Spirit of Islam, Oct 2014

journey towards the future continues without any hurdles and your youth can avail of all modern opportunities.’ This event should remove any kind of suspicion and indecisiveness from the minds of the Kashmiris. After 1947, India had been continuously providing support to Kashmir. But due to their negative mindset induced by their so-called leaders, Kashmiris were not in a position to properly utilize India’s help and were instead engaged in activities against India such as demonstrations, protests, boycotts and shutdowns. Now, the time has come to make a U-turn and put a complete stop to these activities, so that they can fully utilize the support provided by India and develop in the same way that other Indian states are developing. A developed state will open up opportunities for the Kashmiri youth to have an education and take up jobs in their home state instead of going to other states. Now, the time has come to make a U-turn and abandon their separatist tendencies, so that they can fully utilize the support provided by India and develop in the same way that other Indian states are developing. In the neighbouring state of Punjab, there emerged a separatist movement in the early 1970s, which is a good example for the Kashmiris. The Punjabis very soon discovered that separation from India was not good for them, so they abandoned this movement. Now, everyone knows that Punjab is a very developed state of India. Kashmiris must take a lesson from this and completely abandon their separatist tendencies, in order that they may develop themselves on the same lines and avail of the enormous potential that exists in their state. Kashmiris must read the writing on the wall. They must accept the realities. They have lost their first chance, now they cannot afford to lose the second chance. Kashmiris must take a decision before they are told that it is too late. o Maulana Wahiddudin Khan editor@thespiritofislam.org