Pak-sponsored Khalistani protesters attack Delhi Police in the garb of farmer protests
Municipal Case Study: British Columbia and Permissive Tax Exemptions
Fort Langley, British Columbia[1], Canada, is home or a next door neighbour to the largest fundamentalist Christian university in the country: Trinity Western University. A self-identified Evangelical Christian university with a well-known Community Covenant and Statement of Faith, and failed law school decisively labelled as “exclusionary” with the potential for “risk of significant harm to LGBTQ people” (quoting Case Summary of Law Society of British Columbia v. Trinity Western University, 2018 SCC 32.).
Trinity Western University v Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, Trinity Western University v The Law Society of Upper Canada (2015), and Trinity Western University v Law Society of British Columbia (2015), led to the Supreme Court of Canada case (2017-18).
Trinity Western University lost the case 7-2. In the official documentation, one can find quotations relevant to the known interpretations external to Trinity Western University of the Community Covenant.
For example, “Case Summary of Law Society of British Columbia v. Trinity Western University, 2018 SCC 32.“ stated:
The refusal to approve the proposed law school means that members of the TWU religious community are not free to impose those religious beliefs on fellow law students, since they have an inequitable impact and can cause significant harm. The LSBC chose an interpretation of the public interest in the administration of justice which mandates access to law schools based on merit and diversity, not exclusionary religious practices. The refusal to approve TWU’s proposed law school prevents concrete, not abstract, harms to LGBTQ people and to the public in general. The LSBC’s decision ensures that equal access to the legal profession is not undermined and prevents the risk of significant harm to LGBTQ people who feel they have no choice but to attend TWU’s proposed law school. It also maintains public confidence in the legal profession, which could be undermined by the LSBC’s decision to approve a law school that forces LGBTQ people to deny who they are for three years to receive a legal education.
The “concrete” and not merely abstract harm became the focus there. All this coming from the locale of the Township of Langley. This happened for years. Some of these formulations of Christian theology and morality come to the public spotlight more than others.
Yet, surprisingly, its demographics, even by 2011 Metro Vancouver data, contained 43,680 individuals without a formal religious affiliation out of 103,145 citizens in the Township of Langley, so 42.3% as of 2011 without a formal religious affiliation.
More than 2 out of every 5 don’t adhere to any formal religious system. If the municipal data reflects national trends since 2011, then the proportion should be higher than 42.3%. Which, to me, was surprising, probably to many others, indeed, the 2018 inaugural Council session followed relatively normal procedure with a prayer by Pastor Derrick Hamre of Christian Life Assembly[1], which is a part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC).
One would gather a different sense of the demographics with prayers opening inaugural Council meetings if new to it. Obviously, if examining the prayer with reference to “Heavenly Father,” “pray,” “prayer,” “blessing,” “bless, “Christ,” and “amen,” this means, not only a prayer but, a particular religion’s prayer, a Christian prayer.
As per the Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay (City), 2015, SCC 16 [2015] 2 S.C.R. 3 decision, from “2015,” was violated, after personally sending a letter of concern[2] and receiving a prompt response from a municipal representative, I have been earlier informed inaugural prayers are no longer going to take place at Council meetings in the Township of Langley; and the same with other prayers at Council meetings.
It would appear councils have been making the changes since 2015 to be in accordance with the Supreme Court of Canada. They have been slow to realize this Supreme Court of Canada decision. This means a compliance with the law. When mentioning the “Council,” this references the current Council of the Township of Langley, which is comprised of Mayor Jack Froese, Councillor Petrina Arnason, Councillor David Davis, Councillor Steve Ferguson, Councillor Margaret Kunst, Councillor Bob Long, Councillor Kim Richter, Councillor Blair Whitmarsh, and Councillor Eric Woodward.
Some of my previous coverage in the Township of Langley, British Columbia, and Canada, covered a number of the problematic contents of the municipality, the province, and the society, including homeopathy, naturopathy, astrologers, mediums, psychics, William Branham’s “The Message” theology (particularly Cloverdale Bibleway), and (most often Christian) creationism[3].
In the moment of COVID-19, these become further layered concerns because of the culture of the denial of scientific skepticism or scientific rationalism. In this sense, the idea of science as something to inform policy decision-making and political maneuvers, rather than faith, is important.
Indeed, as one may see with the news coverage throughout the United States, there’s a sense of denial of science and affirmation of the power and glory of their God to protect them. Many pastors made these open claims.
“Latin America’s evangelical churches hard hit by pandemic,” by the Associated Press, reported in Bolivia “some 100 evangelical pastors have died,” in Nicaragua (according to the Nicaraguan Evangelical Alliance) “at least 44 pastors have died since March,” and so it goes; these are replicated stories elsewhere.
Pastors reject the sound medical and scientific public health recommendations, even demands of the government led by experts. They put their congregations, or “flock,” and themselves at risk. Following this, many die, sadly and unfortunately, but predictably due to theological assertions -wrongheadedness.
Similarly, when this happens in the local context, this becomes important. Riverside Calvary Chapel in Walnut Grove, British Columbia, has been making some of the news, lately, which, so happens, exists in the Township of Langley. The same Langley under the aegis of the aforementioned councillors and mayor.
The male pastoral leadership (by title of “pastor” or “elder,” youth, children, and administration left to the women[4]) comes from Elder Nathan Sawatzky, Elder Brent Muxlow, Elder Pete Jansen, Lead Pastor Brent Smith, Assistant Pastor Randy Dyck, Assistant Pastor Rob Lee, and Youth Pastor Cole Smith.
Dan Ferguson and Matthew Claxton, separately, reported on Riverside Calvary Chapel in “VIDEO: Langley church defies provincial ban on in-person services for a second time,” “Business owner under siege for reporting Langley church pleased pastor has spoken out,” “Langley church fined for holding in-person Sunday service,” “Police warned Langley church will face more fines for in-person worship: court documents,” “Updated: Langley church fined for holding in-person Sunday service,” and “Langley Township could strip tax break from churches defying COVID health orders.”
Ferguson, in “VIDEO: Langley church defies provincial ban on in-person services for a second time,” discussed how the Riverside Calvary Chapel was fined $2,300 (CAD) for the defiance of a provincial ban on public services, which was ordered by the provincial health officer.
Cpl. Holly Largy found an in-person service in-progress. This raises a number of questions. How many other quiet breaking of rules happen in the Township of Langley, the “Bible Belt,” based on religious commitments? Everyone else follows the law.
Thus, everyone collectively pays for tax exemptions of some buildings over others. Why are those harming the commonwealth with breaking public health orders receiving tax breaks where others may not get the tax breaks, exemptions, while following the same rules of everyone else?
Do these amount to particular benefits for some religious groups and not for others with the presumptive status of benefit to the general public for tax exempt status of some churches explicitly rejecting the common good via holding services in the midst of a once-in-a-century pandemic?
Largy noted the option to disperse was given to the congregants and leadership. This was declined; a fine was issued.
Lead Pastor Brent Smith stated, “We have a team of lawyers that are preparing a statement and will be representing us on these matters… We certainly are not looking for a fight, we just believe there has been many inconsistencies with what is essential and we simply desire to worship our Lord in a safe and Biblical way.”
