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"We Need A Jammu And Kashmir-Centric Solution"

By Zafar Choudhary

14 January, 2008
Epilogue


LT GEN (RETD) SK SINHA’S association with Jammu and Kashmir is over 60 years old. He was the part of the first Indian Army contingent which touched ground in Kashmir in October 1947. Since then he served in the state as an Army officer for several years before he returned in a different position. After serving in Assam as Governor, he has been the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir since June 2003. a great thinker and philosopher of our times, General Sinha has wide ranging interests from diplomacy to writing. In an exclusive interview with ZAFAR CHOUDHARY, Editor-in-Chief of EPILOGUE Magazine Gen Sinha argues that for peace and prosperity in the region, the need is for a “Jammu and Kashmir-Centric Solution” and not Kashmir-Centric Approach


EPILOGUE: You came to Jammu and Kashmir in 2003. That was 56 years after you had come first as part of India’s first Army deployment to Kashmir. You have seen the developments from different levels. What difference do you find in the situation of 1947, 2003 and now?

GEN SINHA: When I came here in 1947, the feeling was that the Army has been given almost impossible task to accomplish. All odds were against us. On the afternoon of October 26 we were told to go to Kashmir; that Maharaja has acceded and the Army has to be in Srinagar. About enemy: the Pakistani side comprising over 5000 tribals and also regular soldiers was led by Gen Akbar Khan. They had opened an attack from Baramulla. We were just 300 soldiers. I was a Major and the only Indian Army officer at the Controlling Headquarters where all other officers were the British. The British Government had decided that none of their officers will go to Kashmir. For me the task was stupendous, I did not actually know what happens next. It was a miracle that we succeeded.

We were able to defeat the Pakistani raiders as we enjoyed enormous goodwill of the local people of Kashmir. They looked at us as savours. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the undisputed leaders of Kashmir; he had a secular outlook and had opted to with India. I still remember the popular slogan those days: Hamlewar Khabardar, Hum Kashmiri Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Hain Tayyar…. This was quite an unusual scenario for me. The previous year I was in Calcutta where Army was dealing with the communal violence following selective killings. The bottom-line is that despite all the odds against us, in 1947 secularism was at its best in Kashmir.

Though I had worked in J&K for over ten years as an Army officer in between also but in 2003 when I landed at the same airfield of Srinagar where I had landed first 56 years back, my thoughts went back to the same situation. I could mark a stark difference. In 1947 Kashmir stood an example of secularism while in 2003 the element of fundamentalism has badly crept in the Kashmiri society. The Kashmiri Pandit minority had been driven out of the Valley. I can recall when I was sworn in as Governor on June 4, 2003 there were rifle fires quite audible in Srinagar City. There was violence. But I was more confident of the situation moving forward. For me the fundamentalism was a more serious concern than violence. I had dealt with similar situation earlier also –particularly during my term as Governor in Assam.

In 2007, there was optimism. Things are moving forward. The level of violence is reducing; ceasefire is holding well on the Line of Control for fourth year now. Peace process is moving on and dialogue with Pakistan is also taking place. There is a general change in the attitude for peace, development and prosperity.

EPILOGUE: For Jammu and Kashmir, the year 2007 had begun at a very enthusiastic note. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq going to Pakistan and condemning the use of gun from Pakistani soil. General Pervez Musharraf declaring that the elements supporting violence have no role in the peace process. But slowly every thing came to a halt. How do you analyze the progress on peace process over this year?

GEN SINHA: This problem is here for 60 years now. There are so many ramifications. Expecting results in matter of months is unrealistic. We are moving in a situation where expecting matching response from Pakistan is difficult. Political situation in India too has been untenable this year. At one point of time one could have expected fresh elections in the country; there were some signs of instability. Let’s keep moving in a direction and wait for the final results.


EPILOGUE: Shortly ahead of the internal disturbance in Pakistan it was widely rumoured that New Delhi and Islamabad were close to a deal on Kashmir. Can you imagine…?

GEN SINHA: No don’t think so. I don’t think there can be a deal on the issue. I too had read about this but I don’t find anything substantial.

EPILOGUE: How do you see the internal disturbance in Pakistan casting an impact in Kashmir?

In Jammu and Kashmir there is a lobby sympathetic to Pakistan. This lobby was miniscule in 1947. Those who wanted to go to Pakistan had gone. But now over the years this lobby has become stronger. In 1989 when the militancy erupted, the popular slogan in the Valley was “Kashmir Banega Pakistan”. However, after 2002 there has a definite change in the mindset. People are getting disillusioned with Pakistan. You must be knowing Lord Averbury of UK, a renowned protagonist of Pakistan. His organization conducted an opinion poll in Kashmir –the MORI survey, its results were quite interesting -61 percent of the interviewed people wanted to stay with India, 6 percent wanted to be with Pakistan and 37 per cent were undecided. I believe, today even the 6 percent figure too has come down.

