In the backdrop of a seminar on 'refugees of Balochistan and Kashmir' allegedly being denied permission here, former army generals today said the "ban" was ridiculous and wondered how such a discussion could be proscribed in a liberal country like India.
A group was allegedly denied permission to organise the seminar after a club hosting it claimed that police was "not willing" to show a green signal apprehending that it "might create problems" in the city.
"What is the message you will send by banning the seminar and discussion on Kashmir and Balochistan? Such things happen in Pakistan. By doing this you are pushing the agenda of the ISI and Pakistani government. Kashmir is an integral part of India and how can you stop discussion on Kashmir in a state like India," Maj Gen (retd) G D Bakshi told reporters.
The group, called "Swadhikar Bangla Foundation", which wanted to organise the seminar, titled 'Sufferings of people of Kashmir and Balochistan and what the World needs to know', was denied permission after reservations were raised over the mention of 'Kashmiri refugees' and their condition during the programme.
"This is ridiculous that a discussion is being stopped just because it is on Balochistan and Kashmir. This is not right to stop discussion on Kashmir, this should not have happened," former army general Shankar Roy Chowdhury said.
Bakshi said he has requested the organisers to take legal action against the club for "infringement" on the fundamental right of speech.
According to the programme's organiser, Colonel (Retd) Dipatanshu Chowdhury, the seminar was scheduled to take place at a renowned club here on January 7.
"But all of a sudden, the Club told us to omit the name of Kashmir from the programme and not to call two speakers who are known for their voracious anti-Pakistan statements. We said it is not possible following which the club informed us that the police is not willing to give us permission with Kashmir as the theme, as police is apprehending that it might create problems in the city," Chowdhury told PTI.
The speakers in the programme included Lt Gen (Retd) J M Mukherjee, Maj Gen (Retd) G D Bakshi, Sushil Pandit, Arif Mohammad Khan besides Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah and singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya.
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