The situation in a state which is popularly known as the “Crown of India” is much tensed from the past one month. The killing of a terrorist named Burhan Wani was killed by the Indian Army in the valley of Kashmir has affected the region and locals badly with a continuous 32 weeks curfew and mass protests. There were also signs of violence during those protests resulted in retaliatory actions from the police officers and military forces. The incident has affected the entire nation and everyone expressed their concern on the situation in their own way.
This 13-year-old girl from Gujarat’s Ahmedabad has her own perspective regarding the episode. She wishes to hoist our national flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on Independence Day. The girl, Tanzeem Merani, told the reporters that she has always read the news and watched it on TV that the terrorists in the valley have hoisted Pakistani and ISIS flags in the area and the locals are in so much trauma that they can’t even unfurl their national flag.
She said that “I have seen it many times on TV, in newspapers and have heard also that it is a part of India. It is India’s soil still, Pakistan and ISIS flags are hurled there. I have been hearing this for a long time. Then one day I asked my daddy that why is it so. He told me some negative points as well that this will happen if you go there. So, I told him it is not bad to do something for the country and we should not be afraid”.
“When our flag is disrespected then we sit at our homes and voice our opinion against such people. Why don’t we ever think to go there and hoist our flag if it is being disrespected there?” she added.
One of the posers asked her that what she would do if the permission to do so is denied. She responded to this in a confident manner that one doesn’t need a permission to enter one’s own country and warned to sit on a hunger strike if the permission is denied to her.
“It is our Indian soil and we don’t need any permission to go there. And if the army will not let me go there then I’ll go on a hunger strike and will request them to let me go there,” she said.
“I want to give the message of peace and harmony to all and I’m a proud Indian,” Tanzeem added.
The father of the girl has also similar thoughts on the issue and when asked about whether he took the permission from concerned authorities or not, he said, “I’m unable to understand that do I have to seek permission to sit in my mother’s lap. Whom should I ask? We have not taken permission because I believe so. As far as terrorism is concerned, I am not afraid. Whatever will happen, god is with us.”
However, he admits that it is not the appropriate time for the hoisting national flag in the valley keeping in mind the recent incidents. He added, “I know it’s not the right time to go there, but tell me till when should we wait. There is a curfew on every 15th August and January 26 which comes once every year. If this will continue for years till when should we wait! Somewhere there needs to be a beginning and my daughter has made that beginning and we have supported her.”
Tanzeem’s school Chairman has written an application to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) and seeking their permission for the girl to hoist the flag in Srinagar to spread the message of Hindu-Muslim unity in the world. They also sought for proper security arrangements for the girl during her visit.
Tanzeem is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi tomorrow to put forth her concerns.
