and calculated. Long before Union Home Minister Amit Shah made the announcement Monday, the Modi government would have already taken into account Pakistan’s possible comebacks.
And it couldn’t care less.
A rattled Pakistan kicked off its side of proceedings by summoning Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria; its latest position has been to cut “all diplomatic ties” with India. In between, Imran Khan and his government adopted several measures to provoke a reaction out of the Modi government but none bore the intended result. It’s easy to see why.
What diplomatic ‘ties’
Let’s begin with Pakistan’s stock response — of dealing with any uncomfortable scenario at the level of envoys. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Wednesday the Imran Khan government, after holding a high-powered meeting of National Security Committee, has expelled the Indian envoy and recalled its ambassador in New Delhi. This is not the first timethat Pakistan has trained its guns on the envoys.
As far as rethinking treaties and agreements are concerned, Imran Khan should know that these are not government-specific and co-terminus with the two countries’ governments. Yet, if Islamabad is willing, India should be ready, and rather happy, to withdraw from the Indus Water Treaty, which many believe is an agreement that gives away a major share of the water from three eastern rivers to Pakistan, much to India’s disadvantage.
Among other measures, Pakistan has once again decided to ban the use of flight path for Indian aircraft, which was previously closed after India’s strike in Balakot and then reopened last month. The ban on air space may hurt India for a while until it gets used to it and is prepared for a long-drawn war of nerves on this issue.
India’s trade with Pakistan
It would be foolish on the part of Islamabad to think that it would be able to hurt India by blocking trade deals.
In 2009-10, India’s exports to Pakistan was worth Rs 74.6 billion as against Rs 13 billion worth of imports. Contrary to popular perception, India’s exports to Pakistan increased from Rs 138.3 billion in 2013-14 to Rs 144.3 billion in 2018-19 (as against Rs 34.8 billion worth of imports).
Former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan T.C.A. Raghavan has said that the two countries have never had trade of a large volume. He described Pakistan’s efforts now as those “taken… to show their political constituencies that they are dealing with the matter.
The UN angle
A lot has been said about the position of the United Nations on the Kashmir issue. But Pakistan has not kept its side of the bargain while calling upon India to do its bid. It repeatedly asserts taking the matter to the UN — and now also to the United States after President Donald Trump’s show of interest — but Pakistan keeps forgetting that any UN resolution on Kashmir has to first pass the test of ending state-sponsored terrorism originating from its own soil.
Pakistan can take the Indian abrogation of Article 370 to the UN Security Council, announce to observe 14 August (its Independence Day) as “Solidarity Day with Brave Kashmiris”, or continue to mark 5 February as ‘Kashmir Day’ on its calendar — it won’t make Amit Shah and Narendra Modi sit up and take note of its actions. I don’t see how it could.
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shaunak a new offshore patrol vessel (L) is escorted by a tug as she arrives at port in Chennai on March 19, 2017, making her maiden visit after commissioning into the coastguard eastern fleet in GoaIndian Warships on High Alert Over Possible Pakistan-Based Terror Attack due to Kashmir Row - Report
Tensions between Pakistan and India have escalated in the wake of New Delhi's decision to scrap the Jammu and Kashmir region's special status and introduce legislation to split the state in two. India has previously repeatedly accused Islamabad of harbouring terrorists that conduct attacks on Kashmir's territory.
The Indian Navy have been put on high alert over possible terror attacks that could be conducted by militants allegedly based in Pakistan, India Today TV reported, citing anonymous sources.
According to the Hindustan Times, citing an anonymous top official, the country's naval forces have tightened security measures on the eastern and western seaboards and initiated real-time monitoring of all "points of entry" along the coast.
At the same time, AFP reported, citing locals, that Indian security forces across Kashmirhave been put on high alert amid fears of protests after the Friday prayers in mosques.
The alert comes amid escalating tensions on the Kashmir border between India and Pakistan. Following the exchange of fire at the Line of Control, with both sides blaming each other for violating the ceasefire, New Delhi scrapped Article 370 of the constitution that granted the Jammu and Kashmir region its special status and introduced legislation that was approved by the Indian parliament to separate the state into two separate entities.
These moves have drawn criticism from Pakistan, which has slammed India for allegedly not acting in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad then degraded its diplomatic ties with Delhi, suspended trade and certain train and air links with the country, but announced that it would not resort to military action to resolve their disagreements.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has rejected Islamabad's criticism and advised it against meddling in the country's domestic affairs, including the revocation of Article 370.
New Delhi has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists on its territory, allegations which Islamabad has denied. The Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on alleged terrorist positions in Pakistan in February 2019 led to the downing of at least one IAF jet in a dogfight with the Pakistani Air Force and a further escalation of tensions between the countries.
