Rep Pramila Jayapal would do well to know these facts about Kashmir before passing ill informed resolutions
- In Current Affairs
- 10:11 AM, Dec 09, 2019
- Basker Mathrubootham
America over the last 2½ centuries has provided refuge to many refugees from Ireland in the early days, to the Europeans affected by the World Wars, Africans affected by civil wars and so on. It has also absorbed cultures belonging to various migrants coming from all continents. By far the most pluralistic country in the last 250 years. Most of the recent generation of migrants are from India and China who have made America their home. Unlike the earlier wave of migration who escaped tyranny or poverty, the recent generation of expatriates from India have mostly been very happy in their homeland and have made excellent careers back home. Many of them have only made career moves coming to the US and in the process have been absorbed into their new homeland USA. While much of this is well known, many also know for a fact that the US has fought on behalf of the migrants fleeing their homeland.
US has naval bases all over the world, Aviano Air force base in Italy was used to fight for the liberation of Kosovo. It has a command which has bases in Qatar, Japan, Korean Demilitarized Zone and in many other countries. In short no other country in history has taken the extra effort to take sides in overseas conflicts. However, one country that has been resisting anything like that for a very long time is the world’s largest democracy and my home country “India”.
India came closest to assisting the US when it allowed refueling of war planes during Gulf war 1991 at my hometown Madras (now Chennai). Even help like this was condemned by the opposition parties in India and once the war ended in February 1991, the issue faded away. India and US have enjoyed excellent diplomatic relations over the decades.
Almost all major US companies have a business interest in India and have a major presence all over the country. India is now one of the biggest importers of military equipment from the US. India is the biggest country for US software outsourcing.
During many an occasion US has tried to interfere in India’s internal affairs. This one unpleasant attitude of the US has always rankled India. This has also been the reason why the north block (The term for Indian bureaucracy dealing with foreign affairs) always feels uncomfortable while dealing with the US.
- Circa 2005-06 the US cancelled the visa of then Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi (Now Prime Minister of India) under the pretext of failure to maintain religious freedom. He was subsequently cleared of any charges by India’s supreme court. Despite the clean chit the US refused to reissue him the visa.
- Many a time the US has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir at the prodding of Pakistani establishment. This is despite India insisting on Kashmir being a bilateral issue and beyond the scope of relationship between India and the US.
- Imposition of sanctions by Clinton administration based on Glenn Symington amendment law post 1998 nuclear tests by India.
- Tampering with evidence on 1993 Bombay bomb blasts which killed 257 people in India’s financial capital. This has been documented quoting one of India’s top spies late Bahukutumbi Raman in the link below
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/B-Raman-Indias-seasoned-spymaster-and-trenchant-US-critic-dies-at-77/articleshow/20628240.cms - Robin Raphel, assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs under Clinton administration has always been a thorn on India US relations.
- Another relatively less known fact is Ms Raphel was also involved in the creation of All Party Hurriyat Conference an umbrella of Pro Pakistani terrorist outfits masquerading as peacemakers. How can a country claiming to be neutral take sides at all?
The US also has a penchant for sanctions on India at will.
- 1998 against nuclear blasts by Clinton administration.
- 1974 also against nuclear blasts by Nixon administration. This resulted in suspension of supplies for India’s Tarapur nuclear power plant in Rajasthan state.
- Disallowing India from business deals with countries America thinks is hostile to their interests.
- Most significant interference is in India’s business dealings with Iran.
- Examples like these are many and would fill an entire book. So, I will stop here.
However, the latest blow in India’s diplomatic relations with the US has come from none other than an Indian origin legislator Ms Premila Jayapal. US Rep Jayapal (D-WA) is also a Chennai born person like me. She claims to be an Indian at heart but is working against India’s interests (She was Indian citizen until year 2000). The crux of her house resolution co-authored by Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D- MI) and Steve Watkins (R-KS) is explained below.
