I happened to watch a discussion on the Scottish independence referendum in one of the Tamil channels. The discussion was more about Kashmir than about Scotland. All those who participated in the discussion showed expected –but still irritating - ignorance about Kashmir. The Congress party representative and the lady from the BJP just waffled while the others speaking for plebiscite grandstanded without ever taking recourse to truth. The truth is, there were two important UN resolutions on Kashmir both of 1949 vintage which effectively say this: 1. Pakistan should vacate its occupation of Kashmir. 2. Only then will the plebiscite be held under the supervision of India. Since Pakistan still occupies a portion of Kashmir, the question of holding plebiscite should not arise at all. Thus the first demand of all free-lancing lovers of freedom for Kashmir should be that Pakistan vacate PoK. But our freedom lovers are a special breed. Be that as it may, Indian can declare unilaterally that it will hold plebiscite in the territories under its control, with these stipulations: 1. Independence is also an option, which was not available in the UN resolutions. 2. Jammu and Ladakh and the Valley should be treated as three separate administrative units. Jammu and Ladakh should be given the option to join the Indian Union, even if the valley chooses otherwise. 3. Kashmiri Pandits, who were mercilessly driven out of the valley, should, if they so choose, be given separate territory in the valley and be allowed to join the Indian Union. 4. All Kashmiris who are settled in India after 1948 will also participate in the plebiscite. They should be given a choice to remain in India. All those who vote for separate Kashmir or merger with Pakistan should be sent back to Kashmir. The Shia population of Kashmir, which is substantial, will never like to live under Sunni dominance. Thus in all probability the plebiscite might end in favour of India. Even if it doesnt, India is big enough to shrug off this loss of space. I had posted on this subject a month ago, but I thought I should again write on it.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 02:05:20 +0000