08-11-2008, 04:41 AM
J&K crisis
The ruling PDP-Congress coalition in Jammu and Kashmir failed to discharge its responsibility when it broke up. It should have resolved the crisis that arose from the allotment of 40 hectares of land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the subsequent order revoking the allotment. With no elected government in the State, the trouble-makers are having a field day. The feeling of alienation among the people will grow if the problem is allowed to simmer. All-party meetings are of little use. The problem has to be solved by the people of the State themselves. Unfortunately, the divide between the Hindu-majority Jammu and Muslim-majority Kashmir is too stark and pronounced.
Saurabh Sinha,
Bhilai
* * *
The situation in J&K is the result of communal politics practised by leaders of different parties to build vote-banks. Such politics will ruin unity. A matter that could have been easily resolved by the government has assumed alarming proportions, posing a threat to communal harmony in the State. The need of the hour is to find a solution that is in the larger interest of all the citizens.
Rupesh Roshan,
Varanasi
* * *
It is the UPA government that allowed the Shrine Board crisis to snowball into a major issue. So, it has only itself to blame for the situation in J&K. It is shameful that a section has to fight for putting up temporary facilities on a piece of land in its own country.
V.R. Sriram,
Chennai
* * *
It is unfortunate that some people support the agitation in Jammu saying it is about the right of pilgrims to some facilities en route to Amarnath. Is it their case that no facilities were made for the Amarnath yatris in the last 130 years? I suggest that they come to Kashmir and see the facilities that are provided to the pilgrims â not just on 40 hectares but thousands of hectares of land. The issue started because of the order that allotted land to the SASB. There was no need for the order. It was rightly revoked. Politicians are making an issue out of a non-issue. I fail to understand why, when the J&K government has agreed to provide the required facilities to the Amarnath yatris, the problem should persist.
Azhar Yasin,
Srinagar
* * *
For so many years, Amarnath pilgrims have not faced any problem. What was the need for a board to oversee the facilities provided to them? Muslim families in Kashmir have taken care of the pilgrims and the Amarnath shrine all these years. The politicians of J&K have grabbed the issue for their selfish ends. There is no need for the SASB because those who have taken care of the pilgrims have done a good job all these years. A pilgrimage is all about brotherhood, humanity and peace. It is unfortunate that our representatives are dividing the people on such an issue.
Sameer Ramzan,
Srinagar
* * *
The agitation against north Indians in Mumbai spearheaded by the MNS, the Gujjar unrest which was the result of the BJPâs pre-poll promise of providing the community ST status, and the recent trouble in J&K over the Shrine Board issue have a common factor â they are all the outcome of vote-bank politics. Thanks to our politicians, development issues have taken a back seat and communalism and regional extremism have come to the forefront. The BJP has done enough harm to the nationâs secular fabric. It is time for it to display some sense of responsibility. And separatist leaders of Kashmir, who are making provocative statements regarding the bifurcation of J&K, would do well to remember that the people of the State will not allow it.
Lokesh Jangid,
New Delhi
The ruling PDP-Congress coalition in Jammu and Kashmir failed to discharge its responsibility when it broke up. It should have resolved the crisis that arose from the allotment of 40 hectares of land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the subsequent order revoking the allotment. With no elected government in the State, the trouble-makers are having a field day. The feeling of alienation among the people will grow if the problem is allowed to simmer. All-party meetings are of little use. The problem has to be solved by the people of the State themselves. Unfortunately, the divide between the Hindu-majority Jammu and Muslim-majority Kashmir is too stark and pronounced.
Saurabh Sinha,
Bhilai
* * *
The situation in J&K is the result of communal politics practised by leaders of different parties to build vote-banks. Such politics will ruin unity. A matter that could have been easily resolved by the government has assumed alarming proportions, posing a threat to communal harmony in the State. The need of the hour is to find a solution that is in the larger interest of all the citizens.
Rupesh Roshan,
Varanasi
* * *
It is the UPA government that allowed the Shrine Board crisis to snowball into a major issue. So, it has only itself to blame for the situation in J&K. It is shameful that a section has to fight for putting up temporary facilities on a piece of land in its own country.
V.R. Sriram,
Chennai
* * *
It is unfortunate that some people support the agitation in Jammu saying it is about the right of pilgrims to some facilities en route to Amarnath. Is it their case that no facilities were made for the Amarnath yatris in the last 130 years? I suggest that they come to Kashmir and see the facilities that are provided to the pilgrims â not just on 40 hectares but thousands of hectares of land. The issue started because of the order that allotted land to the SASB. There was no need for the order. It was rightly revoked. Politicians are making an issue out of a non-issue. I fail to understand why, when the J&K government has agreed to provide the required facilities to the Amarnath yatris, the problem should persist.
Azhar Yasin,
Srinagar
* * *
For so many years, Amarnath pilgrims have not faced any problem. What was the need for a board to oversee the facilities provided to them? Muslim families in Kashmir have taken care of the pilgrims and the Amarnath shrine all these years. The politicians of J&K have grabbed the issue for their selfish ends. There is no need for the SASB because those who have taken care of the pilgrims have done a good job all these years. A pilgrimage is all about brotherhood, humanity and peace. It is unfortunate that our representatives are dividing the people on such an issue.
Sameer Ramzan,
Srinagar
* * *
The agitation against north Indians in Mumbai spearheaded by the MNS, the Gujjar unrest which was the result of the BJPâs pre-poll promise of providing the community ST status, and the recent trouble in J&K over the Shrine Board issue have a common factor â they are all the outcome of vote-bank politics. Thanks to our politicians, development issues have taken a back seat and communalism and regional extremism have come to the forefront. The BJP has done enough harm to the nationâs secular fabric. It is time for it to display some sense of responsibility. And separatist leaders of Kashmir, who are making provocative statements regarding the bifurcation of J&K, would do well to remember that the people of the State will not allow it.
Lokesh Jangid,
New Delhi