The Markazi Majlis-e-Mushawarat (MMM) of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat reiterates the objects and purposes of the Mushawarat - defence of the religious identity, the human right and the constitutional rights of the Muslim community, protection of their life, property and dignity and the sanctity of their religious places, institutions and Wakf properties, the development of their educational and economic status, their adequate representation in the political structure, public services, development outlay and welfare benefits - in short, their Empowerment. The MMM also reiterates its pledge to promote inter-religious harmony, tolerance, goodwill and fraternal relations among all communities of our multi-religious society.
The MMM expresses its distress at the national situation today - the upsurge of chauvinism and fascism, the threat of assimilation of all diversities into uniformity, the widening economic gap between the rich and the poor, the steep rise in the price levels of the essential items of mass consumption, the persistent violation of human rights, the phenomenal rise in corruption, the brutal atrocities against the weaker sections, the rampant discrimination against the minorities and the steady saffronisation of education and culture.
The MMM advises the Muslim community individually and collectively, to join hands with like-minded forces to save the country from disaster and take it in the right direction.
The MMM reiterates its commitment to the democratic and secular order under the Constitution and to our glorious traditions of cultural synthesis, religious tolerance and social fraternisation and takes note of the hidden agenda of the Sangh Parivar to convert the secular State progressively into a Hindu State and to destroy the basic ethos of our mother land. The MMM expresses its determination to resist their anti-national move in cooperation with other secular forces. In this context, the MMM calls upon all secular forces to come together with a view to form a truly secular government at the Centre and the states and assures them of the full support of the Muslim community in this task.
The MMM records its deep apprehension that the minority rights shall be targetted in the current review of the Constitution and authorises the President to monitor the progress of the review and to intervene to protect the Muslim interest, when considered necessary.
The MMM requests the President of the Republic to return the UP (Regulation of Public Religious Buildings and Places) Bill, 2000, and call upon the Governments of Rajasthan, MP and West Benga to repeal their corresponding Acts.
The MMM reiterates the commitment of the Muslin community to accept the final judicial verdict on the Babari Masjid dispute but cautions the authorities again the plan of the Sangh Parivar to build the proposed Mand on the Babari Masjid site, in defiance of the judicial orders. The MMM also records its firm rejection of an move to hand over the Babari Masjid site to the VHP through legislation.
The MMM notes the threat to the democratic right of the Bengali-speaking people of Assam and calls for the enfranchisement of all persons who have not been declared as foreign nationals and for reservation in the Assam legislature for all ethnic groups in proportion to their population.
The MMM expresses its agony at the continuing violence in Jammu and Kashmir and welcomes the possibility of unconditional dialogue between the Government, on one hand, and the APHC and other political elements, on the other. The MMM demands a Moratorium on violence and calls for mobilisation of the people all over the country Against Violence and For Dialogue.
The MMM condemns the current spate of violence against the Christian community and expresses its solidarity with them and other minorities and calls for the formation of a united front of minorities to defend their rights.
The MMM calls upon the Muslim community to assure their due and proper courage in the coming Census, in February 2001, and advises the Muslim youth in all localities to ensure correct enumeration. The MMM expresses its solidarity with the valiant people of Chechenya and Kosovo, against whom the Russian and Yugoslavia Governments are waging full-scale war, and calls for urgent international intervention for protection of human rights and for a honourable political settlement through negotiation.
Terms of Reference: Pandian Commission J&K Notification, 17 April, 2000
Whereas, the Government is of the opinion that it is necessary to appoint a Commission of Inquiry to enquire into a definite matter of public importance, namely one event of firing on a procession of inhabitants from Achhabal area of District. Anantnag at Brakpora/Bulbul Nowgam (Anantnag), on 3rd of April, 2000;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Commission of Inquiry Act, 1962, the Government hereby appoint a Commission of Inquiry consisting of Mr. Justice S.R. Pandian, retired Judge of the Supreme Court.
The Commission so appointed shall: -
a) enquire into the causes and circumstances leading to the event of firing at Brakpora/Bulbul Nowgam (Anantnag) on 3rd of April, 2000, resulting in the death of five persons on the spot and causing injuries to others of whom three succumbed to their injuries subsequently;
b) enquire whether the force used in firing on the crowd was justified or not ;..
c) fix responsibility for using excessive force if any; and
d) make suggestions for preventing recurrence of such events in future.
The Commission shall perform all the functions necessary for holding the enquiry or incidental thereto and submit its report within a period of three months ...
Harish Khare On Parameters of Peace Process
Whatever be the dynamics of internal equations within the Vajpayee Government in New Delhi, the "peace process" in Kashmir remains predicated on four parameters. First, the vexatious question: who represents the people of J&K? The Hurriyat Conference claims – and has been steadfast in this - that it alone can speak for the "people" of Kashmir. This claim has remained untested ...
Second, the unavoidable question of Pakistani involvement and interest in a Kashmir settlement ...
.... It requires foolhardiness of a different kind to discount Pakistan's capacity to keep making things difficult in the Valley (and) to crank up violence ... notwithstanding the grand Kargil "victory" ...
... Third, there is the American parameter. It is no secret that a section of the Hurriyat leadership has been assiduously nurtured and promoted by the U.S. State Department ... The Americans have done everything possible to undermine the legitimacy of the Indian state in the eyes of the average Kashmir; inversely, the American willingness to give the benefit of the doubt to the "freedom struggle" has generated an aura of respectability around the ... militant outfits ...
And, the fourth and last parameter can be identified as the "Farooq problem". The Vajpayee Government has not yet found a way to deny Dr. Abdullah a veto over the Kashmir issue ...
At the same time, the good doctor cannot be expected to be a mere bystander to any arrangement, however tentative, that may bypass the National Conference ...
These four parameters would more or less determine the pace and content of the "peace process" as and when, if at all, it takes off ... (Source: The Hindu, 21 May, 2000)
Government's New Move on Kashmir - Editorial, The New Age, 26 May, 2000
... There is no objection to the Government's effort to open dialogue with the Hurriyat leaders or any other group active in the state ... But one cannot ignore the ground realities. The All Party Hurriyat Conference is a grouping of certain political outfits with contradictory approach to the problem ...
In such a situation merely opening of dialogue with these leaders of APHC will not meet the requirements of the situation. More importantly, to arrive at a lasting solution to the problem, concrete and concerted efforts are required to redress the grievances of the people at large, overcome their sense of alienation and win them over thus isolating the extremists operating in the Valley ...
Most intriguing part of the whole exercise is that most of the people and leaders in Kashmir believe that the current initiative of the government of India is not merely backed by the USA, actually it is the moving spirit behind the entire game ... The US ... desires to not only assume the mediator's role but also pave way for a foothold for Pentagon in ... Kashmir, the ideal place being very close to China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, a gateway to the Central Asian republics as well. Linkage of Kashmir problem with the nuclear capability after the Pokhran-II had further complicated the matter. It actually internationalized the issue ... It is high time that the government convenes an All Party meeting to discuss all the aspects of the vexed problem and build a consensus on a comprehensive Kashmir policy.
We are Sensitive to Territory, not People - Rajmohan Gandhi
In some ways our attitude to Sri Lanka is not very different from our attitude to Kashmir or the Northeast. If we are honest, many of us have mentally said "Leave us alone" to Kashmir and the Northeast as well. While many Indians would react strongly to any threat of losing territories in Kashmir or the Northeast, the pain of these areas - including the daily death toll cutting across every divide and the destruction of normal life - is largely ignored ... (Source: The Hindustan Times, 1 June, 2000)
