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Sunday, September 26, 2010

Nothing personal about it


Sidelights of Kashmir Debates on Indian Television channels, by Gowhar Geelani


'Ostrich' on 'Devil's Advocate':
"Your party, the  National Conference passed a resolution for the restoration of autonomy, New Delhi rejected it; your party demanded partial withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), New Delhi rejected it; you, your son and your party demanded change in the status quo in Kashmir; New Delhi rejected it too, aren't you disappointed, isn't your party marginalized, isn't your credibility eroded, Karan Thapar's volley of questions to Mr. Farooq Abdullah? "No, not at all. I'm not disappointed. Credibility is a temporary thing, it isn't important. It comes and goes. What do you want me to do? Should I jump into a well, he replies. Farooq Saheb, even jumping into a well needs some credibility! Sorry, you've got no chance!



Summer Theory of Shabnam [A]Lone:
Kashmir wants a "summer of contentment but what it gets in return is a summer of discontentment,'' this weird theory of summers has already brought winters in Kashmir! Apart from being the daughter of late Abdul Gani Lone, what is her identity? Who's she (a-lone) when it comes to Kashmir debate?

Ravi Shankar Prasad's 'Prasad':
What legitimacy Mr. Geelani has. Has he ever won any election in Kashmir, asks Mr. Prasad? Poor fellow doesn't know that Mr. Geelani has made it to the J&K Legislative Assembly three times, a hat-trick! And this 'learned' spokesperson of the Bhartiya Janata Party is on all the major Indian television news (read views) channels almost on daily basis, believing he knows Kashmir! Mr. Prasad desperately needs some 'prasad' of books on Kashmir dispute and its history!

Manish Te(l)wari:
"Geelani Sahib, this is Indian democracy which allows you to air your 'extremist' views on the national television, had you done so in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) you'd have been disappeared in the night itself," Mr. Tewari tells Hurriyat chairman Mr. S A S Geelani. Tewari Saheb's 'democracy' is responsible for the enforced custodial disappearances of nearly ten thousand Kashmiri youth since 1989, killings of more than 90 thousand civilians, arrests of thousands, torture, rapes and molestation of women, hundreds of fake encounters, collective punishment to entire population and denial of basic human rights to hapless Kashmiris. At least he shouldn't be talking of Indian democracy in Kashmir. It is almost an abuse.

"Go-Swami Go":
Television news anchor Arnob Go-Swami (read spokesperson of the Indian Army) thinks that the protests in Kashmir are organized by India's neighbour and arch-rival, the country which is facing the biggest humanitarian crisis in its history, one-third of Pakistan is under flood waters, there are bomb blasts taking place in all its four provinces; but this very country, according to Arnob, leaves all its problems aside to sponsor and organize anti-India protests in Kashmir. What analysis! "Go Swami Go!"

Sagarika Ghosh(t):
This so-called liberal television moderator brainwashes Kashmiri students in her studio while narrating to them the much-hyped success stories of India."Your destiny lies with India, a huge economic success story; etc. etc ," Mrs. Ghosh impresses upon Kashmiris. Should she be telling Kashmiris what is good or bad for them? Liberally corrupt. And democratically undemocratic!

Rajdeep Sardesai:
While interviewing Hurriyat leaders and Pakistani politicians, Mr. Sardesai forgets all mannerisms and perhaps thinks it is time to settle scores and bat for his motherland, India. While batting he completely forgets he's a journalist, who's supposed to be dispassionate, objective, fair and impartial; but all these words describing traits of a good journalist are dispatched with disdain to all parts of the boundary rope when it comes to Kashmir!

Pappa's Daughter:
"These protesting young boys and teenagers are the same who voted for us two years back, Mehbooba Mufti repeatedly keeps \ saying to Indian television channels. In this confession lies both confirmation of a crime and contradiction. Teenagers are not eligible to vote. So, how could they have voted as age of many of those protesting youth is below 18-years? But if they have, that means pro-India political parties are involved in rigging, bunglings and frauds when it comes to electoral and voting processes in Kashmir!

'Five Police Station' Theoretician:
According to Mr. Praveen Swami, the sentiment for freedom in Kashmir is restricted to the limits of five police stations of downtown Srinagar, little does this theorist know that there might be only five police stations left where pro-freedom demonstrations haven't taken place in the Valley! Mr. Swami, it is time for some innovative theories now!

Ambit of Humanity:
"We will talk with everyone and resolve Kashmir issue under the ambit of humanity (Insaaniyat Kay Dayire Main Baat Hogi), the former Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee had once said. Didn't this statement also suggest that the Indian constitution isn't humane!

Reality Check:
"Autonomy is a blank cheque for Azadi," says Mr. Arun Jaitley. Jaitley Saheb, you please remain calm and assured, the Congress government does not have the belly to take any decision on Kashmir. Kashmir dispute was invented by the Congress, how could it solve it? Take a chill pill!!!

Journalist-turned Politician:
Mr. Chandan Mitra endorses the view that Kashmiris seeking freedom from India should be dealt with more force. According to this journalist-turned politician, people raising pro-freedom slogans in Kashmir are in a minority. Thank God, this man decided to join politics. Journalism demands courage to speak truth, Mr. Chandan has an uncanny knack of speaking and spreading lies!

"Future Lies": Many Indian 'experts' on Indian television channels keep lecturing Kashmiris that their future lies with India, should they be deciding about the future of Kashmir or Kashmiris themselves! Ufff...this colonial mindset...!

Disclaimer: With due apologies to the individual names mentioned. Nothing personal about it...!

***
The author is a Kashmiri journalist based in Germany, feedback: gowhargeelani@gmail.com


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