website: panunkashmir.in e-mail: [email protected] ASHMIR Let Truth Prevail KS entinel JKENG 00333/26/AL/TC/94 JK No: 1213/18 Regd. JK-219/2008 Vol. 13. No: 7 JULY 2008 Pages 20 Price Rs. 20/ INSIDE SASB Land Allotment Controversy

EDITORIAL JAMMU OUTRAGED, UNPRECEDENTED BANDH True Vision of India.....Page 3 KS Correspondent PERSPECTIVE OUTRAGED over the revoca- What's the hullabaloo tion of the land allotment order about?...... Page 6 in favour of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and taking over the control of the Amarnathji OPINION Yatra, Jammu observed an un- Fundamentalists derail precedented eight day long pilgrims' progress in Bandh that witnessed massive Kashmir...... Page 7 demonstrations, violence and imposition of curfew by the ad- VIEW POINT ministration. Two protesters Kashmiriyat has revealed its were killed, hundreds injured true colours...... Page 7 and arrested during the bandh. The government SPECIAL REPORT decision was viewed as a meek Gen. Sinha dubs PDP as surrender to the separatists and fundamentalists and in- anti-national fringement on the religious *Yatris narrate horrible rights of the Hindus that only experiences...... Page 9 contributed to the separatists' agenda. Jammuites protesting against the revocationthe of land transfer order. WHAT THE EDITORS SAY Demonstrations *Who has won who has lost widespread: *Capitulation in J&K The resentment and anger unprecedented. ongoing struggle. Muslim Fed- gion. The police resorted to in Jammu was brewing up There were widespread dem- eration also extended its support. force and the unnerved admin- *Provocative Action...Page 10 once the controversy was onstrations and protests To keep the agitation objective istration imposed curfew in the generated by the separatist- throughout the Jammu region. oriented and lead it to the logical city. REPORTAGE terrorist organisations and the Unlike past, the demonstrations conclusion, various political, so- Police opened unprovoked *Controversy over Amarnath coalition partner of Congress, and protests were not limited to cial and religious organisations firing on a procession at Muthi land allotment-poll gimmick PDP and National Conference old Jammu city and few district joined hands and constituted in which two protesters were *The mechanics of joined the bandwagon. Jammu headquarters but there were pro- "Shri Amarnath Yatra critically injured. Thousands of chauvinist rage had been witnessing protest tests even in villages and Mus- Sangarsh Samiti" to spearhead people assembled on Jammu- demonstrations since then Poonch highway and blocked *A monument to hate lim majority districts like Poonch, the agitation. Sh. Leela Karan and even a complete bandh Rajouri and Doda. Massive ral- Sharma was elected as convenor the road for several hours. As Chhatterhama...... Page 11 was observed on 26th of June lies were witnessed in the out- of the Samiti. The Samiti passed the procession headed for against PDP and separatists. skirts of Jammu-Muthi, Barnai, resolutions for restoration of Jammu, police resorted to cane- Views...... Page 12 The government was warned Bantalab, Anandnagar, Gangyal, land and all powers to SASB, charge and teargas shells. It On Record...... Page 13 against any surrender. But, RS Pura, Nagrota, recall of the J&K Governor and was followed by firing in the ignoring the warnings and in Baribrahamana-Kathua, Samba, dismissal of the state air to disperse the mob. utter disregard of the senti- Suddenly, a cop without any HISTORY Vijaypur, Udhampur, Bhaderwah, government. The Samiti also ments of the Hindus and the provocation opened direct fire Tirtha of Reasi etc. gave a clarion call to all Hindu Jammuites, the state govern- The remarkable thing to no- organisations of the country to injuring two protesters Amreshvara...... Page 14 ment with the connivance of tice about these rallies and dem- come on a single platform. including a Kashmiri Pandit. Governor, Vohra revoked the onstrations was that the partici- Two killed, hundreds in- The cops' action infuriated the HISTORY land allotment order and took pants were the common masses, jured: mob and it turned violent. The History of Amarnath over the control of the yatra. irrespective of their party affilia- The situation turned grave on cop who had opened the fire pilgrimage...... Page 16 Jammu felt outraged and hu- tions. Even the Muslims joined the second day of the bandh as was severely beaten up and miliated. The decision was re- the protests by voluntarily clos- the cancellation of the land al- was rescued by his colleagues TRADITION acted with the bandh call for ing their shops and business es- lotment order by the state cabi- in an injured condition. The Amaresvara tradition one day on 1st July but the tablishments. net fuelled the anger. Massive injured civilians were identified in Kashmir Valley...... Page 17 bandh was extended for eight All trade Unions, Shopkeep- protest demonstrations were wit- as Ramesh Chander, son of days. The response to the ers’ Unions, Transport Unions nessed in Jammu city, outskirts Bodh Raj and Chuni Lal, son of CHRONOLOGY...... Page 18 bandh was spontaneous and have extended their support to and other major towns of the re- (Contd. on Page 8) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 THOSE WHO LEFT US 2 Panun Kashmir and Kashmir Sentinel condole the demise of the following members of the community. 1. Sh. Prithvi Nath Raina S/o Late Sh. Prakash Ram Hassanyar Habbakadal Sgr; presently resident of Z- Nagar Paloura, Jammu. 3/1/2008 originally resident of Trehgam Kupwara Kmr; presently 121 Kashmiri Colony Patrawat Road Najabgarh New 57. Smt. Kamla Kaul W/o Late Sh. Onkar Nath Kaul orignially residing at D-20 Muthi Migrant Camp Phase-IInd Jammu. Delhi. 24/12/2007 resident of Chotta Bazar Habbakadal Sgr; presently 15/12/2007 30. Smt. Shobawati Gunjoo W/o Late Sh. Jagan Nath Gunjoo residing at 1845-A Jain Nagar Karala, New Delhi. 4/1/ 2. Smt. Rupawati Mattoo W/o Late Sh. R.C. Mattoo, R/o R/o Rughnath Mandir Sgr; preserntly residing at 128, 2008 Lower Sathu Chandpora Sgr; presently residing at H.No: Sector-II Shant Nagar, Old Janipur Jammu. 25/12/2007 58. Smt. Sonabatni W/o Late Sh. Amar Nath Kochru original 32, Sector-8, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. 15/12/2007 31. Smt. Chooni Koul W/o Late Sh. Makhan Lal Koul originally resident of Narparistan Bana Mohalla Sgr; presently 3. Sh. Hira Lal Fotedar S/o Late Sh. Gopi Nath Fotedar of resident of 86-Karan Nagar Sgr; presently residing at residing at H.No: 177, Sector-2 Pamposh Colony Janipur, Bul-Bul Lankar Nawakadal Sgr; presently residing at 318, Technology Apart. 24-I.P Ext. Patparganj New Delhi. Jammu. 4/1/2008 127/3 Vivek Vihar Paloura, Jammu. 16/12/2007 25/12/2007 59. Smt. Prabawati Kakroo W/o Late Sh. Arjan Nath Kakroo 4. Sh. J.N. Bali S/o Late Zanardhan Bali of Sheli Teng 32. Pt. Kashi Nath Kaw S/o Late Pt. Shiv Ram Kaw of of Vicharnag Sgr and presently residing at 1326 Mohali Habbakadal Sgr; presently residing at F-29, Shiv Nagar Handwara Kmr; presently resident of H.No: 361/4 Phase-V, Chandigarh. 4/1/2008 Behind A.G. Office Jammu. 16/12/2007 Gangyal Garden Jammu. 26/12/2007 60. Smt. Praba Raina W/o Sh. Soom Nath Rania R/o 5. Sh. Janki Nath S/o Late Sh. Tika Lal Raina, R/o 33. Sh. Prithvi Nath Bhat Hanjura S/o Late Sh. Lakhman Joo Fatehpora/Taragam Anantnag Kmr; presently at Chandigram Pahalgam, Kmr; presently at R/o 15-A, Ext. Bhat of Village Hanjura-Chadoor Budgam Kmr; presently Community Hall Battal Ballian Camp Udhampur. 4/1/2008 Janipora Colony Jammu. 17/12/2007 residing at H.No: 530 Subash Nagar, Jammu. 26/12/ 61. Smt. Sneh Lata Parimoo W/o Sh. Bansi Lal Parimoo R/o 6. Smt. Roopawati Raina W/o Late Prem Nath Raina R/o 2007 H.No: 1999 Gulabi Bagh, New Delhi. 4/1/2008 Narparistan Fatehkadal Sgr; presently residing at H.No: 34. Sh. Sham Lal Bhan S/o Late Sh. Maheshwar Nath Bhan 62. Sh. Omkar Nath Trisal of Late Sh. Sudarshan Trisal R/o F-64 Mohalla Dalpatian Jammu. 17/12/2007 R/o 7-D Nilgiri-1 Sector-34, Noida erstwhile resident of Village Trisal Pulwama Kmr; presently resident of 19-B 7. Sh. Pushkar Nath Raina S/o Late Sh. Sri Kanth Raina R/ Shel-Teng Habbakadal Sgr. 27/12/2007 Tawi Vihar Sidhra Jammu. 5/1/2008 o Namthal Chadoora Budgam Kmr; presently residing at 35. Sh. Prithvi Nath Koul S/o Late Sh. Tika Lal Koul R/o 63. Sh. Janki Nath Suri S/o Late Sh. Sham Lal Suri resident H.No: 40, Swarn Vihar Below Sector-1 Durga Nagar Paljan Kulgam, Kmr; presently at H.No: 73 Ne Sheel of 827 Pamposh Colony Natipora Sgr; presently residing Jammu. 17/12/2007 Vihar Paloura Doak, Jammu. 27/12/2007 at H.No: 338 Lane No: 4, Lakkar Mandi Old Janipur 8. Sh. Jaggar Nath Thusoo S/o Late Sh. Balak Ram Thusoo 36. Smt. Chuni Dhar W/o Sh. Moti Lal Dhar R/o 44-Balgarden Jammu. 5/1/2008 R/o Gotingoo Kupwara, Kmr; presently residing at Sgr; presently residing at Hazuri Bagh Talab Tillo, Jammu. 64. Smt. Phoola Devi W/o Sh. Saroop Nath Pandit orignially Ganesh Vihar Sangtara Morh Jammu. 17/12/2007 27/12/2007 resident of Tiker Kupwara Kmr; presently residing at 9. Sh. Makhan Lal Nehru S/o Late Sh. Bal Ji Nehru R/o 37. Sh. MN Rania (Koul) resident of 510/Ext. 3 Trikuta Nagar 165/B Uttam Nagar, Kunjwani By-Pass Jammu. 5/1/2008 Nehru Lane Chandapora Habbakadal Sgr; presently Jammu. 28/12/2007 65. Sh. Mohan Lal Bawnoo S/o Late Sh. Radha Krishen residing at H.No: 206-K Durga Nagar, Sector-2, Jammu. 38. Sh. Lassa Kak Dhar R/o Hera Mohalla Anantnag Kmr; Bawnoo R/o Mattan Anantnag, Kmr; presently residing 17/12/2007 presently residing at H.No: 45, Lane-2 Pamposh Colony at H.No: 402, Sector-3 Gangyal Jammu. 5/1/2008 10. Sh. Kashi Nath Maghzine S/o Late Sh. Shridhar Joo Janipur, Jammu. 28/12/2007 66. Sh. Pitamber Nath Koul S/o Late Sh. Shiv Jee Koul R/o Maghzine originally resident of Chattabal Sgr; presently 39. Smt. Rupa Koul (Naz) W/o Sh. J.N. Koul (Naz), R/o Rup Hawanand Chowalgam Kulga, Kmr; presently residing residing at H.No: 29 Near Jagi Darbar Janipur Jammu. Ashram F-175/A Lane No: 7, Talab Tillo Jammu and at B-46, G-4, Ext. 2nd, Shalimar Garden Sahibabad (UP). 18/12/2007 originally resident of 79-Bal Garden Sgr. 29/12/2007 5/1/2008 11. Smt. Raj Rani Bhatt W/o Late Pt. Mahadev Ram Bhatt R/ 40. Smt. Somawati Raina W/o Late Sh. Prem Nath Raina 67. Smt. Prabhawati Pandita R/o Shergund Anantnag Kmr; o A Dina Magam Kmr; presently residing at 546-A Gandhi originally resident of Batapora Shopian Kmr; presently presently residing at 315- Shivalik Puram Janipur Colony, Nagar, Jammu. 18/12/2007 residing at H.No: 117, Gole Colony, Gole Puley, Talab Jammu. 5/1/2008 12. Sh. Naresh Kumar Jalla (Nana Ji) S/o Late Sh. Jia Lal Tillo, Jammu. 29/12/2007 68. Smt. Sobhawati Moza resident of 49-Subash Nagar Jalla originally resident of Kralyar Rainawari Sgr; 41. Sh. Lambodhar Nath Raina S/o Late Sh. Nand Ram Raina Ext. Jammu. 5/1/2008 presently resident of 31-Ashok Nagar Canal Road, R/o Kathsu Pahalgam, Kmr; presently residing at H.No: 69. Sh. Janki Nath of Hawal Pulwama Kmr; presently Jammu. 18/12/2007 15, Lane-01, Sector-5 Bagwati Nagar, Jammu. 29/12/ residing at H.No: 10, Sector-1 Vitasta Lane No: 2 Durga 13. Sh. Jaggan Nath Ganjoo S/o Late Sh. Naranjan Nath 2007 Nagar, Jammu. 6/1/2008 Ganjoo of Sopore Kmr; presently residing at Bilaspur 42. Smt. Krishna Koul W/o Sh. Rattan Lal Koul R/o H.No: 80, 70. Sh. V.N. Raina S/o Late Sh. Janki Nath Rania of Karan (HP). 18/12/2007 Lane No: 2, Patel Nagar, Talab Tillo, Jammu. 30/12/2007 Nagar Sgr; presently residing at 601 Ashriya Appts. 7/ 14. Sh. M.N. Raina R/o Karan Nagar Sgr; presently resident 43. Smt Pran Piyari Mattoo W/o Sh. Kanaya Lal Mattoo 115 Swaroop Nagar Kanpur (UP). 6/1/2008 of 510-Ext-3 Bavani Vihar Trikuta Nagar Jammu. 19/12/ presently residing at F-20 Arya Nagar Appart. Plo No: 71. Smt. Chanchal Bhat W/o Sh. Bharat Bhushan Bhat of 2007 91, I.P. Ext. Patparganj, New Delhi, erstwhile resident Sirru Dangarpora Pattan Baramulla Kmr; presently 15. Sh. Brij Nath Kachroo originally residento f Vilgam Kmr; of Karan Nagar, Sgr. 30/12/2007 residing at H.No: 4A, Laxmi Vihar Tomal Anand Nagar presently residing at E-411 Gama 1 Near APJ College 44. Sh. Ram Jee Raina S/o Late Sh. Anand Ram Raina of Bohri, Jammu. 6/1/2008 Greater Noida. 19/12/2007 Nowgam Anantnag, Kmr; presently residnig at H.No: 72. Sh. Som Nath Chandra R/o Mallayar, Sgr; presently at 16. Smt. Danvati Pandita W/o Late Sh. Sham Lal Pandita, R/ 27, Jawala Colony Hospital Road Gangyal Jammu. 30/ 317/14, Hazuri Bagh Borhi, Jammu. 6/1/2008 o Inder Pulwama Kmr; presently at R/o ORT No: A-2/16 12/2007 73. Smt. Shanti Budki W/o Sh. Jia Lal Budki R/o Usha Kung Phase-I Mishriwalla Camp, Jammu. 20/12/2007 45. Smt. Poshkuji W/o Bal Ji of Doonigound Tral Kmr; M-5/1, Tulsi Manas Mandir Colony, Durga Kund Varanasi 17. Sh. H.N. Darbari S/o Late Sh. Nand Lal Darbari R/o H.No: presently residing at 290-Y, Purkhoo Camp-II Jammu. (UP). 6/1/2008 10, Sector-7, Channi Himmat Jammu. 20/12/2007 31/12/2007 74. Sh. Udhey Chander Kachroo S/o Late Sh. Shamboo 18. Sh. Janki Nath Munshi S/o Late Sh. Balbadhar Munshi 46. Smt. Lajwanti Pandita W/o Sh. Chuni Lal Pandita ER/o Nath Kachroo of Raghu Nath Mandir Sgr; presently at of Munshi Mohalla Alikadal Sgr; presently resident of Rawalpura Handwara Kmr; presently residing at H.No: L-36, Rajeev Nagar Ext. Bigumpura Delhi. 6/1/2008 H.No: 9 Lane No: 2, Greater Kailash Jammu. 20/12/2007 80, Gole Gujral Camp Talab Tillo, Jammu. 31/12/2007 75. Sh. Pushkar Nath Trisal R/o Jeevan Sahib Ladhoo 19. Pt. Jia Lal Bhat R/o Nowgam Kuthar Anantnag Kmr; 47. Smt. Vijay Laxmi Trisal W/o Sh. AN Trisal; presently Kashmir and presently residing at H.No: 447, Lane-2, presently resident of Qtr. No: 1, Phase-IInd Mishriwalla residing at Udhampur. 1/1/2008 Vinayak Nagar, Muthi. 7/1/2008 Jammu. 20/12/2007 48. Sh. Soom Nath Dhar S/o Late Pt. Tara Chand Dhar of 76. Sh. Srikanth Bhat S/o Late Sh. Ishoo Dass Bhat of 20. Smt. Prabhawati Bindroo W/o Late Sh. Radha Krishen Razipora Kupwara Kmr; presently residing at H.No: 65, Lattishat Sopore Kmr; presently resident of Vijay Nagar, Bindroo of Ramghat Baramulla Kmr; presently residing Lane No: J Vishwa Bharti Colony Akalpur Road, Jammu. Lane-2 H.No: 57/2 Camp Road Talab Tillo Jammu. 7/1/ at H.No: 73, Lane No: 2 Anand Nagar, Bohri, Jammu. 21/ 1/1/2008 2008 12/2007 49. Smt. Kamlawati Kou W/o Late Sh. Shamboo Nath Kaul 77. Sh. Nath Jee Bhat S/o Late Sh. Sarvanand Bhat of 21. Sh. Surinder Kumar Bhat R/o Gund Gushi Kupwara R/o Khah Bazar Anantnag Kmr; presently residing at Khrew Kmr; presently residing at B-2/109, Sector-16, Kmr; presently residing at Batal Baliyan Camp Udhampur 564-A Subash Nagar, Jammu. 2/1/2008 Rohini New Delhi. 7/1/2008 Qtr. No: 341, Jammu. 21/12/2007 50. Smt. Shobawati Koul W/o Late Sh. Ved Lal Koul of 78. Sh. Shamboo Nath Tickoo originally resident of Batpora 22. Smt. Kamlwati Chandra W/o Late Jia Lal Chandra Ranbir Pura Anantnag Kmr; presently residing at Sharda Shopian Kashmir and presently residing at 314, originally resident of Shallayar Habbakadal Sgr; Colony Patoli Brahmana Jammu. 2/1/2008 Shivalikpuram Janipora olony, Janipur Jammu. 8/1/2008 presently residing at H.No: 37, Block-B, Roop Nagar 51. Sh. Sansar Chand Bhat S/o Late Sh. Aftab Ram Bhat, 79. Sh. Janki Nath Ganjoo S/o Late Sh. Ganesh Dass Ganjoo Enclave Jammu. 22/12/2007 R/o Village Wachi Pulwama Kmr; presently residing at R/o Wanpoh Anantnag, Kmr; presently residing at 23. Smt. Somavati Kak W/o Late Sh. M.N. Kak R/o Upper Purkhoo Camp, Jammu. 2/1/2008 Nowabad Sunjwan Road, Jammu. 8/1/2008 Sathu/Shivpura Sgr; presently residing at 617, Sector- 52. Sh. Prem Nath Panjabi S/o Late Ragaw Ram Panjabi 80. Smt. Mohan Rani Bakshi W/o Pt. Manohar Nath Bakshi 31 Faridabad. 22/12/2007 original resident of Badyar Bala Sgr; presently residing R/o Malik Angan Fateh Kadal Sgr; presently residing at 24. Sh. Jawahar Lal Bhat originally resident of Kilam at H.No: 109-C, Lane-2, Hanjura Lane, Roop Nagar, H.No: 20 Sector-2 Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. 8/1/2008 Anantnag Kmr; presently at R/o H.No: 100, Sector-4, Enclave Jammu. 2/1/2008 81. Sh. Shivalike Pandita S/o Sh. Moti Lal Pandita originally Model Town Gangyal Jammu. 22/12/2007 53. Smt. Tulsi Devi W/o Late Sh. Thakoor Joo Sumbly, R/o resident of Tral Kmr; resently residing at BSF Paloura 25. Sh. Prem Nath Bhan S/o Late Sh. Sansar Chand Bhan Badyar Payeen, Ganpathyar Sgr; presently residing at Near Silver Bills School Jammu. 9/1/2008 R./o Bana Mohalla Sgr; presently residing at H.No: 117, H.No: 141, Sector-4, Pamposh Colony Janipur Jammu. 82. Sh. Adeep Bagati S/o Late Sh. Moti Lal Bagati R/o 46, Sector-1A Ext. Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. 22/12/2007 3/1/2008 Sector-7, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. 9/1/2008 26. Master Mohit Raina (Sheenu) S/o Sh. Ashok Kumar 54. Smt. Shobawati W/o Late Sh. Hirday Nath Razdan of 83. Sh. Sh. Bansi Lal Pandita S/o Late P. Prem Nath Pandita Raina, R/o 73-Patoli Mangotrian Jammu. 23/12/2007 Wasoora Pulwama, Kmr; presently residing at MCJ-63, originally resident of Kharwara Shopian Kmr; present 27. Sh Omkar Nath Koul S/o Late Sh. Neel Kanth Koul original Lane No: 4, Ext. Buta Nagar Paloura, Jammu. 3/1/2008 residing at Gurah Kiran Bantalab Jammu. 9/1/2008 resident of Hangalgund Kokernag Kmr; presently 55. Smt. Tarawati Bhat W/o Late Sh. Radha Krishen Bhat 84. Sh. Prem Nath Bhan S/o Late Sh. Raghav Bhan of residing at Mishriwalla Camp, Jammu. 24/12/2007 originally resident of Arihal Pulwama Kmr; and presently Gadbugh Pulwama, Kmr; presently residing at H.No: 28. Smt. Shyam Rani Koul W/o Late Sh. Shyam Lal Koul R/ residing at 255 Vinayak Nagar, Upper Muthi Jammu. 3/ 44-A, High Court Road, Old Janipur Jammu. 9/1/2008 o Khah Bazar Anantnag Kmr; presently residing at H.No: 1/2008 85. Sh. Sham Lal Saproo of Dalseer Anantnag Kmr; 357-A Malviya Nagar Jaipur Rajasthan. 24/12/2007 56. Smt. Shobawati Razdan of Wasoora Pulwama Kmr; presently residing at Durga Nagar Jib Udhampur. 9/1/ 29. Sh. Janki Nath Pandita originally resident of Dal and presently resident of MCJ-63, Lane No: 4 Buta 2008 KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 3 EDITORIAL LETTERS B.N. Sapru Memoirs Sir, I am a regular subscriber to the "Kash- TRUE VISION OF INDIA mir Sentinel" and do get copies here—I live in DLF city. Gurgaon. I have gone through Pt. B.N. Sapru's MASSIVE upsurge in Jammu and the widespread Apart from spiritual dimension Lord Amarnath memoirs about his escape from anguish expressed by the people in the country Yatra stands for cultural continuity and cultural Muzaffarabad. is an indicator of the sense of hurt felt by the nation unity of Indian civilisation. What do the various My elder brother late Shri Shyam over the issue of State government's capitulation landmarks on the route from Pahalgam to the cave Kishen Tiku also happened to be posted to the Talibanised class in Valley on the issue of of Amarnath-Chandanwari, Pishu Ghati, Seshnag, at Muzaffarabad in the local police station as SHO during October 1947. He had to Amarnath Yatra. The role of the state is only to Panchtarni—stand for? Are they not some of the run away from his post twice to save his facilitate the pilgrimage and stand above most important symbols of Indian culture and life, leaving behind all his belongings. Dr. controversies. No state, secular or confessional, beliefs? What in moments of poetic intensity, made Amar Nath Raina was also posted there or for that matter political parties have any pre- Kalidasa see the 'laughter of Shiva' in the then. rogative to impose a diktat on how the pilgrimage Himalayas and Subramania Bharati think of Kash- We used to live at fire station lane, Kani is to be conducted. Interests of secularism are best mir as 'Crown of Mother India'? The answer to all Kadal Srinagar (Kashir) and our respected served by leaving the choice to the pilgrims them- these queries is one and only one: Kashmir, since father was Shri Nand Lal Tiku of Agricul- selves. This is precisely what has not happened the dawn of history, had been a part of the Indian ture Department. My brother passed away in J&K on the issue of Holy Yatra to Lord Amarnath. union—'a silent and serene, yet solid and strong in 1957. Taking over of the conduct of Yatra from SASB part; an integral and inseparate part'. --Piarey Lal Tiku C/o E-461, Greater Kailash-II by the State government and the unseemly Entrenchment of communal entrepreneurs and New Delhi-110048 controversies raised by communal regional Jihadist forces on the landscape of Kashmir val- mainstream parties and Talibanised groups in ley have posed serious challenges in recent times NC and PDP Role Kashmir on the role of SASB and Mata Vaishno to the smooth conduct of yatra. The cultural Sir, I am a regular reader of Kashmir Senti- Devi Shrine Board tantamounts to grass interfer- symbolism of Amarnath has made it a target of ence in religious affairs of the majority community. nel for quite sometime. Write-ups –‘Con- terrorists and separatists who prefer to see tradictions in Kashmir’s Regional Politics Raking up controversies on pilgrimages for petty Kashmir as one of a series of pan-Islamic come to the fore’ and ‘Did BJP leadership electoral gains or building a Talibanised society battlegrounds, from Palestine to Iraq, Chechnya compromise on Kashmir’, published in in Kashmir is a major challenge to pluralistic co- to Afghanistan. In 2000 terrorist attacks took toll June ,2008 issue, made interesting read- existence and democracy in J&K. The state and of 50 yatris killed. The terrorists attacked the yatra ing. It is for such type of articles Kashmir the civil society should stand pro-active in again in 2001 and 2002 and 2008. A severe Sentinel has gained prestige. This paper countering these forces of hate and exclusivism. blizzard in 1996, compounded by state callousness has been providing the readers new dimen- The whole-sale religious-cleansing of Kashmiri sions of Kashmir politics. led to the death of over 260 pilgrims. These cir- Hindus and now the attempts to raise NC and PDP –the two poles of cumstances led to the creation of SASB. controversies on Amarnath issue is a link in the Kashmir’s regional politics share some Conducting of the yatra by SASB has resulted in chain of events on the long-term designs of theo- politics in common but differ on other is- better facilities and consequently, the increasing fascist groups in Kashmir. What makes the sues. Commonalities emerge from compul- rush of pilgrims. Politicians with Talibanised vision, sions of pursuing essentially communal Amarnath issue so potent is that it does not who want to create hurdles for the yatra, rake up regional politics. Both pursue Muslim iden- concern the hapless Kashmiri Hindus, whose pa- controversies on the role of SASB. Raising tity politics. Their stand on Amarnath yatra, thetic situation is an embarrassment to all political irrelevant issues of 'environmental damage', pursuing anti-Jammu,anti -Kashmiri Pandit parties and therefore, purged from memory. The 'cultural aggression', 'demographic change' etc. and anti-Centre politics stem from this com- Amarnath Yatra has sub-continental importance pulsion of communal politics. are the outward manifestations of this Talibanised and attracts Hindus from all over the country. Of The differences on other issues are all the Indian pilgrimages, the pilgrimage to vision. guided by the emphasis the two parties Amarnath is considered to be the most sacred. There is yet another dimension. The massive put on Kashmiri ethnicity in the Muslim After braving journey through an arduous trek the development works undertaken by the two Boards identity politics.PDP is emphasizing a line ever-increasing number of yatris come to see the not only along Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and Amarnath where Kashmiri Muslim subnationalism is Svyambu (self-created) ice-Lingam of Lord Ji tracks but launching of projects of national repute subsumed by greater Islamic subnationalism i.e. across the LOC as well. Amarnath in all its shining glory and 'experience like Mata Vaishno Devi University, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (an It is seeking a supra state, away from the the impact of an invisible, yet all pervading, present arrangement .A Congress MP re- upcoming cancer Hospital) and proposed Sharda an incomprehensible, yet all-conveying, cently described PDP leaders as ‘Separat- force of "what was, is and will be". Swami Peeth University are not being liked by certain ists’ in mainstream politics. In what way Vivekananda, the greatest of Indian Sages of 19th Valley based political parties and extremist PDP’slogan of ‘Self-Rule’ is different from Century, underwent a similar experience. Sister elements. That is why these forces have united to NC’s plank of ‘greater autonomy’? NC fears Nivedita, who accompanied him, was to record, render the SASB irrelevant. that in the arrangement PDP is advocating "Never had Swami felt such a spiritual exaltation. There have been widespread protests over Kashmiri Muslims would lose their present So saturated had he become with the presence Governor's action on the issue of land transfer. pre-eminent position. Given high stakes we of the Great God that for days after he could Parallel to these protests a new movement has will see more strident positions in competi- tive communal identity politics from NC speak of nothing else. Shiv was all in all; Shiv, the taken birth. This movement seeks to discover the and PDP for the time being rather than eternal one, the great monk, rapt in meditation, true vision of India and outline its true destiny and sharper polarization aloof from the world". Swami Vivekanda himself assign Kashmir its rightful place in that vision and --Akshay Kaul recounted: "I have never been to anything so that destiny. Faridabad beautiful, so inspiring". KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 PERSPECTIVE 4

