NEW DELHI: If you think Gorbachev is wrong in threatening to use force to prevent the Lithuanian people from quitting the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ask yourself if Kashmir may be allowed to leave the Indian Union.

“Of course Gorbachevis wrong and so are we in not allowing Kashmir freedom of choice” declared the veteran former Parliamentarian and rightwing exponent, Mr Minoo Masani here recently. “Humanity requires dealing with chauvinism on all sides,” “We promised a plebiscite in Kashmir. Nehru backed out later,” he insisted. ‘‘People have the right to independence. Stopping it by force is not practical politics.”

Is there a less drastic way out for Kashmir and for Punjab where too militancy is fueled by similar demands? Yes, says Mr. Masani. “We had framed a federal constitution (he was a member of the constituent assembly too). That was destroyed by Nehru (and his successors), the states have been reduced to what Rajaji termed glorified municipalities.”” Delhi’s Power

“Till Delhi disgorges all the powers it has usurped which are rightly the states this will go on. Otherwise Kashmir and Punjab problems will not be solved for the next 100 years. You can shoot as many people as you like it will solve nothing.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with the Anandpur Sahib resolution,” said Mr. Masani. “Why not accept it? Why should Delhi have more than the four basic powers it calls for? It was Delhi which destroyed the federal constitution of India? Not the states. Punjab will accept the Anandpur Sahib autonomy and stay in the Union. So will Kashmir. And why should not Tamil Nadu or Bengal have it too?”

Mr. Masani was speaking at a meeting organized by the Society of Strategic Studies, a forum of like minds. Its convener is Mr. Rama Swaroop recently acquitted with honor by the courts on a charge of spying for Taiwan.

However, Mr. Masani’s views on dealing with Kashmir and Punjab weren’t supported by his friends in the society. “It’s not just a question of which three or four ministries should remain with the central government,” protested Mr. K Narendra as eminent journalist. “Anandpur Sahib is just another step in the steady culmination of demands for a separate status by the Akalis.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 27, 1990