Two other churches in Chilliwack rejected the public health officials’ orders, the Chilliwack Free Reformed Church and Free Grace Baptist Church. They claim the public health order of the provincial health officer violated their Charter rights.
Later, on December 6, 2020, the same Riverside Calvary Chapel defied the provincial health officer’s orders by holding another in-person meeting. Which, to secular members of the public, generally, does not surprise, in this country, Christianity, as believed and held by Christians, has been and continues to be a political tool.
Something upon which to flaunt their being exceptions to the rules; while, at the same time, everyone else must follow them. When they get called on it, they play the victim. This is the narrative. This is the story for centuries.
How many times has the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church had the opportunity to apologize and make amends for the Residential School System in this country? There are tons of cases like this.
Kari Simpson, the Executive Director of Culture Guard (Langley, British Columbia, Canada), spoke on the issue. Culture Guard is known for opposition to sexual orientation and gender identity resources in schools and wanting a “Canadian Judeo-Christian Flag” raised at Langley City hall.
Simpson declared, in the video, in “VIDEO: Langley church defies provincial ban on in-person services for a second time,” that the State was making this religious issue political.
Whereas, in fact, the same rules for everyone applied and then based on religious reasoning and grounds the individual members and leaders of Riverside Calvary Chapel defied the public health orders putting the public at health risk.
Which is to state, Kari Simpson is not only wrongheaded, but backwards in the reasoning. The individual church members functioning in a tax exempt building defied health orders for the benefit of the public, while taking break on public dime (including secular community members, who are plentiful), and then claimed the violators were the victims.
Imagine a thief coming to Riverside Calvary Chapel and stealing objects belonging to the church, this makes the news. Everyone’s up in arms. The police fine the thief after apprehending them and returning the stolen church goods.
The church members and leaders, e.g., Lead Pastor Brent Smith, claims this is against the law, to steal public property from the church. The thief then claims, “Why are you and the State making this political?” You see the issue.
Simpson, in essence, is explicitly claiming special rights and exceptions to rules obeyed by everyone else for Protestant Evangelical Christians at Riverside Calvary Chapel. Lead Pastor Brent Smith, and other pastoral leaders, are implicitly claiming special rights and exceptions by their actions once to the tune of $2,300 (CAD) and a second time.
That’s the point. Some don’t care to function by the same rules and regulations, and laws, as everyone else, because they view themselves as above it, which is the attitude and stance of common, petty criminals.
However, it comes under the guise of religion in the Township of Langley and, therefore, acquires a certain social immunity from common criticism as one would apply in the case of the thief.
Interestingly enough, Simpson claimed, “[Provincial health officer] Bonnie Henry is going to have to justify her position on this. I think she’s going to have real trouble.” The public justification is public health and safety, which most of the public understands, respects, and shows mutual concern and respect through following the rules here. I’ll give Simpson the benefit of the doubt; she’s lying and playing to her base rather than ignorant and lying.
Again, to Simpson, it’s quite the opposite. Simpson will “have to justify her position on this” because “I think she’s going to have real trouble” with justifying it. Why? Because she can’t justify it on the bases of the same standards as everyone else in law, in policy, in health guidelines and rules for the common good.
As implicit here, the issue is fundamentalist religious, often Christian, sentiments, in this municipality; justifications for the unjustifiable with appeals to privileged status for one’s own preferred religion and sect within the preferential religion, which, by definition, becomes unequal in status on a stand of greater stature.
Important to note, both Chilliwack pastors, James Butler (Free Grace Baptist) and John Koopman, are quoted as citing God and Christian theology as the reason for violating the public health order.
Butler stated, “The identification of what is and what is not an ‘essential service’ is certainly open for interpretation, but in short, we believe that churches are essential, and that Christians are commanded by God to attend public worship.”
Koopman said, “Our convictions compel us to worship our God in the public gathering of his people and we must act in accordance with our conscience.”
What if one were to make an appeal to a particular political ideology as a reason for statements around “The identification of what is and what is not an ‘essential service’ is certainly open for interpretation”?
You see the issues and the concerns here. In “Police warned Langley church will face more fines for in-person worship: court documents,” Ferguson stated, “According to a petition filed on Jan. 7 in the Vancouver B.C. Supreme Court registry on behalf of Riverside Calvary and several other parties in B.C., two bylaw officers and six RCMP officers arrived at the church in the 9600 block of 201st Street to issue the first ticket for $2,300 on Sunday, Nov. 29.”
As of mid-January, 19 churches in the Fraser Valley have been defying the public health order. This is the relatively common, non-majority attitude if happening sufficiently here.
Although, Pastor Smith of Riverside Calvary Chapel has done some positive contributions with not condoning some online attacks against a business owner, Dena Fyfe. Nonetheless, the main issues stay here.
The basic issue remains a culture as a threat to public health with explicit reasoning given in religious interpretations stipulated in public by pastors. It’s not a mystery; it’s, also, probably appalling to other religious people who are community leaders who adhere to guidelines, as with Cllr. Blair Whitmarsh (see below).
The single most important article reported, so far in this Riverside Calvary affair remains the one entitled “Langley Township could strip tax break from churches defying COVID health orders.”
This, in addition to “B.C. churches breaking COVID-19 rules still get government tax breaks,” describes the basic rationalist views here. As Graeme Wood reported in the article, “Riverside got an $11,997 tax break from the Township of Langley in 2019; in 2018 it got a $10,925 break.” “Riverside” meaning Riverside Calvary Chapel in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
Only a fine of $2,300 with tax breaks as much as 5 times as much as that fine number per annum, in the most recent years. Then they break the order to attend church; two Chilliwack pastors break the order to attend churches explicitly for religious reasons; and then, 19 churches are reported – only in the Fraser Valley – to have violated the public order.
Thusly, this is a pathology within sectors of religious communities, not secular ones. Dr. Teale Phelps-Bondaroff of the British Columbia Humanist Association has been making a public call for every municipality within the province to have a public benefits test. Why?
A public benefits test for permissive tax exemptions. The argument was that if a worship place breaks the law, then the subsidies (tax exemptions) should be removed, because these are paid on the public dime and should be held to the same standards as everyone else: admission prices – so to speak.
Dr. Teale Phelps-Bondaroff stated to Graeme Wood, “[Permissive tax exemptions] exist specifically to support work that benefits the community… So, I would argue that a place of worship that is holding meetings in open defiance of COVID-19 regulations that are in place to keep people safe and prevent the spread of the pandemic is not providing a service that benefits the community – quite the opposite… Continuing to provide that place of worship with a PTE is an example of the government subsidizing this irresponsible and dangerous behaviour.”
Phelps-Bondaroff continued to dig into the Township of Langley. He noted Council interpretation is important with the local bylaws and Community Charter setting the framework. He argues these favour the places of worship over non-religious non-profit groups.
The Council of the Township of Langley reviews and passes permissive tax exemptions every year. Accordingly, tax-exempt organizations, e.g., churches, have to “fulfil some basic need, improve the life of Township residents and are compatible with or are complementary to services offered by the Township.”
