The Final Lap - Gujarat

Hi Guys,

This is the pioneer paper in Delhi, where my age is shown as 51, seems I have aged 14years during this long drive.

I have completed Rajasthan. I drove from Delhi to Jodhpur via Jaipur, I didn't halt there as I had covered Jaipur earlier. From Jodhpur I went to Jaisalmer & then Barmer, the borders of Pakistan from Rajasthan. I just drove into Bhuj today, the Pakistan border from Gujarat.

I will be off to Ahmedabad tomorrow, Baroda the day after, Surat on Friday & finally Bombay on Saturday. Gujarat was my last state, and I have now driven around India completely. It is an amazing feeling for which I dont have any words.

I will be entering Bombay on saturday 23rd May at 1.30pm at Dahisar & 3.00pm at The gateway of India where I can finally say "Mission Accomplished".

Limca book of records contacted me and want me to enter in a special category as One man driving alone around India spreading National Integrity & Patriotism to the people.

Hope to see you guys there.

Your support is very impirtant to me and the country, so please log on to facebook & join "United Force of India" if you havent already done so.

Feels good to be back in Bombay after 118 days covering 20, 000 kms and seeing 27 states of India.

Regards & see you in a couple of days.

Amit Rajan Lall
President
ITL Liningz

More from Amit on his Journey into Rajasthan..

Hi Guys,

I drove to Jaipur from Gwalior on 8th May. My first serious crisis - My tyre burst on the highway. Rajasthan was 48 degrees. I spent a couple of days at Jaipur and carried on to Delhi. I went to Manesar (50 kms for Delhi on Delhi Jaipur Highway) - NSG - Unit 51 Special Forces - Black Cat Commandos - the guys who came to our rescue at the Taj, Oberoi & Nariman house. There is a 52 unit which is anti Hijack squad, like this unit 51 is an anti terrorist squad. They also came in as back up on the last day to Bombay. I was with the 17 officers who were inside for 60 hours - the complete operation. Maj. Sandeep Unni Krishnan (31) was a very brave man, who was martyred at the Taj and got an Ashok Chakra (Highest bravery awards in Peace times) - I got a learn a lot about him & the other soldier that gave his life for the country at the Nariman House was Hawaldar Gajinder Singh (37) who also got an Ashok Chakra. The got 2 Ashok Chakras, 1 Kirti Chakra, 2 Shaurya Chakras, 4 sena medals, 11 DGNSG medals & 2 Chief of Army Staff commendation cards.I spent a day with them and then went back to Delhi and met the Chief of Army General Deepak Kapoor. I spoke to the P.A of the President and she wants to meet me after I complete my mission, so I will write to her once I return to Bombay and complete my Mission and then visit her at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. I meet an NGO - SEEDS - Taj supports them too. They help jeuvenile delinquints come into mainstream. They train children in remand homes from age 17. When they turn 18, they are released and they are put on jobs that they are trained for by SEEDS. I then returned back to the NSG guys where I spent the night before leaving for Jodhpur. They have more advanced weapons than the army. I fired the MP - 5, which is 100 times lighter and more accurate with lasers and more impactful than the AK - 47 & the Glock pistol, which has some excellent features and is really accurate. They were very kind and I felt honoured when they presented me a momento of their unit and a cap & T-shirt of the Black Cat. I saw their NSG musuem. I met and learnt about the Bomb Disposal squad also. The NSG guys wanted to drive my car so I gave it to them and they loved it. I have found very close friends in them now and hopefully they will try and come to Bombay when I return on 23rd May. I learnt a lot from them.The rest of their experiences when they were at the 26/11 operation, I will mention in the book I am writing. I met a publisher in Delhi too. They are planning a drive like mine (but this time only North India) in July, for which I will go with them, so if anyone wants to join, please let me know.

Tomorrow - 16th May, I drive off to Jodhpur.

I have attached a few news clip of Jaipur & Delhi. The other news clips of Delhi I will send in the next mail.

For all you guys, I am reaching Bombay on 23rd May at 3.00pm at the Gateway of India. Would really hope to see you guys there. I will be coming from Surat, so I will come in from Dahisar.

Regards

Amit Rajan Lall
President
ITL Liningz

Night Rider (Amit Lall) en route Jodhpur - May 16 2009

After an early morning jaunt at the NSG camp in Manesar, where Amit learnt to fire Machine guns and diffuse bombs, he extended his heartfelt gratitude to the NSG Commandos and embarked on his journey towards Jodhpur at 12.00 noon.