By Dr. Ajay Chrungoo cratic Party choose the issue of land transfer to the Amarnath ON 25th June, 2008 Chief Minis- Shrine Board to jeopardize and ter Ghulam Nabi Azad addressed bring down its own government? a press conference at Srinagar on The Forest Minister, Law Min- Amar Nath Yatra land transfer HIDDEN AGENDA: ister and the Deputy Chief Min- controversy. On this occasion ister belonging to PDP were al- the state government issued a ways in the loop of decision mak- background note on the issue ing and without their approval pertaining to the diversion of The Anti-Yatra Campaign the land transfer could not have forest land to Shri Amarmath Ji taken place. Why did the State Board. The sequence of events Congress party and its Central pertaining to the controversial The Chief Conservator of Constitution of J&K urging it to terms and conditions of the gov- High Command tamely surrender land transfer to Shri Amarnath Forests, Kashmir subsequently reconsider the decision to with- ernment. to the dictates of PDP, Hurriat Shrine Board as described in the sought certain clarifications from draw Govt. Order No: 148 FST of In the meantime the Supreme Conference and terrorist regimes note provides an authentic in- Principal Chief Conservator of 2005 dated 29/3/2005.” Court of India had directed ‘all in the Valley to revoke its deci- sight into the issue which has Forests J&K whether the land The state cabinet considered cases where clearance was given sion leading to a volcanic situa- snowballed into a crisis locking was to be allowed to be used by the message from H.E the Gov- by the Forest Advisory Commit- tion in the Jammu region and rest Kashmir Valley and Jammu as the Amarnath Shrine Board free ernor in its meeting held on 7/6/ tee should be placed before the of India, particularly in an elec- also the Hindus and Kashmiri of cost or on royalty basis. This 2005 and desired that the copy Supreme Court for approval”. tion year both in the state and Muslims into confrontation the Centre. whose implications can be for The explanation that PDP reaching. rocked the boat of the govern- Sequence of Events: ment for increasing its appeal to “…. It was felt necessary to the communal constituency in build sufficiently strong struc- the Valley and winning the race tures enroute the Holy Shrine of competitive communalism which would withstand the fury with its arch rival National Con- of the elements during the win- ference is not misplaced. But it ters in case the weather turned does not explain the entire gamut hostile during the course of the of developments in Jammu and yatra. The need for such struc- Kashmir. PDP leadership knew it tures was reinforced in 1996 very well that the entire land when a very large number of pil- transfer to the Amarnath Shrine grims died during a blizzard last- Board had taken place with the ing 4 days…” full knowledge and consent of “….In order to institutional- its leadership. PDP ministers ize the arrangements for the (L) PDP leaders withdrawing support to coalition government. (R) Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Qazi Afzal, Tariq Mohammad smooth conduct and manage- hardline Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat leader. Qarra and Deputy Chief Minis- ment of the pilgrimage to the ter Muzaffar Hussain Beig were Holy Shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji started the process of re-exami- of reference from H.E. Governor The opinion of state Law depart- part and parcel of the process the State Legislature passed the nation of the entire case of ap- and the memorandum of the ment on this ruling was sought which brought about the land Jammu and Kashmir Shri proval of land to be granted to Hon’ble Chief Minister be circu- which opined that since the state transfer at Baltal to Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Act 2000.” the Amarnath Shrine Board for lated among all the Cabinet Min- has its own Forest Act as well as Amarnath Shrine Board. It is un- The Bill had been piloted by building of facilities for the isters and the matter be dis- Forest Conservation Act, the derstandable that they raked up the Tourism Department pursu- yatries. cussed in the next cabinet meet- Supreme Court ruling has no im- the issue of land transfer or cur- ant to the cabinet decisions No: In the meantime the Hon’ble ing… plication for the state as subject tailment of Yatra to appear closer 182/16 dated 10/10/2000…. Shri High Court of J&K ordered on “There is no record to indi- of forest continues to be in the to communal secessionist con- Amarnath Ji Shrine Act received 15/4/2005 that the ‘State shall, cate whether the matter came up State list. Incorporating the view stituencies in the Valley and assent of the Governor on 14th immediately permit the use of for- before the cabinet for discussion of the State Law Department and more pro-Muslim than NC in an November 2000 and the act was est land by the Board, if not al- as desired by it.” The case how- after obtaining the approval of election year. But why did they enforced vide notification SRO ready allowed…” To an appeal ever remained under correspon- the Hon’ble Minister for Forests rock the apple cart so hard that 54 dated 12/2/2001 with effect by the government to the Divi- dence between the office of Prin- on 17/7/2007 the Forest Depart- Congress was forced from 21/2/2001.” sion Bench, the High Court once cipal Chief Conservator Forests ment referred the memorandum to expose its role which it did “A Project Report was re- again confirmed the previous rul- (PCCF) and the Amarnath Shrine to the GAD for placing the mat- with finesse by releasing the en- ceived by the State government ing of allotment of land to the Board. The government note fur- ter before the Cabinet. tire correspondence and paper in the Forest Department DATED Board by directing that, “The ther elucidated that “the land was After protracted consulta- work of the state government on 15/10/2004 from CEO Shri land to be allotted to the Board jointly surveyed to assess the tions between the GAD and the the issue of land transfer? Amarnath Ji Board requesting for would be only for the purpose requirement of the Amarnath Ji concerned departments and min- The exposure caused severe the transfer of 3642 canals of land of the user and would remain lim- Shrine Board on the Baltal istries regarding all aspects of credibility crisis for PDP in the for 7 halting places on the Baltal ited for the duration of the yatra”. Amarnath Shrine axis in the first the transfer including legal and Valley and an inalienable compo- Amarnath Ji Shrine and The re-examination of the instance. As a result of the joint environmental implications the nent of political mobilization there Chandanwari Amarnath Ji Shrine case at the behest of the Princi- survey an area of 39.88 hectares State Cabinet on 20/5/2008 vide was directed against PDP. routes”. pal Chief Conservator Forest was recommended for being di- its decision no: 94/7 approved Realising the ground slipping “The matter was examined in J&K, lead to the withdrawal of verted for non-forestry purpose the proposal of the Forest de- under its feet PDP did not wait the Forest department at various order 148 FST of 2005 dated 24/ for the use of the Amarnath Ji partment for diversion of 39.88 till 30th June deadline which it levels and the case was finally 3/2005 by the Ministry of For- Shrine Board in 2007”. hectares of forest land to Shri had proclaimed to the state gov- submitted to the Hon’ble Minis- est. The matter was placed before Amarnath Ji Shrine Board at ernment for revoking the land ter by the Principal Secretary of The Chief Secretary also the Forest Advisory Committee Baltal and Domail. transfer order in lieu of its con- the Forest Department recom- sought the opinion of GAD on which met on 12/7/2007. The To briefly summaries all con- tinued support to the ruling alli- mending that the proposal be the issue which also opined that opinion of chief wild life warden cerned organs of the state gov- ance. It withdrew its support a approved”. the, “the Hon’ble Minister of was taken since the proposed ernment which includes Forest few days earlier only to arrest the “The Forest department then Forests was not advised prop- area was adjacent to Thajwas Department, Forest Advisory frenzy which was building issued a Government Order No: erly and his observations were Sanctuary which after on the Committee, Forest Minister, Law against it in the Valley. Or was 148-FST of 2005 dated 29/3/2005 not considered before issuing spot inspection on 27/5/2007 Minister, Advocate General, PDP anticipating a tame capitu- granting permission to Shri the Govt. Order No: 148-FST of opined that the proposed com- opinion of Deputy Chief Minis- lation from Congress party to its Amarnath Ji Shrine Board for 2005 dated 29/3/2005 granting plex, “does not seem to have any ter and expert opinions on im- dictates perhaps relying too using the forest land for con- permission to SASB for using the significant impact on the ecology pact of the proposed complex on much on its support in the Con- structing pre-fabricated struc- forest land for non-forestry pur- of the Thajwas Wild Life Sanc- ecology, and finally the State gress High Command in New tures for yatris in Compartments poses”. tuary”. Subsequently the Forest Cabinet was taken before trans- Delhi? No: 21/AC, 8/AC, 6/AC of Lidder “In the meanwhile H.E the Advisory Committee cleared the ferring the land to the Amarnath For Congress party, the con- Forest Division and Compart- Governor sent a message to the diversion of the requisitioned Shrine Board. troversy building on the ment No: 62 of Sindh Forest Di- Council of Ministers on 25/5/ forest land to the Amarnath Ji Unanswered Questions: visions.” 2005 under section 44(C) of the Shrine Board on the standard Then why did People’s Demo- (Contd. on Page 5) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 CONTINUATION 5 Hidden Agenda:The Anti-Yatra Campaign (From Page 4) since 2003 about Shri Amarnath Yatra and another sought to cam- forge a unity. PDP released its ‘separatists, secessionists and Amarnath Yatra and the land Yatra can be judged by the ex- ouflage this blatant communal- self rule document in Pakistan fundamentalists”. Even Azad has transfer to Amarnath Shrine cerpts of an article written in Ris- ism by talking about protection which essentially seeks to rede- many times given vent to his frus- Board, was not bereft of a fallout ing Kashmir sometime back. of ecology. Even the ecological fine the sovereignty, borders and tration about the support which on its prospects in the assembly “From around 20,000 devotional concerns were not devoid of the identities in the state. This Mufti enjoys in Congress party elections not far away. And for mendicants, a Holy stick and communal hatred. One former in- document seeks to divide Jammu in New Delhi. the Congress Party in the Centre some odd halts in the precincts surgent leader on whom Govt. of into Muslim majority and Hindu The cue to what has been reeling under the impact of elec- of temples on the way from India has invested a lot de- Majority legislative spheres. It happening during recent days tion reverses in one state after Srinagar to Pahalgam, Yatra, was scribed the pilgrimage as ‘Pil- also seeks a dual currency facil- was provided by NC Chief another as well as spiraling in- without any intentions of show- lage’. ity in the state. The PDP visit to Farooq Abdullah well before the flation controversy on Amarnath ing disregard towards the reli- Ecological concerns by the Pakistan and its highly publi- controversy exploded on the Yatra was not something which gious sensibilities, nothing more crusaders against Yatra only ex- cized meeting with PPP Chief national scene. He expressed his could be taken as a minor devel- than a far-out event for the posed further both the commu- Zardari was organised by Indian frustration about the stalemate opment. It dealt the whole issue people of Kashmir. For teenag- nal ideology underlying the High Commission in Pakistan as in the Working Group on Centre in a way that it appeared ers it was all about some nasty campaign as well as the tactics per reports. State relations and opined that surendering in front of the up- exercises that the Sadhus would aimed at befooling the civil soci- Jamaat-i-Islami and Ali Shah Justice Sagir, being an Indian surge of secessionist and fun- perform. And all this would last ety in rest of India. How could Geelani faction was given a free Muslim, should not have been damentalist sentiment in the Val- only for two weeks. So it was a building of pre-fabricated shel- hand to mobilize public in Kash- the chairman of the Working ley with unprecedented protests fortnight of watching some bi- ters affect the ecology when the mir valley during the anti-land Group because he could not give in Jammu for last more than a zarre people performing even wildlife experts in the state had transfer and anti-Yatra campaign. a favourable report for the fear week, Congress has already lost more kinky acts at certain already cleared the proposal? Ali Shah Geelani moved to Jama of reprisal against Indian Mus- its government in the state. It places…It is no more so. It is now Scores of pilgrimages and con- Masjid area alongwith his eight lims. now has the difficult task arrest- a civil military campaign against gregations involving lakhs of thousand supporters of Srinagar Well before assuming the ing a precipitous negative fall- a people. From what would in- devotees take place at the to address a public rally where reigns by the new Governor both out in the coming elections to Lok volve curiosity and excitement Shrines of Hazratbal, Chrar-i- he proclaimed that the revoca- NC and PDP revealed that Mr. Sabha in rest of India as BJP has Yatra has been metamorphosed Sharief, Baba Rishie and dozens tion of land transfer to Shri Vohra would ensure the return of into a deadly monstrous phe- of other places in the Valley. Why already declared the land trans- Amarnath Shrine Board was the land allotted to Shrine Board nomenon. So to save ourselves did the civil society in Valley fer to Shri Amarnath Shrine merely a beginning and the real by the state government, which all of us must stand in defence”. never rake the issues of environ- Board as an electoral issue. objective of the movement was he did after assuming the office. The pitch of the propaganda mental damage in such cases? The happenings in the state withdrawal of Indian ‘occupa- Mr NN Vohra had supported the to present Yatra as a deadly The cement factory at Khrew cannot be fully understood on tion’ troops from the Valley. Wajahat formula presented to the the basis of explanation of elec- monstor or against Muslims was near Srinagar as well as the stone Around the same time the Chief Working Group on Centre-State toral games being played in the built during the rule of Congress- quarries have been described as of Dukhtaran-i-Millat Aisya relations. state by PDP in an election year, PDP alliance in the state. And disasters to environment. The Andrabi led a big procession Even while giving due impor- or overzealous proactive Gov- recently when the land transfer Mughal Road from Budhal to from Kremchor to Budgam. tance to the electoral posturing ernor seeking extension or crav- to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Shopian connecting Muslim ma- These things happened while all and games as important ele- ing to relinquish office as a Hindu created uproar in Valley it was jority areas of Jammu with Kash- other separatist leaders were ments behind the anti-Amarnath hero. not a sudden eruption. It was a mir has lead to cutting of thou- confined to house arrest. Yatra upsurge in Kashmir Valley, The Disinformation and carefully crafted eruption. sands of trees and destruction one should not ignore the fact Communal Overtones: Hurriat Conference leader of wild life. The encroachments Why was Jamaat-i-Islami, Ali Shah Geelani’s Hurriat and that UPA government behaved The controversy about the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq articulated around Dal Lake and conversion in such a way as to provide the political horizons of this cam- of floating gardens into perma- Dukhtaran-i-Millat given a free Amarnath Yatra started with ample opportunity for mass paign by describing it as an at- nent lands is transforming the hand during the anti-Yatra rally Mufti Mohd. Sayeed’s assuming frenzy to buildup in the Valley. tempt to “engineer a change in world famous lake into a huge in the Valley. No curfew was im- office in a PDP-Congress alliance Its permissiveness to provide in the state. Mufti wanted to cur- the demography of the Kashmir cesspool. The Muslim locality in posed for seven days of mass space to Ali Shah Geelani, tail while Shri Amarnath Shrine Valley on the pattern of Israeli Jammu city at Bhatindi has been unrest in Kashmir Valley. The Jamaat-i-Islami and PDP raises Board sought to expand the policy in Palestine…The land built on forest land. The land police officers publicly declared serious doubts about a section scope and span of the Yatra. which has been acquired given to railways at many places that they will not fire on the of its leaders and think tanks. Mufti’s initial argument of secu- through the nexus between has been the forest land. As per processionists in the Valley. This In the past also Congress had rity concerns could not be sus- SASB and the administration is the chief minister not less than lead to abandoning of pickets by flirted with Jamaat Islami. Mir tained as his government was in going to be used in strategic four allotments of forest land security forces, loot and arson Qasim facilitated the election of the same breath seeking to pro- manner whereby a change is be- were sanctioned by the state and molesting of hundreds of mote domestic and international ing engineered in the demogra- government on the same day the tourists and yatris in the Valley. 5 Jamaat representatives to State Assembly in 1971. In 1979 when tourism on the premise of improv- phy of the Kashmir Valley…the sanction for land transfer to Shri The free hand given to Ali Shah ing security scenario in the state. SASB plans to raise structures Amarnath Shrine Board was Geelani raises serious questions. anti-Jamaat riots took place Con- A phenomenal increase in the on the acquired land as a part of sanctioned by the state govern- Just on the eve of IIIrd Round gress came to Jamaat’s rescue. pilgrims to Amarnath in recent a long term conspiracy”. ment. Arguments to protect ecol- Table Conference Ali Shah Now given the fact that Con- years and the need for better ar- Fully aware that the opposi- ogy only expose a hypocrisy or Geelani was released from prison gress thinktanks have persons rangements had already created tion to Yatra may expose the bla- tactics to promote Muslim com- and allowed to address a rally in who are favourably disposed to the impetus for enlarging the role tantly communal interventions munalism. The allegation to build Srinagar where Lashkar-i-Toiba Musharraf solution or PDP line of Amarnath Shrine Board which which PDP was making into the a Hindu enclave of Amarnath openly flaunted its banners and it should not be beyond imagi- could not be easily debunked. political discourse of the Valley, Nagar at the Baltal site which is weapons. nation to suspect that a coterie PDP right from its inception its leadership raked up the envi- under snow for more than seven While Ali Shah Geelani saw in Congress has facilitated the had started its opposition to the ronmental issues. While at the months and where even army the anti-Yatra campaign as a be- anti-Yatra campaign eventually to very conduct of Yatra which was ground Amarnath Yatra was de- shirks to build permanent shel- ginning of withdrawal of Indian push forward the peace process described at the grassroot level scribed as a threat to Muslim ters has been comical but aimed security forces, PDP President which seems to have entered a as a ‘Hindu cultural intrusion’ identity and pollution of the Is- at communal mobilization which Mehbooba Mufti saw the entire phase of stalemate, particularly and an affront to the ‘Muslim lamic environment PDP leaders has been one of the man objec- mobilization aimed at ‘Internal when PDP and NC formulations identity’ of Kashmir. In the pub- described the public mobilization tives of the campaign. Sovereignty of Jammu and Kash- were effectively countered in lic realm environmental issues as a public movement of the The Hidden Agenda: mir’. Like Geelani and Jamaat the Working Group on Centre State were raked up to camouflage the people to protect ecology of Certain developments which PDP partner in the government relations. The bloated publicity communal campaign on the Kashmir which was being rav- have hitherto been ignored dur- has been spearheading the cam- which national electronic media ground. It was only a matter of aged by Amarnath Yatra. The ing the build up to the revoca- paign for demilitarization. gave to the separatist led anti- time before separatist and fun- University students and teach- tion of the land transfer order are The outgoing governor yatra demonstrations indicates damentalist quarters took the ers and other organs of the so- ominious and reveal a wider pat- openly blamed the Congress that anti-yatra campaigns had que from PDP and joined the called civil society mobilized tern. High Command for ‘undermining patrons in Delhi as well. fray. along a two track cause. One The Mirwaiz faction of Hurriat its own chief minister’ in the state The sample of what was be- track built the pitch for Muslim and Syed Ali Shah Geelani fac- and described the revocation of *(The author heads Panun ing preached at the grass roots communal stridency against the tion have once again resolved to land transfer as a victory for Kashmir) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 PERSPECTIVE 6 What’s the hullabaloo about ? By M L Kotru I would not have been sur- pilgrim camps in Pahalgam, but other issue to fan the fires of live with those massive security What’s the hullabaloo about prised if the Hurriyat had raised to inflict such indignity and for conflict. details with the latest gadgetry ? Why are some so-called main- objection to the allotment, albeit such a prolonged period- from True, it’s the beginning of the that must precede a VIP or a stream Kashmir valley parties temporary, of the land to the June to early August-on ordinary poll season in the State but former Chief Minister every time crying themselves hoarse ? Why Board. But for a constituent of tourists, including local tourists, should that necessarily mark the he stirs out of his mansion. are they trying to project a minor the ruling alliance to object to it seemed odd. beginning of the season when Most significantly, the oppo- administrative manouvere as if leaves me cold. It’s not half as Why did the Mufti, then the India - baiting is considered just sition to the allotment of some some unknown spacemen or their bad as the Indian Government Chief Minister succumb to the what the doctor ordered. A very 50-odd hectares to the Shrine ilk had seized the entire valley, subsiding the Haj pilgrimage Governor’s pressure on an issue thin line it seems divides the Board, we now learn, has not as endangering, as it were, the very (running into several thousand which was unnecessary and Muftis’ PDP and the Hurriyat. much to do with the ecological peace the valley has been seek- rupees per head) of Muslim citi- avoidable ? The melt down of the Like, both of them do believe that concerns of the ‘‘agitated’’ sepa- ing ever since Pakistan zens or the construction of both ice lingam last year was a direct but for India’s tardiness, good ratist and mainstreamwallahs as launched, aided and abetted an pucca and temporary Haj homes consequence of the extended times should have been upon it has with their openly expressed insurrectionary movement in the at all important points of depar- two-month darshan at the cave. them already, thanks to Gen. fear of a demogaphic ‘‘aggres- former princely state of Jammu ture in India for the pilgrims, or, One must remember that the Musharraf. sion’’. Now, anyone who knows and Kashmir. the extraordinary pains the In- number of Amarnath pilgrims is Curiously the PDP would like the Baltal terrain will tell you that How come the Deputy Chief dian mission in Riyadh is ex- growing with each passing year to take credit for everything that the area is virtually uninhabit- Minister of the State and his pected to take to look after the and the Baltal route which is is positive and is happening to able throughout the long winter mentor, party chief and former convenience of Muslim pilgrims. shorter should be used more ex- the State, say, a return to more months. There is no question of Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed is I hate making a ref- peaceable permanent settlements being seeing some hidden ghosts erence to the Haj times, the run- made their. planted by some unscruplous pilgrims, but must ning of trans And, then, how many Hindus, Indians in the jungles of Baltal, our politicians LOC buses, the as Yasin Malik, one of the origi- near Sonmarg ? Why do these make mountains growing eco- nal separatists wants us to be- nomic activity, stalwarts see the temporary al- out of molehills lieve, would find permanent and