I was quite amazed to see a constructive debate in facebook by my friends on such a sensitive issue. Read below a copy paste of the same debate... I thought I will pen down my thoughts too but opted blog instead as the discussion would take more words.
Comparing BJP leaders' experience being similar to the Kashmiri Pandit's fate has been one of the most ridiculous. The leaders (Sushma and Jaitley), would have never seen the brunt of first going through the hardships which first cause them to leave a place of their own. Kashmiri Pandits left because they were unable to live in their homes. But this was never the case for these people, who never gets to know how the common BJP worker who comes from far states like Bengal or Karnataka to reach Ravi Bridge.
The biggest irony is the way the same party rules in the state of Karnataka. If media reports are to be believed, the Chief Minister has been blackmailing the central party leadership on the basis that an entire community (Lingayat, which is supposed to be Karnataka's biggest) stands by him, no matter the amount of misdeeds he commits. Then the same government hosts the Reddy brothers who are also being in the news for a while again for not-so-good reasons.
I'm certain that the BJP is obviously didn't think about the Kashmiri Pandits when they organized the Ekta Yatra.
Indian establishment and dealing towards anti-national forces (call it separatists):
This has been a topic that has been in discussion for a while that when it comes to combating the Kashmiri separatists or Maoists, the establishment hasn't been successful. The only reason for this is that even the mightiest super-powers are not able to win over the similar minds around the globe. As it has always been said along, the only way forward is through open dialogue and we, as law abiding citizens of the country, should tackle the issue with an open mind. The destination should be peace and it doesn't matter how long or how hard the decisions are, ultimately the aim of the government should be to serve the people, to allow them to live peacefully. The same rule is applicable to Kashmiri Pandits and every Kashmiri citizen also. The sub-continent has been injured fatally due to one partition already, and it may not live up to handle another cut.
Double Standards to Kashmiri Pandits:
I am not quite clear as to what exactly the problem here is, but if it is that the government is not allowing the once flown Pandits not returning to their homes, the issue has to be dealt with seriously. Again, the only point is to make sure that, if someone has a concern, let that be heard and resolved before the person attempts to use force.
Solution and responsibility of a Citizen:
Kashmir had been called the paradise on earth and it's been quite a while since the paradise has lost its charm and becoming a hell on earth. Let us though not trying to make it a paradise again, at least ensure that the sense of normalcy prevails. The government should do all that it can to ensure that peace prevails and people can return to their home and work peacefully. We all talk about Kashmir so much just because we would have rather never faced such a life, where the parents are cynical to send kids to school fearing there would be a bomb blast.
Let the emotions be dumped and rational approaches being carried ahead. The biggest threat to the world's largest democracy is that we just do not have a better alternative. While the Congress has lead the corruption history, BJP is not less either. People might have forgotten the Coffin, Hawala scams as well as the telecom policy shifts which all were done during a smaller period when BJP ruled. Karnataka example has shown how the party's dumps its ideologies, when it comes to sticking on to power. But, I would also like to congratulate Narendra Modi on the resurgence of Gujarat. It shows a clear example as to how the rational approach can lead us to development when we keep our emotions and communal agenda aside. But the man's credentials are again questioned because his involvements in the riots have been established undoubtedly. I am more worried if he would return to the same sort of vote-bank-riot-politics one day, when his good-deeds are not enough to win a major election.
The voter should ensure he gives a clear mandate to one party, because coalition politics has added to the deterioration as well. Think about a situation where a man of integrity like Manmohan Singh cannot act against the corrupt lot. If the same goes on where the smaller parties rule important ministries, these things will continue and we shall argue again on similar lines about corruption and other issues.
The biggest irony is the way the same party rules in the state of Karnataka. If media reports are to be believed, the Chief Minister has been blackmailing the central party leadership on the basis that an entire community (Lingayat, which is supposed to be Karnataka's biggest) stands by him, no matter the amount of misdeeds he commits. Then the same government hosts the Reddy brothers who are also being in the news for a while again for not-so-good reasons.
I'm certain that the BJP is obviously didn't think about the Kashmiri Pandits when they organized the Ekta Yatra.
Indian establishment and dealing towards anti-national forces (call it separatists):
This has been a topic that has been in discussion for a while that when it comes to combating the Kashmiri separatists or Maoists, the establishment hasn't been successful. The only reason for this is that even the mightiest super-powers are not able to win over the similar minds around the globe. As it has always been said along, the only way forward is through open dialogue and we, as law abiding citizens of the country, should tackle the issue with an open mind. The destination should be peace and it doesn't matter how long or how hard the decisions are, ultimately the aim of the government should be to serve the people, to allow them to live peacefully. The same rule is applicable to Kashmiri Pandits and every Kashmiri citizen also. The sub-continent has been injured fatally due to one partition already, and it may not live up to handle another cut.
Double Standards to Kashmiri Pandits:
I am not quite clear as to what exactly the problem here is, but if it is that the government is not allowing the once flown Pandits not returning to their homes, the issue has to be dealt with seriously. Again, the only point is to make sure that, if someone has a concern, let that be heard and resolved before the person attempts to use force.
Solution and responsibility of a Citizen:
Kashmir had been called the paradise on earth and it's been quite a while since the paradise has lost its charm and becoming a hell on earth. Let us though not trying to make it a paradise again, at least ensure that the sense of normalcy prevails. The government should do all that it can to ensure that peace prevails and people can return to their home and work peacefully. We all talk about Kashmir so much just because we would have rather never faced such a life, where the parents are cynical to send kids to school fearing there would be a bomb blast.
Let the emotions be dumped and rational approaches being carried ahead. The biggest threat to the world's largest democracy is that we just do not have a better alternative. While the Congress has lead the corruption history, BJP is not less either. People might have forgotten the Coffin, Hawala scams as well as the telecom policy shifts which all were done during a smaller period when BJP ruled. Karnataka example has shown how the party's dumps its ideologies, when it comes to sticking on to power. But, I would also like to congratulate Narendra Modi on the resurgence of Gujarat. It shows a clear example as to how the rational approach can lead us to development when we keep our emotions and communal agenda aside. But the man's credentials are again questioned because his involvements in the riots have been established undoubtedly. I am more worried if he would return to the same sort of vote-bank-riot-politics one day, when his good-deeds are not enough to win a major election.
The voter should ensure he gives a clear mandate to one party, because coalition politics has added to the deterioration as well. Think about a situation where a man of integrity like Manmohan Singh cannot act against the corrupt lot. If the same goes on where the smaller parties rule important ministries, these things will continue and we shall argue again on similar lines about corruption and other issues.