This is how Woods is reporting it. Wherein, the breaking of health orders for the public good do not improve quality of life standards for members of the public.
Apparently, the permissive tax exemptions policy for the Township of Langley stipulates, “Council will only consider applications for permissive tax exemptions from charitable and not-for-profit organizations which are in good standing with their respective establishing and governing bodies… Permissive tax exemptions previously granted by Council are subject to an annual review to ensure that they continue to qualify for an exemption based on the most current available information at the time of the review.”
This is important. Furthermore, nobody from the Township of Langley Council responded to queries from the news agency for the article by Wood. Wood reported on December 21, 2020.
Now, the “Langley Township could strip tax break from churches defying COVID health orders” was January 11, 2021, so later. The councillors made public statements about this. The Township of Langley Councillor, Kim Richter placed a motion forward to “yank the permissive tax exemption status in 2022” from organizations failing to abide by the orders of the province’s health officer.
Richter made, more or less, the same argument, stating, “I think we have to put our foot down… There are lots of organizations out there that get the grant… and they abide by the rules, and they should continue to be supported by public monies.”
Hence, if an organization receiving permissive tax exemptions fails to follow public health orders, the status is removed.
Councillor David Davis approached this from a different angle, saying, “I don’t believe this motion says we’re going to censor what you’re saying, how you’re saying it… It’s just saying we can’t support a tax deduction if you are disobeying the head medical ministry.”
Councillor Blair Whitmarsh stated, “I’ve been disappointed by the action of some of the groups in our com that have chosen to disregard the orders that have come from the ministry.”
The British Columbia Humanist Association estimated $12.2 million (CAD) is given out to places of worship in 2019 via permissive tax exemptions by the Government of British Columbia.
Councillor Petrina Arnason was concerned about legal ramifications with the potential for Charter legal challenges to the motion. Richter has a lot of Council experience and had the savvy to propose sending the motion to Township of Langley staff for review of “final wording and any legal implications.”
Councillor Bob Long is the only one noted as opposing it. No word from Mayor Jack Froese, Councillor Steve Ferguson, Councillor Margaret Kunst, and Councillor Eric Woodward in the reportage.
As a conclusive note to date, the motion is expected to come back at a later Council meeting for a review and vote, so continues the saga of church and political & public life in Langley.
Footnotes
[1] Pastor Hamre stated:
Let us pray a prayer of blessing upon the commitments made tonight.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the sincerity of the individuals standing before us. We thank you for their integrity. We thank you for their years of experience and their willingness to serve the Township of Langley. We pray now that you would empower them with knowledge, and wisdom, and discernment. We pray that you would help them to have listening ears and hearts that are open to people and topics as they come week by week. We pray that you would give them physical stamina and endurance. We pray that you would protect them and protect their families. We pray that you would bless them as they serve one another and serve our community.
We pray these blessings in the name of Christ, amen.
[2] Dear Hon. Mayor and Council of the Township of Langley (ToL),
I am writing regarding the practice of beginning the inaugural session of the new ToL Council with a prayer in 2018.
I am a ToL resident. I did not attend the inaugural meeting of the new ToL Council at the time. Looking at the contents of the agenda of November 5, 2018, I noticed the inaugural ToL Council session was opened by the national anthem, an oath of office, and then an invocation in item C.1 stating, “Pastor Derrick Hamre, Christian Life Assembly, to offer the invocation on behalf of all present.” Pastor Hamre is the lead pastor of the Christian Life Assembly, which is part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) and, thus, a Christian religious representative invocation, i.e., an invocation with clear and straightforward interpretation as a prayer with reference to Christianity, in general, and Christian religious terminology, in particular, including “Heavenly Father,” “pray,” “prayer,” “blessing,” “bless, “Christ,” and “amen.” In short, with the statement in full, it is a Christian prayer. I took the liberty of transcribing Pastor Hamre’s wording in full for review:
Let us pray a prayer of blessing upon the commitments made tonight.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the sincerity of the individuals standing before us. We thank you for their integrity. We thank you for their years of experience and their willingness to serve the Township of Langley. We pray now that you would empower them with knowledge, and wisdom, and discernment. We pray that you would help them to have listening ears and hearts that are open to people and topics as they come week by week. We pray that you would give them physical stamina and endurance. We pray that you would protect them and protect their families. We pray that you would bless them as they serve one another and serve our community.
We pray these blessings in the name of Christ, amen.
As a freethinker, or a non-believer, and someone who believes in the separation of religion and government, I consider prayers as out of place, inappropriate, and against the fundamental principle of secularism in a government meeting. Indeed, a significant minority of the population of the ToL have no religious affiliation or a minority religious affiliation apart from Christianity in its various denominations or sects. The selection of one religion at the exclusion of others and in this case, of the majority religion, has the effect of serving as a subtle reminder to Langley citizens without a faith or of a minority faith that they are different than the majority. It sends the message: the political space of ToL Council favours one group over others. This has the effect of making some people feel unwelcome in this venue.
I wanted to bring to the attention of the Mayor and council a Supreme Court ruling addressing the question of beginning municipal council meetings with prayers. Specifically, the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay, found “the prayer recited by the municipal council in breach of the state’s duty of neutrality resulted in a distinction, exclusion and preference based on religion.”
This ruling elaborated, noting that “the pursuit of the ideal of a free and democratic society requires the state to encourage everyone to participate freely in public life regardless of their beliefs. A neutral public space free from coercion, pressure and judgment on the part of public authorities in matters of spirituality is intended to protect every person’s freedom and dignity, and it helps preserve and promote the multicultural nature of Canadian society. The state’s duty to protect every person’s freedom of conscience and religion means that it may not use its powers in such a way as to promote the participation of certain believers or non-believers in public life to the detriment of others…” (Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay (City), 2015, SCC 16 [2015] 2 S.C.R. 3).
The ruling found that the “sponsorship of one religious tradition by the state in breach of its duty of neutrality amounts to discrimination against all other such traditions.” And that “the state may not act in such a way as to create a preferential public space that favours certain religious groups and is hostile to others.” Indeed, by extension, “… the state may not, by expressing its own religious preference, promote the participation of believers to the exclusion of non-believers or vice versa” [paragraph 75].
This ruling applies to municipal councils across Canada. As such, council sessions, inaugural or otherwise, should not include prayer. This ruling took place in 2015, before the inaugural 2018 ToL Council meeting. It is possible that the Mayor, Council, and staff were not aware of it, or its implications on the agenda and procedures of the inaugural meeting. As a result, I wanted to ask the following questions:
What process has the ToL Council historically followed in selecting people to deliver the prayer at the inaugural session of a new council?
What process was followed for the 2018 inaugural meeting?
If any, what compensation is provided to the individuals who deliver prayers at the most recent inaugural meeting?
In light of the Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay decision, how will the Mayor and council be changing process and procedures for future inaugural meetings?
