Consequences of Cultivating Religious Hatred: Uddhav Thackeray's Saamana

Mumbai, April 24 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena (UBT) has delivered a sharp critique in its publication 'Saamana', asserting that terrorism in J&K remains unresolved and that the Kashmir policy has failed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The editorial states that this situation arises when an atmosphere of religious hatred is fostered across the nation.

"This issue cannot be settled by merely issuing threats to Pakistan. Such threats may provide comfort to PM Modi's supporters, but they are ineffective. The claim that Pakistan's back was broken is unfounded. In Pahalgam, terrorists targeted the supposed defenders of Hindus. It further accuses PM Modi and his allies of issuing hollow threats and warnings to Pakistan, while in reality, terrorists are infiltrating India and harming innocent Hindus. The situation in Kashmir is chaotic under BJP governance. What more can we expect when a climate of religious animosity is nurtured throughout the country?"

"The majority of those who have fallen victim are Hindus, with some being Muslims. The recent Pahalgam attack, following the Pulwama incident, signifies a dismal failure of intelligence operations. Where is the National Security Advisor, who presents himself as James Bond? PM Modi repeatedly claims that this nation is secure. However, he deceives the public. During his announcement of demonetization, he proclaimed, 'Now the backs of terrorists will be broken.' Amit Shah's abrogation of Article 370 was touted as ending terrorism in the valley. Yet, blood flows daily, and his fabrications are intertwined with it," stated the editorial, intensifying its critique of the BJP-led central government.

"Terrorism in the Kashmir Valley persists. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, 197 security personnel and 135 civilians have been killed. Additionally, 700 suspected militants have lost their lives. This is not indicative of a decrease in violence. Hindus are being specifically 'targeted', and the commitments made by Modi for the Kashmiri Pandits during the 2014 elections remain unfulfilled. Rather than returning home, the remaining Hindus are fleeing. The BJP government, which professes to be the protector of Hindus, should feel ashamed," the editorial expressed.

"For the past decade, the nation has been inundated with Hindu-Muslim animosity and a continuous cycle of riots. Poor Muslims have seen their homes demolished with no remorse, while celebrations ensued during this time. The nation's peace and unity have been shattered. The response to every issue in the country has been reduced to Hindu-Muslim and India-Pakistan narratives. So, why has this Gujarat model failed in Jammu and Kashmir? Union Home Minister Amit Shah utilizes the Home Ministry, police, and intelligence for political maneuvering, targeting the opposition and orchestrating government changes, while the security of the nation is undermined. How can national security be prioritized? How can Hindus be safeguarded? Mourning the deaths of Hindus and Muslims while soliciting votes through bombings in the name of Pakistan has become their longstanding tactic. This was the case in Pulwama, and it will be mirrored in the Pahalgam attack. When will a space for Hindus emerge? When will the blind devotion be reconsidered?" questioned Thackeray's Shiv Sena in the editorial.

"Once again, Hindus have faced mass killings in Kashmir. At the time of this terrorist attack, PM Modi was visiting Saudi Arabia, and the US Vice President was touring India. While a positive image of India under Modi was being portrayed, the most severe terrorist attack in the last 25 years occurred in Kashmir, where terrorists shot the bodies of 26 tourists. As they departed, they told the surviving tourists, 'Inform Modi of what transpired here!", says the editorial.

Holding Home Minister Amit Shah accountable, the editorial asserted that he arrived in Kashmir only after the bloodshed had occurred. "What will Shah do now? He must resign and accept responsibility for the deaths of Hindus in Kashmir. While Mamata Banerjee’s resignation is demanded for violence in West Bengal, the shameless Central government refuses to acknowledge its role in the killings of Hindus."

"During Modi's administration, the Uri attack and the Pulwama massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 40 soldiers, occurred. The Pulwama calamity represents a failure of the security system and governmental negligence. The recent Pahalgam incident also exemplifies this negligence. Tourists in Kashmir are consistently targeted. This time, 2.5 million tourists visited Kashmir, with 2.2 million visiting Pahalgam. At the site of the attack, over 2,000 tourists gathered without a single soldier or police officer for their protection. This lack of security is why terrorists chose this location. In the Baisran area of Pahalgam, surrounded by forests and with narrow roads, terrorists awaited their opportunity and attacked. Despite the presence of over 2,000 tourists in such a sensitive region, armed terrorists in Army uniforms entered, identified individuals by name, and shot 26 people. Following their attack, they left without a trace.

"On what basis did the government leave so many tourists in such vulnerable areas?" questioned the Shiv Sena led by Thackeray.

The editorial reminded the BJP that in its 2019 election manifesto, it promised to remove Article 370 in Kashmir and ensure the security of Hindus in the region.

"The Modi government and the BJP celebrated the political victory of abrogating Article 370, yet they left Hindus in the valley in a state of helplessness. Modi and Shah stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its full statehood, thereby centralizing security and law enforcement under the government’s control. The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has become a mere figurehead. Amit Shah governs Kashmir through the Governor. The screams and cries heard in Pahalgam exemplify the state of affairs. PM Modi has intertwined politics with the Kashmir issue, repeatedly blaming Congress and Nehru. Modi himself has been in power for a decade. The former Governor, Satyapal Malik, stated that Pulwama was a result of the Modi government's gross negligence, and Pahalgam was a consequence of Amit Shah's incompetence," the editorial declared.

The editorial reaffirmed that the Kashmir policy has been unsuccessful during PM Modi's leadership.