Adept with the highways and roads, he touched Ajmer within an hour and was guided to drive off the highway to avoid a jam by some locals. Here began Amit's jorney on the off-beat route surrounded by the desert and solitude. On his way he encountered an ocassional camel cart, old turboned men trotting their way home, who sometimes stopped to show him the way, a sudden emergence of a Jackal right in front of his car and the ever friendly Jaipur Golden truckers were his only friends and companions on this deserted highway.

Amit drove along, music his sole companion and his ocassional chatter with the love of his life his "Knight rider" who constantly assured him she will take him home safely. Finally after several misses and turns and encounters with lone wild animals, he finally reached Jodhpur, to an ever welcoming Taj at 12.00 midnight.

Tomorrow Amit will begin his journey to Jaisalmer, The India Pakistan Border and i'm sure will have many more interesting encounters to share with us.

till then Bonne nuit...
Shefali Arora
Blogger "Second Freedom Movement"

Amit Lall in conversation with The Pioneer, New Delhi May 16 09

Amit Lall in meeting with the Chief of Indian Army General Deepak Kapoor at South Block. Delhi - May 14th 2009

16,500 km towards a safe nation
By: Anshuman G Dutta Date: 2009-05-14 Place:Delhi

Amit Lal, a Mumbai businessman, is driving around the country to spread the word of peace.

Most of us silently watched Mumbai being attacked. A few joined candle-lit vigils and scribbled their anger on websites. But very few actually paused in their daily lives to spread awareness so that 26/11 would not be repeated again.

One man, however, did. He decided to spread the lesson of humanity and patriotism by driving through the country.

on the road to safety: Amit Lal with his car in New Delhi and while presenting the National Flag to Chief of Indian Army General Deepak Kapoor at South Block on Wednesday

Amit Lal, has travelled more than 16,500 kilometres, across 24 states spreading the message of brotherhood so that we don't start taking terror attacks as "one of the regular affairs of the country."

"Kab tak sirf paisa aur profit ke bare mein sochte rahenge. What importance does money hold when the entire nation is being attacked and innocent people are being killed?" asked 37-year-old Lal.

A prosperous businessman from Mumbai, Lal has launched an organisation called United Force of India to defeat the opposing forces of regionalism and religion.

"I decided to spread the message by travelling to the border regions while meeting soldiers and people living in these far-flung locations. As a nation we are indebted to our soldiers and I wanted to pay my homage to them," he said.

But Lal was not always a patriot. It was the Mumbai attack that threw him off his comfort zone. "On November 26, Churchgate station was attacked only 20 minutes after my mother boarded a train to Allahabad.

For a moment I was completely helpless as terrorists went about killing innocent people," he said, recalling the incident which inspired his mission.

"Why do we need a terror attack or a natural disaster to wake up? Mumbai has been suffering from both attacks as well as natural calamities and people are getting used to it. Is this the way to live?" he asked.

It took Lal a month to give shape to his plans. Once he was ready, support started to pour in from various places. "The first to support me was the Tata Group.

I wrote a letter to Ratan Tata and got an immediate reply in the form a sponsorship from the Taj Group of Hotels.

Then I wrote to Hyundai as I am driving one of its cars. They also appreciated my mission and gave me full support," he said.

During the last four months Lal has had quite a few memorable road moments. However, he was unable to control his emotions when he met the National Security Guards (NSG) who were instrumental in ousting the terrorists in the Mumbai attack.

"I hugged them and had no word for their selflessness. They presented me a T-shirt which has become one of my most prized possessions," he said, recalling his day at the NSG training centre, Manesar.

But there were disappointing moments too. "At Lal Chowk, Srinagar, people said I was from India and they were not.

When I tried to tell them that they were safe only because they were a part of this big and strong country, they asked me to convey the message that Kashmir should either be allowed to go with Pakistan or given independence from India. It was saddening," he said.

On Wednesday, he met Chief of Indian Army General Deepak Kapoor at South Block and presented him the National flag.

Lal will resume his journey on May 14 to reach Mumbai via Longewal (Rajasthan), Kutch (Gujarat).
"But my mission will not end there.

I want all the students unions, schools, colleges and NGOs to join United Force of India so that we can break the walls of regionalism and religion," Lal said.

Amit Lall from New delhi, India Gate (May 12, 2009)

Amit from Delhi - Agra - Gwalior -Jaipur - 5th - May 9th 09

Hi Guys,

I drove to Agra from Delhi and visited the Taj Mahal. I met a group of students there and spoke to them of my Mission. They were very enthusiastic to join the UFI. I only spent a couple of hours here as I had to reach Gwalior.