blame for lotment of some forest land to a because they ‘‘residence’’ in the jungles. Mufti the rest the body whose job it is, so I learn, don’t have any Sayeed and the Hurriyat leaders present Chief to facilitiate the annual pilgrim- other issue. also fear a demographic change Minister, age to Amarnath, famed cave I for one have in the region as a consequence never been to Ghulam Nabi home of the ice Shiva linga. of the transfer of the impugned Amarnath nor do I Azad with Baltal offers a shorter route land to the Shrine Board. How have any intention whose party, to the cave, from the more famil- about the nearly half million to do so now. I re- the PDP shares iar Pahalgam route, and for this Kashmiri Pandits who were member having power, National purpose the body managing the forced out of the valley from early sharply criticized Conference ‘‘yatra’’ was given use on tem- 90s onwards, their properties the just retired meanwhile is porary lease, I presume, land to usurped or purchased by local Goveror S K Sinha Fundamentalists staging anti-Yatra protest in Lal Chowk, having a ball, set up temporary camps for the Muslims. And, pray, will the PDP for having ex- Srinagar. riding all avail- pilgrims to walk up and down the or its alliance partner, tell us what mountain tracks to the cave and tended the dura- able horses, tion of the pilgrim- even two proportion of the hundreds of back. The Shrine Board has been crores put in the pipeline by New arguing that it is not planning to age from the original fortnight to tensively. The construction of horses at the same time. But, for two months. At least on six oc- temporary pilgrim facilities all his earlier failures Farooq Delhi for rehabilitation of the build permanent structures on Pandits, has been used for the the forest land, only temporary casions I have in this space re- should not be curtailed, never Abdullah failures, is treading a ferred to my spoilt holidays in mind the paranoid valley politi- careful path. intended purpose. And don’t tell structures; they have also me of the tokenism so very mani- agreed to plant more than the Pahalgam, one of the State’s best cians. More importantly, and it India-baiting, though, contin- fest in the few residential blocks number of trees that are felled. I known tourist centres, which I has many aspects to it, the dura- ues to be the going ‘mantra’ for built near Budgam, Mattan and don’t see any reason why the so- must have visited almost 200 tion of the pilgrimage should be the valley politics. Which to me another place whose name I can- called mainstream parties should times during the past sixty years, restricted to the original fortnight. at least sounds strange. Yes, I not recall. join the separatist. Hurriyat con- at least twice a year, even as wan- It would prove less stressful for know most Kashmiri leaders The Kashmiri Pandits, some ference in painting the temporary dering correspondent for my the security agencies, help have turned to this ritual when- of whom have been crying for a allotment of land as it were an Delhi and London based papers. places like Pahalgam to regain ever things so wrong for them. separate homeland within the act of aggression committed by My objection was to Sinha their primacy as a tourist attrac- Of Sheikh Abdullah of some four an enemy nation. insisting on extending the dura- tion, help the local economy of decades ago it used to be said valley, would surely not be think- In the bargain a mainstream tion of the pilgrimage. Mufti Pahalgam and above all we must that his speeches are like pre-re- ing in terms of using the 50- hect- party, the People’s Democratic Sayeed incidentally was the not lose sight of the environmen- corded LPs, one for Srinagar and are forest area as the possible Party of the Mufti father-daugh- Chief Minister at the time. I had tal degradation which an ex- the other for Delhi. This appears ‘‘homeland’’. For one thing it ter duo, has managed to bring based my objection mainly on tended pilgrimage, involving to have become a norm in the would not accommodate even a the extremist Geelani and moder- the extended pilgrimage having several lakhs of pilgrims and subsequent years. And yet it is fraction of them and if some of ate Mirwaiz factions back to a destroyed Pahalgam as a tourist hundreds of security personnel a fact that most politicians have them did indeed move in, they common anti-India platform and destination. I had mentioned who must make the routes on ei- never had it so good as during would surely not survive the first also encouraged students of how on my last five visits to ther side their home for even the last decade or two. Each, Baltal winter. Forget the separat- Kashmir University to take to the Pahalgam I, like any other visitor longer, causes. A shorter version even those of the Hurriyat, has ist groups, the streets to expose the Shrine or even local resident of the of the pilgrimage would offer a overnight grown many times mainstreamwallahs who have Board’s ‘‘covert attempt to ille- town, had to suffer the indignity more satisfactory solution to the over materially, with mensions thrived over these past 60 years, gally occupy land’’ that does not of having the car searched, bon- problem. vehicles et al thrown in. The would do well to draw their elec- belong to it. The party’s legal net to boot, walk past metal de- So far as the State politicians mainstreamers are doing even toral battlelines at places other eagle and Deputy Chief Minis- tectors et al before being flagged are concerned the less said of better. The Chief Ministers I am than Baltal. It’s an insignificant ter in the Congress led State on. There were other physical them the better. Surprisingly told are entitled to retain their issue. That’s if it is not Government, Muzzafar Baig was checks as well and the worst suf- though the mainstream parties official residences even after de- communalised the way it has so outraged by the Shrine Board ferers were those travelling by are becoming more strident, par- mitting office. No wonder even been so far. One of the ring lead- Chief Executive, a senior IAS buses; they usually preferred to ticularly in the valley, to play on their ‘‘chamchas too have dreamt ers has already described the Officer, that he demanded his re- foot it for a mile or so till the bus local sentiments. It’s odd though and realized their dreams. land deal as a covert attempt to moval and Chief Minister Ghulam caught up with them again after that the average Kashmiri Mus- What wouldn’t I do to get create a ‘‘Hindu Society at Nabi Azad agreed to an official the usual check-up. lim living in the valley seems to myself a lake-side villa or one of, Baltal’. The man must be insane. It’s not that one minded the be more at peace with himself those British colonial type probe into the case of land ‘‘usur- *(The author is a veteran pation’’ by the Shrine Board. security checks, given the back- and his surroundings; it is the steepled houses on Gupkar Road drop of the terrorist attacks on politicians who find one or the in Srinagar. I couldn’t, of course, journalist based in New Delhi.) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 7 Fundamentalists derail pilgrims’ progress in Kashmir been forced to rescind the land trans- jority Muslim character of the val- multiplied into several thousand) panthers. One would like to ask him, fer order by the fundamentalists, ley, according to their feigned and were settled permanently in Srinagar, who is responsible for the annihila- leading to enhanced violence in the misconceived notions. Such nause- in 1959. They were granted Indian tion of 2000 to 3000 Kashmir stag Hindu-dominated Jammu province. ating utterances can have grave re- citizenship soon after. (hangul) in Dachigam sanctuary near Before the new Governor N N percussions in the Hindu-dominated A number of these families are Srinagar? Once upon a time the Vohra-- replacing Lt General (Re- region of Jammu. engaged in fine embroidery work on world was proud of them. Now only tired) S K Sinha-- was just cooling The history is witness to mas- Kashmiri carpets. Some have own 149 of them remain. his heels, he as Board Chairman, was sive demographic changes in the val- businesses. Scores of them can be However, it was Beig himself asked to give an ‘undertaking’ that ley during the past few centuries. seen selling garments, precious who took the final decision regard- the Board had given up its claim on Before partition, the population of stones, artifacts, spices etc on the ing the land transfer. Later he bowed the contentious forest land. The en- Kashmiri Hindus was 15 per cent. pavements in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk to the wishes of the separatists and By J N Raina tire state has got divided on commu- The Muslim fundamentalists are re- area. But they still regard Tibetan cancelled the order. But the agita- nal lines. sponsible for hounding out half a spiritual leader Dalai Lama as their tion still goes on in the valley. The most amusing part of the million Hindus from the valley at leader, no doubt their faith is differ- THE divisive politics in Jammu and Beig had in February this year iridescence of some mainstream par- the point of gun in 1990. ent. Many of the Tibetan Muslims Kashmir has taken a turn for the blamed the “ fundamentalists in the ties, including the National Confer- The terrain where the temporary have also settled in Leh, Ladakh. A worst. The communal outrage, as mainstream political parties” for ence, led by Farooq Abdullah; and structures were meant to be raised, total of 6700 Tibetan Muslims and never so before, is outpouring on derailing the move to allow outsid- loquaciousness of the Kashmiri lead- is almost barren and rugged. The hills Buddhists have been living there, the streets in the Kashmir valley, on ers buy land for infrastructure de- ers, is how they beguile people and since China’s invasion of Tibet. a mere pretext of the diversion of velopment in the state. He had then make them believe that transfer of They are now Indian citizens. 39.88 hectares of forest land, to Shri stated that he would ‘go ahead’ with forest land to the Board will lead to OPINION The PDP has blamed the Con- Amarnathji Shrine Board, for pil- its plan to allow ‘private players’ ‘demographic aggression’ in the val- are denuded. Any kind of permanent gress on the land transfer issue. But grims’ welfare. from outside to buy land in Jammu ley. Because of the idiocy of the settlement is impossible, because of in fact it was Forest Minister Qazi The Muslim fundamentalists and and Kashmir. To quote him he had mainstream and separatist leader- inhospitable weather. The area re- Afzal and Deputy Chief Minister leaders of mainstream political out- said : “ Let me dispel the myth that ship, the people are being instilled mains snow-bound for nearly eight Muzaffar Husain Beig (both of them fits, like the People’s Democratic people in other parts of the country with a fear psychosis that if the months. . Some national dailies have have now resigned following PDP’s Party (PDP), behave like dema- cannot buy land in Jammu and Kash- Amarnath Shrine Board accom- quoted the Hurriyat Conference withdrawal of support), who had gogues. They befool people, mak- mir. There are provisions in our Con- plished the task of creating tempo- Chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as say- cleared the process of land transfer. ing the entire situation confusing. rary shelters for the onrush of pil- ing: “ This illegal transfer (of nearly But when the secessionists lodged a stitution (Jammu and Kashmir Con- The separatist politics has had its grims, it will destroy “Muslim ma- 40 hectares of forest land) is a pre- protest against the land transfer to stitution) by virtue of which non- devastating effect on the masses. jority character” of the state. It is planned conspiracy of the Govern- the Board, the PDP revolted and state subjects can buy land in the The outcome: The PDP, led by mind-boggling. The PDP, the Na- ment to change the demography of asked the Chief Minister to rescind state.” former Chief Minister Mufti tional Conference, the separatist the state. India has unleashed cul- the order, in view of the vote bank He has also made it clear that “ Mohammad Sayed, and his maver- Hurriyat Conference and other tural aggression on Kashmir through policy. The former Ministers had they (private players) can invest in ick daughter Ms Mehbooba Mufti, smaller political groups emerged on many means.” This is the height of rightly turned down baseless argu- tourism, health, education and indus- has withdrawn support to the Con- a single platform, shoulder-to-shoul- mediocrity and egoism. The Mirwaiz ments put forward by the Principal tries”. To cap it all, Beig has revealed gress-led coalition Government, just der with the diehard Jamaat-e-Islami and his henchmen are suffering from Chief Conservator of Forests that that such a plan was shelved in 2006 a few months before the six-year- chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in de- the worst kind of parochialism. In the “ uncontrolled flow of pilgrims because there were many ‘funda- term of the Jammu and Kashmir manding revocation of the land trans- contrast to this kind of xenophobic will cause pollution, which will have mentalist politicians’ who oppose Assembly was to expire and fresh fer . They mislead people that the violence exhibited in the valley dur- some impact on the wildlife, if no development of the state. They are elections are due, possibly in Octo- Shrine Board would use the pro- ing the week till the land transfer mitigating measures are initiated by scared of militants. ber. posed structures as a housing com- order was revoked, there was hardly the Shrine Board ”. His other argu- In a befogged situation, Chief plex to settle non-Kashmiri Hindus, any murmur when 250 families of ment is that the area is habitat of the *(The author is a veteran jour- Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, has and it would thereby change the ma- Tibetan Muslims (now they have endangered brown bear, leopard and nalist based in Pune) Kashmiriyat has revealed its true colours Amarnath pilgrims some relief facilities is By KN Pandit were given financial and other forms of of Kashmir’s sense of communal harmony ‘Kashmiri nationalism’. and peaceful co-existence, are now reject- The real motive behind the violent pro- support without eliciting their commitment The people in the Valley have to un- tests in Kashmir is terrifyingly sinister of laying down arms and joining the na- ing Kashmiriyat as a mischievous attempt derstand that politicians are manipulat- by Indians to impose ‘cultural hegemony’ Recent events have once again ex- tional mainstream. In doing so, PDP pa- ing their religious feelings under the garb posed the much-touted ‘secular’ creden- tron Mufti Mohammed Saeed has created on Jammu & Kashmir. of ‘Kashmiri nationalism’. This is a new The current row over allotment of land tials of mainstream political parties in a formidable constituency on which he approach to the old practice of whipping the Kashmir Valley. It would be incor- and his party now bank. to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board has up religious sentiments at the time of As- shown that the majority of Kashmiri lead- rect to link the response of these parties It is inadvisable to treat the ongoing sembly elections. The National Confer- ers believes that secessionist struggle to the Government’s decision, which now phenomenon as either a political manoeu- ence is notorious for brandishing green should be carried out by political parties stands cancelled, of temporarily allotting vre or a sadist desire on part of the PDP handkerchiefs and rock salt in its election in a manner that is subtle and an erosion land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board to pull down the Congress-led Govern- rallies. These have now been replaced by of Indian presence in Kashmir should be to this year’s Assembly election in ment. The motive is far deeper than that. slogans promoting ‘Kashmiri national- effected. This should serve as a warning Jammu & Kashmir. The statements issued by the PDP ism’. to the Indian political leaders that some- On hindsight, the PDP, a coalition part- chief Mehbooba Mufti Incidentally, the ideol- thing serious could happen once elec- ner in the Congress-led Government in and the Mufti himself ogy of Kashmiriyat, to tions are held in October and the Assem- the State till it pulled out on Saturday, has show that Kashmiri lead- VIEW POINT which the Kashmiri politi- bly sits down to do business. It should hardly been cooperative after it handed ers of all hues have forged cal leadership and intelli- expect no quarter from any of the main- over power to the latter three years ago. a common understanding among them- gentsia have stuck tenaciously for more stream political parties, including the State Its performance during the first three selves to fight Indian presence in the Val- than two decades, has also revealed its Congress in the Valley. New Delhi would years of the coalition’s tenure hardly bears ley along with Pakistan-sponsored out- true colours. In April, Ali Shah Geelani, also be well advised to think of the dan- testimony to its claimed non-partisan fits. The statements of National Confer- the veteran separatist leader, while speak- gers inherent in the policy of divide and style of governance. ence leaders, Mr Farooq Abdullah and ing at a public rally in Sopor, said it was a rule. That lesson should have been learnt Under the guise of ‘respect for the Mr Omar Abdullah, have brought little fallacy to label Nund rishi as an outstand- long ago when the conspiracy of replac- wishes of the people’, the PDP has in the solace to the tense situation that prevails ing rishi or sufi saint of 14th century. He ing Mr Farooq Abdullah with Mr GM Shah past blatantly played the pro-separatist in the Valley. Curiously, Mr Omar Abdullah said Sheikh Nooru’d-Din (not Nund Rishi) was masterminded. card on issues such as demilitarisation of has described the anti-Government dem- was a zealous Muslim missionary who Jammu & Kashmir’s political situation Jammu & Kashmir, joint regional council onstrations as an expression of “Kashmiri contributed enormously to the spread of has come to a critical point. Any mishan- with Pakistan occupied Kashmir, inflow nationalism”. Islamic culture and faith in the Valley dur- dling, any unrealistic and euphoric re- of Pakistani currency, lifting of all restric- He has thus drawn a line between In- ing his time. sponse to the situation will be fraught tions on trans-border movement, etc. dian nationalism and Kashmir national- Contemporary Kashmiri historians with the gravest of consequences. Under the much-touted cover of pro- ism. In other words providing for Haj com- have now joined Mr Geelani’s voice. *(The writer is the former Direc- viding a ‘healing touch’, militants were plexes in various parts of the country is Those who were till the other day bran- tor of the Centre of Central Asian set free from prisons by the PDP. They ‘Indian nationalism’ and denying dishing Kashmiriyat as a manifestation Studies, Kashmir University.) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 CONTINUATION 8 SASB Land Allotment Controversy (Contd. from Page 1) heat on some Jammu based Govind Ram, resident of Muthi. ministers, Congress MLAs and As the incident was telecast on PDP, Congress and National TV channels, it further turned the Conference leaders and stone demonstrations violent and the pelted their residences and the people fought pitched battles party offices. Some police with the police. The vehicles were also damaged by administration imposed curfew the furious mob. The irked mob, initially in Jammu which was particularly in Samba and subsequently extended to Kathua, removed foundation Samba, Bhaderwah and Kathua. stones and damaged hoardings The police action and high- having name or figure of any handedness of the administra- Congress or PDP leader. Most tion resulted in more vigoured of these leaders avoided public demonstrations. appearance fearing wrath. A large On July 2, a massive protest number of second rung leader- demonstration was held in ship of PDP resigned. Bhaderwah. As the procession Hundreds of people were in- reached Seri Bazar and amidst jured in police action. Police also sloganeering and burning of ef- arrested hundreds of people in- figies, a bomb was lobbed on cluding some political leaders the crowed in which 21 persons, and activists and registered including two jawans, were in- FIRs. While some have been re- Protesters in Nagrota damage a SRTC bus. jured. Eight of the injured were leased on bail, many others are airlifted to Government Medical reportedly in jails. Jammu Bar As- spokesperson, Prof. Hari Om part of larger conspiracy of PDP College, Jammu; one of the in- sociation, that is playing lead- nor and restoration of land and termed the controversy as an off and Congress. powers to SASB was not con- jured Manjit Singh succumbed ing role in the agitation, provides shoot of Kashmir-Centric politics Jammu Kashmir National ceded. However, as decided by to his injuries later. free legal assistance. and revocation of order as out- Panthers Party termed the revo- the Samiti, the protests and dem- come of deal struck between In continuation of their action Bandh suspended, Protests cation order illegal and accused onstration continue in the re- Delhi and fundamentalists in Val- to Continue:- PDP and Congress of pursuing against protesters, police chased gion. To express their ley. "NC, PDP, Congress and a 23 year youth Romesh Kumar After the fall of the Azad gov- political agenda to revive BJP in resentment people are organising separatists have made Jammu Jammu. "Azad government is in in Pir Mitha. To escape the po- ernment, Baba Amarnath Yatra Prabhat Pheries, torchlight subjugate to Kashmiri politics Sangarsh Samiti unanimously minority and has to pass test on lice wrath, the youth jumped from processions and "Beating of since independence of which July 7. Till then no order of gov- a roof and succumbed to his in- decided to suspend the bandh Thali" has emerged as a new SASB land controversy is an off for a week and served an ultima- ernment is valid or legal. There- juries in GMC, Jammu taking weapon to express anger and shoot," said Mr Om. He asserted tum to the government to con- fore, revocation of land diver- death toll to two. solidarity. that BJP has taken it as a mission sion order cannot be held valid," cede the demands by that time. to repulse it with all the might. Enraged by the police action, Reactions: opined Sh. Bhim Singh. Prof Addressing a press conference, Accusing Centre and Vohra for The cancellation of land al- Bhim Singh accused PDP and the demonstrators even defied Samiti convenor Leela Karan their role in revocation of order, lotment order in favour of SASB, Congress of raising bogey of curfew and fought pitched bat- Sharma said that it will resume Prof. Hari Om said, "The way generated widespread resent- land transfer by misrepresenting tles with the police throughout the agitation with more vigour if ment in Jammu. Barring Con- Vohra consented to return the the facts and giving political the region. They also turned their demand for recall of Gover- gress, PDP and National Confer- land transferred to SASB looks ence, almost all political, social more as an expression of a deal agenda to revive BJP in Jammu and religious organisations struck between fundamentalists region. The Panthers leader also across the spectrum condemned in the Valley and powers that be accused BJP of communalising the government decision. The in Dehi”. the situation. JKNPP leader decision was termed as anti- Professor Hari Om accused demanded dissolution of the Jammu, anti Hindu and anti-na- Vohra of furthering the agenda government and imposition of tional and tame surrender to of Wajahat Habibullah on Kash- Governor's Rule to save the state separatist and fundamentalist mir who wants to divide J&K in from communal hurricanes and forces. five parts on communal lines. the country from disaster. The The state unit of Bharatiya BJP National President party also petitioned the Apex Janta Party termed the govern- Rajnath Singh, who visited Court on the cancellation order ment decision unconstitutional Jammu alongwith Arun Jaitley, but the court refused to that has hurt the sentiments of termed the government decision intervene. crores of Hindus. Terming the as unfortunate and shameful and Decrying the decision, J&K decision as unconstitutional, surrender to separatists and ter- Praja Parishad turned heat on state BJP President Ashok rorists. "It is unfortunate and PDP and termed lawful and judi- Khajuria said that the shameful. It is not a tragedy for cious delimitation of Assembly government has been reduced to J&K but for the entire country. as a means to get rid of the poli- minority and cannot take any By revoking the decision on al- tics of blackmail. The party decision. "How can this lotment of land, this government termed Sh. NN Vohra as ill suited government revoke its previous has bowed before the pressure for the responsible post. decision when Governor, NN of separatists and terrorists," President J&K Praja Parishad, Vohra has asked Chief Minister Singh lamented. Taking a dig at Chander Mohan Sharma said to prove his majority?" asked the Central government, Rajnath that PDP should be ashamed of Mr. Khajuria. The BJP leader Singh said that the UPA govern- its conduct as it resulted in said, "The J&K Government has ment can't absolve itself of the attack on yatris and communal hurt the sentiments of crores of responsibility as the J&K gov- violence. Mr. Sharma demanded Hindus with its decision and ernment has taken the decision social boycott of Jammu based present agitation will take a form with its consent. BJP leader as- PDP leaders if they stuck to the of nation-wide movement". Mr serted that BJP would cancel the communal outfit. Mr Sharma Khajuria also demanded sacking Rapid Action Force (RAF) being deployed in Jammu to order and transfer the land in fa- added that disproportionate of the J&K Governor. deal with the protests. vour of SASB if it came to power. BJP vice-president and Mr Singh termed the decision a (Contd. on Page 19) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 SPECIAL REPORT 9 Gen. (Retd.) SK Sinha dubs PDP as 'anti-national'