Thank you for your response and prompt action.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen
ToL Resident
[3] See Homeopathy – The Pathology of Pseudomedicine in Canada,” “Naturopathy – How Not to be a Doctor and Harm the Public Good,” “Making a Buck as a Mounteback – Astrologers, Mediums, and Psychics,” “The Fantastic Capacity for Believing the Incredible,” “The Message of William Marrion Branham: Responses Commentary,” “Freethought for the Small Towns: Case Study,” and “Canadians’ and Others’ Convictions to Divine Interventionism in the Matters of the Origins and Evolution.” (Hyperlinks active)
[4] Timothy 2:12 (NIV) states, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.” Timothy 2:12 (KJ21) states, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” Timothy 2:12 (KJV) states, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash
Pakistan-sponsored new terror tanzeems in Kashmir
Pakistan has excelled in “keeping the pot boiling” so far as perpetration of terror, dissension and disruption in Kashmir is concerned. No amount of pressure, domestic or international, has lowered the determination of those in the country who are vested with this responsibility. They are unmindful of the socio-economic setbacks that their actions cause to the nation and its people. Their only aim is to ensure that Kashmir remains on tenterhooks all the time.
Pakistan has suffered many setbacks in Kashmir over the last few years. “Operation All Out” launched by the Indian Army to clean out terrorists from the valley met with astounding success. Relentless operations carried out with total support from the central government resulted in a complete decimation of the terrorist leadership operating in Kashmir and a big fall in the headcount of active terrorists. Presently, there is negligible presence of foreign terrorists and no experienced leadership to speak of. This was followed by the courageous political decision to change the status of the region in consonance with the wishes of the people. Accordingly, the state was divided into two Union Territories and the draconian Article 370 and Article 35A were abrogated.
Thus, the terrorist activity and political control that had anchored Pakistan’s nefarious Kashmir policy for decades started floundering. On top of it Pakistan is under tremendous international pressure to mend its ways or accept sanctions. In consideration of its beleaguered financial status, Pakistan is desperate to stay out of the black list of the international money laundering and terrorist activity watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) knowing full well that getting there would mean total financial disaster. Accordingly, the country has taken many steps such as proscribing a few terrorist support organisations and arresting low level workers of terrorist organisations, while the cream remains untouched. This action too has caused a setback (though not too big) to maintaining momentum of terrorist operations in Kashmir.
However, there is no challenge too big and no pressure too strong to dissuade the terror masters of Pakistan from pursuing their evil designs. With things not working within Pakistan they have doubled efforts towards recruitment of local Kashmiris’ into the terrorist cadre.
The latest terror organisation on the block is the Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM). It has its base in South Kashmir that was earlier the stronghold of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). This could also be an attempt by the terror masters to clip the wings of the HM and particularly its chief, Syed Sallahuddin, who has not been able to give any credible results of late that could justify his existence to the Pakistani terrorist hierarchy headed by the ISI.
A young Kashmiri named Hidayatullah Malik has been designated “chief” of the LeM. Malik has created fancy facebook and other social media profiles complete with an AK-47 rifle wielding photo of himself. He has taken on a codename — Hasnain that is, by now, known to all. He further calls his outfit the “Hasnain Army.” With the standard marketing tools in place he is now busy bolstering the recruitment process for his “Army.” As per reports, he already has a dozen odd followers all from South Kashmir. The LeM “Hasnain Army” has chosen to initiate its activity with the relatively less dangerous and more paying operation of divesting a Bank cash van of Rs 60 Lakhs in Shopian sometime in November last year. Obviously the organisation has been told by its masters that apart from training and equipment it also has to organise its own finances and hence, it has adopted this strategy.
Two other terrorist organisations, The Resistance Front (TRF) and People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) surfaced in quick succession before the LeM. The idea of creating TRF was conceived and immediately implemented after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir and Abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The organisation attempted to gain political legitimacy by issuing statements on matters like the Domicile Law which it denounced as a BJP ploy to change the demography of Kashmir. “We openly declare that any Indian who comes with an intention to settle in Kashmir will be treated as an agent of RSS and not a civilian and will be dealt with appropriately,” said a TRF statement. J&K police officials have so far termed their influence as “limited within the cyber space” though the organisation does have the murder of a few BJP workers on its hands.
The PAFF too has threatened to ‘execute’ those RSS agents who are planning to settle down in Jammu and Kashmir in the ‘guise of civilians.’ This apart it has attempted to gain legitimacy by claiming to be an off-shoot of the dreaded Jasih-e-Mohammad (JeM). It has taken responsibility for the killing of two policemen at a check post in Srinagar in August 2020. Not much has been heard from the organisation ever since.
The fact that recruitment from within the locals is taking place has been accepted by none other than Indian Army Chief, General MM Naravane, in his traditional Army Day Conference on January 15. He said that while a large number of terrorists have been neutralised in the year gone by, recruitment in the terrorist Tanzeems is still going on. Alongside that Chief also said that the initiative of the Indian Army to win hearts and minds through Operation Sadbhavna is resulting in the recruitment levels going down gradually.
The Pakistani terror masters may have achieved some success in recruiting locals, but they do not have any capability of imparting even basic training to the new “kids on the block” or equipping them with adequate weapons, ammunition and other war like stores. Under such circumstances, these poor misled boys are becoming easy targets for the security forces and have a shelf life of not more than a few months. It is necessary to isolate them from the self destructive path. While the Army does what it can, better results can be attained with a whole of government approach. As development goes on and employment increases, the recruitment will go down and the security situation will improve.
On Justice and Fairness: Ayaz Nizami & International Company
Christian is a Philosopher that comes from Belgium. What identifies him the most and above all is simplicity, for everything is better with “vanilla ice cream.” Perhaps, for this reason, his intellectual passion is criticism and irony, in the sense of trying to reveal what “hides behind the mask,” and give birth to the true. For him, ignorance and knowledge never “cross paths.” What he likes the most in his leisure time, is to go for a walk with his wife.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Freethinkers, as a general term, continue to endure explicit discrimination in law and in fact, in cases, to the present day. Some of the prominent cases include the prominent Pakistani Gulalai Ismail and the Nigerian Mubarak Bala.
Ismail is the Co-Founder of Aware Girls (w/ Saba Ismail) and on the Board of Humanists International. She was known for outstanding human rights work, receiving awards and recognition, and then, shortly thereafter, charged on various ‘counts’ and having to flee Pakistan as one of the most wanted people in the country.
It came to the point of The New York Times reporting on the issues facing her, her story, in two articles entitled “Gulalai Ismail, Feminist Hunted by Pakistan’s Authorities, Escapes to U.S.” and “In Pakistan, a Feminist Hero Is Under Fire and on the Run.”
Bala is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria. In April of 2020, he was arrested in Kaduna for ‘blasphemy’ on social media, i.e., a single Facebook post. He was taken from Kaduna to Kano. The Penal Code of Kano is Sharia-based law.
Indeed, this becomes a means by which to persecute him, an atheist and ex-Muslim, under Islamic law, which should not apply to someone who does not believe in the theology or the theocratic law anymore.
Zara Kay, the Founder of Faithless Hijabi, is another case as of recent. This time, with Tanzanian background, taken by police under apparent illegitimate circumstances too. Similarly, on a less reported case, ‘Ayaz Nizami,’ the Vice President of Atheist & Agnostic Alliance Pakistan, was taken and charged with blasphemy.
