Violence that marred 2 October for Uttarakhand – Mulayam’s Khadi Kurta is Blood Stained

2 October is celebrated world over as a celebration of Non Violence. Along with Birthday of Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri it is the Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who showed to the world the power of non violence . Every year , this day, Non violence is celebrated and leaders vow to abide by the spirit of non violence .

Often these words and celebrations are just symbolic lip service to Gandhi and his belief in Non violence. Wearing a dhoti, khadi kurta and vowing by Lohia, Samajwad, Gandhi , Mulayam singh Yadav Government unleashed an orgy of state sponsored violence on a non violent protest by simple people of Uttarakhand ,demanding statehood . It is very important that on a day india celebrates  Non violence, it is pertinent  to underscore how fragile this spirit is in practise.

What happened on 2 October 1994? 

 

Protestors following Gandhinian  principal of satyagrah and peaceful protests were going to Delhi to protest peacefully and put up their demand for a separate state of Uttarakhand to the Government in  Delhi and put their grievances across on a national stage. 

The peaceful Unarmed protestors were passing through  Rampur Tiraha,Narsain, in Muzaffarnagar, when they were brutally attacked by UP police . The police was armed, the protestors were not. The protestors were shot at. Women protestors were raped . Official death figures were 15 , but unofficial news reports put the number at above 100. Dead bodies were thrown in canals ,buried in fields as per news reports of that time. Dead bodies kept on resurfacing downstream for few days following the incident . 

Protestors who survived by running into fields recount rapes of women and police pursuing fleeing protestors . The plan seemed to be to leave no survivors to recount the brutal crackdown. 

The local media reported the carnage initially, but at national level, the gory details were suppressed. Mulayam singh was  Hailed as a strong administrator who cracked down on Karsevaks 

In Ayodhya in February 1992 and now was cracking down on people who wanted to break UP.

The events were not benefitting anyone politically ,thus the martyrs never got their due. Rampur Tiraha, Narsain, now lies on National Highway, where numerous Dhabas cover the plaque put up. 

Residents of Uttarakhand, esp the present Generation, by and large have forgotten this Gory incident .

However, the idea of Uttarakhand gained strength post this carnage. The people of Uttarakhand knew they had no value as a part of Uttar Pradesh. The movement refused to die down. Sometimes, people become stronger after their Death. This is what the carnage of 2 Oct 1994 did .

To add insult to injury , cases were lodged against the Agitators . 

 (Photo credit Bhaskar Joshi @BHASKAR2024  twitter handle )

A brief review of the Uttarakhand statehood agitation and history  of successful peaceful protests

 

People of Uttarakhand were always strong but simple honest people. The women were very hard working , Strong and Devout . Males often migrated for work, and joined the defence forces. 

Traditionally Garhwal was a prosperous state, not rich but prosperous. The villagers grew enough food in six months not only for themselves to last through snow clad winters , but for residents of Tibet for the whole year. They tended and nurtured forests, and used to trade in trading centres of Tibet, bartering barley and grains for Salt and  wool . 

With the advent of British and division of Garhwal into British Kumaon , Garhwal and princely state of Tehri Garwal, forest policies of British began causing hardships and bought in very tough times. 1927 forest policy adopted by the British and leasing out of forests by Tehri raja caused impoverishment .

There was a tax to be levied in case a villager kept more than ten head of sheep and one cow/ Buffalo.

The people of Garhwal always protested peacefully . In this case too, the people of Rawain announced a Dhandak ( a traditional non violent protest ) against the Maharaja of Tehri, who was revered as a Bolanda Badrinath ( speaking Badrinath) . On 30 May, 1930 at Tilari, the forces of Maharaja under the prime minister ,who was not educated in this traditional right of Uttarakhand residents,  shot and killed protestors . The Maharaja was abroad at that time. However he rushed back and apologised and took back this policy. So the people of Uttarakhand were traditionally brave people who protested peacefully at usurpation of their rights.

Sri Suman Dev, the great Gandhinian Freedom fighter was Martyred while on a satyagrah in jail . His dead body was thrown in the river and the family came to know about it later. The state rose up in peaceful protests, the memory of a dead Dev Suman kept the fires of independence burning , inspiring further leaders like Sunderlal Bahuguna.

Post 1962 war, liquor vends were opened by contractors from UP who were given contracts for building roads on Borders. That time, women of Uttarakhand picketed shops peacefully and resulted in getting liquor shops prohibited in the border districts . This was the traditional strength of Uttarakhand women. 

Post 1971, the decade long Chipko movement started by local Uttarakhand villagers against the exploitation of their forests by UP government . Led by Gandhinian Sunderlal Bahuguna , and supported by and large by women , the peaceful protest where women would stick to trees , resulted in a Indira Gandhi nudging the Uttar Pradesh Government to bring in a forest law that banned Felling of green trees above 1000 meters. Scores of other states followed suit.

The Chipko movement led to peaceful protests against limestone quarrying .

The people of a Uttarakhand realised that their natural resources were being exploited by Uttar Pradesh and they were getting no development in return. The demand of statehood took root. The heavy handed treatment meted out to peaceful protests added steely resolve . 

The strong, honest peaceful people of Uttarakhand never went on a revenge rampage . However ,they succeeded in getting their own state. 

2 October 1994 should never be forgotten. It was a day , when wearing a Khadi kurta and paying lip service to non violence ,  Mulayam Singh Yadav let loose an orgy on violence on peaceful ,unarmed protestors .  

 Counter to Sudheendra Kulkarni article of Gilgit Baltistan in wire 

 

Pakistan has announced that it will merge the occupied territory of Gilgit Baltistan as a fifth province. And before the whole statements could be read out , Pakistani Aman ki Asha types in India have already started churning out series supporting Pakistani claim on Gilgit Baltistan, and where else but in ‘Wire’ that termed Army Chief as General Dyer . 

The group that supports Pakistan on issue of Jammu Kashmir has a modus operandi . It banks on the ignorance of the general people on the issue, chooses certain facts  uses them selectively ,out of context to weave an untruth, which has certain twisted threads of truth . Medieval and ancient sensibilities are often conflated with modern ones , creating a fake narrative. And then the lies are paraded as truth backed by documents . Sudheendra Kulkarni series in wire  on Pakistani claims on Gilgit are nothing but a secessionist  attempt to change the de jure boundary of a india ,clothed as historic facts .

The first truth the readers have to understand is, contrary to SS Kulkarni , Gilgit Baltistan was always a part of Bharat. Before 19 century , nations had frontiers which were flexible and concept of flexible territories. Thus, the frontier of a nation could stretch to far off territories without interfering in day to day activities. Hence the frontiers of a Bharat stretched all the way to Afghanistan , Kashgar( called Kashi) ,Yarkhand( Harikhand) , Tashkent . Frontiers and territories would increase and decrease with the authority and Millitary power of the emperors . Gilgit Baltistan and the tribal areas of Hunza, Nagar, Darel, Tangir, Punial etc all mentioned were since ancient times the frontiers of Bharat . Kushan king Kanishka ruled these areas, The extent of Lalitaditya kingdom reached till Tibet. The whole area of Gilgit Baltistan, including Hunza, Nagar, Chilas, Astore, Diamer which the writer mentions has thousands of Rock carvings and petroglyphs , many are in Brahmi ! Buddhist statues are carved outside Gilgit, Skardu has Manthal statues. Hunza has thousand of Buddha  carvings including UNESCO protected Sacred Rock of Hunza. And SS Kulkarni wants us to believe Hunza, Diamer ,Gilgit, Baltistan had no connections with Bharat and were annexed by force?? The Diamer Bhasha dam and a cascade of proposed Dams under CPEC will submerge these , so maybe Wire and Kulkarni want to keep the truth out till it is submerged ? 

