‘We Care’ Manushi ‘Citizens First’ Forum protest against situation in Kashmir

Alarmed at the rapidly deteriorating political situation in Kashmir, and the continued passivity and indifference of the central Government in the face of such widespread popular unrest, on September 3, at 5.30 p.m., Manushi ‘Citizens First’ Forum lead a delegation to submit a Memorandum to the Chairperson UPA, Smt Sonia Gandhi. The Memorandum suggests a nine point action plan to restore the credibility of the democratic process in J&K. On the same evening Manushi also held a candlelight vigil from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. at the Central Park in Connaught Place in the memory of all innocents, including security personnel, who have been killed in the recent spate of violence in the Valley.

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Well known Sufi singers including Madan Gopal Singh, Deepak Castelino, Zakir Dholpuri, Pritam Ghosal, Bindu Chawla, Vatsala Mehra and a Kashmiri band also payed a musical tribute to those who have been victims of this violence and to pray for restoration of peace in this troubled Valley.

Manushi believes that it is vital to build bridges of understanding between the people of J&K and people in the rest of India. Very few people in the country realize that what began as a legitimate protest against the killing of an innocent school boy and an expression of disenchantment against the insensitive governance of Omar Abdullah has now burgeoned into a full fledged anti India movement because of political mismanagement. 68 persons, including small children, have been killed by security forces in the current phase of violence. Numerous civilians and hundreds of security personnel have suffered grievous injuries during these easily avoidable battles between ordinary citizens and security forces. What the separatist failed to achieve in 20 years has been delivered to them on a platter in 20 months of Omar Abdullah’s misrule.

In such an explosive situation it is important to have a strong expression of solidarity for the people of J&K. Manushi’s Appeal to concerned citizens says: “It is time that we, as citizens of India, show that we stand by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their hour of grief; that they are an inseparable part of the unique tapestry of diversity and plurality that is India and that ‘We Care’.We need to demonstrate that, citizen-to-citizen, people to people, we want to understand what is going through their hearts and minds and help create a conducive and convivial environment for them to communicate their feelings and legitimate aspirations to the people as well as the power elite in India