I would like to comment about an incident that happened yesterday with activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, a member of the team of Anna Hazare. Three young extremists attacked him and started beating him up in his own office in the Supreme Court. They said they were against his statement given last month about Kashmir. His statement was that the people of Kashmir can vote on the future for their state themselves, and their wishes will be respected. The extremists beat him up during the filming of an interview. Now the whole world has seen what happened because it was aired on all TV channels.
The first thing I want to say is that I don't believe people who are in the great nation of India would like to belong to Pakistan. In Pakistan people have no food, no money and no economy. Why would anyone like to be in a country with no security and no outlook for the future? Kashmir itself is so small and wouldn't have enough resources to be an independent country. As a part of India, they are supported by the resources of this great nation. I was not happy to hear Arundhati Roy’s statement that Kashmir is not a part of India.
What Bhushan said however is perfectly fine. These people can vote and then do what they want. If the people don't want to stay with India, let them go. If someone doesn't want to live with you in your home, how can you force them to stay? If they don't accept your love, let them go.
I do not think that the land of Kashmir should be separated from India, be it for having their own state or to join Pakistan. If people do not wish to belong to India anymore, they should be able to choose and decide to leave Kashmir and India and go to Pakistan. In a democratic country, opposing the desires of the people is not the right way.
Attacking a person just because of his statement is not the right way either! If you want to have a wrestling match over an issue, fight with someone of your own age and size. Don't just attack a 55-year-old man! These extremists have been all over national TV and were arrested. It seems like this was a publicity stunt. They wanted their cause to be known.
One of the extremists was the president of Shri Ram Sena, another one was a former member of the BJP. I believe they should get a just and hard punishment. I condemn their actions very much and hope that other young people do not follow their example of violent behavior. It is not only that you could be arrested as a result, it could be even worse. Bhushan's security guards could have shot these extremists in self-defense, thus ending the publicity stunt but at the same time causing more violence. I truly hope that no young people follow their footsteps.
Violence has no place in democracy. If you want to oppose an opinion, you have the right. But this is not the way.
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I have to say I was surprised that these extremists chose to lash out on national TV! But I guess that is what makes them extreme. They would do anything for their cause, including being arrested and harming a man who is their elder. It seems like their punishment should be grave enough that other young extremists are too afraid to follow in their footsteps. But of course not a violent punishment!