I drove into Gwalior and was welcomed by Maj.Gen.Mukherjee. He is the Vice Chacellor of Laxmibai University for Physical Education. I saw the campus and met the students there. I gave a talk to all the students. I met I met a vey elderly gentleman - Mr. Kashinath joshi who has an NGO - Vanmitranyas . He is an alone man planting trees to stop pollution and bring more oxygen. He has also taken loans to do this good work He plants trees in the University campus and when they grow after a year or so, he takes them up into the mountains to plant them there and nurtures them into trees. I will try and help him get help and machinery for his excellent work and support from other environmentalists. The Maj.Gen had a press meet for the newly introduced activities in his University, so he introduced me to the press in Gwalior. He felt that not many students were interested in adventure sports, so felt that my adventurous journy could motivate them. I was not supposed to do Madhya Pradesh as it was in the interior, but he had invited me and I was happy that I could see Gwalior.

Tomorrow - 8th May, I drive off to Jaipur.

Regards

Amit Rajan Lall
President
ITL Liningz


Driven by peace
DNJAI7177 | 5/9/2009 | Author : Richa Shukla | WC :216


This Mumbaikar is on a drive to unite Indians against terrorism post 26/11. He reached Jaipur on Friday

For many Mumbaiites, November 26, 2008 was the day that completely changed their lives. And 51-year-old Amit Lall is one of them. Now he is on mission to unite people against terrorism. He has been driving the length and breadth of the country to rally support for his cause, and has named his mission ‘Drive for Peace and Unity’. He reached here on Friday where he was welcomed by Jaipur Jewel City Round Table 191.
Lall’s mother had a narrow escape from Mumbai blasts. She was in a train for Allahabad that left at 9.25pm, and the terrorists attacked the station at 9.40pm. Says Lall, “This drive aims at galvanising people against external threats and frustrating the enemy. Our country will always remain impenetrable because of its sheer unity.”
His white Hyundai Accent has slogans on all four doors in Hindi and English and the Indian flag on the hood and roof and all sides. Generally, he pays for the fuel himself, but sometimes people show their support by contributing a tank of fuel. He also meets up with local NGOs, talks to the youth in schools, colleges and other places to motivate them. After Jaipur, Lall moves on to Gwalior and a book and a small documentary at the end of the journey.

...

Amit Lall's Tryst at the Wagah border, Amritsar (May 5, 2009)

Hi Guys,

I completed my 100 days on 5th May when I entered Delhi.

I drove into Amritsar from Jammu on sunday 3rd May. I was staying with the army 10 Dogra at the Wagah Border itself. I went to see the flag down at 6pm at Wagah, apparently its the best on sundays. Most of you must know what its about. After staying at J&K at the LOC, and seeing the reality, this wasnt that exciting for me, though it is nice and is a must visit once for every one as it is a kind of show put on by India & Pakistan, where they show attitude to each other and play patriotic songs and lower the flags and open the gates that separate India & Pakistan and there are huge crowds of about 15,000 - 20,000 people there from India & Pakistan. Its a 30 minute ceremony. I then went to the other Wagah Border with the fencing which is protected by the BSF and met with the jawans there.

Round table India welcomed me in Amritsar city the next day. We had a press meet and I went to the Golden Temple and visited the Jallianwala Bagh. I had people approaching me for help when they heard of United Force of India. The were fleeced of money by people and got no justice, so they asked for my help. There was another case of corruption and bribery in Jammu where a man working in a hospital for over 7 years awaiting his promotion, was let down because another man who had worked for 3 years paid off the management and got a promotion and the man who gave 7 years to that hospital was left behind. I have represantatives of UFI in Jammu and they called me and we took up his cause and are fighting for him. So, United Force of India has already got its first few cases in Jammu & Amritsar.

After Amritsar, I drove into Delhi, unfortunately elections were on and everything was closed, so I decided to complete Gwalior (MP) & Jaipur (Rajasthan) and return to Delhi.

In Delhi, I wrote to the President - Mrs.Pratibha Patil and the Army Chief - Gen.Deepak Kapoor. Spoke to the CO of the NSG - to thank them for what they did for us in Bombay. I will be meeting who ever I can when I return to Delhi.

I have attached a few news clips of Amritsar. I am off to Gwalior tomorrow - 7th May (election day in Delhi & Jaipur).