KS Correspondent land at Baltal through its two min- change the demography of the Nabi Azad". He said that he had scribed talk of disbanding state". been informing the Centre about MVDSB as unfortunate. GEN. SINHA, till recently Governor isters and on the other they flare General Sinha asked, "Is it the activities of Sayeed from time Soon after the resignation of of J&K, dubbed PDP as anti- up communal passions. They possible to put up a township at to time but the "Centre goes Chief Minister GN Azad General national and accused the party (PDP) were trying to hunt with those heights which are covered ahead by keeping it with the Sinha addressed a press confer- and its patron Mufti Mohammed the hound and run with the hare. by snow for 7-8 months in a year. government for long". ence in New Delhi. Describing Sayeed of being 'hand in glove' Their duplicity stands exposed Do the pilgrims go to shrine for General Sinha also hit hard on Mr. Azad's resignation as a "trag- with separatists and fundamen- and their effigies have been settling down there..Can a town- the Valley Press by observing, edy" he said PDP has sacrificed talists. In an interview to PTI he burnt in the streets of Srinagar". ship be put up in 100 acres of "The Press in the Valley indulged the State's development to fur- minced no words in admitting General Sinha regretted the in yellow journalism of the high- ther its political objectives. He that his relations with PDP revocation order and termed it est order in a manner there was also termed Mr Azad as a true patron, who was Chief Minister as a "policy of appeasement and no political party who could secularist and lashed out at PDP from 2002-2005, had been "very total surrender followed by the swim against the surging tide of by charging it with being a pawn bad from the very beginning". State government and done with communal passion". in the hands of fundamentalist He said that Sayeed played the 'total lack of grace". "What was In a separate interview to an forces and terrorists backed by "most sinister role in reviving worse, to appease the electronic TV channel General Pakistan. communalism in the Valley" fundamentalists...They (State) Sinha said that revocation of General Sinha defended his using the ploy of transfer of 100 have virtually wound up the land transfer order was a victory stand of using weapon of acres of land in the Valley which Amarnath Shrine Board. This of secessionists He observed," "Kashmiriat" to take on funda- was to be used to provide facility move has had very serious reac- If it is a victory, it is a victory of mentalist forces. He said he was for Amarnath Pilgrims. tions in Jammu and elsewhere in secessionist forces, fundamen- "not sorry for a moment" for Gen. Sinha disclosed that two the country", he said. talists and anti-national forces whatever he had done during his of the PDP ministers in the cabi- The former Governor claimed land...The fundamentalists un- and defeat of the silent majority stint in the state. He observed, net-were involved in the decision that "Kashmiriyat" only speaks leashed the most vicious com- of the moderate Muslims in "I have been pro-active in terms to direct this forest land at Baltal of brotherhood and his attempts munal propaganda. The PDP, Kashmir who cannot open their of performing my legitimate du- but Sayeed had used the issue to revive it invited fatwas from whose ministers had been part mouth for fear of terrorists ties as the head of the state....I to 'promote his agenda'. He said," terrorist groups. He said the of the decision of transferring attacks. I maintain that the clash am not sorry for a moment for He (Sayeed) wanted to take elec- separatists chose a 'non-issue', land, were in the forefront of this is not between Hindus and what all I did". toral advantage of the develop- namely diversion of forest land agitation along with the likes of Muslims as such. It's not a Sinha's disclosures about ing situation but I think it has to Shrine Board, which has been Syed Ali Shah Geelani and communal divide". He added, "I PDP role has put Congress High rebounded on him. The people the traditional camping site for Mirwaiz Umer Farooq". do not for a moment suggest that Command in an embarrassing have found out the duplicity of yatra for years. The state gov- The former Governor was un- revocation of order diverting the position. The Central leadership his party". ernment gave sanction after ex- sparing in his criticism for Cen- land to the Shrine Board was is still reluctant to abandon PDP He denied that he had put any amining for three years and for tral leadership of Congress. He wrong but the Congress could as its ally despite its duplicity, pressure on the state govern- constructing temporary shelters said, "PDP has performed a very have done it in a better way, by communal and pro-separatist ment for the transfer of land and for the pilgrims and nothing else, anti-national role in Kashmir and saying that it was doing so to role. Instead it has chosen to at- said that the proposal was lying he added. He said that the se- the pity is that PDP, for all these prevent further hurt to the tack Lt. General Sinha. Its with it for the last three years. cessionists and PDP sought to years, has been enjoying patron- sentiments of people. Virtual spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan Nailing the propaganda circu- 'fan communal feelings by com- age of Delhi to the extent that disbanding of the Shrine Board even upbraided Sinha's recom- lated by secessionists as well as ing with an absurd canard that Congress High Command has was uncalled for and was not mendations on countering infil- PDP the former Governor re- the Shrine Board was going to even undermined the position of even demanded. It is an over- tration of Bangladeshis into marked, "On the one hand sanc- put up Hindu township at Baltal party's Chief Minister Ghulam drive of appeasement". He de- India. tioning the diversion of forest and holy cave with a view to Yatris narrate horrible experiences KS Correspondent asked to raise anti-India slogans. IN a brazen act of violence on July 1, 14 Amarnath yatris hailing from Lucknow, It was only after civil administration persuaded a local Imam to intervene that the Meerut and New Delhi including women were yatris were freed. The police has yet to arrest any of the mercilessly beaten-up, their vehicles damaged and 14 accused, who have been identified by the locals. clothes torn off by a group of locals at Banihal town Earlier, there was an attack on yatris on June 25. On on Srinagar-Jammu national highway. June 25 a tourists bus was attacked near Dalgate at The yatris were forced to take shelter in petrol Srinagar, leaving several tourists injured. tankers and trucks and reached Udhampur in miserable The yatris have complained that the pilgrims were condition. They were provided shelter and food by being charged exorbitant prices for shelter and other the local people and helped to board trains. necessities. A bottle of water was sold at Rs 46, while The state administration had not taken measures to 250 ml milk bottle was given for Rs 40. The pilgrims provide adequate security to the yatris. Official sources complained that no official of the state government was revealed that three TATA Sumos and Tavera vehicles, present to redress to their grievances. carrying pilgrims back from the holy cave, were The yatris had to pay Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per person intercepted at Banihal in the evening. The mob, for getting shelter in a tent near the cave on June 29. Mr. belonging to the majority community, subjected the Jasdeep Singh Malhotra, a correspondent of Hindustan vehicles to heavy stone pelting. Later, the pilgrims were Times in his first person account of visit to the holy brought down from the vehicles and thrashed An injured yatri in Banihal being evacuated. mercilessly. The large number of police personnel cave said Pony-Wallahs were charging double the rate— watched it as mute spectators. Clothes of some pilgrims were torn, a woman pilgrim Rs 5-6 thousand from Pahalgam side and Rs 2500 from Shakuntala Narang had her right leg badly fractured. Other pilgrims too sustained Baltal side. Many of the pilgrims were all praise for Army, BSF and CRPF for giving bruises over their bodies. The thrashing continued for 15 minutes. The yatris were them all possible help. KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 WHAT THE EDITORS SAY 10 Who has won and Who has lost? Who has won and who has lost ment of the land to the SASB it chose Capitulation in J&K in the forest land transfer contro- to wash its hands off without versy? Almost every leader has burnt realising that the truth can’t be hid- his or her fingers. The noble con- den all the more so when all records Congress bows before Islamic fanatics cept of religious tolerance has been are in black and white. In striving to IT would be erroneous to believe time, by the Indian state before treated with scant respect. Seces- ride two horses at the same time it ner? that the situation in Jammu & Kash- Muslim fanatics. For, contrary to sionists have left no doubt at all that has fallen flat on its face. It has There is no percentage in trying mir, so severely disturbed this past what the PDP, the Hurriyat and as- they are pursuing a fundamentalist ceased to be a partner in power — a to rationalise either the protests or week by separatists on the rampage sorted separatists have been alleg- agenda. Even those among them who role that has won it a lot of respect- the Government’s jelly-kneed re- and their political patrons of vari- ing, there never was any alienation carry “a Jammuwallah” and “a ability in its brief existence. Worse, sponse to pretend that last week’s ous shades, will become ‘normal’ of land nor was there any proposal Kashmiri Pandit” on their band- its credibility in popular eyes is se- violence was no more than a prover- now that Governor NN Vohra has to erect permanent structures on the wagon to flaunt their secular creden- riously dented at a time when it was bial storm in the tea cup. Nor shall ‘returned’ the land which had been leased land. By forcing the Govern- tials have been found woefully want- being recognised as a reckonable any purpose be served by blaming leased to the Sri Amarnath Shrine ment to beat a retreat, those who ing. A common man is left bewil- force beyond its original turf in the those on the fringe of Kashmiri Board. The PDP, which was look- had taken to the streets have sent dered why a piece of land allotted to south of the Kashmir region. Former Muslim society, and claiming that ing for an excuse to break free of out a clear, though chilling message: a body devoted to a religious cause Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar ‘Kashmiriyat’ is all-embracing and restraints that come with being in In ‘secular’ India, Hindu pilgrims in out-of-the-way hills should raise Hussain Baig’s plea that the Con- does not discriminate between Mus- power, has walked out on its part- have no right to basic facilities and a storm. The Shri Amarnath Shrine gress had blackmailed the party into lims and Hindus. That’s so much ner, the Congress. The All-Party amenities. This is in sharp contrast Board (SASB) is an organisation cre- giving land to the SASB in exchange balderdash, and we all know it. The Hurriyat Conference, which needed to the huge expense incurred by the ated by an Act of the Legislature. It for the construction of the Mughal cleansing of Kashmir Valley, which an issue to revert to true form, has Union Government and the State is not a foreign or what many of us Road is a panic reaction. There is no began with jihadis forcing Kashmiri achieved its objective. And, those Governments to provide every pos- are fond of saying a non-State sub- link between the two. This does not Pandits to flee their ancestral land, elements of Kashmiri society who sible facility both at home and in ject element. Why can’t it have a mean that the Congress is a gainer in is an incomplete project — the suc- abhor the idea of any Hindu pres- Saudi Arabia to Haj pilgrims. The piece of land to create facilities for any way. It has failed to stand up to cessful resistance to facilities for ence in the Valley and for whom the ‘Haj Houses’ and ‘Haj Terminals’ thousands of pilgrims paying obei- the onslaught of communal forces in Hindu pilgrims highlights this point annual yatra to the Amarnath Shrine — permanent brick-and-mortar sance at the holy Himalayan cave? the Valley where in any case it is not in the most lurid fashion. One way is akin to desecration of their “cul- structures as compared to the pre- The new Governor, Mr N.N. Vohra, considered much of a force. An ad- of dealing with Sunday’s denouement ture” are celebrating their victory fabricated structures that were has taken just four days to conclude verse consequence for the party is is to treat the Islamic fanatics with over the ‘secular’ state. Meanwhile, planned for yatris travelling to that the Board no longer requires the that its support base in the Jammu contempt and the Congress with the Congress has egg on its face, al- Amarnath — are two examples of land at Baltal (the entire process of region has become suspect. It has pity. The other way is to stand up though it is reluctant to admit as how tax payers are made to foot the the allotment itself had taken three always drawn its political suste- and be counted: In secular and demo- much, instead choosing to blame bill of pilgrimage to Mecca by Mus- years). He does not care to consult nance from this province including cratic India, of which Jammu & former Governor SK Sinha! But lims. What if people were to find anybody in this regard except for in the 2002 elections. It has queered Kashmir is an inseparable part, pan- such calumny cannot hide the truth. them unacceptable and a “threat to meeting a beleaguered Chief Minis- its pitch with its climb-down now. dering to the dark and menacing Let there be no mistake: What we the environment”? Would the Gov- ter Ghulam Nabi Azad and the lead- As for as the National Conference is forces of Muslim separatism is un- have witnessed in Jammu & Kash- ernment then demolish them? Must ers like National Conference presi- concerned it is placed no better than acceptable. mir is a pathetic and shameful ca- Islamic fanatics in Kashmir Valley dent Omar Abdullah who had al- the PDP. The State’s premier politi- pitulation, though not for the first be mollycoddled in so crass a man- ready publicised their stance. Mr cal outfit seems to be suffering from --The Daily Pioneer Vohra does not feel it necessary ei- fits of forgetfulness about is history ther to take into confidence either of successfully encountering funda- Provocative action the members of the Board or con- mentalists of all hues in the Kash- Use of brute force impairs the situation sult non-aligned public figures. Ac- mir Valley. By opting to swim with tually, the curtain has been sought the current rather than taking a rea- Unprovoked police firing on the protesters in Muthi Domana resulting in serious injuries to three to be rung down on this affair in a soned stand it has played a second people on the second day of Jammu Bandh on Tuesday has once again demonstrated the state manner that indicates a well-orches- fiddle in the Valley, which for long administration’s incompetence to handle the turbulent yet sensitive situation. For the past over one week, different parts of the state have been witnessing violent demonstrations on the issue trated drama both by the Governor has been its home stretch, and dam- of land transfer to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) but the administrative apparatus as taking advantage of his position as aged its prospects on this side of usual has dismally failed to promptly respond to the situation in the desired manner. This is the SASB Chairman and the State the Pir Panjal. regrettable that the administration finds the use of force as the only and easy option to tackle Government caught in a maze of its The spontaneity of bandh in this this sensitive yet volatile situation thus worsening the turn of events with the repression of own making. The two have exhib- region on Monday reveals how an- peaceful demonstrators at many places in a brutal manner. Restrained use of force may be ited an unseemly hurry without re- guished the people are. Nobody be- genuine where the violent demonstrators go berserk but that should be only in extreme conditions gard for the sentiments of the mi- lieves that the SASB has given up when the situation literally goes out of control. But this was certainly not the situation at Muthi norities in the State. It is unfortu- its claim to the forest land. Instead, and many other places in Jammu region where the security personnel resorted to brutal lathicharge and other repressive measures leaving behind over hundred injured. At all those nate that the Chief Minister has ob- the feeling is — and rightly so — places, where the people had come out on streets to protest peacefully against the revocation served that “some people” in Jammu that it has been forced to do so with of land transfer order, the use of force in any form was uncalled for and provocative for the have been trying to create “commu- the new Governor offering no resis- people. More so the right to protest is a fundamental right which the citizens can avail whenever nal tension with sinister design”. He tance worth the name and the State they feel aggrieved. But the use of force further angered the protesters and created sullenness has blamed them (without mention- Government too wilting. By all among them which is finding reflection in the worsened situation. This has happened in Jammu ing any name though) for indulging means the people of this region have while earlier this was witnessed in the Valley which till Tuesday was in flames on the land in propaganda that the SASB is be- a right to express their sentiments. transfer row, which even claimed six precious lives there besides leaving hundreds of people ing abolished. This region has in re- They are entitled to exercise all demo- injured. Unfortunately after the revocation of land transfer order while the semblance of peace has been restored in the Valley, the turbulence has gripped entire Jammu region where in the ality been an oasis of communal har- cratic options available to them. wake of inept handling the situation has worsened to the extent that the administration has to mony. It would have made sense had While doing so, however, they must clamp curfew in many districts. Unprovoked police firing in Muthi and brutal lathicharge at Mr Azad reserved his ire for com- ensure that they don’t take the law peaceful protesters in many areas in Jammu, Nagrota, Jatwal etc further impaired the situation. munal forces that have played havoc into their own hands. They should No doubt, during this turbulence, the vested interests are making all out efforts to add fuel to with harmonious human ties right conscientiously avoid a tit-for-tat the fire but by promptly resorting to use of force, the administration aggravates the situation. under his nose in the Valley. No ac- approach. It will not serve any pur- Infact during the turbulent circumstances, the restraint should be the catch word which certainly cusing finger can be pointed in the pose if take out their anger on any works, while suppression by brutal means only worsens the situation. --The Kashmir Times direction of the inhabitants of individual or hold out threats of cut- ...To say that the PDP is raking up this issue with an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections is viewing the Jammu who have shown exemplary ting off supplies of essential com- matter in too simplistic terms. The design is more sinister. They want to erase the Hindu heritage of Kashmir. PDP patience and spirit of accommoda- modities to the Valley. It needs to be leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his daughter have earlier also demanded that the Amarnath Yatra should be tion from 1989 onwards. remembered that those who have held at abeyance for “sometime”. They play crass communal politics. Few months ago they demanded Pak On political front the fall-out has pelted the vehicles of Amarnath pil- currency in Kashmir. They often work hand in glove with the separatists. And they happen to be the bosom been ungainly and unprecedented. grims with stones in the Valley can’t friends of Sonia Gandhi. The CPM and the NC are not far behind in stoking communal divide in the Valley. For the first time we have been ex- endear themselves to anybody. The terrorists who have taken to the streets and fasts unto death for “saving” the forests should actually take posed to the spectacle of the top- There is absolutely no necessity of up the cause of vanishing forests of Kashmir at the hands of the vandals in the state. Acres of forest lands are being most political functionary openly emulating them. There is only one cleared to reap timber which is being smuggled outside the state, according to reports. These protesters were not parting with official papers to show point that has to be made effectively: seen in action when recently a bear and then a leopard which had strayed out of their habitats were roasted alive the major coalition partner, People’s we are equal stakeholders in the State and stoned to death by a mob in Kashmir. Nor are they protesting the stink that the Dal Lake, the pride of Kashmir, Democratic Party (PDP), as a vil- and can’t be bullied into submission has become. So much for environmental activism. They are the real enemies of development and Kashmiriyat. lain. How has it helped the prin- by any regional or religious consid- These terrorists had no qualms when they occupied the homes of Kashmiri Hindus who had been driven away. ciples of secrecy and joint responsi- eration. It has to be done politely In fact it is the fear of having to part with these properties that is goading them into opposing the return of the bility? There are no two opinions but firmly and with the full knowl- Hindus to the valley..... --Organiser that the PDP has been caught trying edge that there are no winners either to run with the hare and hunt with in the Valley. LESSONS FROM KASHMIR the hounds. Having not only acqui- “…….both the Congress and the PDP practiced incendiary politics and pandered to esced but also facilitated the allot- --Daily Excelsior communalism….” The Hindu—-July8,2008 KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 REPORTAGE 11 Controversy over Amarnath land allotment poll gimmick? aimed at diluting the Muslim both from the PDP. a covert attempt to settle non- in the Valley while putting Con- By Rajeev Deshpande majority character of the state. The state cabinet had consid- Muslims stretches credulity. The gress in a fix as withdrawing the NEW DELHI, June 28: The Former governor Lt-Gen (retd) S ered the proposal and forest min- area is hardly hospitable and it land order could result in a back- storm in the Kashmir Valley over K Sinha has been attacked for ister Qazi Afzal and deputy CM would be hard to persuade any lash in Jammu. allocation of 100 acres of land to having authored the plan during Muzzaffar Beig did not raise any population, however deprived, It is apparent that Azad, who the Amarnath Shrine Board his recently-concluded tenure. objections. Yet now the Mufti to settle in the area. The Board unlike the Mufti did not object seems to have seen PDP and Sources close to the general and Mehbooba have sought to wanted to construct bunds, be- to the transfer of land to the hardline separatists coming to- point out that the proposal was put chief minister Ghulam Nabi sides the shelters, to keep snow Board, is in a bind. Congress re- gether to paint a plan to build neither recent nor unique. And Azad in the dock. Just as the “ig- slides from damaging equipment. lies on its presence in Jammu temporary pre-fabricated shel- that though Gen Sinha had ener- norance” plea was an after- The pre-fabricated shelters while the fight in the Valley is ters for pilgrims as a devious plot getically backed the move, the thought, environmental argu- are also not a new proposal. In largely between PDP and Na- to alter the state’s “demograph- intent was to improve facilities ments also appear to be belated fact, the base camp has been in tional Conference. ics”. for pilgrims who have had to attempts to build a case against regular use for several years. Pil- The PDP leadership, which Violent protests in the Valley make to do with primitive ameni- the land transfer. grims have been put up there has chaffed at having to hand have seen police opening fire on ties like trench toilets separated It is pointed out while a threat