'Kashmiri uprising home-grown, no Pakistan link'
* Speakers at policy seminar condemn Indian govt for blaming Pakistan for Kashmir unrest
* Former diplomats, RAW heads call for holding dialogue with Kashmiri leaders
By Iftikhar Gilani
NEW DELHI: Former high-ranking Indian officials and experts on Friday described the current unrest in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) as "home-grown anger" against mis-governance. They also expressed dismay at the attempts by "a section in the Indian government and media" for blaming Pakistan and militant groups for the agitation.
The meeting, conducted under the Chatham House Rule (where you can report, but cannot quote speakers), called for dealing with the protesters in IHK by providing "justice and self-respect" to people, coupled with the removal of IHK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to create conditions for a dialogue with "moderate separatists".
The meeting, organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), also suggested addressing the "sentimental side" of the protesting Kashmiris, besides seriously considering granting autonomy to the state, but only if it is "feasible under realistic parameters".
The meeting was attended by former IHK governor Girish Chandra Saxena , former chiefs of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) AS Dulat, TV Rajeswar, Vikram Sood, author Prem Shankar Jha, Indian parliament member HK Dua, security experts, Kashmiri representatives and journalists covering the IHK situation.
The meeting also suggested setting up a panel, headed by former supreme court judges, to address the issue of autonomy for Kashmiris. The meeting also called for appointing a former diplomat to negotiate with Kashmiri leaders over the issue.
Noting that New Delhi had been holding dialogue with Kashmiri leaders even during 'bad times' in the past, the experts questioned the Congress-led government decision to reverse that policy. "If the Indian state does not know when to speak and whom to speak to, then something is terribly wrong with it," said an expert, who has been associated with talks with Kashmiri leaders since 1990s.
Another expert pointed out that most of the moderate leaders were in jail, while militants were trying to take over the situation." If you won't talk to moderate (leaders), then hardliners will take over," he pointed out. It was suggested that the Indian government should recreate conditions to resume the talks urgently because "the people who are protesting are no more political activists or religious leaders, but young men and women".
The speakers also expressed their surprise over why there had been no political response from the National Conference so far, which, they said, had won all the state assembly and parliamentary seats from Srinagar. "Why was the Central Reserve Police Force deployed in Srinagar to fight off stone-pelters, while its original role is to assist the state police?" one of the speakers said. "If I was the commander-in-chief, I will hire a truck and load it with all the stones lying in the open," another speaker said.
The experts said a huge divide and lack of trust had developed between New Delhi and IHK after the state was declined autonomy.
There was also a strong view that the Congress Party should "keep away" from sharing power in IHK. Some experts suggested a change of government in IHK, as the present chief minister had failed to provide effective governance.
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