As the internal picture of Pakistan comes out, people don’t want to be a part of such a place. Apart from the instability, there is sectarian violence, the terror machinery pumped into Afghanistan and Kashmir is now working at home too, there is complete lack of democracy. The Punjabis are the dominant class; Pathans, Baluchs and Sindhis come in the second category. Still worst, the Kashmiris fall in the third category of people there. Given this situation, in Kashmir the element of sympathy for Pakistan is becoming negligible.

EPILOGUE: There have been many models and proposals in discussion for resolution of Kashmir issue. What do you suggest as a workable way forward?

GEN SINHA: See, in Kashmir Valley there is a feeling of a separate identity. Some want to be totally independent. This sentiment for independence needs to be understood. In Jammu and Ladakh regions opinion is not the same. There is a question of managing contradictions. There has to be a “Jammu-Kashmir centric solution” and not the “Kashmir centric solution”. This has to be ensured that none of the identities is compromised with. Realignment of the lines of division is unthinkable. We have enormously suffered on this account and such experience can not be repeated. While moving forward towards a solution, care has to be taken that all aspirations are accommodated. We are living in an era of globalization. The national boundaries are melting and the economy is taking the center stage. You see, the concept of nation state was first evolved in Europe and now it is Europe taking lead in blurring the national boundaries towards achieving economic empowerment of the entire region. What I propose is a South Asian Economic Union. In such an arrangement all the existing animosities will get a back seat and the economic prosperity of the people. Jammu and Kashmir, including the areas under occupation of Pakistan and also the Northern Areas can make a beginning in this direction and soon there can be a South Asian Economic Union. One can also take a cue from the South-East Asian countries –the ASEAN has emerged as powerful economic bloc.


EPILOGUE: It is widely believed that the prolonged standoff between the ruling coalition partners in Jammu and Kashmir spanning over a year now contributed in blocking the peace process, particularly the course of dialogue between New Delhi and Kashmiri separatists. My point is that the role of state government is seen as a facilitator in the peace process with the separatists.


GEN SINHA: I don’t known if there was any lack of effort at the part of government. The person, you are talking about, has worked more for the dialogue. In fact he has been the driving force. There is no reason to believe that the government and leaders of the coalition lacked any effort in this direction. It was during this time that we had the roundtable conferences. If you understand what a roundtable conference means, its idea was conceived in 1930s. What British did was that they held roundtable conferences in 1930s and 1940s. That time Mahatma Gandhi was a widely accepted leader with no rivals. The British invited many to the roundtable conference and Gandhi too would get invitations. There can be differences but when all parties sit together it makes the understanding better. Therefore, the state government can be a facilitator and this role they have played well. If separatists don’t come to join the roundtable conference no body can be faulted for this.


EPILOGUE: Differences between the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party seem to be over, for the moment. There have been signs of bonhomie but debate on the contentious issue still remains. There has been relocation of some troops from some hospitals and school buildings in the Valley. But in its report the expert panel constituted by the Prime Minister, it is learnt, has not spoken of downsizing the troop strength. How do you comment on the situation after having witnessed a raging conflict of ideas between the ruling coalition partners over the year?


GEN SINHA: In fact the very word “demilitarization” was ill conceived. Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf used this word and some people in Kashmir starting echoing. In places where there separatist violence or other forms of violence, the troop strength has to be maintained. However, the strength or positioning can be reconsidered depending upon the evolution of situation. Therefore, there can be three things:
· Return of troops to the barracks,
· Reduction in strength or
· Relocation of position
In first case there has to be an appreciation of the situation prevailing on the ground. The need for politicization does not arise at all. People who have been talking loud about the demilitarization must realize the situation assuming in Pakistan. The terror infrastructure is still intact. Reduction in the troop strength is unthinkable without getting convinced about dismantle of terror infrastructure. As far as relocation of the position of troops is concerned, this process is a continuous. Relocation has been going for several years and it is going to continue.

EPILOGUE: Jammu and Kashmir enjoys a special constitutional position in India. The Chief Minister too enjoys special powers and authority as compared to his counterparts in other states. Does this difference extend to the Raj Bhawan too?

GEN SINHA: No, the Governor does not have any special or extraordinary powers or position which is not available to his counterparts in any other state. His powers emanate from the Constitution of India which have been endorsed by the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.


EPILOGUE: You remained Governor of Assam. How do you put the difference in your experience at two places?

GEN SINHA: The problem of insurgency is almost the same at both places. But in Jammu and Kashmir the serious dimension of problem is the religious fundamentalism which was not in case of Assam. The separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir would not have been called as fundamentalist if the people involved were mix of all in the state. In Assam the ULFA was not confined to any particular religion. Moreover, the Assam problem did not have international dimension which is a history of Jammu and Kashmir due to involvement of Pakistan.


EPILOGUE: At more than two occasion, particularly during the demilitarization debate when you raised the security concerns, a part of ruling alliance issued statements asking you not to speak on the political matters. Is this something the Jammu and Kashmir Governor should not speak about?