before the arduous last leg of the over power to Congress in mid- protesters demanding that the by gunny bags. The area in ques- to a nearby wildlife sanctuary had journey to the Amarnath cave, term, is finding it expedient to land allotted to the Board be tion at Baltal was the last base been quoted, no such concerns which is open to pilgrims two use the Amarnath controversy withdrawn. camp, 14 km from the shrine. were aired with regard to the con- months of the year. for its ends. Apart from Hurriyat factions While PDP leaders Mufti struction of the “Mughal road” The well springs of the cur- Communalising the issue fuelling protests, what has Mohammed Sayeed and his expected to connect Poonch and rent agitation seem to lie in PDP’s suits separatists and Pakistani added to tensions is the role of daughter Mehbooba were claim- Rajouri sections with the Valley. poll calculus and a certain un- agencies as this leads to an up- PDP, which despite being a part- ing that they had been in the “There are something like 10,000 ease among separatists and their surge of an “us versus them” ner in the government, has joined dark, the Board’s request was trees that will be felled. The plot jihadi backers over the success sentiment. A lack of a clearer ap- the stir. before the government for three at Baltal in comparison is bare, of initiatives like the recently- preciation of facts has clouded Given the populist sentiments years since 2005. The proposal with no trees. The agenda of opened centre for South Asian the debate. Transfer of forest sweeping the Valley, almost all was examined by the law depart- those opposing the Amarnath studies and the reception ac- land is not rare. This has been political outfits have had to echo ment and an empowered commit- case is obvious,” the sources corded to Pakistani band Junoon done for private telecom opera- the militant line that giving land tee of the Supreme Court. Not said. despite a boycott call. With elec- tors and railways. to the Board would pave the way just that, the current forest min- The theory that setting up fa- tions round the corner, PDP is --Source: Times of India for “Israel-type settlements” ister and his predecessor were cilities for pilgrims was actually looking to strum up sentiments The mechanics of chauvinist rage A monument to hate in Chhatterhama While secessionists might have set off violence, NC workers Inflamed by the Shrine Board issue, people are fanning the flames of a village in central Kashmir build a shrine for Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Praveen Swami How have such large fairs Omar Abdullah in 2002 and mobilisations suddenly oc- SRINAGAR: It’s been now ensuring the passage of By Praveen Swami curred? Some clues lie in the fact the shrine board land grant. In called an Intifada: a spontane- BRIGHT pink plastic flowers and lurid crepe-paper wreaths adorn that large crowds have come from Anantnag, PDP billboards were ous expression of focussed Jammu and Kashmir’s first shrine to the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Last month, Srinagar neighbourhoods where vandalised the same day. rage against the Jammu and two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan were shot dead in the secessionists have no presence Unfocussed rage Kashmir government’s deci- forests next to the village of Chhatterhama, 30 kilometres from the at all. Srinagar’s Shivpora area, Interestingly, the protests sion to allow Shri Amarnathji central Kashmir town of Ganderbal. Mired in the communally- around XV Corps Headquarters haven’t quite been the fo- Shrine Board to use 39.88 hect- charged, region-wide agitation against land-use rights granted to at Badami Bagh, is home to sev- cussed assertions of anger on ares of land to house Hindu the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the local community saw the ter- eral important politicians and the shrine board issue as some pilgrims. rorists as s oldiers who had died for their cause. bureaucrats and has long been commentators have claimed. Last week, without dispute, “Here was India conspiring to seize our land and hand it over to an NC stronghold. So too is Mobs which attacked the saw the largest popular infidels,” says local businessman Zahoor Ahmad, “and here were Rajbagh, which saw large crowds Punjab National Bank at Lal mobilisation since the long these two foreigners who had given their lives to save Islam in come out on Friday. Chowk in Anantnag on Thurs- jihad in the State began two Kashmir. One of them was just 14 or 15, no older than my brother. Led by block and mohalla- day, for example, were angered decades ago. But while seces- And so, we gathered Rs.11,000 to give these martyrs the kind of level NC leaders, the crowds did by a decision to hike interest sionists might have set off the burial they deserved.” not advertise their party affilia- rates on taxis. Protesters also ugly, chauvinist fires now rag- “May god’s mercy and the blessings of Mohammad always be tions but made their sympathies attacked the Jammu and Kash- ing across Jammu and Kash- with you; I shall always pray for you to be blessed by the eternal clear in other ways. No seces- mir Bank’s branch at Lal Chowk, mir, National Conference(NC) rest of paradise,” reads the poetic Urdu-language inscription on the sionist leader addressed the es- after having tried to ransack workers control the tempo. gravestones, which identify the two terrorists by their code-names timated 10,000-15,000 people HDFC Bank’s offices on the Both the scale and intensity Abu Hurrera and Abu Saria. Both were buried at the highest point of who milled around Srinagar’s Lal Khanabal-Pahalgam road a day of the protests are greater than the village graveyard, in an especially fenced-off section. Chowk on Friday. A meeting ad- earlier. the demonstrated capabilities Ethnic-Kashmiri jihadists killed in Jammu and Kashmir have of- dressed by Mr. Geelani at his Often, the urban poor have of Islamist secessionist ten been buried after elaborate funeral processions in special “mar- home drew fewer than a thou- used the cover provided by the groups. tyrs’ graveyards.” However, no shrines or special memorials have sand people; second-rung Islam- cause for economic gain, a Till June 20, when the shrine ever been built to mark the death of Pakistani jihadists operating in ist leaders Masrat Alam and common feature of mob vio- board protests exploded, se- Jammu and Kashmir. In some cases, rural communities have even Shabbir Shah could attract just a lence the world over. In cessionist leaders like the refused to take responsibility for their burial. few hundreds. Srinagar, groups of protesters Tehreek-i-Hurriyat’s Syed Ali Chhatterhama isn’t a likely location for a shrine celebrating the Elsewhere, the links between detached themselves from a Shah Geelani, typically had Lashkar’s Islamist cause. Not a single Chhatterhama resident joined the NC and mobs have been even June 26 procession led by JKLF audiences fewer than 500 the jihadist movement in Jammu and Kashmir. Its residents — most more obvious. On January 24, the chairman Yasin Malik, and at- people. Islamist leader Asiya of them Shawl Bafs, or artisans who hand-embroider shawls — were party workers attacked the home tempted to pillage an HDFC Andrabi’s Forum Against So- supporters of the National Conference. Few would offer even eth- of Forest Minister and People’s Bank ATM near Bud Shah cial Evils, like a March assault nic-Kashmiri jihadist groups like the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen shelter or Democratic Party(PDP) leader Chowk. A grocery store near on romantic couples at the support. As a result, Chhatterhama never once saw an exchange of Qazi Afzal, whose claims to fame Dalgate was robbed of its stock Srinagar Botanical Park, rarely fire between jihadists and the police or the army. But when the Shrine include defeating the former of potato chips by teenage drew more than a few dozen Board agitation began, the village embraced a cause it had long Minister of State of External Af- (Contd. on Page 12) cadres. (Contd. on Page 12) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 VIEWS 12

Sreeram Chaulia Balbir Punj, Vinod Sharma ...... That a temporary land over the years, have killed doz- Columinst .....That agents provocateur could project the diversion of a mere 100 acres as a transfer for a Hindu pilgrimage ens of Hindu pilgrims whose ...... All sorts of exaggerated conspiracy to change the Valley’s demography is a collective failure of the political could be painted by separatist simple ambition in life was to pay outcome of the land trans- class on either side of the divide. On the face of it, the PDP pullout indicates that politicians as a devious plot of their respects to a supernatural fer were marketed by the Mufti Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba are desparate to insulate themselves the Indian government to alter phenomenon in Amarnath. “secularists” to justify the from popular outrage over an issue they should have helped place in the right the demography of Kashmir While the reality on the violent protests. The PDP perspective.It’s an irony that the party led by the country’s former home minister shows how communalized has ground is that the demography (certified as “secular” by chose expediency over its duty to fight a falsehood misguiding people. In fact, the become in the valley. This is the of the Kashmir Valley has been the rest of the “secular Valley-based party decided to quit ahead of its own June 30 deadline to obfuscate pack”) after first agreeing to third and most potent explana- forcibly redrawn through the kill- - in the changed situation - the role of its leaders in the issue...... the land transfer changed its tion for the movement that ing of Hindus, the mass move- --(The author is Associate Editor Hindustan Times) tune with the message that rocked Jammu and Kashmir. ment that erupted in June was the Islamic character of While alienation of Muslims based on fictitious claims of the Kashmir was in danger. The Praful Bidwai, Columnist amid a lull in terrorist violence land transfer being a diabolical silence on the part of the ....Rather than make a gesture of generosity to religious Hindus, in keeping with and machinations of democratic conspiracy for Hindus to deluge self-appointed guardians of Kashmir’s syncretic culture, the Hurriyat leaders and JKLF chief Yasin Malik politics partially account for the the valley. There is little evidence secularism like the CPI(M), falsely depicted the land transfer as a means of forcibly settling Hindus in the crisis, neither of these could gal- to prove that India’s Kashmir the various NGOs, the “lib- Valley and an assault on the Kashmiri identity. This was patently absurd given the vanize the public without the policy mimics Chinese internal eral” press and academics tiny size of the plot and the makeshift prefabricated structures being erected on it. wholesale Islamization of Kash- colonization solutions that have on an orgy of separatist vio- They gave a religious-communal colour to the issue by deliberately organising mir, a land ironically mytholo- changed the population profile lence, was a pronounced en- processions to and from the Jama Masjid and the Hazratbal shrine. This falsified gized as a cradle of eclectic of Tibet in favor of Han Chinese. dorsement of the PDP their claim to the “nationalist” mantle. They also tried to present the protests as Sufism. The same drivers of While the Tibetan upheavals brand of “secular politics..... spontaneous eruptions of popular anger against India’s Kashmir policy and the Taliban-style enforcement of this year against Chinese high- Sandhya Jain, heavy presence of security forces. They maligned the peace process itself as a way strict moral codes on Kashmiris, handedness had a legitimate ba- Columinst of perpetuating the Kashmir status quo. This was the Hurriyat’s way of regaining especially women, are at the fore- sis, the anti-land transfer ruckus ....The shocking and un- its lost relevance. In reality, the protests were driven by the same narrow-minded expected intolerance to- and parochial motives as were evident in the earlier mob violence over the “sex front in the anti-land transfer in Kashmir rests on concocted wards Hindu pilgrims is scandal” issue, in which vigilante squads went on the rampage and burnt down the movement. charges. widely perceived in India as house of a woman suspected to be responsible for it. The protests caused great So mainstreamed is the influ- ………….. Terrorist violence an attempt to put an end to hardship to the public by disrupting the movement of essential supplies, including ence of intolerant Islamist ideol- in Kashmir may wax and wane the yatra itself, as Gen food and fuel..... ogy in Kashmir that there is and state-level elections may Sinha has been replaced by barely a squeal of anguish re- come and go every five years, a supine bureaucrat who BG Verghese garding restoration of properties but the seeds of Islamist hatred obediently ‘requested’ the State Government to can- ....The extension of the period of yatra was infeasible as it would tie down a of nearly half-a-million Kashmiri continue to sprout and augur ill cel the land allotment and substantial body of troops on Yatra security duty for double the normal period, Hindus (“Pandits”), who were for peace. The liberation of Kash- take over the arrangements thereby weakening the counter-terrorism grid. However, the land use at Baltal was hounded out of the valley by mir from jihadi mentality remains for the pilgrims. India now sanctioned, providing a trigger a wholly misplaced agitation on the ground that the terrorists in 1988-1989. The res- an uphill task. has to face the religious land had been “transferred” and would result in environmental damage and demo- identity-cum-civilisational titution of Hindu properties that (The author is a researcher graphic change. The fact is that only temporary usage was granted for a few issue head-on. The so- were destroyed and taken over on international affairs at the months and there was no permanent transfer of land to the Shrine Board. This was is a genuine grievance for which Maxwell School of Citizenship called Nehruvian consensus (actually imposition) is strangely not immediately and forcefully clarified. The fear of demographic change Islamists show no sympathy. Is- at Syracuse University, New dead and cannot be re- was an absurd canard while any environmental damage would be the same and lamists have also never con- York.) stored.... marginal in terms of usage irrespective of land title...... demned terrorist attacks that, --(Source: Asia Times) --(The author is ,former Editor Hindustan Times The mechanics of chauvinist rage A monument to hate in Chhatterhama (From Page 11) (From Page 11) vative religious groups in sectors. Even fewer have its legitimacy — disap- members of a mob, while the historic clock on the Ghanta resisted. Local authorities the area, which until re- the kind of capital needed proves of the veneration of Ghar was vandalised. and political parties had cently had almost no rural to set up independent busi- shrines and relics, seeing Elsewhere, mobs have sought to enforce what the done nothing to challenge reach. “Most people here nesses — or pay the bribes them as heretical borrowings religious right believes to be an appropriate social order. rumours spread by Islamist used to worship at shrines,” often needed to get a gov- from Hinduism. In general, In Srinagar, crowds sought to destroy Highlander Bar in groups that a large-scale says local Jamaat-e-Islami ernment job. All of these Lashkar jihadists’ graves the Shivpora area, a facility first attacked by Islamists plot was under way to give activist Bashir Ahmad Bhat, frustrations seem to have consist of nothing more back in 1990, at the beginning of the long jihad. Protest- away land to outsiders — “and followed practices fed the anti-Shrine Board elaborate than a un-in- ers in Anantnag also destroyed the Pamposh Hotel, to outsiders, moreover, that were Hindu in origin. protest in Chhatterhama. scribed stone marker. which caters for travellers on the Jammu-Srinagar high- hostile to Islam. As a result, But my generation has Local clerics from the Indeed, Salafists — of way. Its crime? Serving alcohol, the protesters claimed, the jihad in Jammu and learned to read, and thus Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadis, whom the Ahl-e-Hadis are a to truck drivers. Kashmir discovered the true Islam.” Jamaat-e-Islami activists subset — have often carried This isn’t the first time chauvinism CONTINUATION acquired a It is also likely that the and National Conference their hatred of shrine wor- has been leveraged for political profit. new legiti- new chauvinism has been workers all saw reason to ship to great lengths. When Facing a serious challenge from the Jamaat-e-Islami and macy. propelled by the stresses fuel the chauvinist fears the followers of the ultra- Janata Party alliance in 1977, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah On June 23, one day af- of economic change. which underpinned the right Saudi Arabian cleric, Muhammad ibn Abd al- argued that a vote for his opponents would help those ter the terrorists’ killing, Shawl-Bafs have been hit protests, seeing in them a possibility to expand their Wahhab, captured the cit- whose hands were still red with the blood of Muslims. Chhatterhama villagers hard by competition from constituency. All of them ies of Mecca and Medina in Potential voters were even administered oaths on the marched to the main cross- cheap machine-embroi- seem to have won. 1803-1804, they destroyed Koran. In the end, the NC won 47 of 75 seats in the roads at Batpora to express dered shawls, often made in Ironic twist several shrines including Assembly. their outrage on the Shrine Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Board issue. Work on the Embroidering shawls, more- Have jihadists like the one built over the tomb of Since then the NC has often adopted chauvinist po- Lashkar also gained? The the Prophet Mohammad’s sitions to corral its flock. In 1999, the Report of the State Lashkar shrine began the over, is killing work: wages shrine in Chhatterhama daughter, Fatima Zehra. Autonomy Committee advocated redistribution of same afternoon. And the run as low as Rs. 80 a day would seem to suggest so “In Kashmir, everything Jammu and Kashmir into administrative blocs that would following Friday, for work which leaves many — but the evidence is more eventually turns into a mirror its religious fault-lines reflecting Pakistan-backed Chhatterhama observed the Shawl Bafs half-blind and ambiguous than the memo- shrine,” says Mr. Ahmed, a proposals for a division of pre-Partition Jammu and Kash- two terrorists’ Rasm-e- arthritic before they turn 40. wry smile on his face. mir into the Muslim-majority areas to the north of the Chaharrum death-rites But few young people in rial suggests. “Come back here in a few Chenab, and the Hindu-majority areas to it south. alongside another protest Chhattarhama, despite the Notably, Lashkar ideo- Early this month, when the PDP threw its weight be- march against the Shrine spread of school and col- logues most likely won’t years’ time, and you might hind the shrine board protests, the party did so to en- Board. lege education, have the approve of the just see people telling you sure that Islamists did not erode its electoral base among Why was Chhatterhama kind of specialist skills Chhatterhama shrine. that they have come here to Kashmiri Muslims. Now, the NC has shown that more so quick to join the Islamist needed to get new- Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadis’ theo- pray for sons at the grave than one can play the hate-politics game. cause? One reason might be economy jobs in the service logical tradition — from of a famous Pir [godman]”. (Source: The Hindu) the growth of neo-conser- or information-technology which the Lashkar draws (Source: The Hindu) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 ON RECORD 13

Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, (Congress)former Chief Minister: decided to revoke the land allotment to the Amarnath Shrine Board under pressure “Any issue which is made to divide communities is extremely difficult to re- from the UPA Govt.I do not see why the Shrine Board set up in respect of Vaishno solve. I don’t want to take an emotional and hasty decision. I want a permanent Devi should be given all kinds of facilities and (the )shrine board relating to Amarnath solution”….(June 25,2008) in the valley should not be given similar facilities.”….(July 1,2008) “Interested parties got money from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to sustain the Mr. Raj Nath Singh ,President National BJP: violent agitation against Amarnath land transfer in the valley for 10 days”….. “By revoking the decision on allotment of land, this govt. has bowed before the (July,13,2008) pressure of separatists and terrorists. The Amaranth land row is a creation of ruling Mr. NN Vohra,Governor,J&K: alliance.”…….(July5,2008) “We can review what is to be done. We can go for an amendment as well. It is Mr.Veerappa Moily,AICC Media Cell Chairman: not good that they (people) are taking to the streets. This way all the good work “Running away from a problem will not resolve it and will not bring credit to any will be rolled back. There are certain problems, certain sensitivities and we will political party including the PDP.At the fag end of the term, they should not have look in to them.”…. (June 25, 2008) withdrawn from the govt. The decision on the shrine board was a collective deci- Mr. LK Advani,BJP,Leader of Opposition: sion. The withdrawal of support does not augur well for both the parties.”…. “Congress CM GN Azad in J&K wants the yatra to go on ,but the resistance (June28, 2008) was from his coalition partner. The grouse of the Congress coalition partners Mr. Shameem Faizee,Secretary National Council of CPI: seems to be that the former Governor of that state had made Vaishno Devi a “The job of providing facilities to pilgrims should be assigned to the State Tour- model pilgrimage centre attracting lakhs of pilgrims and they are resenting ism Deptt.Job opportunities resulting from the project of provision of facilities to this.”..(June23,2008) pilgrims should be offered to locals on a priority basis.” “The J&K Govt.’s decision to take back the land allotted to the Board is Dr. Arun Kumar, former CEO of SASB: communal and a part of vote-bank politics.”…. (June30, 2008) The land has not been transferred to the Board but it has been diverted for non- “Respecting every religion and tradition is secularism. But not caring about forest use and Shrine Board has paid Rs. 2.5 crore to the State Govt. for it.”….. feelings and facilities of majority is a sign of perverted secularism.J&K Govt. (June17, 2008)

