Source: Communalism Watch and Governance Monitor
July 6, 1999 (#2)
The War in Kargil
by Ravi G, (India)
The Latest episode of India's escapades over Kashmir is the latest
sordid story in the sum and substance of India's relationship with
Pakistan. While the Indian government finds it very convenient to
blame Pakistan for its misadventures. A fact most people effortlessly
try to forget is India is not a country but a conglomeration of
various nationalities. The various nationalities that make up India
are too numerous to be named here. The Indian State is a composite of
various nationalities. Authentic freedom is possible only under a
truly federal state, which India is patently not. It is in this
context that the so-called Kashmir problem should be viewed.
Kashmir is not a part of India.It never was. The history of Kashmir is
independent from Indian history. Kashmir has a written history of
almost 1000 years .It has a history which runs parallel to the history
of India.It had never been occupied until the British.
After 1947, India has fought three wars with Pakistan .All over
Kashmir. The recent war hysteria is again over Kashmir. While India
and Pakistan amass troops; it is mandatory to find out what do the
people of Kashmir desire. Do the people of Kashmir want war; it is
reasonable to surmise that they do not. They want independence. From
India and Pakistan.
The Simla Agreement, which purportedly defines the relationship
between the two countries, is not at all clear about the so-called
Kashmir issue. India and Pakistan have an agreement over Kashmir, an
agreement in which the people of Kashmir have no say and no
participation on process of the negotiations. A paradoxical point is
that the people of Kashmir did not participate in the negotiations,
which was to resolve their future. The line of control, which India
considers so sacrosanct, has not been defined at all. The public is
being bombarded with rhetoric about the sacredness of a non-existent
line.
The reason for the India- Pak Kashmir escapades is not at all
difficult to understand. Both the countries are in a severe crisis.
With the nuclear testing and the international isolation, India and
Pakistan to divert the attention of their people are using this issue.
This warmongering is patently to draw the people's attention from
focussing on more serious problems facing the countries.
The B J P government in order to prevent its image from sagging still
further and to fulfill the dreams of its RSS masters, aligning with
other political parties has deliberately provoked this war. This
crisis is sought to be harped upon as a threat to the people of India.
The hidden agenda of the fascist forces are sought to be unleashed on
the Indian people. Ever since the fasicist B J P formed the government
in the center it has been carrying out its Saffronization of the
polity. RSS has always passing its communal agenda as the national
agenda. . Hindu communalism is crying hoarse with ecstasy at this
chance to masquerade as a nationalists organization and at the same
time fulfill their agenda of anti-Muslim as their national duty. This
is at the core of RSS's agenda for India. It is time the people of
India replied strongly and openly to this, RSS masquerade as a
nationalist organization.
While the Sangh Parivar considers it to be the sole monopolist over
the integrity of India, other political parties not to be undone are
joining in the chorus of unity and integrity of India. From the
Congress to the 'Communists '(of CPI & CPM variety) every body are
leaping on to the bandwagon of psuedopatriotism. Nobody understands
that a country is made up of more than sticks or stones but of people.
In their chauvinistic slogans, the various political parties
conveniently forget that the people of India and Pakistan will have to
pay for the misadventures of their so-called leaders. Nobody can claim
that war is cheap. The people who make any profit out of this sordid
episode are the international arms lobby and rulers of both the
countries. While both the people of India and Pakistan do not want war
or arms race .The political parties who have links, with the arms
dealers do not want peace. It is high time that the people of India
and Pakistan understand this.
The point to be understood clearly is not who fired the first shot,
but what is the motive of the so-called leaders. The question they
have to answer unequivocally is do they want peace /war, and at what
cost. Who is responsible for the cost of this fratricidal feud, the
thousands of innocent lives lost, and millions uprooted, for what? War
is destruction at the cost of construction.
Return to: Citizens Against War in Kargil