Thursday, August 8, 2019
From Occupied-#Balochistan - A #Baloch sister’s open letter to #UN - @antonioguterres An open letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations
His Excellency Mr. António Guterres,
United Nations Secretary General,
United Nations Secretariat Building
405 E 42nd St, New York,
NY 10017, USA
23-07-2019
United Nations Secretariat Building
405 E 42nd St, New York,
NY 10017, USA
23-07-2019
Mr Secretary General,
You are the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, a position in the world’s most powerful organisation. The UN came into being after two horrific World Wars; the UN has played a great role in sustaining peace and playing a great role in the reconciliation of disputes across the globe. Since the establishment of the United Nations every persecuted, starved, and oppressed have been looking upon it for a remedy. When there is no hope left, and the paths are blocked then the last support has always been United Nations and as the head of this organization, I am presenting my statement before you.
Respected Secretary-General,
It is said that injustice with one person is a threat to the justice of the whole world. Therefore, the most historical and admirable work that United Nations did after its establishment, was the foundation and declaration of “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” and it’s very first article is that we all humans are equal in dignity and rights and have been born free. Thus, everyone should be treated equally.
Before I present my case in front of you, I would like to have the courage to remind you of something. The third and most important article of these thirty articles of “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” declares that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” And the fifth article of this historical document states that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” The sixth important article is that “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.” Respected nobleman, the ninth article of this human rights document states that “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.” The tenth article declares that “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.” And the eleventh most significant article is that “everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty.”
Respected Secretary-General,
The reason to write you this open letter and mention of the above articles of human rights declaration is purely that, I appeal to United Nations that my brother Rashid Hussain should be considered a human and shall be granted the rights endowed to him within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
My brother, Rashid Hussain is a political and human rights activist, who moved to the United Arab Emirates so that he does not become a victim of human rights violation, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of political activists in Balochistan. More than five innocent family members of mine were extra-judicially killed by the Pakistan Army.
My brother Rasheed Hussain was also not spared and on 26th December 2018, he was arrested and taken away by the personnel of the secret services of the United Arab Emirates while travelling from Sharjah to Dubai. He was deprived of all human rights and was a captive in the United Arab Emirates’ jail for more than six months. He was denied access to lawyers and right to a trial in open courts of the country. He was kept disappeared all this duration in the UAE and family members were not allowed to visit him. There were no charges against him in UAE and Pakistan. On 3rd of July 2019, we were informed via media that he was deported and handed over to Pakistan on 22nd June 2019 via a private jet.
Respected Secretary-General,
Rashid Hussain, who had left Pakistan for the sack of his life and went to Emirates, was arrested and handed over to the regime from whom he had escaped. We are very much positive that, he will be killed and thrown away and his family will continue to remember and wait for him as a missing person likewise to families of other thousands of Baloch missing persons for the rest of their lives.
Your Excellency, is it possible that the tyrant gives justice to the oppressed? I am sure your answer will be in no. Imagine, if Jews were handed over to Nazis in World War II to give them justice or expecting from ISIS that it will give justice and treat the Yazidis according to the laws of the civilised world.
Respected António Guterres,
I am concluding my letter with these words that, may God grant you wisdom, ingenuity and strength so that you fulfil the dream of universal peace and play your part in providing justice to oppressed all around the globe like Rashid Hussain.
I hope that my letter will attract your attention and you will play your due role.
A sister waiting for her brother,
Farida Baloch
Occupied-Balochistan
Pakistan’s stocks drop sixth day in a row as ties with India sour
FASEEH MANGI
Pakistan's benchmark KSE-100 Index fell to 2.2% Wednesday, sliding to a new four-year low, a day after it downgraded ties with India.
Pakistan’s stocks dropped for a sixth straight day after the government suspended bilateral trade with India in a deepening spat over the disputed Kashmir region.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index of shares fell 2.2% as of 11:17 a.m. local time on Wednesday, sliding to a new four-year low.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index of shares fell 2.2% as of 11:17 a.m. local time on Wednesday, sliding to a new four-year low.
“People are selling whatever they can,” said Bilal Khan, head of international sales at Arif Habib Ltd. in Karachi. “The risk of escalation has further dented already weak investor sentiment. Value buyers will continue to hold off given the heightened tensions.”
The souring relations between the two nuclear-armed nations add to a backdrop of worries that have made Pakistan’s stocks the world’s worst performers this year, falling more than 20%. The move to suspend trade followed India’s decision to revoke seven decades of autonomy for Kashmir, the disputed Muslim-majority region that straddles the two countries.
“There is fear that India, given the level of military presence now in Indian-occupied Kashmir, will try some misadventure at the border which could escalate pretty fast,” said Ovais Ahsan, chief executive officer at Optimus Capital Management Pvt. in Karachi. “It’s low probability for now, but it’s a dangerous flash point.”
Relations between the nations have been strained since February, when a suicide bombing in Kashmir killed 40 Indian paramilitary troops. There was an airspace violation by fighters jets crossing the border and exchange of strikes following that attack. – Bloomberg
Kashmir Banega Pakistan: A dream sold to brainwash us since childhood now lies in tatters
NAILA INAYAT
30 years on, Pakistan’s Kashmir policy has borne no fruits for regular Pakistanis, other than polarising society and instilling hate against India.
When the Narendra Modi government scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and announced its decision to turn the state into a Union Territory Monday, it caught the thekedars of Kashmir in Pakistan off guard. The reactions from the Imran Khan government were anything but serious, that too for a piece of land they once called their own.