GEN SINHA: I never spoke on the political issues. However, upholding the constitution of India and expressing concerns on the issues of national security is a part of my right and responsibility. I admit that I have been proactive in some matters. I have been proactive in reviving Kashmiriyat, I have been proactive in maintaining the national integrity, I have been proactive in upholding the constitution of the state and country. Besides being Governor I have been assigned (by the legislature) some other responsibilities too. Therefore, as Chancellor of Universities I have been proactive in promoting the Higher Education and as Chairman of the two Shrine Boards I have been proactive I have been proactive in reviving and promoting the pilgrimage and utilizing the resources for the common good. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and the upcoming state-of-the-art Cancer Hospital are the initiatives for the common good.

EPILOGUE: You have vast experience of serving in the Armed Forces, Public Life, and Diplomacy and at Raj Bhawans. How do you compare the political maturity in Jammu and Kashmir with other parts of the country?

GEN SINHA: There may be religion bias among some sections of people but Kashmir as a community is not fundamentalist. Politics here is quite seasoned and its heritage is Kashmiriyat.


EPILOGUE: During your present term as the Jammu and Kashmir Governor two Chief Ministers have worked with you. Public understands the differences of relations both maintained with the Raj Bhawan. Could you please tell us who was (or is) more comfortable working with you.

GEN SINHA: It is just a matter of public perception –both were my Chief Ministers. Once there were some differences of opinion with one Chief Minister on Amarnath Yatra. People asked me a lot of questions but I never criticized the Chief Minister. Today no one asks such questions. After all it is my government and they are my Chief Ministers. If I returned the Panchayati Raj Bill during the tenure of the previous Chief Minister in case of the present Chief Minister’s tenure I have recently returned the Right To Information Bill. Both have respected my opinion.


EPILOGUE: When last time I had interviewed his Excellency in March 2006, the functional democracy in Jammu and Kashmir was described as best form of self rule. President Pervez Musharraf and other protagonists of self rule were advised to learn from the Jammu and Kashmir experience of democracy. But I believe in Jammu and Kashmir the democracy in real sense has been denied to people by keeping the Panchayati Raj Institutions in perpetual limbo. His Excellency’s comments…

GEN SINHA: Democracy has to be all levels. In Jammu and Kashmir we enjoy democracy to a greater extent than many parts of the world but there may be some problems in the actual operation of the system. If there are certain shortfalls, they are not constitutional. The shortfalls may at the level of the people who are supposed to implement the constitutional provisions. There are various levels of democracy. At state level the democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is better than many other states. I agree the real democracy is not percolating down to the grassroots in Jammu and Kashmir as it is the case with many other states in the country. we must understand that the provisions do exist but the people responsible for implementation may not have been able to implement. I hope the Panchayat elections are held soon and the democratic system is devolved to the grassroots levels.

EPILOGUE: What is His Excellency’s vision about the economic development of Jammu and Kashmir?

GEN SINHA: For sustainable economic development self sufficiency in all spheres is most important. Let’s take the example of meat. The majority in Jammu and Kashmir has a non-vegetarian way of life. To meet the basis requirements a big chunk of meat and eggs has to be imported. Here we are not self sufficient to meet the requirements. I had invited the legendary Agricultural Scientist MS Swaminathan to Kashmir. He prepared a roadmap for economic development of the state this year. He said that 3.7 per cent of the state’s total population lives below the poverty line and he wanted this to be close to Zero. He prepared three vision papers for the state. Since the agricultural terrain is different in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, therefore he suggested different set of mechanism. The vision paper has been forwarded to the government and I am sure its implementation will bring in a revolution and make the state self sufficient in almost all spheres. Education is the key to economic prosperity. Our state is making huge strides in the higher education. There are seven Universities in the state which by all accounts reflects a better picture than other states in the country. Two newly found Universities –the Mata Vaishno Devi University and the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University –are have done exceptionally well in a very short span of time. Now the need is to enhance the quality of education. I am of the opinion that better standards of higher learning certainly lead to economic development.


EPILOGUE: In Jammu and Kashmir working at bringing peace and ushering the state into an era economic prosperity every day counts its own significance. How do you rate the present year in terms of achievements on different fronts?

GEN SINHA: In 2007, my government has done tremendous work for development. One can see the coming up of Hajj House in Srinagar in a record time. The Hajj House has emerged as first of its kind in the country. Works on many important projects are being executed in double shifts. There is a new work culture which sets high standards. The government has been trying to fight corruption in the system. As far as the peace front is concerned, results can not be expected overnight but there have been definite developments.

EPILOGUE: Your message for the new year…

In the year which is about to end we have done well. Whether on restoring peace or economic development –all fronts have seen huge activity. The concerted efforts have contributed in improved economic conditions and better education facilities. We need to carry on with this and make Jammu and Kashmir more vibrant in 2008. With such sincere efforts, I believe our state can be a model state in the country.

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