Why special status to Jammu & Kashmir when it is part of India?

LUCKNOW: Pakistan born and Canada-based journalist Tarek Fatah is much soughtafter for his views among India’s right wing.

Fatah’s Twitter timeline is always active and has a large following, many of them Indians.His views on hardline Muslims have made him a rare Muslim face among rightwing Hindu circles.

He was in Lucknow to take part in the Hindustan Shikhar Samagam 2018. Fatah interacted with

Pawan Dixit on wide-ranging issues that are being debated in India at present. Excerpts:

Reservation in jobs is a major issue in India at present. No political party is willing to make a change in the existing reservation system?

Reservation in jobs must be based on financial condition and not on caste. It must be based on income. Reservation is a contentious issue in India. In other countries also there is reservation. But it is three to four per cent and based on the financial condition of a person. All political parties in India must come together to reach a consensus to make reservation system based on financial condition of a person and not caste.

Influx of Rohingyas in India from the adjoining Myanmar has become a political issue in India. A large number of Indians perceive them as a threat to the country and want them deported?

There is no doubt that Rohingyas are persecuted in Myanmar. But the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army fighting for the cause of Rohingyas has its base in Karachi (Pakistan). They are guided by extremist forces in Pakistan. This makes Rohingyas dangerous for India. There must be no politics on the issue and their deportation must be considered seriously in view of their connection with Pakistan. Why Rohingyas have been settled in Jammu? I am not able to understand. Another debate in India is on Article 35A of the Indian constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir. A section of population wants this article to be abolished? Yes, Article 35A must be abolished. Why special status to Jammu and Kashmir when it is part of India. People (Kashmiri Pandits) who were staying in Kashmir for the past 5000 years were forced to leave. Now, they are refugees in their own country.

Right wing forces in India often raise the issue of ‘love jihad’?

A: There is no such thing as ‘love jihad’. Everyone has the right to marry by his or her own choice.

Several incidents of mob lynching have also been reported in India in the recent past?

It (mob lynching) must be stopped. It is a disgrace. If omeone has done anything wrong, then he must be handed over to the police. Only weak people indulge in mob lynching to vent their frustration.

Almost the entire world is affected by terrorism. India is also facing the scourge of terrorism. The state of Jammu and Kashmir is facing militancy for the past several decades. Is there a solution to this problem?

Pakistan is the epicentre of all terrorist activities. Till we have Pakistan on the world map, terrorism will persist and cannot be wiped out. The international community must understand this and tackle Pakistan if they want to end terrorism.

Pakistanis are unleashing terror on their own people in Balochistan. So, how can you expect them to end terrorism on their own.