Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Way forward

This refers to the editorial "The way forward in J&K" (Sept. 2). It is good to see that the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti and the Jammu and Kashmir government have reached an agreement on the Shrine Board-land allotment row. Although voices of dissent have been heard from the PDP and other parties, the agreement, it is hoped, will end the violence in the State. The SAYSS should shed its hardline approach and the Kashmiri groups would do well to come to terms with the demographic realities. A peaceful settlement is the best option, in the interest of all.

N. Divakar,

Mysore

Thankfully, the deadlock over the land allotment to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has been resolved. But could it not have been done before the agitations started and violence broke out? The agreement, which sets aside the land exclusively for SASB's use for raising temporary structures for the benefit of the Amarnath pilgrims, seems to have satisfied the demand of the agitators in Jammu. But whether it will appease the communal forces is a moot question. Mutual suspicion and distrust among the people of Jammu and the Kashmir Valley cannot be healed with a single judicious move. The Centre should have handled the sensitive issue more carefully.

Raj Kumar Thakur,

New Delhi

Now that an agreement has been reached between the SAYSS and the J&K government, New Delhi should lose no time in persuading Islamabad to help establish cross- LoC trade links. The suggestion that the Election Commission take steps to conduct early elections to the State Assembly is sound. It will end attempts at one-upmanship by various groups and parties.

K.D. Viswanaathan,

Coimbatore

Although Sunday's agreement between the SAYSS and the J&K government is an important step forward, there is little doubt that political parties will exploit the issue during the Assembly elections. Gujarat is a glaring example of how politicians use divisive issues for votes. The disruption of traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway by Hindutva groups might have been intended to force an economic blockade of the Valley, but it ended up affecting the religious harmony in the State. It created a divide in the people's minds and hearts.

Akifuddin,

Bangalore

It is good augury that at last, some solution has been found for the Shrine Board land issue which led to widespread unrest in Jammu and the Kashmir Valley for eight weeks. It has been proved that where there is a will, there is a way.

H.P. Murali,

Bangalore

The Amarnath yatra is a symbol of the composite, secular culture of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu agreement has shown that all issues can be settled amicably across the table once reason prevails.

J.S. Acharya,

Hyderabad

It is heartening to see a thaw in the conflict between the people of Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. It is the political parties that are to blame for the unrest. They whipped up communal frenzy and mutual distrust to gain political mileage. The separatist groups added fuel to the raging fire. I firmly believe that the solution to the Kashmir issue lies in letting the Kashmiris decide their future.

Gromine George,

Tiruchi

The agreement is old wine in a new bottle. The J&K High Court order clearly says the land would be handed over to the SASB for two months of the yatra, during which period pre-fabricated structures can be erected. Had the court order been accepted earlier by the SAYSS, the loss of lives and damage to property could have been averted.

A. Jainulabdeen,

Chennai

Hindu hucksters and flag wavers in Jammu should refrain from flaunting the agreement reached between the SAYSS and the J&K government, as their actions can provoke more protest and violence in the Kashmir Valley. This agreement has been made for creating a facility for the convenience of the Amarnath pilgrims, not for upholding or hurting the interests of any community. The opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for cross-LoC trade will, no doubt, leave chauvinistic elements with no ground whatsoever to exploit the Kashmiris' fears of persecution.

Satwant Kaur,

Mahilpur

The separatists, with a view to derailing the India-Pakistan peace process and denying the people of J&K the opportunity to participate in the elections, may continue to foment unrest in the Valley. The Election Commission should make an independent assessment of the ground situation and try its best to conduct the elections according to the schedule.

D.B.N. Murthy,

Bangalore

The Valley's hardline leaders are demagogues, whose agenda is dictated from across the borders. The opinion of the moderates and nationalist leaders has long been overawed by the separatists. The government, instead of trying to placate these elements, should aim at addressing the genuine problems of the Valley's people.

K.P.G. Menon,

Ottapalam

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