WRITING WITHOUT FEAR..... Syed Tajamul BM ImraN If India supports freedom in Crimea, why not in Kashmir? Over the past week after the Russian annexation of Crimea, global politics have completely changed. The annexation which took place after a controversial ‘referendum’shows that the aspirations of people are more powerful than politically drawn borders. Yet, many political observers see the Russian backing of the referendum as damage control after Moscow lost its ally in former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych after many weeks of protests. India which is an important and old time ally of Russia, faces a new predicamentand a new set of worries after the Crimean annexation, the dilemma being, do they back Russia – their oldest friend – or oppose it? Whichever decision it makes, India will be forced to confront the reality of secessionist movements in the northeast and a Kashmiri movement for independence. For India, holding on to Kashmir has meant dismissing the calls of referendum by the people of Kashmir, at times even using disproportionate forcewhich resulted in massacres and crackdown on protestersincluding minors. Ironically, it was India that brought the case of Kashmir to the United Nations in 1949after which the UN called for a plebiscite in Kashmir, both in Indian Kashmir and Pakistani Kashmir. India’s political stalwart and first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, promised the people of Kashmir a plebiscite in a broadcastfrom New Delhi in November 1948, “We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given, and the Maharaja has supported it, not only to the people of Kashmir but to the world. We will not, and cannot back out of it. We are prepared when peace and law and order have been established to have a referendum held under international auspices like the United Nations. We want it to be a fair and just reference to the people and we shall accept their verdict. I can imagine no fairer and more just offer.”
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 14:53:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015