08-17-2008, 04:21 AM
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<b>Then, there is the money. Bihar gets per capita central assistance of Rs 876 per year. Kashmir gets over ten times more: Rs 9,754 per year. While in Bihar and other states, this assistance is mainly in the forms of loans to the state, in Kashmir 90 per cent is an outright grant. </b>Kashmirâs entire Five Year Plan expenditure is met by the Indian taxpayer. In addition, New Delhi keeps throwing more and more money at the state: in 2004, the Prime Minister gave Kashmir another $ 5 billion for development.
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Kashmiris are happy to take the money and the special rights but they argue that India has been unfair to them because no free political process has developed. </b>And, it is true that we have rigged elections in Kashmir. But, it is now nearly a decade since any rigging was alleged. Nobody disputes that the last election was fair. Moreover, even though the Congress got more seats than the PDP, the Chief Ministership went to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as a gesture.
<b>Given that Kashmir has the best deal of any Indian state, is there anything more we can do? Kashmiris talk about more autonomy. But I donât see a) what more we can give them and b) how much difference it will make.</b>
If you step back and think about it, the real question is not âhow do we solve this monthâs crisisâ? It is: what does the Centre get in return for the special favours and the billions of dollars?
The short answer is: <b>damn all.</b>
This is Indiaâs century. We have the world to conquer â and the means to do it. Kashmir is a 20th century problem. We cannot let it drag us down and bleed us as we assume our rightful place in the world.
Itâs time to think the unthinkable.
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Makes some very valid point. But Vir Sanghvi doesn't quite think the unthinkable. The unthinkable is to treat the way China treats Tibet, by move its own citizens to Tibet and make Tibetans the minority. And come any sort of plebiscite, they would always vote against secession. It is time to treat kashmiris like every other Indian.
<b>Then, there is the money. Bihar gets per capita central assistance of Rs 876 per year. Kashmir gets over ten times more: Rs 9,754 per year. While in Bihar and other states, this assistance is mainly in the forms of loans to the state, in Kashmir 90 per cent is an outright grant. </b>Kashmirâs entire Five Year Plan expenditure is met by the Indian taxpayer. In addition, New Delhi keeps throwing more and more money at the state: in 2004, the Prime Minister gave Kashmir another $ 5 billion for development.
<b>
Kashmiris are happy to take the money and the special rights but they argue that India has been unfair to them because no free political process has developed. </b>And, it is true that we have rigged elections in Kashmir. But, it is now nearly a decade since any rigging was alleged. Nobody disputes that the last election was fair. Moreover, even though the Congress got more seats than the PDP, the Chief Ministership went to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as a gesture.
<b>Given that Kashmir has the best deal of any Indian state, is there anything more we can do? Kashmiris talk about more autonomy. But I donât see a) what more we can give them and b) how much difference it will make.</b>
If you step back and think about it, the real question is not âhow do we solve this monthâs crisisâ? It is: what does the Centre get in return for the special favours and the billions of dollars?
The short answer is: <b>damn all.</b>
This is Indiaâs century. We have the world to conquer â and the means to do it. Kashmir is a 20th century problem. We cannot let it drag us down and bleed us as we assume our rightful place in the world.
Itâs time to think the unthinkable.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Makes some very valid point. But Vir Sanghvi doesn't quite think the unthinkable. The unthinkable is to treat the way China treats Tibet, by move its own citizens to Tibet and make Tibetans the minority. And come any sort of plebiscite, they would always vote against secession. It is time to treat kashmiris like every other Indian.