The situation in Kashmir is disturbing. The country should work towards creating trust and security among Kashmiris. The all-party delegation of 39 members is an important step in this direction.
One disturbing feature is the Kashmiris' lack of trust in local politicians.
We have seen and heard the separatist leaders addressing them. But we hardly come across reports of elected representatives addressing them. Why are they reluctant to meet the people and pacify them? Efforts should be made to bridge the gap between the people of Kashmir and their MLAs.
Sunil Abraham Thomas,
Kottayam
Kashmir has assumed an alarming dimension as never before. The hand of Pakistan is evident. But the Centre's complacence in addressing the burning issue has made matters worse. Successive governments at the Centre have not been sincere in implementing the autonomy process promised by P.V. Narasimha Rao.
If only the Centre and the Kashmir government had made concerted efforts to resolve the issue without indulging in petty politics, Kashmiris would have extended their whole-hearted cooperation for a reasonable settlement. What is the use of crying over spilt milk?
A. Sudhakar Rao,
Nalgonda
Instead of failing to see people's concerns, we must work towards changing their outlook towards the rest of India. They should be made to understand that our country is theirs too and that we are more interested in their welfare than in controlling their territory. They must realise how much they stand to gain as Indians without sacrificing their Kashmiri identity.
If we must take pride in being the largest democracy, we must constantly work towards strengthening it. Turning our ‘holding together' federal system into a ‘coming together' federation, for instance, would do a world of good for such a diverse land as ours.
Dhananjay Rajendran,
Thrissur
There are too many leaders in Kashmir and most of them are supported by Pakistan. And there are too many political parties in India, each with a different solution to the Kashmir problem. Corruption is rampant and the benefits meant for the ordinary people do not reach them.
The Centre needs to take some bold steps. Remove Article 370 and stop treating Kashmiris as special people. In order to help the Kashmiri youth, all States must reserve seats for them in education and government jobs. Similarly, the youth from other States should be allowed to find jobs in Kashmir.
Col. Ram Gulrajani (retd.),
Chennai