‘Nizami’ was arrested on March 24, 2017, based on purported blasphemy. He has been facing death penalty charges. With the arrest, illegitimate in personal opinion, because blasphemy is a religious law and not a secular law for all (so something the religious may charge against the non-religious unequally to the extent of death penalty application following from it, possibly); it repeats the situation.
In each case, a co-founder of a women’s and girls’ rights organization (Ismail), the president of a national humanist association (Bala), the founder of an ex-Muslim organization (Kay), and the vice president of an atheist and agnostic national organization (‘Nizami’). Each seems to be illegitimate, in personal opinion, and based on targeted attacks on prominent secular individuals in each nation.
There are a lot of other cases. Likewise, there are a lot of other cases with nearly zero coverage or simply null coverage – the non-consenting Houdini acts or forced disappearances. No joke about the trauma and mental health effects on those individuals disappeared – let alone reputational damage.
According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, 71 of the 195 countries in the world have blasphemy laws of some form or another. There are around 13 countries with the death penalty for open atheists, as least as of 2013. What do you make of the consistent trends in these cases?
Dr. Christian Sorensen: I think that just as there are countries, that have blasphemy laws, because in practice generally follow what for me, is a kind of pantheism without explicitly recognizing it, since everything that’s touched, they believe that it has a divine breath, although actually, it may be something of secular matter, and therefore, absolutely devoid of any religious nature, they’re others as counterpart, who tend to recognize themselves, as liberal and democratic, since explicitly, this countries do not have blasphemy laws, although in general, they act like religious pantheists, and consequently in practice, they implicitly live, according to blasphemy laws. Therefore it could be said, that in their own way, they make freethinkers suffer, social death sentences, without giving them any chance to escape, and consequently by exerting progressive stress, through emotional saturation, they end up transforming them into living dead.
Jacobsen: What would equalize the landscape in a positive way?
Sorensen: I think that one way to achieve a positive balance, would be to create facilitating conditions, that could allow an openness to change, by basing their search towards common denominators, that are able to position the foundations, of what for me, would be the feeling of a sufficient basic confidence, in order to carry out from early education, and regarding the value system, the recurring of critical reviews, as an aim resource, for introducing in a non-threatening context, the input of necessary adjustments, as temporarily relative outcomes.
Jacobsen: What might bring about some justice for these aforementioned individuals?
Sorensen: I think that the international community of human rights, should intervene officially, which means, that their pertinent organizations, must imperatively demand, by applying sanctions, that these theocratic countries, fulfill the commitments acquired, in front of human rights treaties, to which they have become in some way parties, and in its defect, because without exception, this nations integrate said international organizations, which means, that they have to respect their involved principles and missions. Certainly what I suggest above, is just a theoretical duty, since the notes of its score, is usually subjected, to over-justified political and economic explanations, that obviously as it’s logical to suppose, they’re firstly interfered and afterwards distorted, for becoming utopian ideals, which poorly serve, for nominalistically safeguard their motivations for existing, and for preserving, what in my opinion, is the mere homeostasis of mediocrity, to the extent that these organizations, use to maintain a sort of absurd and romantic duality, between what represents their declaration of principles, as promotional discourse of human rights, and their praxis, as nirvanal world of good intentions, which in itself regarding the last, almost never forges in a concrete good will, since are incapable of reaching not even with the first aid, the desperate cry for help, due to the fact, that deep down what prevails, is the irreflexive and spontaneous attitude, typical of acquiescence, that would invalidate any outcome, because in my opinion hides the being, with what I will denominate as the image of being with.
Jacobsen: What countries seem the most egregious in this form of theocratic encroachment into political life and law, or the State?
Sorensen: I think that basically, all the countries that are linked to the ideals of pan-Arabism.
Jacobsen: Why should there be more forceful pushback against these legal and political encroachments?
Sorensen: Because these usurpations, are contrary to reason, and therefore to commonwealth. In consequence, it is a driving force, that corrupts cultures and ends up destroying civilizations. This allows to deduce, in concrete terms, that from a legal and political point of view, this pattern of behaviors, are morally unacceptable, according to what the universal declaration of human rights, have expressed. The aforementioned means, that nobody without exception, can respectively be charged, regarding professed ideas, with condemnatory sanctions of any nature, since the simple act of thinking, is an inalienable right, and as long as does not promotes hatred or violence, and therefore constitutes a danger to society, never should be constricted. In consequence, it is a political and legal duty, the fact of creating sufficient conditions, in relation to respect and tolerance, in order that ideas can be freely manifest, regardless of the valence that the content of these may have.
Jacobsen: How do ordinary believers stand to benefit in more equal stature in law and in politics, and in rights, between non-believers and themselves?
Sorensen: I think that this is possible, to the extent, that tolerance prevails, as the guiding principle for coexistence in society, and in turn, that the aforementioned, is understood simultaneously and in accordance, with the fact regarding which, the dignity of individuals transcends that of ideas, due to the matter of aseity, since the last, not only cannot exist by themselves, but also to be able to do so, they absolutely need of the existence of the first ones.
Jacobsen: Why are attempts at equality, often, seen as a loss of rights for they who already have the rights, or as an attack on their religious status?
Some make religious or theological arguments about some cosmic or even metaphysical war waged since the start of time between the forces of Good and the forces of Evil, which is perceived or asserted by not-insignificant numbers of the global population.
So, it seems an important consideration in this regard because the social media postings and commentary, and written works make this point of view reasonably clear as sincerely held by many.
Sorensen: Actually, the resistance to accepting equality in front of rights, which means that those who hold a greater number of rights, for some reason, use diverse oppositionist and defensive mechanisms, in order to justify their inequity, and consequently, for not being disposed to yield some of them, in favor of a greater comonwealth, is not a particular phenomenon of theocratic countries and cultures, but rather it is a verifiable fact, that has always accompanied humanity. The aforementioned, indeed, does not necessarily implies, that this causal relationship between selfishness and human inequity, can be established with certainty, as something due, either to innate tendencies, or learned through socio-cultural patterns of conditioning. However, what can be affirmed necessarily, is that this causality, by going hand in hand with abuse, leads inevitably to injustice, and if vital experience of individuals, is crossed instead, more through educational bases on positive reinforcements, and on constructivists social values, than by punitive consequences invested with suffering, then intrinsic human egoism, logically, can be transformed into egalitarian altruism. I think, that if human beings, have constantly created dichotomous theologies, based on good and evil, what in essence they have been done, is nothing else than projecting the internal dualism, that regards the good self and bad self, felt within themselves, without fully understanding, despite of what have represented the repeated failures of history, that duality as such, does not exist in any order of things, since rather what exists, and is able to be verified, through the evidence of simple experience, is the presence of polarities, which in their dynamis, they unfold continuously and not discreetly, by offering a nuanced universe, with an infinity of predestined points, therefore not appearing by chance in space, and with the possibility of forming mathematical integrals, which consequently may open, evolutionary channels of limitless realities.
Jacobsen: What countries seem to be doing the best in bringing forward equality for the non-religious and the religious in law, in politics, and in rights?