Kulkarni asserts citing out of context statements from documents that Dogra kings were illegitimate rulers, British stooges etc.  The political structure of pre 1947 india was that British had 2 structures- British india and more than 565 princely states . Only British India was partitioned , princely states were not. They had the option to either accede to Dominion of Pakistan or of  India,depending on geographical contiguity . There was NO option for a third dominion or for partition of any state. Congress had suggested that plebiscite be taken in all princely states ,while Jinnah had proposed only Rulers should decide. British rejected the plebiscite and accepted the ruler deciding where to accede to. Thus only Maharaja Hari Singh had the authority to decide which dominion to accede to. 

So, once it is established that according to prevailing rules , Accession of J&K to Dominion of India was legal and final, the cabal tried all its might in last 70 decades to impute that Dogras were not legitimate rulers. They throw in the canard of Dogra kings purchasing Kashmir from British . Before Sikhs conquered Kashmir , Afghans had invaded Kashmir and ruled it nearly for 100 years. Before that Mughals, before that Chak dynasty of Gilgit, and before that it was Balti Prince Rinchen, and before that for centuries it was Hindu Kings. So can we take out one segment and claim ownership of that segment on Kashmir. The treaty was between British and Sikhs where instead of paying indemnity , Sikhs gave up part of territory. The Dogra kings then went to Kashmir and defeated the Army and won it . Gilgit Baltistan and all the frontier areas were annexed openly by conquests and were administered very well by the Dogras. Now the ‘ Kashmir vale being bought’ narrative is shifting to Gilgit, Hunza etc . Selective quotes from books damming Hari Singh and Dogra kings are picked out .

Dogra kings were very able administrators . Trade routes were very well maintained. A book ‘Kashmir to Kashgar ‘ written in 1873 by H.W Bellew praises the routes and the prosperity witnessed in Princely state . The annual reports of the trade on Leh Kashgar routes state that the routes were so safe that if transport animals perished , the traders could leave their merchandise and go to next post and bring new transport to pick up merchandise . 

Coming to Gilgit agency – it is an indisputable fact that British had decided under the india independence act to dissolve all treaties with All princely states. Since April 1947, meetings were held on when to vacate Gilgit agency. The area was remote, in high mountains and the area was inaccessible during winters.Nehru wrote two letters requesting British not to vacate the agency until J&K decided its accession but the British refused his requests and the reversion of Gilgit agency was announced via a gazette notification. 

The Gilgit scouts had negotiated terms of employment with Maharaja Hari Singh. Major a Brown had demanded and got the same salary and rations as the maharaja’s army. The residents of Gilgit were happy about being reverted to Dogra rule . The Mirs of Hunza and Nagar were in Srinagar to negotiate their sanads ( tributes ,gifts etc). The Maharaja used to Issue sanads ,but post 1935 the British had issued Sanads ,so these minor issues were worked out. Regarding the power to accede , only the Maharaja had the authority. There are volumes of material in national archives on Hunza and Nagar, and post 1935 india act, the British categorically concluded that Hunza,Nagar and the other states were under the Maharaja and not Independent . The Mir of Hunza was not trusted by the British as he was Hobnobbing with Chinese and Russians . So to paint the Mir as someone who was great is not supported by documents on record. He was not trusted by Pakistan either post accession. 

There was no involvement of local people during mutiny. The JK army unit posted at Bunji had Muslim officers already subverted by Jinnah. The Gilgit scouts was a lightly armed militia unit . British officers from Gilgit agency had opted for Pakistan via Options  which were offered by British to all their officers and men pan India, British officers of The army too had the option to join either Pakistan or India. So to impute that Dogra rule was so hated that many British officers joined Pakistan does not explain why Major Brown and Gilgit scouts negotiated their employment with Maharaja.

The Muslim officers of JK army massacred the Sikhs and Hindu officers and JCOs at Bunji. They moved to Gilgit and the non Muslim population of Gilgit took refuge in the Gilgit fort. The Muslim officers and major Brown of Gilgit scouts  were imprisoned but later agreed to support the Mutiny. Brigadier Ghansara singh was imprisoned but protected by Raja of Punial,who was a Muslim and who came with a small force to protect Brigadier Ghansara Singh. 

SS Kulkarni glosses over the massacre of non Muslims of Gilgit . The employees of JK government were kidnapped by Pakistani army and Pakistani  Government  officials who took over Gilgit. Daughters of these officials were converted and married off to Pakistani army officers. These facts are unpalatable thus have to be ignored? 

A secret report of 1951 from high commission of a india in Pakistan states that residents of Gilgit were happy at reversion of Gilgit to Dogra rule . But then they were brainwashed by the idea of an Islamic nation. The residents were unlettered and sharia compliant . The report states that within a few months of Pakistan occupation the residents of Gilgit Baltistan were disillusioned . The Pakistani officials were not Islamic, they consumed alcohol and their women folk did not observe purdah. Administration was mainly Pathans who were corrupt and inefficient . Food prices has risen up and the residents were not given any employment . A plan was proposed then in India to project Dogra rule as evil and present Indian rule under Sheikh Abdullah as benign to bring back Gilgit to India. Though Gilgit was never reattached , but the project to vilify Dogra kings seems to be alive.

Gilgit Baltistan are irrefutable Legal, cultural and Historic part of India. Those supporting Pakistani claims on the region should be treated as Secessionists . 

The blog was published by  http://c2c.news/2020/09/26/counter-to-sudheendra-kulkarni-article-of-gilgit-baltistan-in-the-wire/ 

What is POJK, Gilgit Baltistan , Aksai Chin - Let us know our occupied territories

 Strategic Importance of Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir , Gilgit Baltistan and Aksai Chin 

Article 370 has been Amended as to implement the Union constitution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the state has been reorganised into 2 UT’s – Jammu &Kashmir and UT of Ladakh . In the parliament Home Minister has been on record to say that POJK and Aksai chin are included when J&K is mentioned. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has stated on many occasions that any Talks with Pakistan will be only on Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir. In the recent UNGA session, China supported Pakistan on its stand on 370 abrogation and reorganisation of the State. It is imperative to understand the Occupied region and realise its importance.

Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India on 26 October ,1947, by signing the instrument of accession. The princely state comprising of Gilgit Wazarat, Gilgit Agency, Ladakh , Kashmir and Jammu became a part of Dominion of India . On 22 October onwards , Pakistani Army under the guise of North frontier tribals called Kabilais invaded the state of Jammu & Kashmir from 3 axis..Jammu, poonch and  Kashmir. Meanwhile in Gilgit region the troops of Gilgit Scouts mutinied and Gilgit ‘acceded ‘ to Pakistan, after a massacre of Sikh Soldiers at Bunji. Jawahar Lal Nehru took the matter to UN and a ceasefire was announced on 1 January 1949 which allowed Pakistan to be in occupation of territories of Gilgit-Baltistan and Mirpur -Muzzafarabad, which it terms as ‘Azad Jammu kashmir’. China started to occupy the region of Aksai Chin in Eastern Ladakh from 1954 onwards by building a Road called Highway 219 connecting Kashgar in Xinxiang to Lhasa in Tibet . In 1954 , india issued a memo , stating that Johnson Ardagh line as its official boundary ,while China claimed Macdonald -Mac cartney line. Post 1962 Indo China war, it occupied the territory of Aksai Chin . In 1963, under a Pakistani -China  Border Agreement , Pakistan ceded Shaksgam valley in its Occupied territory of Gilgit -Baltistan to China. In addition, China occupies Minsar, an indian principality in western Tibet, which was a part of J&K, and whose revenues maintained Kailash -Mansarovar after it occupied Tibet .

Thus the Dejure Map of Jammu & Kashmir , has been converted to a map where a de-facto LOC exists on the Pakistani border and an LAC on the Chinese border .

Post occupation of Aksai Chin by China, Nehru had famously claimed that as not a blade of grass grows in Aksai Chin, it was irrelevant if China occupied it, completely ignoring the strategic. Importance of Aksai chin. Also , Grass did grow in Aksai chin as nomads came to graze their yaks in summers .Aksai chin was Criss-crossed by ancient trade routes which gave access to Tibet, China, Xinxiang and Central Asia and connected to various trade routes extending to Eurasia and Middle east. The important trade routes were Kashgar-Leh-Srinagar and Lhasa- Leh . These trade routes were stopped once Highway 219 became operational, causing economic deprivation in Ladakh . China connected its two occupied territories,ensuring movement of goods and Millitary. China’s ability to mobilise its troops and tanks gave it advantage in the 1962 war. Many analysts claim that in case of war, Chinese tanks can reach New Delhi very quickly. For many decades pre 2014, this analysis was given as excuse by Indian government of not enhancing Border infrastructure on Indian -Tibet Border .

Occupation of Aksai chin denies India access to Central Asia ,while China can monitor Central Asia. Aksai chin is like a Chinese satellite, which pressurises india on Chinese occupation of Shaksgam and its involvement in economic activities in Gilgit Baltistan. The CPEC project is vital to China as it creates a link via Gilgit Baltistan to Gwadar, cutting the distance of Xinxiang to a port to 2500 km ,from the 4500 km to Shanghai . Also, India is forced to maintain its forces in the areas, and frequent incursions occur by Chinese troops. Boundary talks are On since 1988 to find a solution to Aksai Chin.

Pakistani occupation of Gilgit Baltistan enabled it to extend its borders to China, and to Ladakh and Siachen . Gilgit Baltistan is the Gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan from the indian subcontinent. Gilgit lies at cross roads of trade routes which are called the ancient Silk route. It shares its border with Xinxiang ( occupied by China since 1949) Afghanistan  And Pakistan, with access to Central Asia via Wakhan corridor to Tajikistan(25 km) . Ancient trade routes ,mainly Gandhar(Kandahar) -Varahmul( Baramulla ), Kashgar -Srinagar etc passed through Gilgit. Presently The Karakoram Highway enters Gilgit Baltistan through Khunjareb pass and connects Gilgit to Kashgar. The road is the central point of the CPEC (China-Pakistan economic corridor) . The road further extends to Islamabad and then to Gwadar deep sea port. Thus via Gilgit Baltistan, China gets its landlocked western and central areas access to warm waters of Arabian Sea. The central Asian republics, rich in natural gas, also get access to Sea port via this route.

China imports Crude oil from Middle East and Minerals from Africa ,exporting Finished products to both. Presently the sea route is via Indian Ocean,Malacca straits and South China Sea, where US, India are strong forces and US can impose Barricades via malacca strait. Also,the distance to shanghai from middle eastern ports is about 12000 km, along with added land route. A port in Gwadar ,linked by CPEC will make transport of the above goods very fast and insulate it from US .

Millitary presence of China in Gwadar port will give it power in Arabian Sea to offset Indian Dominance in the area.

Chinese investments in Gilgit Baltistan have given Pakistan disproportionate  power in the subcontinent which it did not have. Chinese Pakistan axis has potential to encircle India and keep it entangled with Pakistan. This is the reason China opposes Reorganisation of Ladakh and J&K as UTs . Historically, pre 1905, Gilgit, Baltistan and Ladakh including Aksai Chin were part of one district known as northern Frontiers .

 Indus River flows in Gilgit Baltistan From Ladakh.  China proposes to built a North Indus cascade , a group of 5 Dams starting from Skardu in Baltistan. The energy from these dams is proposed to be used by China, and irrigation by Pakistan. This is another challenge to Indian policy makers . 

Three largest Glaciers outside polar regions are in Gilgit Baltistan along with Mineral reserves including Gold, Uranium and Molybednum. Hunza has Best quality gold reserves . The Mir of Hunza would pay tribute to the Maharaja of J&K in sacks full of gold dust, collected from flowing streams . Pakistan has given mining rights of rare minerals to China, resources which belong to India.

Siachen Glacier is the area where three nuclear Nations -China,India and Pakistan link up. India dominates the area via Saltoro ridge. Ceding of Shaksgam valley and occupying GB enabled Pakistan to exert pressure in this area.

It must be noted that all wars with Pakistan post independence have been in this region, starting with first Indo pak war( Oct 1947-31 dec 1948), 1965 Indo pak war along LOC,  In 1971 on Ladakh Border, in 1984 the Siachen war (Ladakh Border) and in 1999 the Kargil war( Ladakh Border).Reclaiming this Territory will enhance security of India.

Mirpur -muzzafarabad ,which Pakistan terms as Azaad Jammu Kashmir, serves as an ideological mouthpiece for proponents of Independent Kashmir . It offers a stage for amplifying Separatist voices while giving space to terrorist outfits to set up camps . Infiltrations occur mostly from this area . Terror outfits active in Mirpur – muzzafarabad receive funds from abroad through various charities set up. The so called Kashmiri voices in UK are Mirpuris who migrated to UK post Construction of Mangala Dam. 

Minsar in west Tibet was an Indian principality which maintained Kailash Mansarovar area. The traditional route to Kailash Mansarovar was from Ladakh ,via Demchok to Minsar . Reopening of this route,which is quicker and safer will be of a great economic benefit to Ladakh .

To conclude, when we claim that Jammu&Kashmir is a strategic state, it is the occupied areas by Pakistan and China which are the real strategic areas. These areas gave India access to Central Asia,Afghanistan and made India prosperous via trade through silk route. Security of India was strengthened by control over these areas. Gilgit Baltistan along with Kashmir and Ladakh had been the centre of trade for centuries . To make India Strong and prosperous it is imperative to regain control of these territories .