Syed Ali Shah Geelani,Hurriyat and The land transfer order forbids Omar Abdullah Jamaat Islami leader: Over the last few days the National Conference has “Cancellation of allotment of 100 acres of land raising permanent structures made it's position clear on where it stands with regard to to SASB has rejuvenated the spirit of Kashmiri Government of Jammu and Kashmir the transfer of land to the SASB. people to raise voice against ‘occupation of 8 lakh Civil Sectt: Forest Department The question of the creation or structure or function- Kanals of land by armed forces.” Subject: Diversion of 39.88 ha of forest land to ing of the SASB is a larger one perhaps handled at a later Yasin Malik, Separatist leader (JKLF): Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board at Baltal and Domail for stage once the violence has ended and calm has returned “Transfer of land to the SASB is a big threat to raising Buliding/Structures in Sindh Forest Division to the streets of Srinagar and the other towns and vil- ecology and it should be withdrawn forthwith. If it Reference: Cabinet Decision No. 94/7 dated lages that have been agitating for the last five days over is not done, I will not hesitate to end my life by 20.05.2008 Sanction is accorded to the diversion of this issue. going on a fast unto death .SASB is endangering forest land measuring 39.88 ha... in Block Kullan, Range The issue is not about the yatra, its not about religion communal harmony in J&Kand trying to create a Sindh, Sindh Forest Division, for raising pre-fabricated and its not a regional issue between Jammu and Kashmir Hindu society in Baltal” (June 23,2008) structures only for camping purposes of pilgrims, with- even though some vested interests (particularly in Jammu) out going in for construction of permanent structures have tried to paint it as such. The issue is about the land, Mr. Abdul Gani Vakil (Congress), at Baltal and Domail, by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board its about Kashmiri nationalism. Here I disagree with those former Cabinet Minister in on following terms and conditions: who try and suggest that it is about separatism because Azad-led Coalition: 1. The proprietary status of forest land shall remain there is a difference between a nationalist and a separat- “9- day agitation against land diversion by unchanged. ist. I am a Kashmiri Nationalist but I am not a separatist. them(Geelani and Mirwaiz) prove that the separatist 2. The land so diverted shall be utilised only for the My party met the Governor in Srinagar yesterday and amalgam is not fighting for secessionist ideas but purpose for which it has been diverted. we made a proposal to him that we felt would help re- for strengthening Article 370.We have brought a 3. The land so diverted shall not be mortgaged, re- solve the situation and bring an end to the violence. It is change in their thinking, credit should go to us”.(at assigned or sub-leased by the user agency. not only disappointing it is also worrying that more that Baramulla on July5,2008 as reported in Greater 4. The user agency shall pay Net Present Value of 24 hours after our meeting with him we have not had any Kashmir) the forest land to the tune of Rs 2,31,30,400/ forward movement on the proposal and the valley con- 5. The user agency shall pay Rs 19,94,000/ on ac- Mr. Muzaffar Hussain Beig tinues to remain tense. count of compensatory afforestation to be The National Conference has not been a part of the (PDP), Deputy CM: carried over 79.76 ha ... protests till date but that doesn't mean we will not take to “We are happy that Hurriyat is getting united 9. The user agency shall construct complete retain- the streets in the next few days if we find that our sug- .But I will request them to search for some other ing/ breast walls on the both side of gestions for an end to this trouble have been ignored. issue to launch agitation. It is no issue .We have the road/railway line/earth work/tunneling etc... The National Conference did not give the land. The land not transferred any land to the Shrine Board.” so as to minimise soil erosion/land slips. was given by the PDP ministers as a part of the Govern- (June 19,2008) The proposal stands cleared/approve by the advi- ment decision so we cannot be the ones to cancel the Mufti Mohammed Syed(PDP), sory committee in its 39th meeting held under the chair- allocation either but we are a party with elected represen- Former CM : manship of the chief secretary on 12th July, 2007 Sd/- tatives and we have more options that can accompany Principal Secretary to the public protests to make our voices heard even louder. “I am pained at the turn of events and would advise Government, Forest Department Dated: 26.05.2008 caution to all the stake holders in State’s ecology, I only hope that the voice of reason and logic that we environment and cultural identity as also the govt. took to Raj Bhavan is heard.——Omar Abdullah, Presi- and the SASB…We also need to have a re-look at Prof. Hari Om, BJP Spokesman : dent NC the desirability of having a separate board for the “ Since the Central Govt. failed in its tactics to install This entry was posted on blog on June 27th, 2008. Amarnath Yatra which has generated controversies Wajahat Habibullah in the State,it sent NN Vohra here to more than the amenities for the Yatries.The State pursue the fundamentalist ideology of Kashmir leaders”. “Religious fundamentalism is at the root of Legislature should have a re-look at the legislation Dr. Nirmal Singh,former State President BJP: separatism in Kashmir .This fundamentalism that led to the creation of the SASB in 2000.” “Amarnath controversy is one of the several similar manifests itself in many ways. One of these (June21`, 2008) (demands of de-militarization ,self-rule, joint management, is the demand for Kashmiri nationhood. What Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, (PDP), MP: dual currency) issues raked up by the Pak-centric mindset is Kashmiri nationhood? I fail to understand. “The Azad govt. had deviated from the healing of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Muzaffar Hussain Beig The separatists are negating history by touch policy. The Prime Minister always supported to create a separatist ideology for Kashmir. The militants saying they are close to Central Asia, not to Mufti’s policies. It was the PM who set up a panel sheltered by the govt. have already confiscated 80% of India.” to look in to our demand of troop withdrawal after the land in Kashmir belonging to Hindus and Amarnath ———Lt. Gen.(Retd.) SK Sinha the idea was opposed by Azad.” land controversy was a deliberate attempt to affect (Source: The Hindustan Times) complete cleansing.” SURAJ TIKU-LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS

KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 HISTORY 14

By M. M. Munshi history of Amarnath Ji has also been wrongly documented. Nu- AT the head of the Sind Valley in merous writers in the recent past Kashmir, flanked on the North TIRTHA OF AMRESHVARA have maintained that Amarnath by great Himalayan range and A pilgrim who performs ablu- snow beds and snow fields along Ji cave was lost for a very long Sachkach (Sasakat) mountains in Route Map of Amarnath tions at the sangam of Amur Veth the Sind Valley, Chandanwari time (like one saying `for thou- the south is located the holy (Mattan). Ganeshbal and Panjtarnagini in Kalyug, gets near Panjtarangni (Panjtarni), and sands of years') till it was redis- Tirtha of Amar Nath Ji Cave (Ganeshpora, 6,800 ft.) pardon for crores of sins. Pilgrim- Amravati as Glaciers. These covered by Maliks of Batkot. It "Amreshvara". (340.12' : 750.01') Mameshwar (Mamal 7,300 ft.) age to Amarnath Ji is considered snow beds (Sheendob) are noth- is said to have been `rediscov- at an altitude of 12, 720 ft. (3878m) Nilganga. Chandanwari (9,220 several times more auspicious ing but fresh snow accumulated ered' according to some in 1775 where Suaymbhu (self-created) ft.) Shusshram Naga (Sheshnag than the pilgrimage to Kashi or in depressions by snow fall snow C.E. and according to others by the only Ice linga in the world, 11,330 ft.), Panjtarangni Triveni. How Amarnath Ji cave creep, avlanches and drift snow about 1600 C.E., quoting old has been worshipped since early (Panjtarni, 12,611 ft.) and could have been originally dis- in winter. Kashmiri Pandits and Maliks of historic if not prehistoric times. Amuravati. Between Sheshnag covered I quote from the life of A glacier (Handar in Kashmiri) Batkot without any authentic The earliest references pertain- and Panjtarni the pilgrims Swami Vivekananda; "I can well is a solid mass of ice moving documentry evidence. Some ing to Holy Amar Nath Ji Cave crossed from Lidar to Sind Val- imagine how this cave was first down the slope along the valley have tried to give credit to the are found in Bhrngish Samhita discovered. A party of Maliks of Batkot for having (1) Nilmat Purana (2) Kalhana's shepherds, one summer originally discovered the holy Raj Tarangni (3) Mahatmayas of day must have lost their cave for the first time in the Amarnatha (4) and Amreshvara flocks and wandered here middle of 18th Century C.E. Kalpa (5). in search of them. What According to Kalhana's Mahatmayas : must have been their feel- Rajtarangni, Tarang II, Samdimat According to Bhrngish ing as they found them- (Arya Raja) 34 BCE-17 C.E. a Samhita the Mahakala ap- selves unexpectedly be- great devotee of Shiva who rose proached the "Devtas" and told fore this unmelting ice from the position of Minister to them that they would have to die. lingam of white camphor, be the King of Kashmir "used to The devtas were troubled at this with the vault itself drip- worship a Linga of snow above threat and proceeded to the ping offerings of water the forests, which is not to be abode of Swami Surji (Lord over it for centuries un- found elsewhere in the whole Shiva) and entreated his protec- seen of mortal eyes? world during the delightful Kash- tion. Shiva appeared to them When they came home mir Summers," He abandoned with bright countenance, show- they whispered to other his kingship and retired to ered upon them great favour and shepherds in the valleys Nandiksethra (Nandkul) Sind enquired about the cause of their how they had suddenly Valley to join a hermitage where distress. The devtas explained come upon Mahadeva". he was welcomed by old sages. that Mahakala was about to de- Physiography : On the way to Amarnath. Kalhana further in Tarang I of stroy them and they dreaded his The mountain ranges Rajtarangni narrates the legend Power upon which Shiva with his The photographs of the Holy Cave on Page 14 & 15 were in the area include Great of Naga Suravas who bestowed great mercy and kindness be- taken in 1897 during Swami Vivekanand's Amarnath Yatra. Himalaya trending North his daughter Chandralekha upon stowed upon them the water of West-South East isolating Sindu ley at the pass of Vayuujana or a Brahmin youth who had helped immortality by which the (Indus) basin (represented by with an average velocity of 1 to Mahagnus (VOWJAN) 13835 ft. the Naga in partaking the part of "devtas" were freed from the Suru river) from that of Vitasta or 3 feet per day. The Sind valley route bifurcat- harvest from the fields. King persecution of Mahakala. After Jhelum (represented by Sind and However, the vertical `U' ing from Srinagar - Leh Highway Nara whose domain flourished the devtas left, Shiva resumed Lidar rivers), and Chandarbaga shaped profiles of almost all the at Baltal was used in the past in around Chakardara (Tsakdar) his devotional abstractions and or Chenab basin (represented by valleys in the upper reaches of early summers. During the late near vijeshvara (Vijbror) cast an when he was again sought by Batkol-Marwah rivers). Saraibal Kashmir, including Sind and Li- summers it used to become very evil eye on the young Brahmin's the devtas they could not see a south westerly spur of great dar and their tributaries, have difficult and sometimes impos- Naga wife, which aroused the him. They were, therefore, in Himalaya isolates Jhelum from been carved by glaciers during sible due to melting of snow wrath of Naga Suravas resulting great distress and lifted their Chenab basin. Another spur pliestocene times. The glaciers bridges over the Sind river. But in death of Nara and destruction hands in prayer and entreated called Sachhkach (Sasakat) of have since retreated to higher with the construction of a bridle of later's kingdom. After complet- him to show Himself. Shiva ap- the Himalayas, bifurcating near levels, some have disappeared, path recently by the army and ing the frightful carnage the peared in the form of ice linga Mushran, forms a water-parting while a few still remain like Kolahi, border roads organisation this Naga took his son-in-law and hence began the pilgrimage between Sind and Lidar rivers. Koenjhar in the South East of route has become negotiable (Zamatur, in Kashmiri) along and and prayers at Amreshvara. The Sachkach also follows a Sheshnag, Machoi near Zojilla throughtout the summer. carved a place for him besides The other view pertaining to south-westerly trend and a Drun pass, Harmukata (Harmukh) in Amarnath Ji cave is also ap- his own abode, Shushram Naga the formation of Ice Linga is that Nar or Hangsatu immediately upper reaches of Sind and proachable by a very short foot (Shesh nag). Kalhana says : "It Shiva's consort Parvati was ea- below Sonamarg is traversed by Amuravati near Mushran. In the track from Zojilla pass which de- is seen to this day (i.e. 1148-49 ger to learn the secrets of life and the Sind river forming a narrow area under review during the scends near the cave from the C.E.) by pilgrims proceeding to immortality. She prayed to her gorge beyond which it is known pliestocene times glaciers ex- side of Amarnath Peak. Another Amreshvara". Upstream of lord to reveal the same to her. as Sogput or North Kashmir tended much below down stream track branching off from Shushramnaga towards While moving with the Parvati range isolating Kishenganga of Gagganjir and Pahalgam in Kishtwar-Suru-route, Via Koenjnar glacier is located a over the Himalayas, Shiva rested from the Kashmir Valley. The tri- Sind and Lidar valleys respec- Marwah-Wardwan Batkol Valley. smaller lake cased Jamtarsaras in a cave and revealed the se- angular mass of mountains is tively. Lidar valley via Gulol gati be- (Zamtirnag) the residence of this crets of life to Parvati and got bounded on the north by Sind Routes : tween Shesh Nag and Brahmin son-in-law transformed himself transformed into the Ice Valley, on the east and south by The holy Amar Nath Ji cave Mahagnus (along which the re- into a Naga. The full translation Linga. A pair of snow pigeons Lidar Valley and on the west by though located in the Sind Val- doubtable Wazir Zorawar singh of the verse 267 Book I of over-heard Shiva's discourse and main valley of Kashmir with ley beside a small tributary of passed several times between Kalhana's Rajtarangni, repro- became immortal. According to peaks of Kolahi or Gashbrar, Sind river called Amar Veth or 1834 to 1841 during the Dogra duced below leaves no doubt Bhrngish Samhita a person who Mahadev and Suresvari. The lat- Amuravati (Amar Nath Nar) has conquest of Ladakh, Baltistan about the continuation of the bathes in the waters of Amur ter, over looking Dal Lake with been approached traditionally and parts of Western Tibet) en- pilgrimage to Amarnath Ji during Veth (Amuravati) and rubs him- lakes of Tarsar, Marsar and from the Lidhari (Lidar) valley. ters. The least known route the middle of 12th Century. self with the ashes gets Moksha. Hodsar has no modern name but According to Amreshvara through Saeki Pantsal Pass is the `The lake of dazzling witness A person who performs was known in ancient times as Mahatmaya some of the impor- most difficult route and has never (resembling) a sea of Milk, which Amarnath Ji Yatra after observ- Dudavana. tant places where pilgrims had been used by pilgrims. he created (for himself as resi- ing ablutions along the tradi- A number of pilgrims and au- to perform ablutions while on pil- History dence) on a far off mountain, is tional approach route gets the thors in the past and recent times grimage where Anantnaga, Mach Like the mention of glaciers to the present day seen by the same boons as one gets from have wrongly referred to the Bhawan along the Amarnath Ji route, the Ashvamedha Yagya. (Contd. on Page 15) SURAJ TIKU-PORTRAIT PAINTINGS

KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 CONTINUATION 15

(Contd. from Page 14) cal care and protection for pil- people on the pilgrimage to grims are now made by the gov- Amreshvara' Stein's, Translation. Tirtha of Amreshvara ernment and several voluntarily The fact that Kind Zain-ul- non-government organisations, abdin (1420-70 C.E.) the pious Kashmir, visited Amarnath in covered' the Amarnath Ji cave in tween 1750-1775. All these claims the receipt of the one third of the Muslim ruler of Kashmir, besides great numbers. or around 1775 C.E. is also con- are contradictory and can not be offerings by the Maliks is a his- visiting a number of Hindu From this it is clear that Amar strained by the adversity of that accepted as factual. As already torical relic, comparable to now shrines, also visited Amarnath Ji Nath has been visited in regular time. At that time Kashmir was indicated pilgrimage was going abolished Jagirdaris and privy cave, has been documented by memory, the Yatra has been con- ruled by Afghans (1753-1819 on during the Sikh rule long be- purses. Further research would his chronicler Jonaraja. tinuously undertaken not only C.E.) who persecuted Kashmiris fore Gulab Singh appeared on the have to be carried out as to how Francios Bernier, was the by Kashmiris but also Hindus in general and Hindus in particu- scene. old was the settlement to Maliks French Physician who accompa- from other parts of India. Even if lar. Afghans would not have Maliks : at Batkot as it is located on an nied Emperor Aurangzeb to it is assumed that the holy shrine taken kindly to Maliks, or any- In order to arrive at a logical unimportant route through which Kashmir in 1663. After visiting was `rediscovered' by Maliks of body else, claiming to have `re- conclusion we have to under- no invasions of Kashmir were Trisandiya, Verinag, Achabal, Batkot, for which no authentic discovered' any Hindu or Bud- stand the history and back- attempted or expected nor trade Wular lake, Sangsafed in front of document is available it can be dhist shrine. Such a `discovery' ground of the institution of carried out. Harmukh, he was just after two- easily surmised that Amarnath Ji even if it had been made would Maliks. According to Baron Von Prof. Chrungoo in his article days' march from some place in cave was not `lost' for Hugel, Malik is a has stated that "some people in- Sind Valley, in a magnificient cave `thousands of years, The title of honour and terested in anthropological or full of wonderful congealations"; pilgrimage may have distinction given to geological research have said apparently Amarnath Ji cave. been disrupted due to successors of that it is an encrustation of lime; When he was called back by political upheavals and Devarpatis, chalcedony and archeological Aurangzeb. The relevant para of persecution of Hindus Margesas (later research by Pandit Anand Koul the Bernier's book "Travels in during Muslim rule in called Magres) has revealed otherwise." It is true Moghul Empire" is reproduced Kashmir for a period holding charge of that several observations made here. "I was pursuing journey to varying at the most from watch-cum-military by people about Amarnath Ji a grotta full of wonderful 50 to 125 years. stations on feudal cave are not factual including one congelations, two days journey Lawrence in Valley of basis on the impor- in "Tirtha" published by CMC from Sangsafed when I received Kashmir mentions that tant routes and Ltd. (11) that Amarnath is an ice intelligence that my Nawab felt pilgrims to Amarnath passes, entering covered linga, "Similarly chalce- very impatient and uneasy on were joined by Brahmins and leaving Kash- dony is a variety of silica with account of my long absence". of Mattan and further up mir, by the indepen- waxy lustre and can not get as- The 2nd edition of Bernier's at Batkot the Maliks dent Sultans of similated by water or ice under book has been edited by vincient used to take charge of Kashmir and also any circumstances. A Smith who has observed, "The the pilgrimage. Accord- to other clans like However scientifically speak- grotta full of wonderful ing to Lawrence the Chaks, Rainas, ing ice linga is somewhat like an congelations is the Amarnath Maliks were supposed Dars for latter's icicle and my contain dissolved cave, where blocks of ice, sta- to keep the track in or- loyal service. After bicarbonate of calcium (lime) lagmites formed by dripping wa- der, guide, escort the pil- the annexation of which cannot be visualy seen. ter from roof are worshipped by grims and carry sick Kashmir by Anthropology is the science of many Hindoos who resort here, ones and ensure nothing Mughals in 1586 physiological, physiosocio logi- as images of Shiva; glaciers sur- was stolen, and received The Holy Ice-Lingam at the Cave. C.E. most of the cal and racial study of man while round the ..... which is consider- one third of the offer- Maliks of Raina, as archeology deals with things ably to the South East of ..." ings at the Amarnath Ji Magrey and Chak clans etc. who used, or made, by man from pre- Pilgrimage : Shrine. The other two shares have been kept under wraps. It had fought against the former historic to medieval times both Vigne in his book "Travels in used to go to Pandits of Mattan is also highly improbable to pre- were hunted out killed and ban- having absolutely no scope for Kashmir, Ladakh and Iskardu" and Giri Mahants of Amritsar sume that pilgrimage to a `lost' ished from Kashmir. Some of them research at Amarnath Ji cave. (1842) says; "The ceremony at who used to and still lead the Amarnath Ji cave could have escaped to remote and inacces- A news item under the cap- the cave of Amarnath takes place pilgrimage with Chari Mubarak, been resumed during the Afghan sible hills and valleys to avoid tion, "Another cave Shiva temple on the 15th of the Hindu month Lawrence does not mention any rule for reasons mentioned persecution. But those who lat- in upper Pahalgam" appeared in of Sawan, 28th July . . . not only where that share of offerings to above. Moreover, all the passes ter submitted themselves before the Daily Excelsior of 28th Au- Hindoos of Kashmir but those Maliks was in lieu of their hav- and routes with the exception of Akbar and took the oath of loy- gust 2001 stating that another from Hindoostan of every rank ing discovered/rediscovered' the Baramulla-Muzafarabad route alty were allowed to resume the cave not far away from the and caste can be seen, collect- cave. There is no mention of re- which they needed for direct duty of guarding the routes, ad- Amarnathji cave, which is being ing together and travelling up ceipt of ransum rahdhari from communication with Kabul were ministration and even judiciary. visited by over one hundred the valley of Lidar towards the pilgrims nor grants from the State closed for traffic during the Af- All routes except the Baramulla- thousand pilgrims every year, celebrated cave, which from his Govt. for the services rendered ghan rule and hardly any Hindu Muzafarabad route remained had been discovered. The news description must have been the by Maliks. Apparently the share pilgrim from plains could have closed during the Afghan's rule. report reiterated that old place which Bernier intended to seems to have been received by entered Kashmir and reached With the advent of Dogra rule Amarnath Ji cave was discov- visit but was prevented." Maliks for the services rendered. Amarnathji. in 1846, opening up of all the ered by Maliks in 1775 and ru- Vigne himself, after returning 'Rediscovery' According to Prof. O. N. routes and gradual establishment ins, besides the (new) cave, sug- from Ladakh and Tibet by 1840- Besides Lawrence, earlier trav- Chrungoo, the Amarnath Ji cave of police posts at vulnerable gest that a Dogra Governor of 41, during the rule of Maharaja ellers and authors in Kashmir was rediscovered by Maliks of places, the ancestral occupation Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule at- Sher Singh son of Maharaja have also not mentioned about Batkot by about 1600 C.E. i.e. of Maliks came to end. Since the tempted to build a Shiva temple Ranjit Singh of Punjab attempted `rediscovery' of Amarnath Ji during the rule of Emperior Akbar, latter part of 19th century the at the spot in 18th century. Firstly to visit Amarnath Ji cave along cave by Maliks. It is not difficult that pilgrimage again remained in Maliks had to content them- the presumption of a Dogra Gov- the traditional route via to conclude that Amarnath Ji abeyance during the Afghan rule selves with guiding, and escort- ernor having built a temple dur- Sheshnag in late season, but was cave could not have been lost ((1753-1819) and was resumed ing the pilgrims to Amarnath Ji, ing the 18th Century is the forced to return from Vowjan during the short span of 50 to only after Maharaja Gulab Singh Harmukh, probably to Sharda in height of imagination of the pass due to bad weather. He has 125 years during which the yatra arrived on the scene in 1846. Kishenganga valley and other correspondant. All the gover- given a beautiful description of might not have seen the tradi- Maliks themselves claim that places of pilgrimage. The allot- nors during the Sikh rule in Kash- the pilgrimage, gathered from tional pomp and show, and may they discovered the cave by 1775 ment of a part of offerings, as at mir without exception were Sikhs others, which indicates that pil- have remained a low-key affair and Pervez Dewan in his article the Amarnath shrine, could have or Punjabi muslims; Sikhs ruled grimage was in good vogue be- in view of the adverse political Discovery of Lord Shiva's cave been in lieu of these services. Kashmir between 1819-46 that is fore 1840-41. From his narrative climate. temple in Daily Excelsior also Since all the arrangements in- 19th century and not 18th cen- we can easily conclude that pil- The theory that the Maliks states that the rediscovery of cluding maintenance of track, tury. grims from the plains, outside having `discovered' or `redis- cave was made some times be- erection of sheds enroute, medi- (Contd. on Page 17) KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 HISTORY 16