Sorensen: According to a positive antithesis, of what the theocratic states of the Muslim countries, and the theocratic Catholic state of the Vatican could represent, which regarding the last, includes all those countries, that professing Catholicism as an official religion, and although they do not declare themselves, theocratic countries, they actually behave as such, since ultimately, they end up violating secular rights, with the same impunity, but perhaps not with the same cynicism, as Muslim countries do. I think, that the only religious country, that has managed to maintain, a democratically balance equality, between the rights of the secular and religious world, is the Jewish state of Israel, *because culturally speaking, in my opinion, conceives by two the discussion around ideas, but counts them, as if they were three.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Dr. Sorensen.
Sorensen: You’re welcome, and I hope that this interview, contributes at least as a grain of sand, to stirring up the indolent and lethargic consciences of human rights organizations, for the promptly liberation alive of Ayaz Nizami.
Photo by Syed Bilal Javaid on Unsplash
Image Credit: Christian Sorensen.
Hemu Kalani: Sindh’s revolutionary who fought against British
Hemu Kalani (Rahi Heman) was erased from the history of Pakistan because he was a Sindhi Hindu freedom fighter from Sukkur Sindh. He was one of the youngest revolutionaries to be martyred for the nation’s freedom struggle. He was also the first Sindhi revolutionary and freedom fighter during the Indian Independence Movement. At the young age of only 19 he was executed by the British.
Swaraj Sena, a student organisation which was affiliated with the All India Students Federation (AISF) was headed by him. Hemu Kalani joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India movement when it was started in 1942. In those days support for the movement in Sindh was such that the British rulers had to send special troops consisting of European battalions. Hemu Kalani, Parcho Widhyarthi and friends found out that a railway train of these troops and their supplies would be passing through their local town and decided to derail it by removing the fishplates from the railway track. This despite the fact that neither Hemu nor his friends had the necessary tools and so had to use a rope as a means to loosen the fixings.
They were seen by the British troops before being able to complete the sabotage. Hemu was caught, imprisoned, and tortured in an attempt to get him to reveal the names of his co-conspirators He refused to divulge any information, following which he was put on trial and sentenced to death. The people of Sindh petitioned the Viceroy for mercy but the condition of granting mercy was that the authorities must be told about the identity of Hemu’s co-conspirators. He however refused to do so.
In fact, Hemu was ready to sacrifice his own life for the freedom struggle. On the day of his execution, he appeared extremely overjoyed, and walked to the gallows with a copy of the Bhagavad Gita in his hands, smiling and humming the whole way. Sindh will never forget him. There was only one park in Sukkur Sindh named after him “Hemu Kalani Park”. But this was later renamed to “Qasim Park” which clearly shows the enmity of Pakistan with historical Sindhi nation, that our heroes are also persecuted. Thanks to India for remembering the Sindhi heroes!
POK: Kashmir erupts in protest against Pakistani misrule
Kashmiris have been protesting against the food price hike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) for the last couple of months. But the big daddies of media rarely report about POK issues. Keeping POK away from spotlight helps Pakistan Army to commit atrocities on Kashmiris in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On January 13 there were widespread protests and riots across POK.
Watch the video report by News Intervention to understand the full story.
Sindh rallies against Pakistani atrocities, demands free Sindhudesh
Discontent in Sindhudesh has reached a tipping point and now they are openly protesting against the occupying forces of Pakistan. 17th January is the birth anniversary of Sindh’s tallest leader Sain GM Syed. This year on January 17, Sindhis came together to celebrate GM Syed’s 117th birth anniversary and raised slogans against the atrocities of Pakistani regime. Watch our news video report to understand the inside story.
Indian Army is ready to face all security threats and challenges
“Pakistan continues to embrace terror and terrorism as an instrument of state policy, however, we are clear that we have zero tolerance for terror and we have reserved our right to respond at a time and place of our choosing. This is a clear message that we have sent across that we will not tolerate such activity.”
“Pakistan and China form a very potent threat, there is an aspect of collusion that cannot be wished away and it is very much a part of our assessment. We have to be prepared to deal with it.”
The above two significant statements were a part of a plain speak press conference addressed by Indian Army chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane on the occasion of Army Day, 2021.
India celebrates Army Day on January 15 every year with great fervour. It was on this day, in 1949, that the Indian Army divested itself from British control with General (later Field Marshal) K. M. Cariappa taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from Sir Francis Butcher. A number of parades, memorial lectures, equipment displays, investiture ceremonies are organised by the Indian Army on this day. An integral part of the itinerary is a press conference addressed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army.
This year the press conference was addressed by General Manoj Mukund Naravane. It was the second time in his tenure that he was addressing the same. In his opening remarks he lauded the “supreme sacrifice” of the brave hearts in the line of duty. He went on to convey to all ranks of the army, defence civilians, families, veer naris and veterans a very happy new year and best wishes on the occasion of the Army Day. He also conveyed best wishes to all citizens of the country on behalf of the army.
The Chief spoke extensively on issues of strategic importance concerning the immediate neighbourhood and the global environment. He also spoke of the vision to steer the army towards modernisation through “capability development and restructuring.”
The Indo-China face-off dominated the conference. The Chief mentioned the same in his opening remarks and then took on many questions on the subject. He said that on the northern front, the army is maintaining a high state of alertness in accordance with the threat perception and is presently in the winter posture, ready to meet any challenge.
While explaining the tactical aspects of the situation as it evolved along the Line of actual Control (LAC) in 2020, the Chief said that mobilisation by China was not anything new. They come for training every year and the Indian Army has all information of their movement. In the initial face off they had “first mover advantage” which Indian Army also had in August when it moved into strategically important heights despite being “eye ball to eye ball” with China. With regard to the present situation, he said that the bulk of Chinese troops who had come in for training have moved back to their permanent location in the Tibetan Plateau, but no movement has taken on either side at the “friction points.”
The directive of the government is to stay steadfast in our positions while talks carry on at all levels. Eight round of talks of the corps commanders have taken place and the date for the ninth is awaited. The Chief expressed a hope that with dialogue and discussion the two sides will be able to reach to an amicable solution based on the principle of, “equal and mutual security in consonance with talks and understanding which resulted as an outcome of meetings by defence minister and foreign minister with their counterparts.” Having said so, the General affirmed that the army is ready for a long haul with “logistics in place, preparedness of a high order and high morale of troops.”
So far as the internal security situation in Kashmir is concerned the Chief said that while a large number of terrorists have been neutralised in the year gone by, recruitment in the terrorist Tanzeems is still going on. The initiative of the Indian Army to win hearts and minds through Operation Sadbhavna has resulted in the recruitment levels going down gradually. More traction will be attained with a whole of government approach. As development goes on and employment increases, the recruitment will go down and the security situation will improve.
The Chief expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the army met the COVID challenge by the launch of “Operation Namaste.” With pragmatic assessment, institution of required medical norms and free hand to commanders on ground the force was able to contain the situation and maintain operational preparedness to required levels to the extent of going in for rapid deployment when required. The Army also reached out to the state governments with assistance in quarantine and other aspects as required. The Chief was very appreciative of the efforts put by the medical fraternity of the army.