 

 

Ladakh -Land of Passes

 The article appeared in Newsvichar https://www.newsvichar.com/Encyc/2019/8/10/GAME-CHANGING-DECISION-Ladakh-in-spotlight-as-Union-Territory-.html  

GAME CHANGING DECISION: Ladakh in spotlight as Union Territory

       Ladakh borders both Pakistan and China, and has faced aggression from both sides. In the present security environment, it has finally got the place of prominence it deserves.

 

 

 

NIDHI BAHUGUNA

On August 6, 2019, in Lok Sabha the young first time MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal stood up to speak eloquently on the revocation of Article 370 and reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir. The nation was enthralled by his brilliant oratory and everyone wanted to know more about the speaker. Most were hearing details about Ladakh for the first time. A region, out of national focus for decades, was bought into spotlight by the eloquent first speech of the first time MP.

Ladakh was historically one of the five Himalayan kingdoms in ancient and medieval times. Contrary to its present obscurity, it was at the centre of Eurasian trade routes and hence a very important geographical region. The Yarkhand-Leh-Srinagar trade route was among the important ones. The kingdom of Ladakh had wars with many neighbours over centuries. Gulab Singh conquered Ladakh and it became a part of Jammu and Kashmir and when J&K acceded to India, it became a part of India. Before that, for centuries, the ancient route to Kailash Mansarovar passed through Demchok in Ladakh, through Tibet and finally the pilgrims reached Minsar, a village that was for centuries a part of the Ladakh empire.

Claude Apri, an expert on Ladakh and Tibet writes : 

Immediately after J&K Accession to India, Ladakhis took the stand that their future was linked with India, though culturally, racially and linguistically they were closer to Tibet. 

In May 1949, the first delegation of the Young Men's Buddhist Association of Ladakh led by Kalon Chhewang Rigzin met Nehru in Delhi and presented him a memorandum: “We seek the bosom of that gracious Mother India to receive more nutriment for growth to our full stature in every way. She has given us what we prize above all things - our religion and culture.” 

Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the head Lama of Ladakh and long-time minister in Srinagar was another one who, as early as in the 1950s, defended the rights of the Ladakhis. Bakula never chose the path of confrontation; he always tried to get a greater autonomy by working with the system. As his method did not fully succeed, faced with Delhi's decades-long apathy and the 'larger issue of Kashmir', in 1989, the Ladakhis had no alternative but to resort to an agitation, a concept alien to Buddhism. A greater autonomy and closer links with India were not granted till the Ladakh Buddhist Association organised a non-violent movement; after many frustrating decades, Ladakh was finally offered an Autonomous Hill Development Council as a compromise in 1995. Though the chairman and his executives councilors (ministers) had vast executive powers on paper, they often faced a frustrating situation with Srinagar. 

Ladakh region has two districts, Leh and Kargil and two Autonomous Hill Development Councils, Ladakh (LAHDC ) and Kargil. In February 2019, Ladakh was granted Divisional status and on 6 August 2019, Lok Sabha passed the Bill granting Union Territory Status to Ladakh. 

Making Ladakh a Union Territory will help localise the Kashmir ‘issue’ to the Valley. The centre will be able to provide a better administration to the mountainous region. Ladakh borders both Pakistan and China, so this move will streamline the security and send a message to China: ‘India cares for Ladakh’. Ladakh has faced aggression both from Pakistan and China on both sides of the borders.

In October 1947, when ‘raiders’ from Pakistan began pouring into the Valley, looting and burning villages in their way, Ladakh was thought to be safe.But Pakistan decided to also 'liberate' their Buddhist brothers in Ladakh. The objectives of Operation Sledge, supposed to occupy the vast Ladakh plateau, were strategic and economic, the treasures of the Buddhist gompas (monasteries) being the great lure. The invaders were invited by the then Muslim population of Padam (Zanskar) and great looting took place, forcing many Buddhists to leave for Himachal Pradesh. The invaders were beaten back to the present day Line of Control (LoC).

In 1999, the Kargil war took place in Ladakh region. 

Siachen, since 1984, has been a highly militarised zone with India maintaining control of the strategic reaches.

On the eastern side, 1954 onwards, China occupied the strategic territory of Aksai Chin by Building Highway 219 connecting Kashgar in Xinxiang to Lhasa in Tibet. In 1962, it occupied the Aksai chin territory and since then, Ladakh faces security challenges from the Indo Tibet border.

In the prevailing security environment, Ladakh now has got place of prominence it deserves.

THE HEROES OF LADAKH 

Captain Prithvi Chand 

In February 1948, Brigadier S.P. Sen, the Brigade Commander in Srinagar got wind of the fact that more than 800 tribal Pathans were ready to enter Ladakh. The formidable Zoji-la pass was an uncrossable barrier between the Valley and Ladakh and there was no way to airlift reinforcements to Leh. Wheels other than the prayers wheels were unknown in Ladakh. 

It was then that Captain Prithvi Chand, a young Buddhist officer from Lahaul, the Himalayan region beyond Manali and the Rothang Pass, offered his services. He told Sen that he was ready to cross Zoji-la with a small caravan of men and mules carrying arms and ammunitions. Though Buddhists and believers in ahimsa, they were ready to risk the bitterly cold weather and high altitude, to fight the raiders and defend their co-religionists in Ladakh. Nobody thought the mission feasible, but there was no other solution. 

So, without the knowledge of army headquarters — which was reluctant to permit such a risky operation — the young captain crossed the pass with about 60 volunteers and reached Leh safely to prepare a ‘surprise’ for the raiders.The first airfield of Independent India was constructed at Leh by a Ladakhi engineer Sonam Norbu without any heavy machinery and fund of RS 13000- post completion of airstrip he returned the unused amount . 

 

 

Colonel Chewwang Rinchen

Colonel Chewwang Rinchen, who was twice awarded the Mahavir Chakra — first for having stopped the advance of raiders in the Nubra Valley in June 1948 and second for the bravery displayed in the Turtuk sector during the 1971 War.

 

With the creation of Ladakh as a Union Territory, the Heroes will get their space in national spotlight .

FUTURE OF LADAKH

Tourism will get a fillip as the Article 370, which impeded it, has been revoked. Negotiations with China to open the Demchok route for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage will go a long way in reviving tourism and as a CBM (confidence building measure ). 

The question of Minsar, an Indian principality in Tibet ,which was a part of Ladakh and catered to Kailash Mansarovar, needs to be addressed. 

To conclude, the Grant of Union Territory status to Ladakh is a game changing step. Ladakh has finally got its due after decades.

Forgotten Minsar – An Indian hamlet in Tibet

 Most Indians would be startled to know that there exists a small hamlet in Tibet West of Mount Kailash, which was administered by Ladakh and then by Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) for over 300 years. The hamlet comprising of village of Minsar (Mansar) was part of Kingdom of Ladakh from early Seventeenth Century. The revenue from this region was used for the maintenance of Kailash and Mansarovar Yatra. The first official reference to Minsar is found in the Treaty of Tingmosgang signed between Tibet and Ladakh in 1684, wherein Ladakh was allowed to retain Minsar. When Ladakh became part of J&K, Minsar became part of the State of J&K and consequently, became a part of India when Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India. The state of J&K regularly collected revenue from Minsar, and its officials periodically visited the village and kept doing so till the 1950s, even after J&K acceded to India. This article is an attempt to enlighten the readers about this forgotten Indian hamlet in Tibetan Plateau, which has gone out of Indian consciousness.

