Harmony and Unity of Jammu and Kashmir

CITIZENS OF J&K APPEAL FOR UNITY, HARMONY


We, the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, express concern over the deteriorating situation in the state arising out of the controversial forest land transfer to Amarnath Shrine Board and the economic blockade of Jammu-Srinagar national highway. We condemn the killings of people in both the regions in brutal action by police and paramilitary forces. We also condemn incidents of harassment to people on selective basis, especially burning of 70 houses of Gujjars and attacks on Kashmiri drivers on the national highway.
We also express our concern at the regional and communal divide that the situation has created and appeal to people from both the regions of the state to maintain communal harmony and not to fall prey to rumours, propaganda and machinations of petty politicking. We also appeal to the media to act with a sense of responsibility in these trying times and project facts without adding fuel to the fire. Media instead should play the role of building bridges between regions and between different religious communities. The civil society, whose space has shrunk in the given scenario, either willingly by some intellectuals ready to toe the line of extremist elements in their respective regions or out of fear and threats, is also appealed to come forward and dispel misunderstandings and help save the situation for the greater good of humanity. We also appeal to the state administration, Government of India to act with wisdom and sensitivity and the politicians to maintain restraint and not flare up passions with provocative statements.
It is important to understand the significance of maintaining the communal harmony and brotherhood of the state where its plurality has thrived through the decades due to the overlapping cultures and the inter-dependent economies. Jammu and Kashmirs communal harmony today is under severe threat of eroding and the state under threat of disintegrating. Any such eventuality will be a total disaster. The unity of the state and its secular fabric has to be maintained both in the interests of resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as also the stability of South Asian region.

1. Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal
Executive Editor Kashmir Times
[email protected]


2. Murtaza Shibli
editor, Kashmir Affairs, London
www.kashmiraffairs.org

3. Shafat N. Ahmad
Advocate, J&K High Court, Srinagar
[email protected]


4. Jyoti Mathur
Executive Director
Madaan Hospital & Research Centre
Jammu,
[email protected]




5. Altaf Qadri, political analyst, New York,
[email protected]




6. Mohammed Altaf Khan
Advocate J&K High Court
160 Hubbi Colony Sikh Bagh
lal Bazar Srinagar Kashmir.
+919419458456
[email protected]



7. Fouzia Khan
Social Activist
160 Hubbi Colony Sikh Bagh
lal Bazar Srinagar Kashmir.
+919419015411


8. Suhail Masoodi
Social activist
Srinagar
[email protected]


9. Shivnandan (thats his complete name)
Retired teacher and social activist, Kathua


10. Prabodh Jamwal

Editor Kashmir Times
[email protected]


11. Tariq Masud
Chairman, Red Crescent Society of AJK
[email protected]



12. Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor,
BBC London,


13. Pervez Majeed





Supporters
-----------------


1. DR. LATA MANI, BENGALURU [email protected]

2. Meenakshi Ganguly
Human Rights Watch
[email protected]


3. Ashok Agrwaal
56 Todar Mal Road
New Delhi-110001
Tel: 91 11 23714531(o)

4. Rashmi Dewan - Delhi/[email protected]
5. Y K Shrestha
6. Sonia Jabbar
Journalist, film maker and peace activist
New Delhi
[email protected]

7. Aheli Moitra
Senior Research Associate, SAFHR
[email protected]
8. Frank Huzur
writer, publisher, New Delhi,
[email protected]