Honestly, losing cricket matches to India have had better reactions in Pakistan. But the bigger question is: can Imran Khan’s government run without a Kashmir cause, as the saying goes ‘hukoomat petrol se nahin, Kashmir cause se chalti hai’.
Everyone in the ruling elite sold the ‘Kashmir banega Pakistan’ chooran to the best of their benefit – those in the Pakistani military to keep themselves viable, the politicians to use it during elections, the religious cartel to fan anti-Hindu sentiments, and the ordinary Pakistani to just watch all of them make hay.
Brainwashing since childhood
‘Kashmir banega Pakistan’ is what we were told as kids. ‘But how will it become a part of Pakistan when it is in India?’ We would ask. ‘Kashmir hamari shahrag hai (Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan)’. So how are we managing to survive without this vein? The questions, we were told, had no answers, so they better not be asked either.
Growing up in the 1990s, our daily dose of brainwashing involved a 20-minute programme on Kashmir after the 9pm news on Pakistan Television. With Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Iss duniya k gham jane kab hu gy kam playing in the background, we saw agonising images of Kashmir. It would eulogise Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other Kashmiri leaders – we were told that these men were the real heroes.
‘Our heart should bleed for Kashmir,’ was the loud and clear message. But how can the heart bleed for something that was only a state-imposed reality? We would think.
The rulers of Pakistan came and went but what remained unchanged was Pakistan’s Kashmir cause. A cause for which daring to be indifferent amounted to blasphemy of sorts.
Once a year, Pakistanis would get a day to free Kashmir. Every 5 February, they show solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren. School tableaux depict innocent Kashmiri girls singing folk songs and out of nowhere come Indian soldiers firing gunshots to arouse pathos in the audience.
The happenings of Kashmir Day always remained unclear – a national holiday which seemed just like any other off day. Kashmir Day would involve everything other than liberating Kashmir. Waking up late, watching Indian films, and hanging out with friends was our contribution to the cause of Kashmir.
And then there were the poster boys of Kashmir freedom movement. Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin or Ahmed Ludhianvi from banned militant outfits taking out processions, apprising the Pakistanis of the Kashmir issue. But why would you preach to the converted already?
What Pakistan’s Kashmir policy achieved
Now, nearly three decades later, Pakistan’s Kashmir policy has borne no fruits for regular Pakistanis, other than polarising the society on the basis of jihad and instilling hate against India. The government of Pakistan expects the inflation-battling awaam to reunite for the Kashmir cause. But why?
Whether or not your heart bleeds for your own ethnic (Shias, Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus) and religious minorities (Pashtuns, Baloch, Hazaras, Mohajir), your heart must bleed for the Kashmiris. It doesn’t matter whether the Kashmiris want it or not.
Prime minister Imran Khan, who recently concluded what we were told was a successful visit to the United States, now finds himself answerless in front of the roaring opposition in Parliament. While he had pleaded US President Donald Trump of mediating on Kashmir issue, he now doesn’t know what actually happened with him. Clueless as ever, in his streetfighter style, the premier told what Narendra Modi’s BJP has done wasn’t cool, and like an astrologer, he also told what could happen. But what was missing as usual was what his plan was. Being unable to do anything about India’s constitutional amendment is one thing; giving sermons about the past quite another.
Pushing the international community to raise the issue of Kashmir is a lost cause, as is evident from the last 70 years of UN General Assembly outings. Also, Pakistan’s recent foreign policy debacles don’t help the cause either. Imran Khan, who had called on Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad for help, forgot how Mahathir had categorically said when he had visited Pakistan that he won’t take sides in the Kashmir conflict. Mahathir had also said that the reason for Malayisa’s success was that it isn’t in conflict with any of its neighbours.
During the Indian parliamentary election, Imran Khan had reiterated that Narendra Modi could solve the Kashmir issue. Like an astrologer, Khan got it right. The new measures from New Delhi signal towards etching the Line of Control into a permanent international boundary and like the Punjab and Bengal, Kashmir now too is partitioned.
#India - #Modi reaches out to youth, women & govt employees of J&K, Ladakh with promise of jobs, benefits
MOUSHUMI DAS GUPTA
PM Modi assures people that those who believe in the Indian Constitution will have the right to a good life, but said there would be no rethink on Article 370.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a massive outreach to youth, women, government employees and other people in the new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, seeking to drive home the message that the abrogation of Article 370 will bring them great opportunities in terms of employment, investment and infrastructure development.
This would go a long way in the making of a “new J&K” alongside “new India”, Modi said.
In his 38-minute televised address to the nation, the PM made it amply clear that there was no room for any rethink on his government’s decision, and that naysayers would not be indulged.
“Freedom from Article 370 is the truth… Those who believe in the Indian Constitution will have the right to a good life,” Modi said.
He said Article 370 was a hurdle for the development of Kashmir. “It gave only separatism, terrorism, nepotism and corruption to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh could not develop like the rest of the country. But now, the future of the citizens here will improve,” he said, adding that Kashmir, which was known as paradise on earth, would again “attract the world”.