 

  

Historically, Minsar was an enclave of the princely state of J&K situated in Tibet. For centuries Minsar was the centre for pilgrims visiting Kailash Mansarovar and revenues of Minsar were used for maintaining the holy sites at Kailash Mansarovar. The old route to Kailash Mansarovar was from Demchok Village on the border of Ladakh via Minsar, which was closed after the occupation of Tibet by China. The Indian rights to this small town were inherited from the Peace Treaty between Ladakh and Tibet signed in Tingmosgang in 1684. Besides the confirmation of the delimitation of the border between Western Tibet and Ladakh, the Treaty affirmed, “The king of Ladakh reserves to himself the village of Minsar in Ngari-Khor-sum (Western Tibet)”. For centuries, Minsar has been a home for Ladakhi and Kashmiri traders and pilgrims visiting the holy mountain.

 

A report of Thrinley Shingta, the 7th Gyalwang Drukpa, head of the Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, who spent three months in the area in 1748; makes interesting reading. It states “Administratively, it is established that the next village of Minsar and its surrounding areas are ancient Ladakhi territory. After Lhasa invaded West Tibet in 1684, it was agreed and formally inscribed in the Peace Treaty between Tibet and Ladakh, signed in 1684, that the King of Ladakh retained the territory of Minsar and its neighbourhood as a territorial enclave, in order to meet the religious offering expenses of the sacred sites by Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.”

 

For centuries, the inhabitants of Minsar, although surrounded by Tibetan territories, paid their taxes to the kingdom of Ladakh. In the 19th century, when Ladakh was incorporated into Maharaja Gulab Singh’s State, Minsar became de jure and de facto part of the Dogra Empire, which regularly collected taxes from Minsar. The process continued even after Indian independence. The last official to visit the region was Rigzen Ghagil Kalon, a special officer of the Government of J&K. He visited the village in 1950, and his report was subsequently forwarded by the Government of J&K to the Ministry of States New Delhi, informing it about the circumstances under which the Special Officer visited Tibet.

 

Rigzen Ghagil Kalon’s report titled ‘Village Minsar in Western Tibet’ and dated September 13, 1950, stated that Demchok was the last Village on Indian Border. The report also mentioned that it took ten days to reach Minsar from Demchok “The village Minsar is situated to the east of Gartok and about 32 miles west of Mount Kailash. It is a broad valley with vast plains in it. There are 68 families with 271 souls of which 120 are males and the rest females and are all adherents of Buddhism.” The report further mentions “I found there a few Garhwal tradesmen who did a lot of propaganda in my favour among the people telling them that I belonged to the National Government of J&K which is a part of India. It proved a great help to me. I asked for the recovery of revenue and the people told me that they had not the least hesitation in paying the amount to the State Government.”

 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) report of 1960 during the Indo China Boundary talks also establishes India’s right over Minsar, “The Indian side had similar records to show that the village of Minsar was from 1684 under the effective administration of the Kashmir Government:

 

(a) An extract from an original document prepared in about 1862 showing that during the time of Mehta Basti Ram, that is about 1853, a sum of Rs 56 was collected from this village as revenue.

 

(b) An extract from the tour report of Faqir Chand, Wazir Wazarat of Ladakh in 1905, stating that the village of Minsar belonged to Ladakh and that a sum of Rs 297 was being collected annually as revenue from this village.

 

(c) The Indian side had shown earlier that the Assessment Report of 1905, the Final Assessment Report of 1908 and the Settlement Officer’s report regarding the amount of revenue payable had all mentioned Minsar also as one of the villages.”

 

On May 23, 2014, Scoop News reported that the Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Rigzin Spalbar wrote to J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed demanding re-opening of Demchok route wherein he stated that till the 17th century, the Manasarovar Lake and Mount Kailash were part of the Kingdom of Ladakh and the village of Minsar, near the Kailash continued to pay revenues to the J&K State up to 1960. He cited Ven. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, then a Minister in J&K Government who in 1954, along with Sonam Khangsar, a judicial clerk of the Leh District Commissioner's Office, visited Kailash/Manasarovar via Demchok; at that time, they collected taxes from the Minsar villagers.

 

So, how did India give up its rights on Minsar? Claude Apri, who has written extensively about Minsar, Ladakh and Tibet says that in his quest to make Panchsheel successful, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru decided to forego all rights on Principality of Minsar during Indo China Border talks in 1953. Claude Apri states, “Nehru was aware that Minsar had been providing revenue for maintaining the temples around the sacred mountain and the holy Manasarovar lake, but believed that India should unilaterally renounce her rights as a gesture of goodwill towards Communist China.” 

He instructed the diplomats negotiating the Panchsheel accord in Beijing, “Regarding the village of Minsar in Western Tibet, which has belonged to the Kashmir State, it is clear that we shall have to give it up if this question is raised. We need not to raise it. If it is raised, we should say that we recognise the strength of the Chinese contention and we are prepared to consider it and recommend it.”

 

Eventually, Minsar was not discussed at all during the 1954 talks, and therefore, it continues to be legally and constitutionally a part of J&K State of India. No change of boundary was ever ratified in the Parliament via amending Article 1 of the constitution, as was done for the Indian and Bangladeshi Enclaves. John Bray, President of the International Association of Ladakh Studies, wrote, “the Sino-Indian boundary dispute remains unresolved. Since the 1960s, the attention of the two governments has focused on the demarcation of the frontier and, more recently, on the prospects for mutual trade. The status of Minsar is no more than a minor footnote to these concerns, but one that has still to be cleared up.”

 

Minsar, besides having a historical and spiritual context for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains in India, raises many unanswered questions. The Legal status of Minsar has never been addressed. The treaty of 1684 has never been formally revoked by ratification in the Parliament, neither the boundary been changed by amending Article 1 of the constitution. Till 1961, MEA was proving its rights over Minsar by providing revenue records, maps and administrative documents to Chinese, but never formally staked a claim. Neither was any compensation demanded giving up Minsar from the Government of China. The issue was never highlighted in public domain inspite of repeated clarifications sought on Minsar by the Member of Parliament from Ladakh constituency since 1982 in the Lok Sabha.

 

Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage holds a very important place in the hearts of Indians. The Yatra at present is either via Nathu La or via Niti pass in Uttarakhand, both being very rigorous and prone to Suspensions due to unfavourable weather conditions. The reopening of Demchok route has been a constant demand from the people of Ladakh. In the eventuality of the route becoming a reality, the significance of having an Indian enclave in the vicinity of Kailash Mansarovar cannot be overemphasised.

 

At present, Minsar is situated at southern end of Gar (Gartok) County on national highway 219 in Ngari Prefecture. Its Chinese name is Men-shi which is pronounced something like “Men-sher.” Minsar is separated from India by the width of Zhada (Tsamda) County, also in Ngari Prefecture. The nearest point in India would be the Malari and Niti Passes in Uttarakhand State. India must take up with China the unresolved issue of Minsar. Given its historical and spiritual context, Minsar cannot and should not be allowed to become a forgotten footnote in History of India.