Regarding aspects of capacity building and restructuring, the Chief reiterated the Tri-service commitment to move determinedly in this direction since what has transpired recently has clearly established the need for the same. The transformation will be from manpower intensive to technology intensive structures with full commitment Tri service jointness. He added that all round development would be ensured with each arm getting what it needs. The Army has signed a number of contracts in the preceding year of which 80-85 percent are with Indian companies, in an effort to indigenize on principles of “Atmannirbhar Bharat” spelled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
When the Indian Army Chief speaks the entire nation and the international community listens. The General has assured the country that it is in safe hands of its Army that will ensure her sovereignty and territorial integrity. The writing on the wall is very clear. India is not ready to succumb to any pressure, be it from China, Pakistan, collusive or of any other nature. She is ready to carry on the diplomatic forays for a long period of time if need be. all military preparations for all eventualities are in place and more will be done as required.
Another dead body of ‘missing’ Baloch found at Dalbandin in occupied Balochistan
Dead body of a Baloch person killed and buried secretly by the Pakistani security forces was recovered Tuesday from Dalbandin in Pakistan-occupied Balochistan (POB). Locals in occupied Balochistan have identified the deceased as Allah Dad, son of Abdul Rehman, who was abducted by Pakistani forces four months ago.
Soon after receiving reports about the unidentified grave and the dead body the personnel of QRF (Quick Reaction Force) force rushed on the spot and took the body into custody. The body has completely decomposed, officials said.
The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) that has been protesting and demanding for the release of missing Baloch people said that thousands of Baloch people have been forcibly disappeared from Balochistan, and thousands of these missing persons are tortured to death under the custody of Pakistan Army and later their bodies are thrown away in remote areas.
Over the last two decades more than 30,000 Baloch people have gone ‘missing’ across Pakistan-occupied Balochistan (POB) and another 10,000 Baloch people have been killed by Pakistani security forces under its ‘kill and dump’ policy.
Kashmir: Those ten most critical days of January 1990
“Chapter I of this book (My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir) deals with ten most critical days from January 19 to 28, 1990. It recalls the background of events and also describes the first of a series of stabs in my back,” writes Jagmohan, the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in the Preface to his above-named book. To the hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Hindus (Pandits) 19 January, 1990 remains the day of their holocaust.
Why and in what sense were the ten days critical? What were the circumstances preceding and following the 19th of January and its unfolding aftermath? What and why were the series of stabs inflicted in the back of Governor Jagmohan and who played the et to Brutus part?
Much is written on the rise and quick spread of Islamic fundamentalism as also on the externally sponsored and abetted armed insurgency in Kashmir beginning 1989-90, which rages with unabated intensity even after a lapse of thirty-one years. This notwithstanding, what Governor Jagmohan saw, felt and understood about a situation of grave criticality which he was called upon to handle on January the 8, 1990, has been scantily focused. A sedition-like situation that had shaped in Kashmir on the eve of his second stint demands dispassionate and strictly objective analysis. Apart from exposing inexcusable flaws in the then government of India’s Kashmir policy, such a study will also lay bare the vested interests playing a dangerous role in the troubled situation.
Today, the 19 January 2021, the Hindus (Pandits) of Kashmir enter the thirty-second year of their holocaust. This day brings to their memory the horrible saga of their genocide, ethnic cleansing and finally their extirpation from their ten thousand year – old homeland of Kashmir by the Theo-fascists of the sub-continent.
What is more, no Union or State Government agency, no national or international human rights forum cared to raise the issue of the decimation and forced expulsion of a direly threatened people. Not even an inquiry has been ordered into the killing of nearly two thousand innocent members, men, women and children of the Pandit community and then the ethnic cleansing of their homeland. Contrarily, there has been no dearth of sadists rubbing salt onto the wounds of the oppressed community because it serves their interests.
Eschewing the saga of their travail, here we would like to briefly unfold how the Kashmirian polity, contrary to propagated stance, was bracing itself for the impending armed sedition and ethnic cleansing of Kashmir through meticulous planning by external conspirators in collaboration with local subversives.
In the light of some questions raised in the opening paragraph of this expose, we focus on some relevant excerpts from the authentic and valuable volume My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir authored by the then Governor, Jagmohan. We have chosen this particular work because an important adjunct of anti-Pandit and anti-India disinformation campaign vigorously carried forward by Kashmir separatists and valley leadership of all hues during the heyday of insurgency was that the Pandits had departed on the prompting of Governor Jagmohan. Such was the virulence of this canard that even the top Muslim leaders who once adorned the Sultanate of Kashmir, too, joined the vicious chorus of this allegation. Therefore it becomes very relevant to examine how the sedition was developing steadily months before 19 January and what was the actual plan for that day and thereafter.
Finding the situation extremely critical in Kashmir, Inder Kumar Gujral, the then foreign minister rang up Jagmohan in Delhi around the midnight of 17-18 January 1990 to immediately proceed to the residence of the then Home Minister Mufti Saeed for an emergency meeting. He was told to take over as Governor of J&K and handle the explosive situation. Jagmohan took the oath of office on Jan 18 at Jammu. NC and Congress both declined to attend the oath-taking function. Farooq, heading the Cong-NC coalition government, resigned on 18 January alleging that he had not been consulted about the selection of new Governor for J&K, reported the New York Times of 19 Jan. On 19th January Jagmohan boarded a BSF helicopter to arrive in Srinagar but owing to highly inclement weather the copter could not cross Banihal and had to return to Jammu.
In retrospect, the morale of Kashmir insurrectionists was boosted by the kidnapping and then murder of Ravindra Mhatre, the Indian diplomat in Birmingham on 3 March 1984 by the activists of Kashmir Liberation Army, an adjunct of JKLF controlled by ISI via Amanullah Khan. Six days later Maqbool Bhat, the founder of JKLF, convicted in a murder case was executed in Tihar jail. A few days later three Central ministers visited the President and complained that militants were dominating the valley. Farooq Abdullah threatened that if Congress did not behave there would be a blood bath.
During the elections, if 1983, naked men, presumably from NC, were seen among the crowds at Iqbal Park where Indira Gandhi addressed a public meeting. On January 15, 1984, four Congress party supporters were killed in police firing in Anantnag. Bomb blasts with alarming frequency were reported from different parts of the valley. Blasts occurred on Independence Day parade, in India Coffee House Srinagar, in the house of Justice Dr Anand, Palladium Cinema, Kashmir University Library and in the house of Sessions Judge Nilakanth Ganjoo. Earlier in an international cricket match anti-India and Pro-Pak slogans were raised. The national flag was disrespected. Strange slogans were raised in public processions like Pakistan zindabad, Khalistan zindabad, Noor-i-Chashm nor-i-Huq Zia ul Haq Zia ul Huq and Muslim Sikh Bhai Bhai/ Hindu qaum Kahan se ai.
