Marshall Mendoza provided us with the following link to an article on the latest issues regarding Arundhati Roy:
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ne061110Coverstory.asp While those interested must have read the article forwarded by Marshall. I would recommend they also read the interview of Syed Geelani, with whom she shared the dais where the controversy of her statement arose. The title is: "India has a secular system, which we Kashmiris can under no condition accept: Syed Ali Shah Geelani", and is availabel at: URL: http://www.NewAgeIslam.com/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=3590 I would like to highlight only TWO questions in the long interview. Q: In some of your writings you have argued against Kashmir being an independent state, even claiming that this is an Indian 'ploy'. Can you elaborate? A: This is true. It is an Indian ploy, because India does not want to see Pakistan strengthened, which it would be if Jammu and Kashmir joins Pakistan. The slogan of Azadi is aimed at weakening Pakistan. Independence would result in a territory that would have been a natural part of Pakistan being taken away from it. But, then, compared to staying with India, independence is a lesser evil. Q: What if most people of Jammu and Kashmir wish to live in a secular or democratic set-up, and not a Taliban-style 'Islamic' state? A: We don't want to bring Taliban-type Islam, but the real Islam of the Quran and the Practice (Sunnah) of the Prophet. Best regards, U G Barad _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ tambdimati: the Goa review is a community blog of original _/ art, writing, music, news and commentary from and about the _/ smallest state in the subcontinent. check out the newest _/ member of the Goanet family daily at _/ http://www.tambdimati.com. _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/