Note : this article appeared in organiser https://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2019/2/20/Forgotten-Minsar-An-Indian-hamlet-in-Tibet.html 

NO ! MR ABDULLAH -PAKISTAN HAS NO CLAIM ON POJK !

November 11,2017-Mr Farooq Abdullah made a very shocking statement asserting that Pakistan owns POK and Kashmir should be divided accordingly into 2 parts.Of late Mr Abdullah senior and Abdullah junior have been making irresponsible comments. Farooq,being the son of Sheikh Abdullah, does not shock oby the seditious nature of his statements.

 Let the statements be contested with facts and also  the readers be refreshed and informed about the actions of Sheikh Abdullah to understand the present stand of the Abdullahs. 

First some points regarding the Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir     

            

J&K was the largest princely state of erstwhile British India,with borders adjoining both Dominions of India and Pakistan. It must be clearly understood that only British India was divided into dominions of Pakistan and India-There was NO scope for any division of any princely state.The state had to accede completely to either Dominion and the power of accession was given to the ruler of princely state. Thus,within the scope of India Independence act 1947-Maharaja Hari Singh,Ruler of Jammu-Kashmir signed the instrument of accession like other princely states,Lord Mountbatten countersigned it and on 26 oct 1947 State of Jammu-Kashmir acceded to India.This accession was not reversible and under Art 1 of Indian constitution,Areas can be added but not reduced. So is Farooq Abdullah advocating Sedition of a part of Jammu-Kashmir? 

It is an Established historical fact that Pakistan attacked the princely state of Jammu-Kashmir on the Night of 21-22 Oct 1947 .Gilgit, Baltistan,Mirpur,Muzzafarabad,Kotli, Bhimber, parts of Poonch remained under its occupation post UN mandated 1Jan 1949 ceasefire .How can  this area be a legitimate part of Pakistan? When this area was never in British India but belonged to Maharaja Hari Singh ruled Jammu-Kashmir? A large part of Jammu Kashmir is occupied by China,Minsar in Tibet which was a part of J&Kwas gifted away by Nehru to China,In 1963 Shaksgam valley in Pak occupied  Gilgit Balistan region of J&Kwas Gifted by Pakistan to China. How can there be any basis for Pakistan to Claim occupied areas?

Now let us analyse other legal Documents in addition to the instrument of Accession , cementing the assertion that Whole of JK state is an integral part of India 

1) UN resolutions- India approached the UN as a nation attacked by a neighbouring country-UN resolutions do not make any case of Pakistan having a right over Indian territory measuring upto 85,000 sq km it has occupied. The UNCIP Resolution of August 1948 clearly states that Pakistan is occupying Areas in J&K and has to vacate these areas. The clarifications issued by UNCIP also state that Pakistan have NO Sovereign rights on occupied territories.

So Pakistan will have to denounce UN resolutions to claim its rights on POJK  

2) The  proclamation Signed by Karan Singh on 25 Nov 1949 regarding implementation of Indian constitution in J&K .

3)The judgement of AJK HC on Gilgit Baltistan in March 1994 that Gilgit and Baltistan are parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

 4)Jammu Kashmir is not a part of Pakistan as per the constitution of Pakistan . Also Pakistan S.C Has ruled that GB is not a constitutional part of Pakistan which has only 4 provinces.

4) February 22,1994 Resolution by the Indian Parliament unanimously proclaiming whole of Jammu Kashmir to be an Integral Part of India. 

Examining the role of Sheikh Abdullah in the pre and post Independence  History of India with regard to Jammu and Kashmir. 

1)In 1930-31-Sheikh Abdullah led agitations and protests against Maharaja Hari Singh.He gave inciting speeches in Mosques in Srinagar and incited stone pelting and violence.He was helped in this by Muslim youth coming in from British controlled Punjab.Maharaja Hari Singh arrested him for provoking unrest,but the protests continued until Maharaja Hari Singh signed  60 year lease of Gilgit-Balistan  with the British.Then the protests stopped. 

2)When the Cabinet Mission came to India ,Sheikh Abdullah started a movement called 'Maharaja,Quit Kashmir'.He was arrested for sedition.  3)Sheikh Abdullah was not popular With Shias,Gurjars,Buddhists,Pahadi Muslims,Baltis , Shina and Hindu population of Jammu,Kashmir.He left Muslim conference and formed Jammu Kashmir National Conference in 1939 which got support from Jawaharlal Nehru.

4) After Accession when the First Assembly elections were held in JK,Sheikh Abdullah cancelled the nomination of the Jammu  based Praja Parishad candidates and thus ensured win of National Conference.He propagated  the Idea of a separate flag, Emblem and Permit for JK.This was opposed vehemently by Sri SP Mukherji and Praja Parishad Members.Many Praja parishad members attained Martyrdom while hoisting the tricolor and Sri SP Mukherjee attained Martyrdom in Srinagar while opposing two flags,two constitutions and permits to visit JK within India .

5) The Delhi accord which was more of a committment between Nehru-Abdullah and the events leading to Martyrdom of SP Mukherjee led to lots of Unease within NC itself.Deputy PM Ghulam Bakshi led the Revolt against Sheikh Abdullah -15 members were against Sheikh Abdullah's statement that Jammu Kashmir accession was conditional while only 4 supported him.The Members of Cabinet informed Karan Singh that they had lost confidence in Sheikh Abdullah ,Leading to Dismissal of Sheikh Abdullah as Primeminister of JK.Sheikh Abdullah was in Gulmarg that time and was on his way to Gilgit to proclaim Independence of JK . His plans were thwarted and he was Arrested . 

Thus it comes as no surprise that Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah make Pro-Pak statements and bat for Autonomy of JK and term the accession as conditional, inspite of proof present to the contrary.

Time has come to condemn such Statements. Not only condemn but according to laws these statements of Farooq Abdullah can be termed Seditious. As a citizen one hopes that the Government gives an adequate and befitting response to Farooq Abdullah who is an MP in Parliament  

Where Naseeruddin Shah's Fluffy article legitimises 'Hindu Mobs attacking Muslims' narrative of MSM

 

