KASHMIR and IDPs

by K. N. Pandita

Reports have come in that some hooligans tried to disrupt the meetings of several separatist leaders in Jammu in recent days. The finger is pointed towards Shiv Sena activists. Some local papers in Jammu region and many in Kashmir region lost no time in condemning these disruptive plans labeling them pre-conceived conspiracies. It is difficult to say that the outsiders who interfered in the meetings of the separatists were exclusively from the cadres of Shiva Sena. We are aware that there is bitter power rivalry among major political parities and their sympathizers in the State. Goons can be hired and mayhem can be let loose.

Shiv Sena is a recognized political party in the country. It has been fighting assembly and parliamentary elections and winning or loosing seats. As such it is as much responsible a political party as any other national political party. Therefore one will have reservations in accepting the allegation that Shiv Sena activists alone are responsible for the creation of disorder in the meetings.

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By K.N. Pandita,

Al-Qaeda’s threatening to carry jihad to India is not a surprise, given the subversive activities indulged in by such terrorist organizations as are based in Pakistan but act in tandem with al-Qaeda. In plain words, al-Qaeda is virtually active in India. A recount of the terrorist attacks during more than a decade and half in the past at various places and sites in the country substantively endorses this assertion.

New Delhi has compulsions to withhold from public fuller details of such terrorist attacks as have been linked to al-Qaeda source. Traditional national political parties have sullied the supremacy of broader national interest over transient vote bank politics. But now with the brazen and open threat coming from that ruthless organization, India will have to convince her people that country’s security forces are not only prepared to foil any conspiracy of subversion but will also be gearing up with all those countries with whom New Delhi has reached an understanding of sorts on anti-terrorist resistance. After 9/11, President Bush minced no words and told the world powers that those who were not on his side in fighting terror were obviously on the other side. New Delhi will have to use the same phraseology.

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