- https://www.firstpost.com/world/pio-us-lawmaker-pramila-jayapal-introduces-congressional-resolution-on-kashmir-urges-india-to-lift-communication-restrictions-restore-internet-7754491.html
- She has introduced this resolution despite thousands of US Indians asking her not to do so.
While Ms Raphel’s support for Pakistan is understandable owing to her being US ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Raphel’s ex-wife, what kind of justification do people like Premila Jayapal have for their actions against India? Is it too unreasonable for Indians to expect her to favor and support India? After all, for the better part of her life she was an Indian citizen.
It is indeed sad on her part to have introduced this resolution. The Indian government has a policy of non-interference in internal affairs of other nations unless it affects India’s interests. In all likelihood the Indian foreign affairs ministry will ignore this development as it makes no material difference to India’s diplomatic relations with the US.
Obviously, Indian voters will be asking very tough questions. What was the US doing about gross human rights violations by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir? What was the US doing when Pakistani army crossed over to Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir that triggered a war like situation in 1999? What was the action taken by the US when innocent peace loving Kashmiri Pandits were slaughtered and exiled from their own homeland where their ancestors had lived for centuries? If you poke in the internal affairs of another country, then these tough questions must be answered. Otherwise you lack credibility.
It was just recently during Tom Lantos Human Rights commission hearings that former Kashmiri resident Ms Sunanda Vashisht (now based in Houston) narrated the plight of Kashmiri Hindus under terrorism in 1990. Video of her speech is provided below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcX7EfSLTtE
If despite the speech you introduce the resolution, obviously people will ask questions:
- If your heart bleeds for those who are denied internet connection for 3 months, then what about those who were adversely affected by terror over the last 30 years?
- Why wasn’t the US cognizant of the Wandhama massacre in 1998? Or why didn’t the US act against the terror sponsoring state Pakistan then?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Wandhama_massacre
- Why has the US never questioned Pakistan on terror in Jammu and Kashmir?
- When you present yourself as the moral police of the world by interfering in other countries’ affairs you don’t choose your problems.
You can only choose your role. If you ask tough questions to India, you will be asked tougher questions by Indians. Be prepared to face it.
The Kashmir situation has been well documented and most recently with the plight of Kashmiri Hindus also well explained. Therefore, I will not dwell into that any further.
But the action by democratic law makers towards India have literally shocked the expatriate Indian community that is mostly democrat leaning. Indians are generally liberal in nature and tend to associate themselves with democrats more than republicans. Unfortunately post this resolution, many are gravitating towards the republicans. Democrats are losing their most loyal supporters including myself. Bernie Sanders who was Indians’ favorite presidential candidate lost his entire support base from India post his speech in a Houston conference. Likewise, Rep Jayapal will also lose her support base among Indians in her Washington congressional district. One interesting development on this front is Trump administration maintaining a studied silence on the developments. The democrats are unfortunately self-destructing.
A few facts about India and Indians.
- The most pluralistic community in the US.
- Home to the biggest Hindu population in the world.
- The third biggest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan
- Home to the oldest Christian sect in the world (Syrian Christians of Malabar area)
- Has the biggest Zoroastrian population
- The birthplace of 3 other faiths Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
- Speak 18 different languages officially
- The Indians in the US are a mix of all these communities.
- Most of these people in the US vote democrats as they identify themselves more with Indian values of unity in diversity.
- All that America claims to espouse as a diverse country has been India’s and Hinduism’s very nature for millennia.
Therefore, America please stop being India’s conscience keeper. You have absolutely no business in interfering in India’s affairs. Before I end this column, I would like to ask important questions.
America has the highest number of gun related deaths in the developed world. Many of Indian origin have been its unfortunate victims.
- Has India ever asked America why her current or former citizens have been killed so mercilessly in the most developed country on earth?
- Then why does America want to interfere in India’s internal affairs?
America! STOP. It’s none of your business.
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