Ex-Servicemen resent the way stone pelting by Kashmiri youngsters is being encouraged to obstruct performing of duties by security forces

Ex-Servicemen resent the way stone pelting by Kashmiri youngsters is being encouraged to obstruct performing of duties by security forces

Brig. K.G. Behl, (Retd.)

Patron, Dehradun Ex-Services League,

The Statement of Sheikh Abdullah that the throwing  of stones by the Kashmiri youngsters   at  defense personnel,  is national cause, specially when the defense forces were trying to deal with terrorists, is  not only wrong but anti nationalistic.  Ex-Servicemen resent such statements.  Govt. should take immediate election against him  and the election commission should debar him from fighting the elections.  His another election speech  that since India and Pakistan had not been able to resolve the Kashmir issue so far,   the US offer to act as a mediator be accepted by India, is equally deplorable. It is being done to gain cheap popularity to win elections. The poor percentage of polls shows  how popular they are.

As you all know Sheikh Abdullah is a senior Kashmiri leader but his Statements many a times cause embarrassment to the Government and people. It appears that he is in league with the separatist and instead of bringing those people in the main stream he is towing their line to win elections.  He should rather try to find out the exact number of people who are towing the idea of seperationals  as those appear to be very few. How those few are controlling such agitations for a long time and from where they are getting money to pay youngsters who are called by them to pelt stones on defense  forces. They are simply inciting youngsters to create an atmosphere of disturbance and disturb peace which is against their own interest. Many students have suffered  in the process, which could have been avoided had our leaders like Abdullah met the separatist and convinced them to join the national stream.  It is a serious matter  and Govt. must take strong action so that such statements are not given by other leaders and unnecessary bloodshed is avoided and peace prevails.

In this connection it may be added that  the Chief of  Army Staff  has already stated that no interference will be tolerated in the  work of defence forces when they are operating against the terrorists. To support pelting of stones by young Kashmiris on defence forces when they were actually involved  in the action  against terrorists is anti-national and should not be allowed. The recent incident with the  election team is deplorable and needs to be dealt with strictly.