The cacophony of voices emanating from Srinagar are unified in their demand for “Azaadi”. Are they reaching the tin ear of Bharat? Even the Chief Minister, progeny of the Abdullah dyynesty has talked about “Azaadi” and about including Pakistan in the discussions. Much to the chagrin of the BJP, the Indian National Congress has clearly said that Paksitan is a party to the dispute. The recent broohaha over Arundhati Roy‘s statement that she is hurt by the Kashmiri slogans “Bhooka Nanga Hindustaan, jan seh Pyara Pakistan” has taken its toll on the psyche of Bharat.
There seems to be a spectacular movement in the Bharati position on Kashmir. For the first time in decades the interlocutors appointed by Delhi have mentioned “Azaadi” as an option for the Kashmiris.
It remains to be seen, if this is a ploy to calm down tensions on the eve of the arrival of President Obama in Delhi, or if Delhi for the first time is serious about resolving Kashmir.
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SRINAGAR: The interlocutors appointed for J&K have suggested introducing amendments in the Constitution to accommodate the discussion on the ” Azaadi option” for Kashmir.
“Indian constitution is a beautiful document and there is room for modification with changing times and we can even recommend for the amendments in the Constitution to accommodate the discussions on the Kashmir issue and to find the solution to the problem in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiris,” Radha Kumar, one of the three interlocutors told reporters here at the end of a four-day visit to the Valley on Wednesday.
Saying it is my personal belief, Radha Kumar said, the Constitution has been amended more than 400 times and there is no harm if it is modified further to make it more accommodative.
Importantly, the Indian Constitution and the J&K constitution refer to the region as an integral part of India.
The head of the three-member panel, Dileep Padgoankar while interacting with mediapersons also wished to take leaders of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on board to find the permanent solution to the Kashmir issue.
“Yes we would like to visit [Azad Kashmir] to talk to the leadership there to get their point of view on the issue .But there are parts in J&K which do not share the same view as the people in Kashmir valley,” Dileep added.
The panel: Dileep Padgoankar, M M Ansari and Radha Kumar, which would undertake visit to the state every month , at the end of present visit , is expected to recommend several measures to be taken by the centre to bring in more credibility to the appointment of interlocutors to diminish the trust deficit of the people in Kashmir.
“We can even recommend the amendments in the Public Safety Act besides ask for release of political prisoners and even ask the centre to allow the peaceful protests in the valley in line with democratic temperament of the country,” Dileep Padgoankar said.
Dileep even questioned the logic for imposing section 144 CrPC against holding peaceful protests in the valley. “There is no need of imposing section 144 to quell the assembly of the people for peaceful demonstrations,” he added.