The PM also talked about timely elections in Jammu and Kashmir, while clarifying that Union Territory status for Jammu and Kashmir was “temporary”. However, Ladakh will continue to be a UT.
Outreach to the youth
Modi focussed on addressing the youth of J&K, in a clear effort to prevent a repeat of past instances of violence and stone-pelting. He said the youth of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will now get employment opportunities as more state-owned and private companies will be encouraged to set up shop, and vacant posts will be filled up.
“We will start the process to fill all vacant government posts, which will benefit the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” Modi said.
“The Centre’s priority will be to ensure that government employees and the J&K Police get equal facilities as enjoyed by government employees and police of other states.”
The PM said this will mean that J&K government employees will get to enjoy facilities such as LTC, house rent allowance, education allowance and health schemes.
The Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme will be extended so that more youth can take advantage of it.
“Local youth will receive employment. Public sector units and big private sector companies will be encouraged to create jobs for the local youth in the state,” he said.
Besides this, Modi said the Army and paramilitary forces will also hold job rallies to recruit local youth.
“Sport training and scientific education will help the youth of J&K to showcase their talent across the world,” he said.
He also urged the Hindi, Telugu and Tamil film industries to shoot in J&K, and emphasised that his government would undertake reforms to make both J&K and Ladakh the biggest tourist destinations in the world.
Political aspects
Addressing the political aspects of the move, Modi said it will result in the replacement of existing “dynasties”, and give opportunities to the youth to participate in the electoral process.
“During elections, SCs, STs and individuals from other backward communities in other regions would enjoy special benefits, but it didn’t happen in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
“Democracy in our nation is really strong. But you would be surprised to know that in J&K, there are thousands of people who could not vote in elections or contest them.”
He reassured the people that “your representatives will come from amongst you”, and expressed confidence that the panchayats will do splendid work after the scrapping of Article 370.
“Panchayats are doing a good job in J&K. Thanks to them, development projects have been implemented speedily,” he said.
Pakistan used Article 370 as a weapon
Modi alleged that Pakistan had used Article 370 as a weapon.
“In the last three decades, almost 42,000 innocent people lost their lives. This figure would bring tears to anyone’s eyes. While they lost their lives, J&K and Ladakh didn’t see the development they should have,” he said.
The PM’s statement comes a day after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India, asked high commissioner Ajay Bisaria to return to New Delhi, and suspend bilateral trade with India. India had withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation trade status from Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack on 14 February.
Eid greetings
The PM also wished the people on the upcoming occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.
“I assure the people of J&K that slowly and surely, the situation will return to normal. Eid is close by and I congratulate the people on the occasion of Eid. The government is trying to ensure that the people of J&K face no difficulties in celebrating Eid,” he said.
“There are a few people who are trying to disrupt the situation, but our own brothers and sisters are giving them a befitting reply. Things will improve slowly and their problems will also be reduced.”
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Engel & Menendez Statement on Status of Jammu and Kashmir
In response to the steps India has taken to revise the status of Jammu and Kashmir, Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement:
“As the world’s largest democracy, India has an opportunity to demonstrate for all its citizens the importance of protecting and promoting equal rights, including freedom of assembly, access to information, and equal protections under the law. Transparency and political participation are the cornerstones of representative democracies, and we hope the Indian government will abide by these principles in Jammu and Kashmir. And at the same time Pakistan must refrain from any retaliatory aggression—including support for infiltrations across the Line of Control—and take demonstrable action against the terrorist infrastructure on Pakistan’s soil.”
India can live with Pakistan expelling its envoy. The challenge is in Kashmir
Pakistan is seeking to escalate tensions over Kashmir by expelling India’s envoy. It’s a drastic step but India can live with it for now. It’s not unprecedented and ties are anyway not at their best. The Modi government should instead focus on tackling the internal challenges in post-Article 370 Kashmir.
By scrapping Article 370, Modi is going for a failed European model of nation building
YOGENDRA YADAV
Modi govt’s Kashmir move is a fundamental reorientation of the way India handles diversities. The entire country is now Union’s territory.
Eight years ago, I co-authored a book, Crafting State-Nations, with two great scholars of comparative politics, professors Alfred Stepan and Juan Linz. The book argued that the world needed to learn from the Indian model of democratic engagement with deep diversities. The new Kashmir doctrine announced by the Narendra Modi government Monday effectively puts paid to that model.
The ‘New India’ is saying goodbye to its own unique model of nation-building in favour of an outdated and disastrous European model.
The old nation-state model
Let me summarise the argument. All over the world, we face a difficult question: how can democracies accommodate deep socio-cultural diversity within one state? This issue is faced not just by countries like India that have inherited deep religious, linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversities. The small and hitherto homogenous countries in Europe and North America also face this challenge today, thanks to large-scale immigration.
We have inherited an old wisdom on how to handle diversities. First evolved in Europe, this wisdom tells us every state must contain within itself one and not more than one culturally homogenous nation, that every state should be a nation, and that every nation should be a state. This understanding informed the rise of modern nation-states in Europe. So, the ‘nation-state’ model is a political-institutional approach that tries to make the political boundaries of the state and the presumed cultural boundaries of the nation match. How do you do that? Nation-states solved this problem of diversity by privileging one sociocultural identity with the help of soft assimilation, coercion or violence. This is what happened in Italy, in France and most infamously in Germany. This is why nationalism gets such a bad name in Europe.