UNITED FORCE OF INDIA on Facebook already has 200 members in a very short span - Please join if you havent already and inform your friends.

Regards

Amit Rajan Lall
President
ITL Liningz






Mumbaikar on peace mission
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 5
Riding his car and covering a distance of more than 14,800 km, Amit Lall, a Mumbai resident, is on a mission of spreading a message of “peace and unity” all over the country, besides motivating the people to rise above religion, caste and regionalism.

A garment merchant, Lall launched his expedition after 26/11 terrorist attack in the financial capital of India. He resides a few metres away from the Taj and Oberai Hotels where the terrorist had struck and killed more than 180 innocent persons.

Expressing his dismay, he said though a lot of campaigns had been launched to awaken the public and political leaders after the terror attack, the percentage of voters who had polled during parliamentary elections had disheartened many. However, he added that educated people were debarred from voting due to alleged discrepancies in the voters’ lists.

He advocated that the voters should have the right to reject candidates, besides fixing a retirement age for politicians in order to give a chance to the young generation.

Talking to media here today, he said there was a need to launch a second freedom movement, to get freedom from corruption, injustice, poverty and terrorism. He said everybody should be united to accomplish the cause as politicians had failed on all fronts.

Lall launched United Force of India (UFI) to bring all the NGOs, student unions and everyone of all the 28 states on a common platform to help one another to uplift society and get rid of casteism, regionalism and religious differences. He said he would try to bring all the major business groups to join hands for setting small-scale industries in various parts of the country to generate employment and eliminate poverty.

During his mission, he visited various parts of the country, including north-eastern side, South India and Jammu and Kashmir.

Amritsar News: Man On Peace Mission Reaches Amritsar
Posted by preetasr in Amritsar Diary, City News, Current Report, Message For City, National News, Peoples Voice on 05 5th, 2009 | no responses
Am­rit­sar, M­ay­ 5

A MU­MBAI-base­d bu­sine­ssman Amit Lall to­­day­ r­e­ac­he­d Amr­itsar­ as par­t o­­f his r­o­­ad jo­­u­r­ne­y­ ac­r­o­­ss India w­ith a ‘missio­­n to­­ spr­e­ad u­nity­ a­nd p­ea­ce‘.

“The­re­ are­ two re­ason­s why­ I­ u­n­de­rtook the­ jou­rn­e­y­: to m­oti­vate­ the­ y­ou­th an­d se­cu­re­ the­i­r p­arti­ci­p­ati­on­ for the­ cou­n­try­’s we­l­fare­ an­d to sal­u­te­ arm­e­d’ force­s who e­n­su­re­ that we­ re­m­ai­n­ safe­ i­n­ ou­r hou­se­s,” he­ sai­d.

L­al­l­ starte­d hi­s jou­rn­e­y­ on­ Jan­u­ary­ 26 from­ G­a­tewa­y­ o­­f­ India­, M­um­bai, in his c­ar and c­laim­s t­o­ have­ c­o­ve­re­d 24 st­at­e­s and t­o­uc­he­d In­d­ia’s­ bor­d­er­ w­i­t­h si­x co­un­t­r­i­es.

“I­ a­m co­mi­n­g f­r­o­m J­a­mmu w­her­e I­ ha­ve been­ t­o­ t­he Li­n­e­ o­f Co­n­tro­l,” he sai­d. Af­t­er Am­­ri­t­sar, hi­s next­ dest­i­nat­i­on w­i­l­l­ be New­ Del­hi­. He w­i­l­l­ c­over around 16,000 km­­ t­hroughout­ hi­s journey.

As a part­ of­ hi­s m­­i­ssi­on, Am­­i­t­ has al­so st­art­ed an organi­z­at­i­on - ‘T­he Uni­t­ed F­orc­e of­ I­ndi­a’. “I­t­ i­s very unf­ort­unat­e t­o see t­hat­ probl­em­­s of­ regi­onal­i­sm­­ and c­om­­m­­unal­i­sm­­ are pl­agui­ng t­he c­ount­ry. So I­ have st­art­ed t­hi­s organi­z­at­i­on t­o gi­ve a pl­at­f­orm­­ t­o t­he peopl­e of­ 28 st­at­es t­o uni­t­e,” he sai­d.

As of­ now­, L­al­l­ c­l­ai­m­­s t­hat­ nearl­y t­w­o l­akh peopl­e f­rom­­ di­f­f­erent­ c­i­t­i­es t­hat­ have joi­ned hi­s organi­z­at­i­on. F­or t­he t­ec­h-savvy he has c­reat­ed a group on popul­ar so­c­i­al n­etw­o­rk­i­n­g w­ebsi­te F­ac­ebo­o­k­.