THE separatists in Kashmir and their “secular” supporters are trying to spread the myth that the Amaranth Yatra is of a recent origin. They claim that it HISTORY OF THE started only after a Muslim shepherd of Batakot, a certain Buta Malik, originally“discovered” the Amarnath cave when he lost his flock and found that it had strayed into the sacred spot AMARNATH PILGRIMAGE some 150 years ago. There is no docu- mentary proof of this so-called discov- There is yet another reference to garden Nishat laid out by Asif Khan. The time and was undertaken with great en- ery, the story having probably been Amareshwara or Amarnath in the King of gods Indra himself, he says, thusiasm. concocted to give credit to Muslims for Rajatarangini (Book VII v.183). Accord- comes here to pay obeisance to Lord Again, the great Sikh Guru Arjan Dev having started the most popular Hindu ing to Kalhana, Queen Suryamati, the wife Shiva”. is said to have granted land in Amritsar pilgrimage of Kashmir. There is ample of King Ananta (1028-1063), “granted As we well know Francois Bernier, a for the ceremonial departure of Chari, and conclusive historical evidence, on under her husband’s name agraharas at French physician accompanied Emperor the holy mace of Lord Shiva which the other hand, to prove that the holy Amareshwara, and arranged for the con- Aurangzeb during his visit to Kashmir in marks the beginning of the Yatra to the cave and the ice lingam were known to secration of trishulas, banalingas and 1663. In his book “Travels in Mughal Holy Cave. In 1819, the year in which the people since very ancient times and other [sacred emblems]”. Empire” he writes while giving an account the Afghan rule came to an end in Kash- have been continuously and regularly In his Chronicle of Kashmir, a sequel the places he visited in Kashmir that he mir, Pandit Hardas Tiku “founded the visited by pilgrims not only from Kash- Chhawni Anmarnath at Ram Bagh in mir but also from different parts of In- Srinagar where the Sadhus from the dia. While the earliest reference to plains assembled and where he gave Amarnath can be seen in the Nilamata them free rations for the journey, both Purana (v.1324), a 6th century Sanskrit ways from his own private resources”, text which depicts the religious and as the noted Kashmiri naturalist Pandit cultural life of early Kashmiris and Samsar Chand Kaul has pointed out in gives Kashmir’s own creation myth, the his booklet titled “The Mysterious pilgrimage to the holy cave has been cave of Amarnath”. Not only this, described with full topographical de- Amarnath is deeply enshrined in the tails in the Bhringish Samhita and the Kashmiri folklore also as stories like that Amarnatha Mahatmya, both ancient of Soda Wony clearly show. One can, texts said to have been composed even therefore, conclude without any doubt earlier. References to Amarnath, known that the Amaranth Yatra has been go- have also been made in historical ing on continuously for centuries along chronicles like the Rajatarangini and its the traditional route of the Lidder val- sequels and several Western travellers’ ley and not a century and a half affair. accounts also leaving no doubt about May be during the Afghan rule when the fact that the holy cave has been religious persecution of the Kashmiri known to people for centuries. The Hindus was at its height and they were original name of the tirtha, as given in not allowed to visit their places of wor- the ancient texts, is of course ship the pilgrimage was discontinued Amareshwara, Amarnath being a name for about fifty or sixty years and during given later to it. was “pursuing journey to a grotto full of this period the flock of some shepherd Giving the legend of the Naga to Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, Jonaraja re- wonderful congelations, two days jour- may have strayed into the holy cave, Sushruvas, who in his fury burnt to lates that that Sultan Zainu’l-abidin (1420- ney from Sangsafed” when he “received but that in no way makes it of a recent ashes the kingdom of King Nara when 1470) paid a visit to the sacred tirtha of intelligence that my Nawab felt very im- origin or a show window of so-called he tried to abduct his daughter already Amarnath while constructing a canal on patient and uneasy on account of my long Kashmiriat. married to a Brahmin youth, and after the left bank of the river Lidder (vv.1232- absence”. The “grotto” he refers to is The temple is reported to be about the carnage took his abode in the lake 1234). The canal is now known as Shah obviously the Amarnath cave as the edi- 5,000 years old[1] and was mentioned now known as Sheshnag (Kashmiri Kol. tor of the second edition of the English in ancient Hindu texts. The exact man- Sushramnag), Kalahana writes: In the Fourth Chronicle named translation of the book, Vincient A. Smith ner of discovery of the cave is not “The lake of dazzling whiteness [re- Rajavalipataka, which was begun by makes clear in his introduction. He writes: known. sembling] a sea of milk (Sheshnag), Prjayabhatta and completed by Shuka, “The grotto full of wonderful The Amarnath Yatra, according to which he created [for himself as resi- there is a clear and detailed reference to congelations is the Amarnath cave, where Hindu belief, begins on Ashadha dence] on a far off mountain, is to the the pilgrimage to the sacred site (v.841,vv. blocks of ice, stalagmites formed by drip- Purnima (day of the Full Moon in the present day seen by the people on the 847-849). According to it, in a reply to ping water from the roof are worshipped Hindu Month of Ashadha) and ends on pilgrimage to Akbar’s query about Kashmir Yusuf by many Hindus who resort here as im- Shravana Purnima (day of the full moon Amareshwara.”(Rajatarangini, Book I v. Khan, the Mughal governor of Kashmir ages of Shiva…..” in the Hindu month of Shravana). 267.Translation: M. A. Stein). at that time, described among other Another traveler, Vigne, in his book --(Source: Wikepedia) This makes it very clear that pilgrims things the Amarnath Yatra in full detail. “Travels in Kashmir, Ladakh and Iskardu” continued to visit the holy Amarnath His description shows that the not only writes about the pilgrimage to the sacred --EDITOR'S NOTE-- cave in the 12th century, for Kalhana was the pilgrimage in vogue in Akbar’s spot in detail, clearly mentioning that “the In November 1675, Kashmiri wrote his chronicle in the years1148- time – Akbar annexed Kashmir in 1586 – ceremony at the cave of Amarnath takes Pandits under the leadership of Pt. 49. but the phenomenon of waxing and wan- place on the 15th of the Hindoo month of Kripa Ram Dutt met at the Holy Cave At another place in the Rajatarangini ing of the ice linga was also well known. Sawan” and that “not only Hindoos of of Amarnath to chalkout strategy to (Book II v. 138), Kalhana says that King Amareshwar (Amarnath) was a famous every rank and caste can be seen collect- escape religious persecution of Gov- Samdhimat Aryaraja (34 BCE-17CE) pilgrimage place in the time of the Mughal ing together and traveling up the valley ernor Iftikhar Khan in Kashmir. One used to spend “the most delightful emperor Shah Jahan also. In his eulogy of Liddar towards the celebrated of the Pandits had Darshana of Lord Kashmir summer” in worshiping a linga of Shah Jahan’s father-in-law Asif Khan, cave……” Vigne visited Kashmir after his Shiva who directed them to ap- formed of snow “in the regions above titled “Asaf Vilas”, the famous Sanskrit return from Ladakh in 1840-41 and pub- proach Guru Teg Bahadur. Conse- the forests”. This too appears to be a scholar and aesthete Panditraj Jagannath lished his book in 1842. His book makes it quently they went to Anandpur Sahib makes clear mention of Amareshwara reference to the ice linga at Amarnath. very clear that the Amarnath Yatra drew to approach Guru Tegh Bahadur. (Amarnath) while describing the Mughal pilgrims from the whole of India in his KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 TRADITION 17 Amaresvara Tradition in Kashmir Valley

By Dr. Ramesh Kumar says these remains possibly be- husband respectively" (verse one stands on the pathways on Siva Amresvara Darsana: PILGRIMAGE to the holy cave long to this temple 183) . the right or left side lot of noise Saint Mukund Ram Tikoo of Lord Amarnath in the upper The temple of Amburher is "She also granted under her is heard. No noise is heard on was spiritual guru of Pt. Krishan Sindh Valley is as old as the very old. In old times the pilgrim- husband's name Agraharas at the central pathway. There are Joo Razdan, Kashmir's famous dawn of history in Kashmir. age to the holy cave of Amarnath Amaresvara and arranged for the no reliefs in the cave. Leela poet. Pt. Mukand Ram had Amaresvara tradition has re- would start with pilgrims pray- consecration for Trisulas, As per local lore 150 years ago his estate in Sindh Valley. One mained fairly strong in Kashmir. ing at the shrine of Siva Amresa Banalingas and other sacred em- a Gujjar had gone to tend his day he had gone to Baltal area Many Kashmiris who could not at Amburher. blems" (verse 185). flock of sheep at the meadow. He (in 1879s) in the company of his brave the arduous terrain recre- There are two types of refer- References to the military op- saw a hermit (sadhu) milking disciple, Pt. Iswar Munshi. On ated symbols of Siva Amaresvara ences to Amburher in erations in which King Sussala goat in a coconut cup near a seeing a milky white stream, Pt. at different places in the Valley Rajatarangini. One, on Queen was besieged by rebels are spring, a little away from 'Amri' Mukund Ram asked Pt. Iswar for worship. Suryamati's endowing the shrine found in 8th Taranga of cave. The small spring had a tiny Munshi to accompany him to Amburher: of Amresa with Agraharas and a Rajtarangini in verses 506-590 tea shrub near it. The spring is trace the source of this stream. One such place has been the Matha in 1005-1006 AD. The sec- and 1124. no longer extant. The Gujjar was They trekked along the stream large village of Amburher, 4 miles ond reference refers to the mili- Amri in Lolab Valley: highly impressed with this and reached the holy cave of to the north of Srinagar city. The tary operations at the village dur- In the picturesque Lolab Val- scene. The hermit blessed Gujjar Amarnath. This is how Baltal village lies to the west of Zakura ing the reign of King Sussala in ley lies the village of Sewer and asked him not to reveal what route was discovered . At the (old Juskapura), on the shore of 1112-1120 AD. The strategic im- where many Kashmiri Pandit he had scene. Soon the Gujjar holy cave Saint Mukand Ram Anchar lake towards Sindh Val- portance of village Amburher lay families lived before 1990. About grew very rich. This invited was blessed with darsana of Siva ley. The old name for Amburher in its being located on the high 2½ miles from Sewer lies the jealousy from his fellow villagers, Amresvara. On his return to is Amresvara (Rajatarangini), road connecting the Sindh Val- village of Afaan. This village is who asked him to reveal the Srinagar Pt. Mukand Ram asked Amarespura (Jonaraja) and ley with the capital. inhabited mostly by Kashmiris. secret of his quick affluence. The famous portrait painter, Pt. Amaresvara (Pt. Sahib Ram's Suryamati was Queen of King A few Gujjar families also live Gujjar with great reluctance Vasudev Garyali to make Tirath Samgraha). Ananta (1028-1063), the last of here. revealed what he had seen at painting of Siva Amresvara. The village derives its name Sahi Princes. There are two ref- 2½ kms uphill journey 'Amri' cave. Sometime later he What he saw at the cave he from the shrine of Siva erences in Rajtarangini linking through Deodar forests leads to had climbed on a tree. A bear conveyed the description to the Amresvara. In this temple her to the shrine of Amresa at a small meadow. In this meadow emerged and tore out eyes of the painter in 8 verses. This paint- Amaresvara Linga was wor- Amburher: is the cave of 'Amri' (Amresvara). Gujjar. The latter fell down from ing, forbidden from photogra- shipped. Sir Aurel Stein visited In 7th Taranga Kalhana For entering the cave one has to the tree and succumbed to his phy, is worshipped on the day this place in June 1895 and found records "She founded two maths descend down 20 ft over steps injuries. It is quite possible that of Sivratri (Salaam) at Muthi ancient slabs and sculptured by the side of shrines of Vijayesa cut in Deodar pole. A small (10 ft 'Amri' cave might have been the Jammu. fragments in and around the and Amaresa under the names x 10 ft) space down has three site of holy pilgrimage in olden Ziarat of Farrukhzad Sahib. He of her brother Sillana and of her pathways leading from it. When times.

action can carve rock shelters the Government does allow for and escorting the pilgrims etc. Tirtha of Amreshvara and not caves in areas under re- security reasons. rather than for `discovering' or (Contd. from Page 15) been a halting place on the re- view which receive moderate to Conclusion : `rediscovering' the cave. As already discussed Amarnath turn journey. The spring de- high rain or snowfall. Neither the The only Ice Linga in the The newly discovered Lord Ji cave was known centuries be- scribed by Parvez Dewan is well caves nor the rocks inside can whole world, at the Amarnathji Shiva's cave temple near fore 1775. known and is shown on the sur- be carved by wind but mostly cave, has been visited and wor- Hapatgund could not have been Return Halt : vey map of the area. Swami by percolation of carbon diox- shipped by pilgrims since early a base camp for Amarnath Yatra ide laden water and occasionally Prevez Dewan has Vivekananda also returned via historic if not prehistoric times. but a halting place on the return by joining and fracturing. The hypothesised that the newly re- this route in 1895 and described There is conclusive historic evi- journey. The cave temples are sculpturing and carving of idols discovered Shiva cave temple the Hatiara Talav as celebrated dence that pilgrims were regu- man-made only to the extent of inside the pre-existing caves and near Hapatgund could have been lake of death. This route was larly proceeding to the holy cave sculpturing of pre-existing sta- construction of yoni shaped a base camp for Amarnathji yatra. abandoned in early 20th Century via Sheshnag during the middle lagmites. tank might have been possibly That postulation too, does not for being the most difficult and of 12th century and in middle of Despite the disturbed condi- stand scrutiny, as the new cave dangerous one. 15th century. The Shrine was well tion prevailing in Kashmir pil- is not located along the tradi- Regarding newly discovered CONTINUATION known even during the rule of grims in large numbers still tional route along which lie the temple at Hapathgund (Slaiv Aurangzeb when Bernier at- throng the Shrine. different tirthas at which perfor- Van) the identification of top- tempted to visit it but was pre- *(The author is a renowned done as a token of thanks giv- mance of ablutions was a must knot on the head and serpent vented. There is no evidence to researcher on the historiogra- ing by pilgrims returning from a for a merit-ful yatra. According coiled round the neck of the idol, prove that the Amarnath Ji cave phy of Holy Amarnath Cave). successful yatra of Amarnathji. to Vigne (1842) and Gates (1872) and presumbly a trisual and a was `lost' for thousands of years A number of temples built at JKENG 00333/26/AL/TC/94 the pilgrims used to approach yoni shaped tank some distance until it was `rediscovered' by Wangat in Sind Valley by pil- JK No: 1213/18 Amarnathji cave from Panjtarni away from the caves, leaves no Maliks of Batkot some time be- grims, after returning from Regd. JK-219/2008 and Bhairobal and after having doubt that the cave houses an tween 1750-75. Printer Publisher B.N. Kaul for and Harmukh shows that such, in- darshan returned passing down ancient Shiva temple. The pilgrimage to Amarnathji on behalf of Since the idols according to deed, was the practice. might have been disrupted dur- Panun Kashmir Foundation. the Amurveth upto its Sangam Editor: SHAILENDRA AIMA with Sind, from where they found Pervez Dewan are in situ i.e. Present Status : ing the political upheavals for Computer Graphic: their way back to Pahalgam by a rocks in original position, not Despite the turmoil of mili- period varying between 50 to 125 S.K. Babbu Printed at : The Kashmir Times different route from the one by transported by natural or human tancy prevailing for more than a years. Full pilgrimage was re- sumed after annexation of Kash- Press, Gangyal, Jammu which they arrived via Hatiara agencies and presence of such decade, Amarnathji continues to Owned by: Talab (where scores) of pilgrims a large number of Shivlings in a be one of the most popular mir by Sikhs and since then the PANUN KASHMIR have perished. They crossed the limited space and their damage Tirthas of Kashmir, and lakhs of Giri Mahants of Amritsar have FOUNDATION by water indicate the possibility Pilgrims from all parts of the been associated with the Yatra; Published from PANUN KASHMIR water shed between Sind and FOUNDATION, 172 Sector-3, Lidar valleys by a pass West of of the idols and shivlings being country visit the shrine inspite the track might have been re- E.W.S. Colony, Roop Nagar, Sachkach (sasakot) peak, natural stalagmites formed by of the fact that a few of them fall traced by Maliks. Maliks have Jammu-180013 (INDIA) percolation of calcium bicarbon- victim to militant attacks. The been receiving one-third of the Tele/Fax: 0191-2593166 Astanmarg and Zanin, The website: www.panunkashmir.in Hapatgund cave temple which ate bearing water and subse- number of aspirants for pilgrim- offerings of the shrine for keep- e-mal: [email protected] lies along this route could have quently scuptured by man. Wind age has always been more than ing the track in order, guiding KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS 18 June 11, 2008 to July 10, 2008 June 11: Terrorists gunned down a civilian in Kangan. A terrorist was killed in an complete bandh against the demand of revocation of land allotment to encounter at Pattan, Baramulla. A separatist leader and former confident SASB, PDP threatened to quit government if the order was not cancelled of Mirwaiz Umar , Yaqub Vakil joined PDP. After Junoon, two more musical by 30th June. Governor Vohra appealed for peace and calm saying that groups of Pakistan performed in the Valley. Dr. Farooq Abdullah describes all issues of public importance can be resolved amicably in a conciliatory autonomy as the only viable solution. manner. June 12: Divided Hurriyat gets united over the issue of allotment of land to SASB June 27: Two LeT terrorists and two soldiers were killed in a day long encounter at as Geelani described that there were “sinister designs” behind the allot- Khachpathri, Kangan. Body of a Hindu youth Veerji was fished out from ment. SMVDSB withdraws paid Darshan. Jhelum at Kandizal in Awantipora. Body of a lady was recovered from June 13: A Lt. Col and two PSOs were among five securitymen killed by terrorists Sindh near Prang in Ganderbal. A jawan committed suicide in Nowshera. in an ambush near Sinthan Top; the terrorists escaped with AK rifles of As the demonstrations continued in the Valley over SASB land allotment, the slain PSOs. Army and police destroyed a hideout at Jantroon, Thathri CM met Governor NN Vohra and Mr Saifudin Soz met Prime Minister to (Doda) and recovered arms and ammunition. Seven civilians were in- discuss the issue. BJP threatened of serious implications if the land jured in a grenade attack in Baramulla town. An encounter took place allotment order was cancelled. A meeting of Indo-Pak leaders in London between terrorists and army in Rajwar, Baramulla. A woman who had asked for addressing terrorism and easing border curbs to resolve Kash- eloped with her paramour to PoK returned with her minor child. A jawan mir issue. shot himself to death in Reasi. June 28: Terrorists killed a SPO in Gool while Army and Police recovered large June 14: Janbaz, who was responsible for the killing of two Kashmiri jawans of quantity of arms and ammunition in Poonch. Azad government falls in CRPF, was among the two HM terrorists killed in South Kashmir. Marking minority as PDP withdrew support on the land issue. 80 people were their presence in the capital city of Srinagar, terrorists engineered three injured as violence continued on land issue in the Valley; mass protests blasts in which four people were injured. Three terrorists of HM were continue in Jammu as saffron parties warned against revocation of land arrested soon after their infiltration in Ramgarh sector. IGP Jammu, K transfer. Rajendra said that there was possibility of South Kashmir ultras’ involve- June 29: Three terrorists and two jawans were killed in Kashmir valley. Large ment in yesterday’s attack near Simthan top in Kishtwar. Accusing some cache of arms was recovered in Rajouri. Government resumed control of elements of indulging in politicking, Forest Minister Qazi Afzal justified Amarnath Ji Yatra arrangements as Governor abandoned SASB’s claim transfer of forest land to SASB. Alleging that some forces want to sabo- over land at Baltal. Jammuites and pilgrims resent government decision tage election in J&K, Union Defence Minister AK Antony didn’t rule out as Sangh Parivar and Shiv Sena gave call for Jammu Bandh. more insurgency and violence in J&K. June 30: Jammu observed complete bandh as massive demonstrations were June 15: A boy was injured in a grenade blast in Kulgam. BJP national President held across the region on the land issue; 135 people were arrested and Rajnath Singh termed article 370 as root cause of terrorism and unem- 20 injured. Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti was constituted to take ployment and added that UPA government has done nothing to contain the agitation to logical conclusion as Bandh call was extended for two terror. Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai threatened attack on terrorist more days. Mr LK Advani said that Amarnath land will be a poll issue. 176 networks in Pakistan. cross LoC via Chakkan-Da-Bagh. June 16: Police arrested three terrorists of JeM and four terrorists of LeT and busted July 1: An Army officer and two intruders were killed in an encounter in Karnah the organisations' module of lobbing grenades at Public places. A pow- sector. A hideout was busted and large quantity of arms and ammunition erful IED was defused in Doda. Yasin Malik met Pak PM who described recovered in Poonch. State government cancelled allotment of land to Kashmir as cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Relief organisation SASB and shifted it to tourism department. Amidst massive protests in issued forms for return of Displaced Kashmiris. A Hindu family crossed Jammu, police resorted to violence and opened firing at a procession at Muthi. 60 people were injured including two in police firing at Muthi. Ad- over to PoK via Chakkan Da Bagh to meet their cousin, Khurshid Ahmed ministration imposed curfew in the city. Kashmir Valley ;celebrated' the at Samoi Garoon in PoK. cancellation order and AC TL asked Kashmiris to resume business. BJP, June 17: The terrorists arrested recently in Ramgarh sector have revealed that, at VHP call for “Bharat Bandh” on July 3. least, 35 terrorists were being trained at Lehri Kalan Camp in Sialkot by July 2: A JCO and 11 terrorists were killed in two fierce encounters in Kupwara. Pakistani army for launching them via Ramgarh sector into India. First There are reports that around 900 terrorists belonging to three terrorists batch of yatris perform darshan at Amarnath Cave. Governor visited organisations have regained base and logistics in PoK and are ready for Sheshnag and Pahalgam and decried misleading propaganda on infiltration. Curfew clamped in Samba and Bhaderwah as demonstra- Amarnath Yatra. Meanwhile, Panun Kashmir also took serious exception tions spread to every nook and corner of the region. 21 people were to vicious campaign against the Yatra. injured as terrorists throw a grenade on the protesters in Bhaderwah. A June 18: Defence Minister AK Antony asked security forces to be more vigilant as women was among 14 yatris beaten up at Banihal by Muslim fundamen- there could be more violence. talists in the presence of police which reportedly watched the hooligan- June 19: Four terrorists were killed in Kashmir Valley. One person was injured as ism as mute spectators; police lodged a FIR but no arrests were made. a shell exploded in his house at Shuglipora, Budgam; the injured was a July 3: A dreaded LeT terrorist Abu Atif was killed alongwith his body guard at scrap collector. As land allotment row becomes murkier, PDP filed a Niana, Batpora in Pulwama; Abu Atif was involved in Rampur and Banglore petition against Governor’s aide and Deputy Chief Minister Baig threat- terrorist attacks. Staying firm on cancellation order, Mr Azad wanted Jammu ened widespread agitation. Blaming the state government for yatra row, people to celebrate the decision by distribution of ‘ladoos’. Sangarsh National Conference patron Mr Farooq Abdullah said that NC will reverse Samiti extended bandh for three more days as the administration re- the order if voted to power. sorted to violence, arrested 200 demonstrators and moved. Four compa- June 20: A terrorist was killed in an encounter at Khoipora in Handwara; one more nies of “Rapid Action Force” and extended curfew to Kathua also. India terrorist was reportedly killed in another encounter near LoC in Kupwara observed a bandh on the Yatra issue as four people were killed in vio- district. The Amarnath Shrine Board land allotment row in Kashmir evoked lence in Indore. widespread condemnation in Jammu. July 4: Five soldiers and a terrorist were killed raising the toll to 18 in four day June 21: Four infiltrators were killed in Keran sector. Terrorists launched grenade long encounter and search operations in Kupwara. A terrorist was killed attack on the only women’s police station in Kashmir at Rambagh but in Kupwara. Demonstrations continued in Jammu; 220 people were ar- failed to cause any damage. A Barat had a providential escape as an IED rested from different parts of the region. Azad spoke to opp. leaders on was defused on Doda-Bharat road minutes before its crossing the road. phone and asked for their help in peace. Separatist leader Shabir Shah Hurriyat delegation in Pakistan said that they were happy on Indo-Pak was injured in Hazratbal; he had gone there to 'celebrate' the land revoca- dialogue but there was need for involvement of representatives of tion order as Geelani had called for ‘Hazratbal Chalo’. SC refused to Kashmiri People in talks. As Mufti Sayeed demanded cancellation of interfere in Amarnath land row. forest land to SASB messers Hakim Yasin, MY Tarigami, Ghulam Hassan July 5: A top LeT terrorist was killed in Doda. Large quantity of arms and ammu- Mir rejected the constitution of three member panel framed to analyse nition was recovered from Khari, Banihal in Ramban. 20 people were CEO’s press meet by the government. injured and 75 arrested as demonstrations continued across the region June 22: LeT’s Rajouri-Poonch Div. 