But this is not the only model. There are many successful democratic states in the world today that do not conform to this nation-state model. The list would include Canada, Spain and Belgium, though India is a prime example of this new model of nation-building.
A new state-nation model
This new model involves a political-institutional approach that respects and protects multiple socio-cultural identities. Instead of stream-rolling difference, this approach recognises the legitimate public and even political expression of regional, linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversities. This model focuses on mechanisms to accommodate competing or conflicting claims of different groups, while fostering a ‘we-feeling’ for the country as a whole. In our book, we called this new model ‘state-nation’.
India was a classic state-nation model. Instead of trying to copy European nations, our freedom struggle recognised and celebrated our diversities. Our nationalist leaders insisted that India did not need one language or one culture to be a nation. This gave birth to the cliché of “unity in diversity”.
The Indian Constitution duly reflected this understanding of nationhood. Multiplicity of religious practices was recognised and protected by incorporating minority rights in the chapter on Fundamental Rights.
Linguistic diversity was acknowledged by adopting several official languages rather than one national language. Regional and cultural diversity was secured by adopting ‘asymmetrical’ federalism, i.e., a federal arrangement that recognises special situation of different states and makes unique arrangements to accommodate their specific needs.
One of these provisions of a very special arrangement for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 is well known. But we forget that Article 371 makes similar extra-ordinary arrangements for Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim, besides special provision for disadvantaged communities or regions in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Allowing for different kinds of differences lay at the heart of the state-nation called India.
A Union’s territory
All this changed Monday. Or rather, the Kashmir doctrine unveiled Monday put an official seal on what was coming in bits and pieces for long. The Modi government has made no secret of its desire for simultaneous elections to Parliament and state assemblies under ‘One Nation One Election’.
We have had a proposal to extend the National Register of Citizens, a special solution to a peculiar problem in Assam, to the rest of the country. This might be called ‘One Nation, One Citizenship’. Reforms in agricultural markets are called ‘One Nation, One Market’. So, it is not a coincidence that the new Kashmir policy is framed as ‘One Nation, One Constitution’. Let there be no confusion about it: what we have witnessed Monday is not just a radical shift in the Kashmir policy, we are witnessing a fundamental reorientation of the way we handle diversities. The entire country is now the Union’s territory.
This is the heart of what is wrong with what the Modi government seeks to do in Kashmir. The problem is not just that it violates the letter of the Constitution. As many lawyers have pointed out, Article 370(3) clearly mandates that the President can modify Article 370 only on recommendation by the constituent assembly of J&K (which ceased to exist in 1956).
Article 3 says that the boundaries of a state can be changed only after referring the matter to the state assembly. In this instance, the Central government has acted on its own recommendation. In doing so, it has also violated the basic spirit of the Constitution. The underlying idea is that you do not determine the fate of the people without their representatives getting a chance to discuss it.
Unity in singularity
In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, this was a sacred covenant: the special status of the state will not be changed without the express consent of their elected representatives. Doing so at a moment when the state assembly stands dissolved, when the political leaders are in detention and when the entire state is under information blackout, is a betrayal of Constitutionalism.
Above all, it amounts to abandoning the state-nation model of living with deep diversities.
Religious diversity is a problem; minorities need to be put in their place. Any assertion of regional diversity is potentially secessionist; it needs to be crushed. Ideological dissent is a no-no; it needs to be shut up. We have turned our back to at least one century of audacity to think that India need not replicate European templates.
Just when India has acquired the economic clout to command a seat at the global centre stage, its leaders meekly surrender to a failed European model of how to build a nation. The good old ‘Unity in Diversity’ is replaced by ‘Unity in Singularity’. The ‘new India’ looks like a faded copy of a very old Europe. The trouble, of course, is that by the time we have managed to copy the sahebs, they have moved on. And that, as Ashis Nandy would remind you, is the ultimate tragedy of the colonised mind.
کشمیر کیلئے اپنا خون دیں گے، بلاول بھٹو
کشمیر میں کلسٹر بموں سے حملہ، ہزاروں فوجیوں کی تعیناتی، انٹرنیٹ اور مواصلاحات کے نظام کو معطل کرنا بھارت کے نظریہ سیکولر کے منافی ہے،’گجرات کا قصائی‘ اعلیٰ عہدے پر فائر ہوا اور پاکستان نے نریندر مودی کی انتہا پسندانہ سوچ کو سمجھنے میں کوتاہی کی، مودی بھارت کا قصائی تو تھا ہی آج کشمیر کا قصائی بن گیا، ہمارے جزوی اختلافات ایک طرف لیکن مسئلہ کشمیر پر پوری دنیا کے مسلمان ایک ہیں۔ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو نے پارلیمنٹ کے مشترکہ اجلاس سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کہاکہ پاکستان کو مسئلہ کشمیر موثر انداز میں اقوام متحدہ اٹھانا چاہیے، عالمی برادری کو مقبوضہ کشمیر میں بھارتی جارحیت اور ظالم و ستم کے خلاف اپنا کردار ادا کرے،انتہائی اہم مسئلے کے باوجود شاہد خاقان عباسی اور رانا ثناء اللہ سمیت دیگر اراکین قومی اسمبلی موجود نہیں، حیران کن بات ہے مودی کی کامیابی کیلئے ہمارے وزیراعظم دعاگو تھے، وزیرخارجہ ملک میں نہیں شیریں مزاری کو وزیر خارجہ بنادیں۔
Chairman Bilawal asks PM Imran to show leadership; PPP is standing with Kashmir Cause
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to rise to the occasion and provide leadership for the Kashmir cause instead of only one tweet and speech in the National Assembly.
