Our compulsions in Kashmir

This refers to Why we must hear JP on Kashmir by Ramachandra Guha (Past & Present, September 25). There is no doubt that the people of Kashmir don’t want to be ruled by force. But the real question is why they have a grudge against the central government despite several liberal measures for the state. Pakistan just wants to seize the valley and don’t want to pass up any opportunity to do it. The people on both sides live in fear. Some leaders of the ruling party at the Centre speak against special privileges to the Valley despite knowing the political compulsions behind the privileges. The history of these privileges goes back to the time of writing the Constitution. Withdrawing them or continuing with them has to be with the consent of the people there. DEVINDER SINGH, Patiala