'Commander' Abu Mohammed was among even after imposition of curfew in major towns. BJP President visited four terrorists killed in two fierce encounters in the Valley; one CRPF GMC, Jammu to enquire about the injured of Bhaderwah blast and oth- jawan was also killed in one of the encounters. International general ers. Demanding the revocation of the land cancellation order, BJP presi- secretary of VHP, Praveen Bhai Togadia accused Muzaffar Hussain Baigh dent accused the government of bowing before separatists. 29 people of spreading 'Jehad' under the garb of constitution. were injured in clashes after a blast in a shrine at Soura. June 23: A major tragedy was averted by the timely detection of three IEDs near a July 6: Tension erupted in Bhaderwah as a blast victim Manjit Singh succumbed field on Srinagar-Leh national highway enroute to Baltal, base camp of to his injuries. A youth Romesh Kumar fell from a roof top in Pir Mitha after Amarnath Yatra. A youth, Ashraf Sheikh was reportedly murdered in cold being chased by police; the youth died in the hospital. Police-public blood by JAKLI, dubbing him as terrorist. Record number of yatries 53,500 clashes continued across Jammu as 30 people were injured. Soz’s ef- perform darshan in one day at Amarnath Cave. Pakistan has reportedly figy was burnt and house attacked in Delhi. cold shouldered Hurriyat’s role in Kashmir talks. July 7: A jawan was shot dead by his colleagues near LoC in Kupwara in case of June 24: Large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from a terrorist mistaken identity. Mr Azad resigned after withdrawing trust motion. Pro- hideout in Gandoh, Doda. 50 cops were among 120 people injured in tests continue in Jammu. Former Governor Lt. Gen SK Sinha accused PDP of playing in the hands of terrorists. Srinagar and Ganderbal as people took to streets on the allotment of July 8: Two terrorists were killed in Kupwara; three others managed to escape. land to SASB. National Highway blocked at Nagrota as people protest A jawan was found dead near his barrack at Nagrota. Giving ultimatum to against politicising the land allotment. the government for restoration of land to SASB and recall of Governor NN June 25: A huge cache of arms including 45 kg RDX and 28 grenades was seized Vohra, BAYSS suspended bandh for a week but said that the demonstra- in Darhal Rajouri. Two persons were killed and 75 others injured during tions and protests will continue. demonstrations in Kashmir valley on land allotment. Jammu protests July 9: A cop was killed and another injured in grenade attack at Kralgund. A against the politicising of the issue. CM released official record to show terrorist was killed in Bandipore. People in Tangmarg protested the kill- the involvement of PDP ministers in land diversion meet. Azad calls for all ing of a youth in cross-firing at Kralgund, Kupwara. Bar Association took party meet but the proposal was instantly rejected by Mufti Mohammad out a protest rally and joined Sangarsh Samiti and staged dharna out- Sayeed. NN Vohra was sworn in as Governor of J&K. side Raj Bhawan. June 26: Two employees of Primary Health Centre of Bharat, Doda were arrested July 10: Police arrested seven top HUJI terrorists and claimed breakthrough in with hawala money. A BSF jawan committed suicide in Kupwara. Body of GREF killings at Simthan Top. Sangarsh Samiti decided to intensify agi- a civilian was recovered from Mazbugh, Baramulla. As Jammu observed tation. Governors rule imposed in J&K. KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 19 Separatists asks Bihari JK Police wakes up to counter disinformation Labourers to quit Kashmir Campaign KS Correspondent KS Correspondent SRINAGA, July 12: The 'unknown' graves in the northern Kashmir, had become source After stoking communal passions over Amarnath Yatra the separatists and of recent controversy in the Kashmir valley. The anti-national elements and some inter- other communal outfits in Kashmir Valley have asked poor Bihari Labourers, in ested groups had been using the controversy to create confusion in the minds of people. particular those belonging to a community, to leave the Valley immediately. In the Lately, European Union moved a resolution asking India to investigate into mass graves beginning of June Syed Ali Shah Geelani and later People's Political Party, a issue. separatist outfit served an ultimatum to Bihari labourers to leave the Valley The JK Police woke up from slumber to retort the charges. Soon after reports of immediately. graves appeared the state police had undertaken a detailed investigation. The enquiry In the beginning the labourers did not take the warning seriously. But when revealed that in Sub-Division there were 202 such graves (97 in Bijhama, 75 in Boniyar anti-Yatra protestors started targeting hamlets of labourers the latter had to revise and 30 in Uri) and these belonged to the terrorists including foreigners, killed during their decision. By first week of July more than five thousand labourers different encounters with security forces. These cases have been supported by necessary records in the form of FIR spelling out the date and place of occurrence, had quit the Valley. The exodus continues. The attacks on hamlets were NEWS name of counter-insurgency unit involved in action and reference whether the witnessed mostly outside Srinagar city. The labourers described the life terrorist was identified or otherwise. Moreover, the burials of such bodies were of past 20 days as a nightmare for them. On 27th June a labourer was assaulted carried out by the locals of the respective areas. seriously in Kulgam, sustaining serious dental injuries. Nearly two dozen labourers Since it is not possible to identify all terrorists in such encounters in some cases working in Kulgam left the same night with bag and baggage. Most of the labourers identification process was done through word of mouth, identity cards, communication say they would never come again to Kashmir. between terrorists or through media. 15 such persons identified as local terrorists were Labourers quoted a senior member of Kashmir Bar Association leader as saying even exhumed and handed over to their legal heirs. However, many of the terrorists were that the turn of Bihari labourers to leave would come after anti-Yatra stir cools of foreign origin, mostly known by their code/fake names. The police spokesman said, down. The member is said to have remarked forcing labourers' issue simultaneously "so the question of identifying them by any one, either by the government agency or would invite serious charges of communalism. The labourers said that their masters independent agency becomes a moot point". were persuading them to leave Kashmir. An organisation has been levelling baseless accusations on so called 'Disappeared Ultimatum to labourers and stoking communal passions over yatra issue are Persons' to defame India. Following these accusations, the JK Police investigated the being seen here as part of a single conspiracy—to create imaginary fears among allegations. Majority of the cases of 'Disappeared persons' were traced as cases of Kashmiri Muslims that they were facing a "demographic assault" and stoke voluntary or motivated disappearance who had joined terrorist ranks. The police has communal passions in an attempt to create destabilisation. Last year also a similar asked people to remain vigilant over the misinformation campaign launched by anti- ultimatum was served to these labourers. national elements. SASB Land Allotment Controversy (Contd. from Page 8) ment. RSS leader and a function- religious rights of any other as Chairman SASB that led to the quently back out from such de- allocation of Assembly seats in ary of BAYN, Brig (retd...) Suchet community. revocation of the order as cision. He appreciated commu- favour of Kashmir Valley is Singh described this as a con- Senior advocate of J&K High unlawful as he neither convened nal harmony in Jammu and asked costing dearer to the people of spiracy of UPA chairperson, Mrs. Court SS Anand Leher termed the meeting nor took the Kashmiri Muslims to stand true country and only "lawful and Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minis- revocation of land order unlaw- members in confidence. Mr to their secular approach and en- judicious delimitation" can bring ter Dr. Manmohan Singh to grab ful and accused the government Slathia quoted sections and sub- sure safety and security of the peace, justice and prosperity in the Hindu Shrines in Valley but of succumbing to separatist - sections of the Act to justify his yatris. the state. Describing Mr. Vohra asserted that it will not be al- forces. He demanded arrest of opinion. The Bar President also Sikh organisations like as ill suited for the responsibility, lowed at any cost. VHP state Mehbooba Mufti and Muzaffar appealed all political, social, youth Akali Dal, All India Sikh Mr Sharma maintained, chief Dr Rama Kant Dubey religious, transport, business Hussain Baig and asked for de- "succumbing of Vohra before termed the Governor's action as barring PDP from contesting Students Federation, Sikh Wel- and student organisations to fare Forum, J&K Sikh communal forces has proved him an insult to Hindu Samaj and join hands to fight decisively the polls. He said that the act is un- Gurdwara Prabandhak Board as meek and weak Governor not chided the state government for battle of discrimination meted justified as the land was trans- expressed grave concern over suitable to care the secular its failure to take action against out to the people of Jammu by ferred to SASB by the state cabi- communalising of the allotment minded and minorities of the those in Valley who raised pro- Kashmir Centric politicians, in- net after unanimous decision. state". Pak slogans and displayed cluding the separatists and fun- He opined that the government of land to SASB by separatists The Jammu State Morcha- Pakistani flags. damentalists Shri Amar Nath decision is unlawful as the deci- and PDP. The Sikh leaders lam- Progressive (JSM-P) described Four Shiv Senas and Kranti Shrine Board Convenor, Leela sion was taken when the basted Mufti Mohammad the revocation of land allotment Dal merged to Form "Hindu government was in minority. He Sayeed for trying to hoodwink order of the government as suc- United Forum" to take on sepa- accused the state government of and befool the innocent people cumbing to the pressure of fun- ratists and extended full coop- succumbing to separatist forces, on the issue of transfer of land damentalists, communal anti- eration to the Sangarsh Samiti in CONTINUATION to appease the leaders of so- to SASB. Jammu and anti-India forces. the ongoing agitation. Address- called mainstream and fundamen- Peoples Revolutionary Move- Professor Virender Gupta, Presi- ing a Press Conference, Presi- Karan Sharma termed the gov- talists. ment condemned the revocation dent JSM-P, said that PDP lead- dent Shiv Sena Balasaheb ernment decision as an attack on Jammu Municipal Corpora- of land allotment order and ac- ers in league with Hurriyat Con- Thakrey, Rajesh Gupta, Shiv Hindu faith and said that it will tion passed a resolution oppos- cused Congress of selling the ference and other secessionist Sena Hindustan Chief Dimple not be tolerated at any cost. ing the cancellation of land honour of Jammuites. PRM Presi- forces are solely responsible for Kohli, President Hindu Shiv All India Brahmin Federa- transfer order and has sought dent Rajinder Jamwal said, "Na- raising communal and parochial Sena Krishen Manhas, President tion also condemned the govern- the dismissal of the state gov- tional Conference and PDP be- emotions and hype among Shiv Sena United-Rajesh Kesri ment decision and appealed the ernment. The resolution was ing Kashmir based parties and Kashmiri masses. He added that and Chairman Kranti Dal, Anan Brahmin community to support moved by BJP councillor, Sanjay having no base in Jammu are in misleading masses on the allot- Sharma expressed concern over the agitational programme Gupta. Congress councillors consonance with separatists is ment of land to SASB is "a mis- the land revocation order. They launched for protection of Hindu staged walk out after the under standable. But, the Con- chievous design to disturb the lambasted PDP, NC and other rights National President of the resolution was moved while NC gress has base in Jammu as well peace in the state and create a Kashmiri leaders for unnecessar- AIBF, Prof. Devinder Sharma councillors were absent from the as in Kashmir, though for name situation that may be beneficial ily raking up the land allotment said that Brahmins have always meeting. sake. Why it sold the honour of to PDP in the forthcoming As- issue and vowed to take on been on the vanguard for The Muslim Federation Jammuites by succumbing to sembly election". separatists and other Kashmir protecting religious rights of Jammu also criticised the gov- their pressure?" He added that based parties that have sown the Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas Hindus from times immemorial ernment action. President MFJ, people of Jammu have gathered seeds of hatred and communal termed the revocation of land and hence they should give lead Abdul Majid Khan criticised the on one platform for the first time divide in the state. order by the state government and fully participate in any government and different politi- and no political party will be al- with the connivance of the J&K The Jammu Bar Association cal parties for creating a messy movement aimed at upholding lowed to take political mileage Governor as a conspiracy of UPA that took an active part in present situation for their narrow politi- and safeguarding Hindu out of the on going strike. to grab Hindu shrines in the Val- agitation, termed the decision il- cal interests over the grant of interests and their religious Congress leaders tried to lay ley. The Niyas demanded sack- legal. JBA President, Sh. BS sentiments. He, however, main- land to SASB. MFJ President de- ing of Sh. NN Vohra for his deci- Slathia said that the scribed it as worst sort of political the blame on the doorsteps of tained that fight for the protec- PDP and appealed for calm in the sion to handover the arrange- recommendations made by the tion of the religious rights of Hin- immorality to sit in cabinet and region. ments of the Yatra to govern- Governor of J&K in his capacity dus in no way clashes with the approve a decision and subse- KASHMIR SENTINEL JULY 2008 INTERVIEW 20 Brahmins have always been leaders of the Sanatan, says Prof. Devender Sharma

1984. In fact, there was Brahmin affiliated with the Federation and the caste. But, we oppose the interfer- ing the Baba Amarnath Sangarsh Maha Sabha, Delhi in early 1980s. units are functional in all the zones ence in Sanatan rights and oppose Samiti, spearheading the agitation It had influence in the North India except the East. All the social and the entry of other faiths. In South, against the acts of the government only. The South India Brahmins also religious needs are fulfilled through the community kitchens at every and the Governor. We feel that the wanted to be associated with it. As the State Brahmin Sabhas. temple, run by the Brahmins, were Hindu sentiment has been badly such, AIBF was established to give KS: How does the Federation open to the Brahmins only. With hurt and there is urgent need for "ALL India Brahmin Federation it a national representative character. Coordinate? the intervention of the Federation, corrective measures by the govern- (AIBF) is an organisation of Brah- KS: What are the main objec- DS: The Brahmins have the they have been opened for all the ment as well as the Shrine Board. mins all over India. Prof. Devender tives of the AIBF? distinction of being the only Hindus. These initiatives are aimed KS: How do you view the exo- Sharma is presently President of DS: All India Brahmin Federa- community living in all the states of at the unity of the Hindu Samaj. dus of Kashmiri Hindus from the the Federation. Born in Hiranagar, tion has been established to bring India. The Maha Samelan of the KS: What do you feel are the Valley. Jammu, Mr Sharma joined unity among the Brahmins and the Federation is organised annually at achievements of the AIBF and its DS: The forced exodus of the Technical Education Department Hindu Samaj at large. Its objective different places in the country. The future plans? Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley after doing his engineering from is to fight for the rights of the Samelan is organised by the state DS: 25 years is too small a time was, perhaps, the most unfortu- Tamil Nadu and retired as Principal Brahmins. It is the only non- Sabhas and the best Sabha bears the to unite Brahmins of different nate event of the 20th Century. It is a slap on the democratic govern- of Govt. Polytechnic, Srinagar. political organisation that has taken expenses. Thousands of Brahmins languages, customs and costumes. We have been able to unite them and ance of the country and an episode Prof. Sharma has been associated up the issue of reservations. The all over India participate in these that should have awakened the with socio-religious organisations reservation issue is not a social but Sammelans. These Sammelans give bring them on one platform. It is a major achievement. We are planning Hindus lying in slumber. The and has remained a good a political issue and has hurt the in- an opportunity to share one federation has all along from the sportsman. He was president of terests of the Brahmins. No politi- anothers' thoughts. an educational set-up at Delhi to impart Brahamanical knowledge. We year 1990 to this day representing Dogra Brahmin Sabha, Jammu from cal party does favour the Brahmins' KS: What does AIBF do for the the Central government and the 1990 to 1995. He had been founder point of view. AIBF was launched over all unity of the Hindu Samaj? are also planning a Brahmin House for NRI Brahmins. state governments to do all they member of AIBF and President of to highlight the issue. DS: Brahmins have always been can in rehabilitating the Kashmiri the federation since 2005 Kashmir KS: Who are the members of the leaders of the Sanatan. We are KS: Recently, there has been Pandit community. We are glad to Sentinel spoke to Prof. Devender Federation? conscious of the fact that all Hindus controversy over the Amarnath known that public in states like Sharma about the establishment, DS: AIBF is, in fact, a conglom- are looking to the Brahmin pilgrimage. How does the Brahmin Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, activities and future programmes erate of the State Brahmin Sabhas community for lead and guidance. Federation view it? Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, of the All India Brahmin and the state bodies are our We have taken steps to bring all these DS: We consider the conspiracy Karnataka etc. have acceeded to Federation and current issues. members. There are five executive different sections of Sanatan unfortunate, unwanted, ill managed our demand and are giving helping Excerpts of the interview are members from each state. And the Dharma together. We are preaching and ill conceived. The Federation hand. I am personally very much reproduced as under: states that have no units, one that the customs and rites which had been trying for more and more disappointed over the rehabilita- --Editor member from the affiliate units has took us apart be done away with. pilgrims to the Lord Shiva abode at tion of Pandits settled in Jammu KS: Why and when was AIBF been taken. The country has been On the initiative of the federation Amarnath. From that point of view, and lukewarm efforts of the state divided in five zones—North, the temples that allowed entry of we feel disappointed as present cir- government for their rehabilitation, established" welfare and above all return to the South, East, West and the Central Brahmins only were thrown open cumstances would halt that process. DS: The All India Brahmin Valley. Federation was established in Zone. Presently, 18 states are to all the Hindus irrespective of their The Federation is actively support- Land Controversy: A Broader Design of Islamic Fundamentalists—Panun Kashmir KS Correspondent the names of places with Islamic names and smoke screen to further the agenda of fundamentalist forces and the revocation of the campaign against the Amarnath Yatra are Panun Kashmir described the controversy fundamentalism and secessionism. "The so- the land allotment order by the State all facets of a well coordinated religious called civil society in the Valley once again government with connivance of the Governor over the allotment of land to "Shri Amarnath cleansing process," lamented the PK leader. Shrine Board" as a broader design of the has revealed its regressive and communal face and the concurrence of the Centre under line Accusing Indian political establishment of Islamic fundamentalists and separatist forces by selectively targeting the yatra but remained the same fact," said Dr. Chrungoo. He added legitimising the communal forces, Dr. and the revocation of the allotment of land by silent on the other religious congregations that that from humiliation of Maharaja Hari Singh Chrungoo said, "The legitimacy which the witness assembly of lakhs not once but many to the reported abandonment of Mr Azad the state government with the connivance of communal politics of PDP has got first at the the State Governor as a reflection of the times during the year, "questioned Mr Trisal. speak about the same legacy. hands of NDA and later by the Congress by mindset of the Indian State that has contrib- The Pandit leader further added that the civil Dr. Chrungoo asserted that the present cohabiting with it is destroying the already uted to the secessionist and fundamentalist reaction in Jammu in particular and the country agenda in the state through its ill conceived in general is a reflection of the assertion of policies. The organisation, however, feels that Hindu Samaj and the nationalist civil society the unprecedented and spontaneous reaction that they are not going to accept any assault- to the controversy in the Jammu region is an on the faith or national integration as a fact assertion of the nationalist civil society that accompli but will force the Indian state to any compromise by the Indian state will not protect the interests of the nationalist society. be acceptable to the nation as a fait accompli. Panun Kashmir leader underscored the need Once the controversy was fuelled in the of sustenance of the struggle. Valley, Panun Kashmir organised a press con- Reacting to the government decision, ference at Jammu and described the campaign Chairman Advisory Panun Kashmir, Prof. as a reflection of the communalisation of the MK Teng regretted that the Indian state has social and public discourse in the Valley that always sided with the Muslim fundamentalist has dented the public commitment of Prime forces and the governor's action as chairman Minister Manmohan Singh to promote of the Shrine Board is continuation of the some secularism and rule of law in J&K State. process. He described the nature of present Addressing the press conference, Panun struggle inevitable to save the Indian nation Kashmir Chairman, Dr Ajay Chrungoo said, and the society. "the motivated campaign against the yatra to Prof. ML Koul, Member Advisor PK, holy Amarnath Cave in the Valley brings to Leaders of Panun Kashmir addressing press conference in Jammu. termed the government decision as the fore the communalisation of the social continuation of presenting of land interference society never raised its concern over the nexus milieu and public discourse in Kashmir Valley shrinking spaces of accommodation and in the religious matters of Hindus even by the that has torn the policy of Manmohan Singh between Jihadi and Timber Mafia which is pluralism. democratic dispensations. He said that Hindus to promote secularism and rule of law in J&K plundering the forest cover, Mughal road that were persecuted in the Islamic regimes and Terming the campaign against yatra as a is being built at the cost of destruction of forest to smithereens". Dr. Chrungoo described the yatras were banned even even Hindus were big 'No' to the values of co-existence and wealth or the shrinking of Wular and Dal controversy as a continuation of Religious pluralism, PK Chairman said that creation of not allowed to cremate their dead in the cleansing in which the communal forces Lakes. Panun Kashmir in the Valley has become an cremation grounds by the Sikandar Butshiken entrenched within the government, mainstream Reacting to the revocation of the land imperative to save Kashmir from forces of and the present order is reflection for that political establishment and outside are allotment order, Panun Kashmir Chairman, Dr. intolerance, regression and religious bigotry. Ajay Chrungoo said that the Indian state has legacy. Prof. Koul said that the Amarnath Yatra pursuing relentlessly to snap all the Hindu Sh. O.N. Trisal, President All State has documented history of hundreds of years links of Kashmir. "Taking over of Hindu prop- succumbed to the secessionist and Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference, and to credit the discovery of the cave to Malik erty by the state government under the pretext fundamentalist forces. "The Indian state has a described the environmental concerns as a is the distortion of history. of building public utility facilities. Replacing history of contributing to the cause of Islamic