Chairman Bilawal speaking in the National Assembly said that it is unfortunate that Speaker of the House was unable to complete the House as former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah and two representatives from South and North Waziristan are absent even today. Similarly, the House was incomplete on the occasion when the budget was presented in the Parliament.
Addressing the Kashmir issues he said that India has been using cluster bombs on innocent Kashmiris, educational institutions are closed, every kind of communication has been cut off, extra Indian troops have been sent to Kashmir and all the known political leaders have been arrested. The revoking of article 370 of the Indian constitution is an attack on the ideology of India, UN and international laws, democracy and the right of self determination of Kashmiri people. This opens the door to make Kashmiris a minority in their own land. This will not be accepted by the Kashmiri people, we the Pakistanis and the people of India should also follow suit in rejecting this treacherous act.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is renowned for fighting for the Kashmir cause as he had said that we share history, geography, religion, blood and culture with the Kashmiri people. We will not remain silent at the time when Kashmiri brothers and sisters are calling us for help. It is unfortunate that PM Imran Khan did not give any policy statement in the House and the foreign minister is not even in the country.
Chairman PPP said that Prime Minister Modi is an extremist ruler who is the butcher of Gujrat and now occupies the post of Indian Prime Minister. He asked that if Pakistan had ever elected an extremist Prime Minister like Modi then would have India welcomed it? India has become an occupying force in Kashmir. Modi’s mandate is a hate mandate, he has been inflicting harm on Kashmiri people for the last five years and it is ironic that our PM Imran Khan was hoping and praying for his re-election. Modi has arrested the entire Kashmir leadership because every Kashmiri considers India’s act as illegal and the former Chief Minister of Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has said that the day India revoked article 370 is the darkest day of Indian democracy.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asked Pakistani government to take drastic diplomatic actions and must engage United Nations and demand for a special session of OIC so that we can demonstrate that every Muslim country is united on Kashmir issue. He said that a commission should be constituted to investigate human rights violations in Kashmir. He also asked international community to take notice of Indian action.
Chairman PPP said Simla Agreement says that no side will take unilateral action. PPP hopes that Pakistani PM will put forward the case of Kashmir at all international forums but unfortunately, the government is just boasting the photo session of the US visit and is busy in crushing the Opposition. He said that we stand at the crossroads of history. The history will ask us where we were when Kashmiri youth were showered with pellet guns and bombed with cluster bombs.
We have only two options left now, Chairman Bilawal stated. Either to accept aggressive, treacherous and extremist Modi’s hegemony desert our Kashmiri brethren and live a life of humiliation or to rise to the occasion and reject Modi’s ideology. The latter is the honorable option, he said. Pakistan must act wisely as India has lost its credibility and legitimacy as a democratic state by revoking article 370. We have to speak as one voice, Pakistani voice. We must shun all our differences and unite for our Kashmiri brethren. We had a PM who had said that we will fight for ten thousand years for Kashmir cause, he concluded.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2019/08/06/chairman-bilawal-asks-pm-imran-to-show-leadership-ppp-is-standing-with-kashmir-cause/
Chairman Bilawal speaking in the National Assembly said that it is unfortunate that Speaker of the House was unable to complete the House as former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah and two representatives from South and North Waziristan are absent even today. Similarly, the House was incomplete on the occasion when the budget was presented in the Parliament.
Addressing the Kashmir issues he said that India has been using cluster bombs on innocent Kashmiris, educational institutions are closed, every kind of communication has been cut off, extra Indian troops have been sent to Kashmir and all the known political leaders have been arrested. The revoking of article 370 of the Indian constitution is an attack on the ideology of India, UN and international laws, democracy and the right of self determination of Kashmiri people. This opens the door to make Kashmiris a minority in their own land. This will not be accepted by the Kashmiri people, we the Pakistanis and the people of India should also follow suit in rejecting this treacherous act.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is renowned for fighting for the Kashmir cause as he had said that we share history, geography, religion, blood and culture with the Kashmiri people. We will not remain silent at the time when Kashmiri brothers and sisters are calling us for help. It is unfortunate that PM Imran Khan did not give any policy statement in the House and the foreign minister is not even in the country.
