Amnesty stand on human rights biased: Shankar Bidari

Bengaluru: Former city police commissioner Shankar Bidari slammed the Amnesty International India for a biased stand on human rights violations in the country. At a discussion organized by the Nilume Foundation at the Mythic Society on Sunday, he said, “Where were they when so many civilians were being raped and killed by militants. Don’t they have human rights? Even though 30 % of India is illiterate, they know the difference between right and wrong. India is the best country in terms of tolerance and there needs to be no models for us” he said.

He suggested that the Central Government conduct a national consensus on the issue of Kashmir. “We should speak with one voice and remain consistent in our policies,” he said. Apart from Bidari, Captain Naveen Nagappa, a Kargil war veteran, and Prem Shekhar, a retired professor and a columnist in Vijayavani also took part in the discussion.

The speakers highlighted the age old question of why only Kashmir continues to be burning issue, while there is no such problem in other princely states like Mysuru and Hyderabad that also joined India after the Instrument of Accession.

Captain Nagappa said that Kashmir issue was being kept alive to block the economic growth of India. “It is a drain on our energy that could be put to good use. Foreign powers that do not want us to grow have a vested interest in keep this issue burning.”

He said the army was carrying various welfare measures in improving the infrastructure of Kashmir through Operation Sadbhavana, which includes providing medical facilities and livestock clinics in remote areas. The army also conducts Bharat Darshan, which provides Kashmiris a chance to see the rest of India, he said.

Professor Shekhar said that from a historical perspective, Pakistan’s interest in the Kashmir valley is limited to its economic resources and they do not actually want to take over Kashmir.

“Rivers like Jhelum and Indus that are important for Pakistan flow through the region and they would like control of it. Pakistan is already dealing with Punjabi domination over the Baluchis and the Sindhis. If Kahmiris are also added to that, it will become a sore on their nose.” He said the Indian intellectuals should see through Pakistan’s real intention.