The New Nation - Internet Edition

Ms Arundhati Roy, the well known great writer and activist for human rights and dignity, has openly and rightly stood for rights of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as she made her speech in support of the people of the State on the 20th August. All sensible men and women certainly would congratulate her in the matter for the courage she has shown for the right cause caring little for any abuse some Indians would use against her just stand.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Muslims forming the overwhelming majority of the population of the State, have long for over six decades been annihilated and oppressed by the Delhi rulers against their basic rights of self-determination for statehood since the British left the subcontinent in 1947. Both the stake holder in the matter India and Pakistan, soon after the British left, placed the matter at the disposal of the UN for holding plebiscite of the people to decide on their statehood and nationality, But soon India went back on their promise given by their first Prime Minister Jawaherlal Nehru. He had, however, not only coalesced the Dogra Raja of the Princely State to sign a document of accession to India that went against the letter and spirit of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 but also sought and obtained confidence of the then popular leader of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, as a plea later on to defy the UN obligation to hold the plebiscite due in early 1950s.

Arundhati Roy has very rightly and courageously come out in the open in support of the basic right of people of Jammu and Kashmir that we must all appreciate. The Indian Government and the UN can in no way escape their obligation in the matter.

M.T. Hussain

795/2 Ibrahimpur

Dhaka.