Chairman PPP said that Prime Minister Modi is an extremist ruler who is the butcher of Gujrat and now occupies the post of Indian Prime Minister. He asked that if Pakistan had ever elected an extremist Prime Minister like Modi then would have India welcomed it? India has become an occupying force in Kashmir. Modi’s mandate is a hate mandate, he has been inflicting harm on Kashmiri people for the last five years and it is ironic that our PM Imran Khan was hoping and praying for his re-election. Modi has arrested the entire Kashmir leadership because every Kashmiri considers India’s act as illegal and the former Chief Minister of Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has said that the day India revoked article 370 is the darkest day of Indian democracy.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asked Pakistani government to take drastic diplomatic actions and must engage United Nations and demand for a special session of OIC so that we can demonstrate that every Muslim country is united on Kashmir issue. He said that a commission should be constituted to investigate human rights violations in Kashmir. He also asked international community to take notice of Indian action.
Chairman PPP said Simla Agreement says that no side will take unilateral action. PPP hopes that Pakistani PM will put forward the case of Kashmir at all international forums but unfortunately, the government is just boasting the photo session of the US visit and is busy in crushing the Opposition. He said that we stand at the crossroads of history. The history will ask us where we were when Kashmiri youth were showered with pellet guns and bombed with cluster bombs.
We have only two options left now, Chairman Bilawal stated. Either to accept aggressive, treacherous and extremist Modi’s hegemony desert our Kashmiri brethren and live a life of humiliation or to rise to the occasion and reject Modi’s ideology. The latter is the honorable option, he said. Pakistan must act wisely as India has lost its credibility and legitimacy as a democratic state by revoking article 370. We have to speak as one voice, Pakistani voice. We must shun all our differences and unite for our Kashmiri brethren. We had a PM who had said that we will fight for ten thousand years for Kashmir cause, he concluded.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2019/08/06/chairman-bilawal-asks-pm-imran-to-show-leadership-ppp-is-standing-with-kashmir-cause/
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
بھارتی اقدام، عالمی قوانین، کشمیر اور جمہوریت پر حملہ ہے،مودی کے اقدام کو کشمیر مانتا ہے اور نہ ہی پاکستان، : بلاول بھٹو
چیئرمین پیپلزپارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا ہے کہ مقبوضہ کشمیر میں مودی قصائی ظلم کی آگ سے کھیل رہا ہے۔چیئرمین پیپلزپارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا ہے کہ مقبوضہ کشمیر میں مودی قصائی ظلم کی آگ سے کھیل رہا ہے۔
پارلیمنٹ کے مشترکہ اجلاس میں اظہار خیال کرتے ہوئے چیئرمین پیپلزپارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا تھا کہ مودی قصائی ظلم کی آگ سے کھیل رہا ہے، ایک قلم کی جنبش سے بھارت نےایک پینڈورا باکس کھول دیا، بھارت نے عالمی قوانین کی کھلم کھلا دھجیاں اڑائیں اور بین الاقوامی قوانین کی خلاف ورزی کرتے ہوئے کشمیریوں پرظلم کیا، بھارت کےاس اقدام کو نہ کشمیرمانتا ہے نہ پاکستان۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا تھا کہ کشمیر کی تمام سیاسی قیادت کو قید کر دیا گیا، اور وہاں مزید ہزاروں فوجی تعینات کر دئیے گئے، نہتے کشمیریوں پر کلسٹر بموں سے حملہ کیا گیا، وادی میں موبائل فون سروس اور انٹرنیٹ بند ہے، مودی سرکار کا اقدام عالمی قوانین کی خلاف ورزی ہے، لیکن حیران کن طور پر پاکستانی حکومت کی پالیسی ابھی تک واضح نہیں، حکومت نے ابھی تک کوئی قانون سازی نہیں کی، کشمیر کے مسئلے پر وزیراعظم کی ٹویٹ سے کام نہیں چلے گا، وزیراعظم کی آج کی تقریر بھی ناکافی ہے، تاریخ ہم سے پوچھے گی جب کشمیر پر کلسٹر بم برسائےجا رہے تھے اس وقت ہم کہاں تھے، کشمیر کی شناخت بدلی جارہی تھی تو اس وقت ہم نے مجرمانہ خاموشی کیوں اختیار کی۔
چیئرمین پی پی پی نے کہا کہ افسوس کی بات ہےکہ اتنےاہم اجلاس میں تمام ارکان موجود نہیں، پارلیمنٹ کے مشترکہ اجلاس میں خطاب کے لیے وزیر خارجہ نہیں، عمران خان وزیر خارجہ شاہ محمود قریشی کی اس کشیدہ صورتحال میں وطن واپس بلائیں ۔ پاکستان کو کشمیر کے معاملے پر ٹھوس اقدامات اٹھانے ہوں گے، پاکستان کو کوشش کرنی ہوگی اقوام متحدہ جا کر قراردادوں پر عملدرآمد کرائے اور انسانی حقوق کی خلاف ورزیوں پر خصوصی کمیشن سے تحقیقات کرائی جائیں۔ ہم کشمیریوں کی چیخ وپکارپر خاموش نہیں رہیں گے، ہمیں ایک قوم کی طرح کھڑا ہونا ہوگا، اس طرح کے مواقع پر قومیں بنا کرتی ہیں۔
ان کا کہنا تھا کہ گجرات کا قصائی آج بھارت کا وزیراعظم بنا بیٹھا ہے، یہ کیسے ہوسکتا ہے کہ مودی کے دوبارہ منتخب ہونے پر مسئلہ کشمیر کے حل کی امید رکھی جائے، پاکستان یو این میں آواز اٹھاتا رہے، او آئی سی کا خصوصی اجلاس بلایا جائے، اقوام متحدہ کی قرارداد کےتحت کشمیر متنازع علاقہ ہے، پاکستان وزرائے خارجہ کی سطح پر او آئی سی کا اجلاس بلانے کا مطالبہ کرے، حکومت انکوائری کمیشن کے لئے سلامتی کونسل میں معاملہ اٹھائے.
بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا تھا کہ شیریں مزاری کو وزیرخارجہ بنائیں، تو شاید وہ معاملہ بہترطریقےسے چلا سکے، ہماری حکومت ہوتی تو صرف ٹوئٹ کرتے تو خان صاحب ہمارے ساتھ کیا کرتے، عمران خان سے گزارش ہے بھرپورجذبے سے کشمیر کاز پر کام کریں.
انہوں نے کہا کہ صدر مملکت کا شکریہ کہ انہوں نے پارلیمنٹ کا مشترکہ اجلاس بلایا، اسپیکر صاحب آپ کا شکریہ، آپ نے سابق صدر آصف زرداری کا پروڈکشن آرڈر جاری کیا۔
پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ افسوس کی بات ہے کہ انتہائی اہم موقع پر بھی سارے ممبران اسمبلی اس وقت ایوان میں موجود نہیں، رانا ثنا اللّہ ،سابق وزیراعظم شاہد خان قان عباسی اور دوسرے ارکان کے پروڈکشن آرڈر جاری نہیں کئے جاسکے۔
Video - Chairman Bilawal asks PM Imran to show leadership; PPP is standing with Kashmir Cause
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to rise to the occasion and provide leadership for the Kashmir cause instead of only one tweet and speech in the National Assembly.
Chairman Bilawal speaking in the National Assembly said that it is unfortunate that Speaker of the House was unable to complete the House as former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah and two representatives from South and North Waziristan are absent even today. Similarly, the House was incomplete on the occasion when the budget was presented in the Parliament.
Addressing the Kashmir issues he said that India has been using cluster bombs on innocent Kashmiris, educational institutions are closed, every kind of communication has been cut off, extra Indian troops have been sent to Kashmir and all the known political leaders have been arrested. The revoking of article 370 of the Indian constitution is an attack on the ideology of India, UN and international laws, democracy and the right of self determination of Kashmiri people. This opens the door to make Kashmiris a minority in their own land. This will not be accepted by the Kashmiri people, we the Pakistanis and the people of India should also follow suit in rejecting this treacherous act.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is renowned for fighting for the Kashmir cause as he had said that we share history, geography, religion, blood and culture with the Kashmiri people. We will not remain silent at the time when Kashmiri brothers and sisters are calling us for help. It is unfortunate that PM Imran Khan did not give any policy statement in the House and the foreign minister is not even in the country.
Chairman PPP said that Prime Minister Modi is an extremist ruler who is the butcher of Gujrat and now occupies the post of Indian Prime Minister. He asked that if Pakistan had ever elected an extremist Prime Minister like Modi then would have India welcomed it? India has become an occupying force in Kashmir. Modi’s mandate is a hate mandate, he has been inflicting harm on Kashmiri people for the last five years and it is ironic that our PM Imran Khan was hoping and praying for his re-election. Modi has arrested the entire Kashmir leadership because every Kashmiri considers India’s act as illegal and the former Chief Minister of Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has said that the day India revoked article 370 is the darkest day of Indian democracy.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asked Pakistani government to take drastic diplomatic actions and must engage United Nations and demand for a special session of OIC so that we can demonstrate that every Muslim country is united on Kashmir issue. He said that a commission should be constituted to investigate human rights violations in Kashmir. He also asked international community to take notice of Indian action.
Chairman PPP said Simla Agreement says that no side will take unilateral action. PPP hopes that Pakistani PM will put forward the case of Kashmir at all international forums but unfortunately, the government is just boasting the photo session of the US visit and is busy in crushing the Opposition. He said that we stand at the crossroads of history. The history will ask us where we were when Kashmiri youth were showered with pellet guns and bombed with cluster bombs.
We have only two options left now, Chairman Bilawal stated. Either to accept aggressive, treacherous and extremist Modi’s hegemony desert our Kashmiri brethren and live a life of humiliation or to rise to the occasion and reject Modi’s ideology. The latter is the honorable option, he said. Pakistan must act wisely as India has lost its credibility and legitimacy as a democratic state by revoking article 370. We have to speak as one voice, Pakistani voice. We must shun all our differences and unite for our Kashmiri brethren. We had a PM who had said that we will fight for ten thousand years for Kashmir cause, he concluded.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2019/08/06/chairman-bilawal-asks-pm-imran-to-show-leadership-ppp-is-standing-with-kashmir-cause/
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