KASHMIR and IDPs

By Dr. K.N. Pandita

Kashmir is again under sharp international focus. Pakistan wants to deflect growing public disenchantment with the namesake democratic regime. American pressure on New Delhi to work out some solution of Kashmir issue has intensified. This is to appease Pakistan for fighting America’s war in Af-Pak region.

This war in part and Islamist surge in full are of Washington’s choosing. US did all it could in early 1980s to boost and strengthen fundamentalist resurgence in the region. The wind it had sown has returned as whirlwind. Islamabad and Washington comradeship is now fighting the Frankenstein they had together created in the past.  Continue Reading…

By Dr. K.N. Pandita

Minority groups in the State of Jammu and Kashmir are generally under an incorrect impression that they are formally recognized as minorities. This is not the case.

The Constitution of the State does not at any place specify any group as minority, nor does it provide any defined and specific safeguards for the minority groups. By and large, the constitution is silent on the subject.

However, the Report of Basic Principles Committee 1954, while dealing with the item of fundamental rights, states as this: “Having taken note of the fundamental rights provided in various constitutions including the Constitution of India, recommends the following rights . . . . “ Then under item 8, it states:  “Cultural and educational rights should also be guaranteed by the constitution. Continue Reading…