Today morning my WA groups were posting an Article of Naseeruddin shah in HT times and getting emotional about his 'secular' 'deeply personal' article-I read his article,was deeply distressed at how by just claiming he is not a 'good Muslims' he gets emotional Hindus to toe the libbie line.
To me both the title and content of the article are just an extension of sagarikha ghose's tweet about Hindu mobs hunting down Muslims.
He starts with an insidious victim playing, calling himself not a 'good Muslim' by emphasising the Binary of a good Muslim in salafi/Arab wear, and by mentioning his 'deeply personal' detail of marrying Ratna,a Hindu and by bringing in the love Jihad Binary of Muslim-Hindu marriage ,places himself on a pedestal and starts preaching . He totally neglects the fact that inter-religion marriage is not love jihad, marrying Hindu, Christian girls and making them convert to Islam as a hidden agenda is love Jihad .
He rues that he never remembers Muslims being viewed with suspicion --till about 30 years back there was no salafi Islam inspired Islamic terror--in India it started in Kashmir in mid 80's but was legitimised as call for Aazaadi . It is since global terror by Muslim youth, professing to be inspired by Quran and the ideological idea of a Muslim Caliphate that Muslims are being viewed with suspicion .
Then the normal monkey balancing starts--first by equating the horrors of Islamic terror with the new narrative of 'gau rakshaks'--while gau raksha is revered by most Hindus ,equating a few stray incidents of alleged gau rakshaks ( which have in most cases turned out to be local Spats between rival gangs of smugglers, between local goondas masquerading as gau rakshaks, villagers fighting with cattle thieves) which are condemned and not given sanction -either by ruling party or by Hindu society-stray incidents are compared to horrific bombings, knifing,car mowings etc .
Then another ridiculous equivalence starts--that of creeping radicalising of Muslim society ,esp in dressing up in full body Burkhas, toddler girls in hijab,men in beards and Islamic long Kurta and short pyjama --with 'creeping tilak and saffron' -in Hindus !!!!
The Most offensive part was his fear of Mobs asking for religious identity of his kids in future-just to remind him-mobs asked for religious identity on direct action day in 1946, in 1989,1990, mobs in Kashmir caused mass exodus of Kashmiri pandits based on religious identity,1984 Sikhs were massacred by congress leaders based on religious identity,In nandigram 2003, Kashmiri pandits of an entire village were killed based on religious identity, last couple of years Violent Muslim mobs in Malda,Dhulagarh have gone on rampage over religious identity.
Then Shah plays 'Sare jahan se Accha ' card --rueing that Audience did not know that a Muslim wrote the song --well most of audience may not know that later Iqbal supported partition, and wrote Tarana-e-Mili - supporting the idea of Ummah or Islamic nation! 
In eulogising Iqbal Naseeruddin forgets that after writing ' Hindi hai hum watan hai Hindustan hamara' Iqbal was the philosophical father Of Pakistan and influenced Jinnah in creating Pakistan .Naseeruddin may not know the poem was later changed to -Chin o Arab Hamara,Muslim hain hum, watan hai Sara jahan hamara
To conclude , the real Brave Muslims taking on the problems in Islam are Salman Rushdie who wrote satanic verses, Tasleema Nasreen, Ayaan hirsi Ali -And who have and are paying a price for it ! 
The article would have been a honest one had Naseeruddin not given in temptation of bringing in 'mobs',Gau rakshaks,Tilak, saffron and Sania Mirza's skirt length from decade ago . 

Forgotten Victims of Partition- POJK and Gilgit Baltistan refugees -Unearthing them from National Archives

 15 August is approaching . In the run up to the Independence Day we remember our freedom fighters , our leaders and evaluate our progress as a young nation with an ancient civilisation . Often forgotten is the fact that it was British India that was partitioned and declared ‘Independent’ while for the 562 plus princely states , the Paramountcy of British power ended and existing treaties ,leases etc were dissolved . The princely states could accede to either Dominion of India or or Pakistan- there was no provision for a third Dominion. The time preceding and post Partition was violent and turbulent -a fact often forgotten in the euphoria of celebrations.

Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India on 26 October 1947. On the night of 21-22 October 1947 , Jammu and Kashmir was invaded by Pakistani raiders from Pashtun areas, supported by Pakistani Army. The events in the Kashmiri valley are well known, and the looting and violence that was unleashed is well documented, the Indian Army soon forced the raiders to retreat .

The story of Non Muslims of Mirpur -Muzzafarabad districts and Gilgit Baltistan province is however forgotten. The Hindu and Sikh victims of the events of 1947 are but an erased footnote in the post 1947 history of  India .

The National Archives has documents relating to the hapless victims of partition , both in Mirpur Muzzafarabad and Gilgit Baltistan area , both under Pakistani occupation since UN mandated Ceasefire of 1 January 1949. Till 1950, the issue of evacuation and release of Hindu and Sikh girls, women and children was in national headlines, but soon was relegated to the dusty files of National archives.

Here, an effort will be made to bring out the story of the forgotten victims. Where are these girls,women and children now? Their present generation ,both in india and Pakistan ,may not even know they existed once as Hindus and Sikhs 

Refugees and Abducted victims of Mirpur Muzzafarabad now termed POJK 

From the night of 22 October , violence and terror was unleashed on Hindus and Sikhs of Mirpur, Muzaffarabad , Bhimber, Kotli ,Poonch and surrounding areas. Thousands of Hindus and Sikhs perished and thousands of young women,Girls and children were kidnapped and taken captive by Raiders. The lucky Hindus and Sikhs who managed to flee reached Jammu and later lived on as POJK refugees. The violence did not stop even after Indian Army was deployed. For two years, until ceasefire was announced, the indian army protected the refugees ,often under siege, surrounded by Muslim areas and Pakistani Army. The woes of non Muslims worsened after cease fire was announced and the areas came under Pakistani occupation. 

Recovery commissions were set up to locate and free kidnapped non Muslims from Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Applications abound in the archives for securing release of young girls held captive in villages by refugees from POJK. One such application from a refugee camp in UP ( refugees from POJK were not settled in Kashmir valley, this story will be explained another time) states that young girls as young as 12 years were abducted, converted and married off to old men . 

Mridula Sarabai made efforts to locate, secure release and evacuate the unfortunate Hindu and Sikh girls. Her report in national archives, even though in official language ,cannot hide the terrible human tragedy that was being witnessed in the open, in front of everyone’s eyes. The report speaks of 3 abducted girls , in Mirpur ,who were recovered . But public pressure was so intense that a person of the Rank of a Deputy Commissioner returned the three girls back to the abductors. 

There were confirmed reports of the kidnapped girls being taken to ‘closed’ villages in the interiors and by the raiders back to their villages. Any efforts to return the abducted girls and even children was resisted by the whole village. Before ceasefire, it was still possible to recover girls via Indian armed forces, but after ceasefire , the Pakistan recovery office and police did not make any credible efforts to secure release of the girls. 

About 200 young girls were reported to be kept in an non official camp, in Mirpur head water works, for ‘use’ of Millitary .

In refugee camps in Pakistan occupied territory of J&K , these women,girls and children were kept as bargaining tools and not returned to their families even when located.  A Muslim conference meeting held in Lahore upheld the view that the kidnapped persons and those in refugee camps should not be returned until accession of Kashmir to Pakistan, these views were also supported by the officers of the recovery police. 

Two refugees who had returned from POJK made this disclosure to Mr Rishi, head of congress committee in Delhi. The ministry of states has reported The meeting with the Refugees and Mr Rishi, where the refugees informed that camp commandants were refusing to release women and children unless a corresponding number of Muslim women and children were given in exchange . A camp in Datya, was reported to have 79 women and 38 children, who were not being released .

Areas of Mirpur Muzzaffarabad were under the recovery office and there were reports, recoveries and evacuations , though reduced to a trickle . The case of Gilgit Baltistan was even more pathetic as that came under ministry of state. After the mutiny and accession of Gilgit to Pakistan, there was no way to contact non Muslims in Gilgit Baltistan. The Hindu traders of Kashgar were the first to inform the British consulate there to the plight of Hindus and Sikhs .

