The Hindu : New Delhi News : Talk of secession alarming: concerned citizens

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Friday, Sep 19, 2008
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New Delhi

Talk of secession alarming: concerned citizens

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Describing as “unquestionable” the legal validity of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India, intellectuals and defence experts have said there is no basis on which any change in the State’s political status can be considered.

It is distressing, indeed alarming, that seditious views which question India’s unity and integrity are being freely aired by a section of the intelligentsia; it is regrettable that the print and electronic media are giving undue space and prominence to these views, said a joint statement issued by this group of concerned citizens here on Thursday.

Reacting to the opinion expressed in some newspapers in favour of secession of the Kashmir Valley, the statement said: “India is a free and democratic country with a vibrant media and we are proud of it. But freedom of expression does not mean unbridled licence to flout the law of the land by airing or fanning seditious views.”

The group called upon the intelligentsia to use their power with wisdom and maturity. Irresponsible slogans could mislead people to take partisan positions without understanding the grave implications. “As patriotic Indians who strongly believe that the unity and secular democratic fabric of our republic must be preserved at all costs, we call upon the government to make it unequivocally clear at the highest level that under no circumstances will it and the people countenance any compromise with the integrity of the nation,” the statement said while impressing upon political parties to raise their voice and come out unambiguously against secessionism in any form.

No responsible government could ever compromise India’s territorial integrity by even contemplating the secession of Kashmir. If the Indian state was seen as weak enough to let Kashmir go, other States and disaffected groups within India would only get emboldened.

Secondly, as borders in the plains of north India were not defensible, Kashmir was vital for security, the statement said.

The signatories include Subhash Chandra, chairperson of the Essel Group; Major General (retd) Afsir Karim; Ajit Doval, former IB Director; M.J.Akbar, journalist; Anil Baijal, former Union Secretary; Admiral (retd) Arun Prakash; Air Marshal (retd) S.R. Deshpandey; Dhirendra Singh, former Secretary; G. Parthasarathy, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan; Rajiv Sikri, former Foreign Secretary; C.D.Sahay, former RAW secretary; Lt. General R.K. Sawhney, (retd) Deputy Chief of Army Staff; Satish Chandra, retired IFS officer; Lt. General Shantanu Chaudhury, former Vice- Chief of Army Staff; the former Air Chief S.P.Tyagi; Ved Marwah, former Governor; Vijai Kapoor, former Lt. Governor of Delhi; and Vikram Sood, former RAW Secretary.

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