AIKS toes govt line on Kashmir

‘There can be Compromises and Adjustments.....’

Special Correspondent

True to its legacy of always toing the government line, its symbolic protestations now and then notwithstanding, All India Kashmiri Samaaj has come out vociferously against the demand of reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir state. “The demand for trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir State into separate enclaves is viewed by our community as an acceptance of division of Kashmir along communal lines...”, states the memorandum of All India Kashmiri Samaj dated 7th April 2001.

The memorandum also makes a vieled attack on the Panun Kashmir demand of homeland by describing that,  “the enclave for Pandits is yet another variant of notorious Dixon Plan which envisaged a division of the state along the communal lines...”

AIKS position on the entire gamunt of issues concerning the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits has traditionally been reconciliatory and pro-establishment bordering on some sort of compromise with the Muslim communalism. In the past when it made utterances violative of general consensus of the community they were usually ignored by the displaced Pandits. However, this time its stand has surprised many and caused severe resentment amongst the Kashmiri Pandits.

Even the active members of AIKS consider the memorandum as a volte face because it was only recently that President of All India Kashmir Samaaj Sh JN Koul had come out in support of the homeland demand. Addressing a function organised at Gole Gujral by Prem Nath Jyotshi Karyalaya Sh. J.N. Koul had said in November 2001 that homeland was the only viable option to all the problems being faced by the community at the present. He told the assembled audience that in view of the trifurcation demand gaining ground in Jammu and Ladakh regions the Kashmiri Pandits should also project their demand before the government.

He had added, laying extra emphasis, as reported by the local press, that now was the opportune time to put forth the homeland demand vigorously before the government. At that time many did not believe that Sh JN Koul would  follow another Pandit leader Sh AN Vaishnavi to support the homeland demand. Sh J.N. Koul again reiterated his stand of support to the homeland demand in the programme organised by Kashmiri Samiti Delhi and shocked even his close confidants who had seen Sh J.N. Koul always avoiding comments of political nature. As per reports Sh J.N. Koul also initiated a dialogue with Panun Kashmir leaders asking them to close their ranks and pursue their political objective vigorously. What prompted Sh J.N. Koul to shift his stance suddenly?

Insiders in the AIKS believe that the present opposition to the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir by AIKS is more due to the intrigue unleashed by another AIKS leader Sh M.L. Koul who was recently brought to head a steering committee ‘to go into various aspects of working of AIKS and extending AIKS activities in areas other than welfare programme that formed the main focus for last few years”. They believe that in the name of extending the ‘scope of activity’ Sh M.L. Koul has virtually assumed the role of the political ideologue of AIKS. Sh M.L. Koul had for last few years been working with the Trust created by All India Kashmiri Samaj and as per reports nurtured serious resentment after being changed as the general secretary of AIKS the post which he held perpetually for a long time. In fact he had as per reports serious differences with Sh J.N. Koul.

However, this view amongst some AIKS insiders appears to be more an attempt to shield Sh J.N. Koul. Investigations of KS reveal that Sh J.N. Koul was fully aware of all the aspects of functioning of the steering committee and in fact had not only supported the memorandum but also endorsed the entire spectrum of activities launched by Sh ML Koul as the convener of steering committee. “Convener of the steering committee Sh M.L. Koul forwarded to the affiliates an Action Programme that included an interaction at local executive level and with Apex Body on matters of importance to the community, inviting their valuable suggestions. I hope this is receiving your attention,” Sh JN Koul writes to various representatives of AIKS on 26/3/2001.

Observers of Kashmir scene do not give much credence to the internal squabbles of AIKS and attribute their sudden opposition to the demand of reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir state to the severe marginalisation which AIKS had suffered in the political discourse of Kashmiri Pandits. With Panun Kashmiri, Ladakh Buddhist Association, Jammu Joint Students Federation and Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Front actively collaborating on the major issues like autonomy, human rights and reorganisation. AIKS was feeling slighted.

AIKS as per these analysts is desperate to create a political space for itself which in the present scenario could be ensured by making gestures which would please Congress, National Conference, sections of BJP opposed to RSS and even the separatist leadership of Kashmir. Making itself amenable to such political forces would help AIKS circumvent its marginalisation and lack of political credibility and catapult itself into the central stage particularly when KC Pant has started the process of dialogue in the state.

AIKS claim that its opposition to trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and Panun Kashmir demand of homeland is the representative view of Pandits becomes ridiculous as its most active constituents have supported homeland demand. In the meetings in which AIKS was deliberating on the issues of trifurcation and Homeland Sh C.L. Gadoo, President of Kashmiri Samiti, as per reports, had expressed open dissent with the contents of the memorandum prepared. Sh C.L. Gadoo alongwith the Vice-President of Kashmiri Samiti Sh Sunil Shakhder and Dr Shakti Bhan have time and again supported the homeland demand.

Another important constituent of AIKS, The All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference headed by Sh. A.N. Vaishnavi has also come out openly to support the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir state demanding the creation of Kashyap state.

Given the composition of AIKS it appears only a select group who are non-displaced and have been either supportive of Congress or NC line on Kashmir is involved in the effort to oppose the political consensus which has emerged amongst Kashmiri Hindus.

Surprisingly these efforts of AIKS are being supported by a select group of RSS activists who have constituted a socio cultural outfit JK Vichar Manch. As per reports its leader who aspired to become the member of National Minority Commission is presently estranged from RSS top brass for not putting its foot down to support his candidature. As per reports JK Vichar Manch with support from certain quarters of BJP is trying to mobilise the opposition within RSS against trifurcation and Panun Kashmir. Sources within RSS have noted with apprehension their activities. A reported meeting which they conducted at the official residence of a BJP MP to mobilise support against RSS line on Jammu and Kashmir is being viewed seriously in certain quarters of RSS.

AIKS has in the meanwhile launched a contact drive. On one hand it is pleading with RSS leadership to retrect from its support to trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and on the other had it is trying to rebuild its relationship with Congress. Sh M.L. Koul was seen openly bragging in the Press Club Jammu in front of some journalists that AIKS has been able to re-establish its contacts with Congress leadership. Besides these activities AIKS has also started establishing contacts with separatist leadership of Kashmir. A meeting with Shabir Shah was held on February 20, 2001.

The mindset of compromise and duplicity which has gripped AIKS cannot be revealed better than the concluding paragraph of its own memorandum. “There are hard tasks ahead facing us. The majority Muslim community which also controls the state machinery has to take an initiative in fulfilling this task. Pandit minority can only extend support and cooperation. What is important is not to  project ourselves as disrupters but as unifiers without being apologetic about our basic demands whose acceptance should in fact from as essential ingredient of democratic solution of Kashmir issue. There can be no solution which seeks to alter the present borders of India whether in Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere. There can be compromises and adjustment here and there, but Indian Nation will never allow anyone to succumb to the designs of foreign interventionary forces”.

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