The government of India initially put up its hands ,but the pressure of the Hindu traders in Kashgar made it act.

The Sikh and Hindu employees of the Kashmir government were the first victims. They were kidnapped and taken to frontier areas and made to work for Pakistan. Many were killed . A tragic application stating that Daughters and even wives of J&K government employees were converted and forcibily married to army officers of Pakistan army . Elder daughter of a postal clerk Shankar Lal Dhar was converted and forcibily married to a Pakistani army officer.

The traders who managed to escape Gilgit informed that 150 Hindu and Sikh traders in Gilgit ,along with their women and children had converted to Islam.

Further application from a Sikh trader in Dehradoon requesting evacuation of his family members from Gilgit  Informed that the family ,along with the women, had converted to Islam. 

Hindu and Sikhs of Gilgit were confined to the Gilgit fort and converted , fate of their womenfolk were unknown, but were supposed to have been converted and forcibly married off.

Applications requesting evacuation of Hindu and Sikhs in Skardu, Astore, Chilas also abound in national archives . Tragic stories of Husband not being allowed to leave while the wife was lucky to have been released abound.

These stories ,written in cold official language, nevertheless , speak of a great human tragedy. These are victims of our political freedom which we got on 15 August 1947.

Mridula Sarabai gave a list of about 2317 abducted persons ,which she stressed was neither final, nor the least, as every released person gave details about further persons.

The kidnapped women,girls and children were leading secure ,happy lives, having dreams and their Little joys - when events not in their control turned their lives upside down. What terrible experiences must have befallen these hapless girls ,women, children, to be snatched away from their known lives and becoming slaves and living in hostile villages. Did their children even know the past of their mother? How did the families of these abducted girls carry on with their lives . Did they pass on their tragic stories to the next generation? 

The employees of the Kashmir government were thrown into these events by virtue of being posted to these areas. Many were kidnapped, their daughters forcibily married off! What happened to them and to the traders and others who were converted ? Did their second generation know the history? 

These answers were never sought ! A few survivors did write about their experiences but somehow, these stories never made way into the Kashmir Narrative. The wife of the Wazir -e-Wazarat of Muzzafarabad , Smt Krishna Mehta has written about these terrible times . Her husband was pushed to his knees and killed by raiders for being a kaffir . A person so powerful could be killed like this. She recounts girls defacing themselves in refugee camps to save their honour and women killing themselves to escape rape and kidnapping.

These are gross human right violations , which happened under eyes of UN commissioners ,Red Cross , British Authorities- all these profess to be beckons of human right protection. The nation of India  watched Helplessly while its women, girls ,young men and children were enslaved and converted or who killed themselves or were killed . 

Let us not forget them, for they payed a great price for our political freedom .

Brazen lies of Rahul Gandhi

Brazen Lies of Rahul Gandhi -Fact based Rebuttal

 

Rahul Gandhi of late has been blabbering a lot of nonsense-and spouting white lies.He does that with a sneering sense of entitlement ,secure in the knowledge that Pidi Media will not counter his lies and some people may believe him.

 

Today I intend to counter 2 of his glaring lies 

Lie No 1 -Freedom of Expression is a fundamental democratic right and BJP/RSS are policing and controlling it 

The Shamelessness of this Brazen lie astounded me and I resolved to counter this lie by a few examples of the great congress and its Dynasty in suppressing the same freedom of Expression .

 

Year was 1950

Cross Roads was a weekly journal published by Romesh Thapar was Banned by Madras state for Criticising Nehruvian policies.

Romesh Approached Supreme Court which upheld his freedom of expression guaranteed under art 19(1)(a) of Constitution on 26 May 1950 .

The Case was Thapar vs State of Madras .

 

On 10 May 1951 Nehru moved 1 amendment -known as Constitution (first amendment)Act 1951 .

On 18 June 1951 it was passed by parliament-amending 19(1)a -which guaranteed freedom of expression -to curtailing that freedom, thus effectively overturning the judgement of SC in Thapar vs Madras state upholding freedom of expression 

Today Rahul Gandhi brazenly claims that he stands for freedom of Expression .

I would like to remind him of the following Milestones 

 

During Emergency Indira Gandhi Suspended Freedom of Speech totally .

In UPA time ,ruled remotely by Sonia-Rahul-Art 66A was implemented curtailing Freedom of expression on social media-arresting scores under the draconian provision.

And today Rahul Gandhi sneeringly tweets about upholding freedom of speech !!!

 

Since Rahul Gandhi is waxing eloquent about his Father Rajiv Gandhi :

A brief Synopsis :

 

Image cultivated of a reluctant politician-immediately agreed to become prime minister after Indira Gandhi’s Assassination!

His stint started with the infamous ‘when a large tree falls,earth shakes’ and genocide of thousands of innocent sikhs . 

His brief spell as PM involved Bofors kick back scam.

Bhopal Gas tragedy and shameful escorting of Anderson out of India. 

Overturning of SC judgement on Shah Bano .

Terrible Communal riots in Meerut in 1987 where police force was withdrawn and Hindu colonies left unprotected while Muslim mobs attacked them.

The IPKF misadventure leading to unfortunate death of over 2000 indian armed forces persons .

Emptying coffers of Nation so that Gold had to be mortgaged after his stint. 

Creating a mess in Punjab.

 Created an Environment for resurgence of Pakistan sponsored separatism and terrorism by rigging 1987 elections 

Stayed mute and inactive when Kashmiri Pandits were being targeted ,killed and finally forced into exile from 1989, then the black night of 19 January 1990- by ignoring all reports. 

Finally -Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE-where does serving India come in !!

 

Lie no 2 

Rahul Gandhi claims that Modi is the first PM to bend before China

 

Another shameless brazen lie that needs to be called out .

The 1962 Indo China war which India lost due to weak leadership of Nehru is a throbbing wound on the psyche of India

Other instances of bending of Nehru in front of China are 

1. Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai .
2. Letting China annex Tibet .
3. Letting China occupy Aksai chin.
4. Gifting away Minsar in Tibet,which was a part of JK,and whose revenues were used to maintain Kailash mansarovar to China in 1954 .
5. Feeble protest when Pakistan Gifted away Shaksgam Valley in POJK to China in 1963 .

 

These are but a few instances in Nehru’s rule 

In 1962 Pakistan and China began getting closer,creating a Sino Pak nexus .  Nehru,Indira ,Rajiv,Sonia ,Rahul did nothing to counter it through decades when they were in power 

In UPA Rule CPEC project was begun-what did Sonia Rahul controlled Government do to counter it?

Modi led Government is taking a strong stance against CPEC,BRI etc by neighbourhood first policy.

It is tackling the Maritime silk route by Sagarmala,reaching out to Indian Ocean Rim nations,QUAD,RIMPAC etc

It must be noted that Dokolam was the first instance of India sticking to its Guns in face of China after the Nathu la battle in sixties. 

 

Rahul Gandhi indulges in white brazen lies-time to call out his pathetic lies by putting out fact based rebuttals .