As Governor Jagmohan moved to board a Srinagar bound BSF plane on January 20, a functionary of the Information Ministry handed him a file to have a look at as it contained important clippings from July 12, 1989, to date. During the flight, he looked at the banner lines of some of the clippings reading: “Kashmir nearly lost to the nation” (The Statesman Nov 6), “There seems to be a strange conspiracy of silence about the reign of terror in the hapless valley of Kashmir” (The Times of India (Nov 23). Other horrible events preceding 19 January were the gunning down of Tikalal Taploo, BJP Vice President in Habba Kadal, Justice Ganjoo the Sessions judge in Maharaj Bazar, P.N. Bhat, Advocate, poet and historian in Anantnag, SHO Maisuma, and kidnapping of Rubiya Saeed, daughter of Home Minister Mufti Saeed. This indicated the total collapse of administration. (Some analysts raised doubts on the episode of Rubiya’s kidnapping and return saying it was a stage managed show to seek release of several hardcore militants from the prison through a deal)
Jagmohan writes: “We inwardly recognized the infirmities of an immature democracy. We feared that in a plebiscite, ignorance, parochialism, and communal prejudice would be exploited. Yet we did nothing to eliminate these forces which fed this ignorance, this parochialism and communal prejudice. On the other hand, the politics of Kashmir was run in such a manner that these infirmities were multiplied. At the oath-taking ceremony in Jammu the previous day, Lt. Gen. Gobinder Singh, Northern Command chief had talked to Jagmohan in an aside saying the situation in the valley was extremely serious. “Every time I spoke to the previous authority (Farooq) I was assured things would be taken care of. Nothing happened.”
Jagmohan wondered why Farooq resigned at a crucial time. Unmistakably, Farooq knew that under Jagmohan’s administration the insurrectionists and separatists would not be able to get a quarter and his misdoings would be exposed.
The night of 19th January 1990
Let us see what the man at the helm of affairs has recorded about the most critical night viz. 19-20th January 1990, the holocaust night for the Kashmiri Pandits.
“In the day (19 Jan at Raj Bhavan, Jammu) I received frantic calls from Srinagar that large scale searches were made in Chota Bazar and Guru Bazar areas of Srinagar and 250 youth had been picked up. On contacting DGP Saxena, I was told me that three days earlier on 16 January, three CRP personnel were shot dead in Guru Bazar and the searches were ordered on the behest of Farooq Abdullah who had told the CRP to do whatever they liked but had privately instigated the people in those localities. On 19 Jan, Jagmohan contacted Peer Ghulam Hasan Shah DGP and offered him to be the Adviser which he accepted. But before morning he changed his mind and excused him telling Jagmohan that he feared a threat to his family members. This was the level of threat and insecurity created days ahead of Pandit exodus.
“The 19-20 January night was the strangest night I ever had. I had just been to bed when two telephones rang simultaneously. Voices of alarm could be heard bewailing “Tonight is our last night. By morning we all Kashmiri Pandits would be butchered. Our womenfolk, our sisters, our mothers would be abducted and we men folk slaughtered.” Some requested that I should hold on to the telephone to hear the slogans and exhortations of Islamists emanating from loudspeakers fitted to mosques.
How come a large number of loudspeakers had been installed and the same calls made from them? How was the technique of arousing mass frenzy acquired? Who had masterminded these well-knit organizations? These questions haunted me. I contacted Srinagar Divisional Commissioner Jalil Khan and DIG SS Ali advising them to take prompt action and depute officers to trouble spots. I spoke to Allah Bux for I knew he was the key man. I also got into touch with the army officers. In between, calls from MHA Additional Secretary said, “Sir, we are getting frantic calls from Hindus in Srinagar. Hell seems to have broken loose. The Pandits are in utter pain. We cannot get any officer on phone in Srinagar.”
This was the depressing state of security particularly about a small defenceless religious minority. The insensitivity of the Home Ministry — deliberate or inadvertent —- was so deplorable that the ethnic revolt in Azerbaijan and Rumanian Liberation struggle were being telecast as special programmes and huge crowds of Srinagar youth were watching these in the cinema halls of the city. The State administration at that time was not different from what it was on January 13, 1989, when on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday, 15 persons were killed in a riot in Jammu within an hour at a short distance from the office of Farooq Abdullah.
Jagmohan in Srinagar
On January 16, Farooq arrived in Srinagar. In a meeting at the Police Headquarter, he said that the National Front Government was taking serious note of non-action, and he was under pressure to show positive results. Some officers said they were not allowed to do certain things. Losing his temper, Farooq called local police as thoroughly corrupt. “Do what you want to do?” he told them in an angry mood. The police deployed CRP in Chota Bazaar and Guru Bazaar area to conduct searches. I was not briefed on searches. Dr Farooq had “instructed his secret men to incite reaction when searches were made only to create hindrances in my way.”
On the night of 20-21 January” , records Jagmohan “outside, the events moved with same feverish speed. The voices of horror, fearful harangue and exhortations soaked in Islamic fundamentalist terminology filled the air. Crowds were goaded to gather in mosques and people were mobilized from rural areas to the city. No civil authority existed anywhere. The passivity was unbelievable. The DG, later on, told me it took him more than six hours to get the DIG out from his house for duty.”
The situation was grim. Jagmohan summoned Adviser Ved Marwah and the Corps Commander of Northern Command. The crucial meeting decided to act in minutes not hours. Curfew hitherto existing nominally was firmly imposed in the city. Crowds had gone berserk burning public property like SIDC office Narpora, Women’s Polytechnic Saida Kadal, Mahjoor Bridge etc. The frenzied crowds had to be dispersed. The firing took place at Hawal, Tulsi Bagh, and Gav Kadal. Lal Bazar, Safa Kadal etc. all in the city of Srinagar. The story of the miraculous escape of one Ramesh Marhatta — a hair-raising saga of the lone Pandit survivor from the captivity of the terrorist— was published by the Daily Excelsior of 8 December 2019. Militants and their supporters churned stories of excesses by the forces. In public life, you have to choose the lesser evil. The city was quiet by evening and arson stopped. The plan for 26th was thwarted. Twelve lives were lost in the action.”
The plan for 26th January
A diabolic plan of subversion had been worked out by the terrorist for 26th January the Republic Day which fell on Friday. A million people would come together and exhort through harangues delivered from loudspeakers fitted on mosques to proceed to Idgah in small groups. Hordes of people would move from outlying areas, villages and small towns by buses and private vehicles. Friday prayer (namaz) would be performed with all the religious fervour. Slogans of independence would be raised; the terrorists would shot fires in the air as a mark of celebrating the “dawn of independence.” The national flag would be symbolically burnt and the flag of Islamic Republic hoisted. Foreign correspondents and photographers would be there in any number to report the event and do photographic coverage. The planners had calculated that the government would allow free movement it is the Republic Day. They thought that leaders and civil servants would be in Jammu taking salute of Republic Day.
This was a closely guarded secret. The only calculation not made was that Farooq government was not there. It will be reminded that on August 14 in the previous year viz. 1989, the then government had virtually permitted the terrorists to take the salute in a parade at the Islamia College.
Jagmohan writes that he was informed that Simranjeet Singh Mann, the Sikh leader, had arrived in Srinagar and desired to meet with me. He met with me and talked in a rambling manner. But he went on telling me that nothing should be done that would endanger the lives of the masses. He kept his purpose of visiting Srinagar a closely guarded secret.
The events that unfolded with time are bizarre but for want of space, we need these to be recounted at some other occasion.