The political developments in India post the killing of Burhan Wani, the Hizbul terrorist have been extremely disturbing. What should have been hailed and celebrated as a victory of the Indian Armed Forces has been transformed into a tragic event and the death of a coward terrorist has been projected as an unfortunate assassination by disguising the terrorist of Kashmir as a ‘hero’ by the Indian Media and certain political outfits.
The deliberate attempts to defame the Armed Forces and projection of the militant and extremist outfits of the Valley who are responsible for the present situation of Kashmir as ‘victims’ had just one aim, stirring up the overhyped and incessantly sympathized Kashmir Azadi cause.
The tribe of Communist and ultra-extreme Islamic political outfits along with their agents disguising as ‘unbiased’ journalists did not leave a stone unturned to revive this cause and to try and gain sympathy for this unholy cause.
Here we list down the facts which go on to prove how the separatists have rolled out a bundle of lies to demand Azadi for Kashmir and why it should remain with India.
Historical connections of Kashmir with Bharatavarsha
The hurriyat leaders who claim an independent Kashmir are unaware or more possibly pretend to be unaware of the fact that Kashmir has not become an integral part of India after the signing of instrument of accession by Raja Hari Singh but was a part of India since times immemorial. In fact in the first half of the first millennium the state was an important center of Hinduism and later Buddhism (both the religions were born in India and were then an exclusive part of the broader Indian Culture).
It is true that the identity of India is not confined to Hinduism but it is also true that the demand for an Azad Kashmir arises out of an overwhelming Islamic majority however superficial it may be and the evidence of presence of Hinduism in Kashmir serves as an antithesis for the demand of a separate Kashmir. Thereafter, Shaivasm arose in importance during the 9th century thereafter the Hindu culture became extinct and was replaced by expanding Islam totally on the basis of muscle power. Hinduism and the Indianness associated with Kashmir though did not become totally extinct and coexisted probably because of the presence of Sufism.
Kashmir is thus not only a political but a historical part of India and as such inseparable. The traces of Indian culture can still be found in Kashmir in the form of Vaishno Devi and the Amarnath shrine.
Overriding instrument of accession:
India did not forcibly occupy the hill state , it simply entered into an instrument of accession with Kashmir whereby it became a permanent part of the Union of India. The status of Kashmir is identical to 565 other princely states who had signed similar instruments of accession with India. Thus, Article 370 of the Constitution of India granting special status to Kashmir is not a ‘diplomatic compromise’ with the people of Kashmir but an ill granted political privilege.
One thus fails to understand how one can even contemplate a referendum to decide the fate of a specific State when it does not differ in any way from the rest of 28 States. Such a demand is thus devoid of any rationality and based entirely on conjectures and surmises.
The right of Kashmiri Pandits:
The Kashmiri Pandits were the original inhabitants of the valley and were residing in the valley till fairly recently when several hundreds of them were brutally tortured and killed and yet thousands of them forcefully driven out of the valley along with a loud and clear message that “you will have to chant Allahu Akbar if you want to live in the valley”.
There is no doubt about the fact that the Kashmiri Pandits have a right to be restored in the valley along with an assurance of peaceful residence. This can be ensured only when there is tight security to protect them from those who had driven them out almost 3 decades ago. Such an arrangement can only be ensured if Kashmir remains a part of India for they won’t be tolerable to the overwhelming Islamic majority in background of an Islamic theocracy.
The plight of Kashmiri Pandits has been often downplayed by the Indian Media and the Pseudo seculars but the reality is that they are at the centre of this whole issue and they are the biggest reason as to why a referendum to decide the fate of Kashmir unless we are looking to create a Nation where the peaceful minority is brutally oppressed by a violent majority (which is currently taken care of by one of the most powerful Army of the world).
Economic Costs and Strategic Importance:
From a Nationalistic point of view also even the thought of an independent pro Pakistan or a Pakistan occupied Kashmir is no less than a nightmare. Primarily because it will help the Combated Pakistani terrorists a huge strategic advantage over the Indian troops in terms of a much higher altitude giving further boost to the recent trend of proxy war from the Pakistani side.
Another issue associated with hill state is the fact that contrary to the perception created by the Indian Media, the Government of India has undertaken huge economic costs in terms of infrastructure development. India being a poor nation we spend sizeable funds on the development of Kashmir and the Kashmiris, who have turned out to be an ungrateful lot. The economic costs that we have already made cannot be simply sacrificed for producing another neighbouring terror factory.
Conclusion:
Please, do not get swayed away by the extensive propaganda for Azad Kashmir. There is no reason as to why Kashmir should not continue to be an integral part of India. The separatists and their supporters are either religious bigots or dependent on some religious bigots for political gains. The deep historical and political connections of Kashmir with the rest of India stand strong, no matter what.