Restoring Kashmir as India’s “Crown Jewel” and “Paradise on Earth” should be the goal of every Indian citizen and government, said Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman of the New Delhi-based National Commission for Minorities (NCM).
In an interview with Brighter Kashmir’s Editor Farooq Wani, Lalpura said, “We need to make Kashmir the first state of the country; provide facilities, particularly medical facilities and education, etc. The present government under Prime Minister Modi is acutely aware about extending socio-economic benefits and education–related welfare to all Kashmiris.”
Describing Kashmiris as a peace loving people, Lalpura said all they want is development and jobs.
“We should not deny them; we should think of what can we do to better their lives in the future. Kashmir should progress, I have a lot of love for the people of Kashmir and feel privileged that through you my message for their welfare will reach them,” he said.
“As long as I am NCM Chairperson, it will be my endeavour to provide medical facilities, education and employment opportunities to the people of Kashmir. I will try to facilitate the transfer of funds to improve the lot of Kashmiris. As NCM chairman, I represent seven (minority) communities and I have a duty to meet their needs, be it Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Christians, etc.,” the NCM chief said.
Referring to terrorism and militancy, Lalpura described this menace as an attempt to destroy humanity within humans. “Only persons whose mindsets have been corrupted to the point of no return indulge in such horrific actions. The tentacles of this menace have been seen in different parts of India, including Kashmir and Manipur. It is projected narrative set by certain people with vested interests”.
He, however, maintained that there is another side to this coin, wherein he had seen people with a terror or militant mindset changing to the point of serving society after a feeling of humanness sprouted in them.
“Why people deviate towards terrorism or militancy and the circumstances that brought them to that point is a matter of study. We need to examine why our nation and society gets damaged because of this and how we can recover from that loss,” Lalpura said.
On Article 370, the NCM chief said its abrogation in the second half of 2019 was timely.
“As a state, Jammu and Kashmir was always seen as heaven on earth. I am not the only one saying it; people before me have said it, people after us will say it. Every person would like to visit such a place. So if such a beautiful place is deprived or denied development, medical facilities, education, etc., it is the need of the hour that all of us work together in this national mission of development for all. After the removal of Article 370, today in Kashmir we have medical colleges, we have an AIIMS and we have fast trains. The Vande Bharat train service has been introduced between Jammu from Delhi. It takes just takes six hours to reach.
On the UCC, Lalpura said, “UCC finds mention in Article 40 of the Constitution, and yet, it remains to be implemented. The state of Uttarakhand has been the first to move forward on it, and if all the other states apply the rules, every person will be treated equally. There should be only a single set of rules. The only subjects that are kept out of its periphery are religious ceremonies, laws on inheritance, laws on marriage & divorce, laws of adoption, etc. Rituals, won’t change, there will be no interference. If these become one under the UCC, it will benefit society at large.”
On the issue of triple talaq, the NCM chairperson maintained that a controversy had unnecessarily been created.
“Shouldn’t Muslim women have the right to security? If we look at the Shariat laws, there is no disagreement over the following of religious tenets, marriage laws, etc. That exists in the Sikh faith also. Till date, in our faith, we don’t have laws for divorce, inheritance or adoption. We are governed by the same laws that exist in the Indian Constitution. In Islam, there is no law of adoption, the law of inheritance does not grant equal rights to women, etc. The Constitution clearly states that every citizen must have equal rights,” he said.
“In Punjab, I am from there, daughters or sisters don’t take a share of property from sons or brothers, whatever the case maybe, even though they have the right to do so under the Constitution. Women hand over their share to their brothers or sons as the case may be in the belief that we care for our relations, not for money. If they are getting their share, it is seen as an act of sibling love and affection. The Constitution is and should be the sole benchmark for all of the above. We need to strive for peace, communal harmony, improved familial relations, etc,” he said.
On his thoughts on Kashmiris, especially the younger generation, he asked why was there a need for them to go as far as Arunachal Pradesh in the north east to secure an admission in an institution of higher learning, or even to acquire a degree that would land them a job.
“I have found young Kashmiris going as far as Arunachal Pradesh to get a medical education, or any other form of education. I found that they were having problems in getting certificates and have flagged this issue for correction,” Lalpura said.
He described the entry of 52 Muslims into India’s Civil Service as a matter of pride.
“Eventually they will become DCs, SPs, senior bureaucrats, all of them have achieved on the basis of merit. There are equally brilliant young Kashmiris who can also make a mark in our society. Young Punjabis from remote areas of Punjab have done well,” he said.
“People of India are entitled to avail the benefits of 225 Government of India schemes? Do they even know about it? Do our educational institutions, our religious institutions, NGOs, even spread this information? There is need for a change of mindset, we have to behave as proud Indians, look for ways to enhance our national prestige. Everyone is entitled to these schemes,” Lalpura said.
Describing some of his achievements as NCM chairperson, Lalpura said he had created a group of advisers that include ex-IPS, IAS, army officers, social workers, and professors. “Their job is to keep the commission informed of minority-related developments, whether at the centre or at the state level.”
“Our aim is to reduce and minimise injustice. Our media can sometimes go overboard with their reports of the state of minorities in India, the truth of a matter sometimes gets diluted, people don’t actually know. The Minority Commission is a statutory, constitutional body, and therefore, keeps its distance from politics,” he informed.
He said Prime Minister Modi is a regular visitor to Kashmir and loves to meet and interact with Kashmiris.
“Even we in the Minority Commission are told to undertake visits to Kashmir. I have met Kashmiris from all walks of life, and I can say without a shred of doubt, their love, affection and hospitality is unmatched. Though we should avoid making comparisons, I think Kashmiris are the best, their food, mannerisms, etc. is very good. We all pray that Kashmir prospers; the people of that region must be taken care of in every aspect,” he said.
A member of the minority Sikh community and hailing from Punjab, Lalpura is a multifaceted personality. He served as an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer for nearly three decades, winning awards like the President's Police Medal and the Police Medal for Meritorious Services. Following retirement, he joined BJP and has been serving it in various capacities. Apart from being NCM chairperson, he is a BJP National Parliamentary Board member and also a prolific author of 22 books with a focus on Sikh philosophy and history, etc.