06/09/2013
‘Join Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir to express solidarity with victims’
Srinagar, Sep 5: Terming the scheduled Zubin Mehta concert “deeply political event for political purpose”, organizers of the Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir show here Thursday asked people to join their program to expresssolidarity with Kashmiri victims.
“It (Zubin concert) servesto build on the State narrative that seeks to dilute the reality of Jammu and Kashmir and people’s aspirations,” said one of the organizers of Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, Khuram Parvez, addressing a press conference here. “Itseeks to promote a false image of a peaceful and normal Jammu and Kashmir. The pain, suffering, courage and bravery of the resistance will find no place in this concert.”
The Zubin concert named ‘Ehsaas-e-Kashmir’ (feeling of Kashmir) to be held on September 7 in Shalimar garden here is being organized by German Embassy in collaboration with Government of India and State Government.
The concert is expected to see an attendance of at least 1500 guests, mostly VIPs, where Zubinand his orchestra comprising 100 musicians would play Beethoven, Haydn and Tchaikovsky. The concerthas drawn widespread opposition from civil society groups and separatists. The German Ambassador is overseeing the preparations for the conduct of the show.
“It is most condemnable that the Government of Germany has chosen to be party to the Indian state’s continued political machinations in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Khuram, flanked by civil society members.
The organizers claimed that an estimated Rs 100 crores were reportedly being spent on the Zubin concert, and the list of guests include corporate bigwigs India like Tatas and Birlas, people from Bollywood like Amitabh Bachchan and sportsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Borris Becker (former German tennis player).
Parvez said many peoplehave been blacklisted from attending the concert. “A proposal to invite 230 Kashmiri students has also been turned down by the State,” he said.
Khuram said the GermanAmbassador was “misleading” people by calling the Zubin show asan event for people of Kashmir.
“It is deeply political event for a political purpose,” Khuram said.
He appealed all sections of society to join the Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir to express their solidarity with the resilience and suffering of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Haqeeqat-e-Kashmirwould feature music, poems, paintings, performance arts and photographs.
“This event will showcase the reality of Jammu and Kashmir and it is financially and morally responsible as onRs 50000, all from private donation, from the organizing committee itself, will be spent on the event,” Khuram said.
Khuram made it clear that they were not against the music, but against using music as “propaganda machinery”.
“We also have historically cultivated a sublime tradition in and love for music. However, legitimizing an occupation via a musical concert is completely unacceptable,” he said.
Prof Hameedah Nayeem,one of the members of organizing committee said they were not against music but the Government of India would project the event as a symbol of normalcy in Kashmir which is far from reality.
“The concert revolves round the politics of exclusion, where false impressions are being created,” she said.
Opposing the Zubin show a noted satirist andpoet Zareef Ahmad Zareef said: “The day Kashmir dispute will be resolved, we would invite him and others to perform for us and celebrate,” Zareef said.
