Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, eminent lawyer and chairman of Kashmir committee Ram Jethmalani on Saturday said the Indian army’s presence in Indian-administered Kashmir should be “terminated as soon as the terror stops”, the Times of India reported.
"Army's presence should be terminated as soon as possible. But let the terror stop, I am sure army must go," he said.
Interestingly, his remarks come on the same day the Indian army admitted making a ‘mistake’ by shooting dead two teenagers in Indian-administered Kashmir. In regard to this, he said the army personnel involved in the tragic incident “should be dealt with according to the law.”
The teenagers died after soldiers fired at a car on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday, while another youngster was critically wounded.
He said the case should be investigated as to ascertain what led the Indian armed forces to resort to the firing, saying, “If they did that intentionally, there should be severe punishment...they should be hanged”.
Jethmalani praised former president Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula for the Kashmir issue, terming it as a “wonderful document which should be the basis for a permanent solution of Kashmir,” and said Musharraf had gone to India with a “firm and honest intention” to solve the crisis.
He went on to say that the former dictator’s “efforts were ‘frustrated’ by India” and that the document’s purpose was that of both sides of Kashmir having a secular democracy.
Jethmalani, aged 91, claimed to have made changes to Musharraf’s document which the former dictator, who is currently on the Exit Control List, accepted.
“I have been working for Kashmir for a long time and Musharraf knew. He sent his proposal to me through a common friend,” said Jethmalani -- who was expelled from BJP earlier this year.
He suggested that a formal body comprising statesmen – and recognised by both countries – be constituted to “see to it that people are not exploited by these governments.”
The expelled BJP MP said not all the freedom fighters he was in touch with were ‘Paksitan agents’, adding that they may have been pro-Pakistan at some point, but not anymore. “I am glad to tell you that majority of them want to be with India”.
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@Cynic Waheed No Indians here to say this guy is crazy or some sorts? Kamal hai bhai.. Yaqeen nahi aa raha!
No we don't then you are ignoring our culture
He is 92 years old He is nearing the God. In our culture and in family if some elders say something like this we youngsters use to ignore it.
Every man's eternal desire in to be immortal if not possible bodily then by their deeds and Jeyhmalani , Musarraf and any one is no exception this is why they are putting utopian formulas to solve the pending problems . The main problem is the trust deficite between India and Pakistan ie between Hindus and Muslims and till this deficite remains this problem will not solve . Kashmir is not an issue rather become a tool to test the resigillience of the two warring parties nothing more . So to solve the trust deficite problem what is the solution ? Only patience , prosperity , and progress nothing else .
The only solution, would be for India to reclaim Pakistan Occupied Kashmir - including the portion gifted by Pakistanis to China. After which the entire Kashmir region will develop, along with other parts of India under the capable leadership of Modi...
@just_someone: Im just saying they definitely dont want to be with India!
Kashmir doesnt mean that, some Baltistanti migrants occupying Northern Jammu and Kashmir of Rishi Kashyappa will make it green Kashmir.Bharat will not give the Gypsies a choice, if they like it or not.
@Qaiser:
"One and only solution to Kashmir is “The Free Kasmir” , not to become part of India, neither Pakistan."
What prevents from Pakistan giving true and total freedom to the portion of Kashmir including GB, Northern areas so they can join the UN as an independent country? Doesn't Pakistan say it wants to give the Kashmiris the right to be free nation?
@Cynic Waheed: ET has chosen to not publish what many Indians said. I will try one more time. He said WHEN terrorism stops, army should be removed. Who can object to that? Was there an army in the alley in 1988? No. What changed in 1989? Pakistan started pushing armed foreign jihadis who. had become jobless once Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan. Who then should be blamed for such a large presence of army ( most of which by the way is not in the civilian areas but rather the LOC/IB.
He is former BJP member, not current
@Cynic Waheed: Lots of Indians must have said it. I know I did. But my post didn't see the light of day. The censoring at ET has become rather tight these days. I must say that this pompous old man will say anything to make the headlines. His main job these days is to represent corrupt politicians in the courts.
@just_someone: Kashmiri pandits want to be part of india and all that is what matters to us.
@just_someone:
Every Kashmiri?
State of J&K has 30% non Muslims. Do they have a hole in their head to want to be part of a Muslim majority theocratic nation, that will systematically cleanse them out??
@just_someone " Truth is spoken .. Every reasonable person knows that Kashmiris dont want to be with India" Ha ha ha.. this is the real pakistani confusion.
No Indians here to say this gus is crazy or some sorts? Kamal hai bhai.. Yaqeen nahi aa raha! Where are all the Indians gone? :P
ET - You know you want to block this right? as its insulting to Indians, but course they can get away calling us anything...
He also said that plebicite is not possible as the condition of plebicite is 1) That pakistan had to vacate the last intruders from entire POK including part gifted to China as one reason 2) No demograpic change on both sides of kashmir should occur or allowed but pakistan has changed the demographics of POK defying its promise not to do so while India has kept its promise and has not changed the demographics so this rules out plebisite 3)The plebiscite let us assume if ever happen then it will occur with the entire state under Indian flag.Pakistan doesn't fulfills this all so plebiscite option is permanently out of equation and GOI will never do that whatsoever.
Then comes Article 370 which he says that cannot be repealed but other sources say the Article 370 is a national issue and state govt has nothing to do with it and the ultimate power vests with the Union Government of India on what to do with Article 370.So this effectively means that Government of India has powers to repeal every such act that it feels is against national interest.So its is a bit naive saying Article 370 cannot be repealed by Mr Ram Jethmalani and is contradicting to others lawers who says Article 370 can be repealed under certain options through the Indian Parliament and with powers vested the Union Government of India and BJP has reiterated once again that it will repeal Atricle 370 (see source). http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Nov/9/bjp-in-poll-manifesto-will-abrogate-article-370-58.asp
Then about Mr Jethmalani on Musharrafs 4 point formula, then i think he is now not in BJP as he was expelled from BJP a year or 2 ago for going against party line.When the BJP didn't accept his opinion then when he was in the party then it foolishness to think that BJP will accept anything coming from Jethmalani now when BJP is in Govt.So he is no spokesperson for Govt of India.
Kashmiris, majority of them, want independence and wave pakistani flags and cheer for their cricket team (Im not supporting Kashmiris want to be part of Pakistan but use the pakistani flag as a symbol to convey frustration against New Delhi) and very few state they want to be part of the Union of India. If Pakistan and india sincerely ignore their nationalistic jargon, Kashmir can honestly be made into a Switzerland or some city-state that can be prosperous for South Asia and beyond and that's neutral and democratic and stable. Then, both of these nations can focus on nation-building.
The truth is spoken...sadly only after they are not part of govt. Every reasonable person knows that Kashmiris dont want to be with India. Im not claiming they want to be with Pakistan, Im just saying they definitely dont want to be with India!