KASHMIR and IDPs

By K.N. Pandita

On November 14 each year, the nation pays homage to one of her most illustrious sons, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India and the foremost among the freedom fighters. He is remembered for his role as a leader of the freedom movement, as the ideologue of independent India and the builder of modern India. Rarely does history find such eminent personalities as are destined to perform historic role in liberating a nation and building the nation. His was a unique personality rooted in Indian civilization; an Indian as much Anglicized as any Englishman, and a citizen of the world in true sense of the term. He belonged to humanity for he had transcended caste, creed, color and race. Greatness followed him in hot pursuit, in his thoughts and deeds. He had a scientific mind and temper and could synthesize old and new with remarkable finesse. He had a magnetic personality that disarmed the opponents, won friends and neutralized enemies. He was enormously steadfast and resilient, the two opposite ends blended proportionately in his character.   Continue Reading…

REPORT ON THE STUDY TOUR OF BEERSMANS PAUL, PRESIDENT OF THE BELGIAN ASSOCIATION FOR SOLIDARITY WITH J&K TO INDIA AND THE INDIAN J&K STATE FROM 26 JUNE TO 23 JULY 2011

Published on the Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir BASJAK, Fall 2011.

1. INTRODUCTION:

a. his is the report on the yearly study tour to Kashmir and Ladakh (Kargil and Leh Districts).  I had meetings with the common man in the street,  representatives of J&K State Government, of political parties, of separatist leaders, of  different organisations, of social, religious and educational institutions, of the press, etc. You find the “highlights” of these meetings in Part 2. In Part 3. you will find the conclusions of our Association.  For Jammu Region: see the report ‘Jammu and Kashmir: Moving Forward’ on the study tour of January/Februar … //    Continue Reading…

By K.N. Pandita

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asserted in a public meeting that AFSPA would be revoked in areas that are cleared of militancy. Did people believe him? Keen observers chuckled. Was he confident of what he was saying? Perhaps yes perhaps no.

With surprising self-assurance – something very rare with politicians in power-, the Chief Minister spoke of withdrawing AFSPA “within a couple of days”.  But he put a rider that revocation would be effective only in those areas where militancy had considerably come down.  Continue Reading…