Amit Lall reporting his experiences from Jammu (22nd April - 24th April) & Kashmir 25th April - 1st May)

Hi Guys,

Its 2nd May and am back in Jammu and off to Amritsar - Wagah Border (Punjab) tomorrow.

I met with ABRS - Akhil Bhartiya Rachnatmak Samaj - the 1st Gandhian movement NGO - by Mahatma Gandhi - President Mr.S.P.Verma. He too has shown his support to my Mission and United Force of India.

This experience of Kashmir is something I cant describe in words. Living with those soldiers at the LOC (Line of Control) next to POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) makes you think about life and death at a different level.

On 25th April I left from Jammu for a place called Ramsu. It is is the midpoint between Jammu & Srinagar. I stayed with 23 RR (Rastriya Rifles), the Commanding Officer became a good friend who was introduced to me by the commanding officer of 20 RR. He prepared me for what to expect at the LOC. I then drove into Srinagar the next day. The feeling after driving through the Jawahar tunnel, you feel the difference between Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu are warm welcoming people - Kashmir is cold hateful people.

I reached Srinagar on sunday 26th April - Rahul Gandhi was arriving at Srinagar on monday and a bandh was declared, so I decided to go straight to the LOC on monday as the bandh's here are extremely violent, so I called the Commanding Officer of 20 RR who I was introduced to by a close friend from Jaipur, who sent me Army escorts to Srinagar to take me up to the LOC. One jawan sat in my car with an AK-47 for protection and a jeep guided me through to Panchgam. Panchgam is a place after you go from Srinagar to Baramullah to Kupwara. Baramullah & Kupwara were the most diturbed areas of Kashmir, where even the army feared to go. Its better now, but still dangerous - espcially for a guy like me driving a car with the Indian Flag on it. I drove through Baramullah & Kupwara and reached Panchgam, where i parked my car and unloaded my luggage as only the army jeep can go up and the roads were full of snow and my car tyres would not be able to go through the snow. I was given the army jacket there and a pair of snow shoes. We reached up to NC Pass towards a place called Tanghdar - 25 kms short of Tithwal which is the LOC. I met the CO there and we went for a function where the brigadiers were changing. Spent the night at Tanghdar and the next morning I left for the LOC at Tithwal.

The LOC is actually a river called the Krishnaganga. This side of the river is India and that side of the river is (POK)Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. There is a bridge that goes across the river. In the centre of the bridge is a white line. That line separates India from POK. This bridge is used for Kashmiris who get a visa and go across to visit their families in Pakistan. This has been closed after the 26 November attacks in Bombay - the reason I have taken up this mission. This LOC is guarded by the Gorkha Regiment. The Indian flag is hoisted on this side of the bridge and 2 flags are on the other side - the Pakistan flag and a yellow flag of Azad Kashmir (first time I saw this flag). I spent time with the jawans there and moved on to a place called Baraf. The place is exactly like its name. Its 50 kms above the LOC on a mountain. This is where I was invited to stay by the CO of 20 RR. They have bunkers and underground sheds for protection. It is about 10.300 feet above sea level and its on the highest mountain there where you can see the Nanga Parbat on a clear day which is part of the himalaya in Pakistan. This place is so high that the clouds are below the mountain, so when it rains, its raining in the Kashmir valley and we are standing above the clouds - its a different feeling. All around us are snow mounatins and where we stayed the snow was about 12-15 feet high and the rods had to be cleared by bulldozers. I even got to drive the bulldozer there. Its 6-8 degrees below zero a night and about 2-3 dgress in the day. The treeline is good so there is not much problem in breathing. Kargil has no treeline, so oxygen supply is less.

A day before I arrived 7 of our men died in a landslide / avalanche who were there for an operation. It was a havan for their chautha and I sat for the prayers. the gae group of the jawans were 23 - 27 years of age. One had just gotten married and returned from leave and another had just had twins and was to go home to see his kids. During peace time also there are people dying at the borders for us, so that we can be safe in our homes with our families. Do we value our freedom? Have we taken our Independance for granted? Do we appreciate what these soldiers are doing for us? What are we doing with our lives to help the people and the Country? What is our contribution? Would we die for our Country and for the safety of our fellow Indian like these brave soldiers? Lots of questions flashed through me head while I sat at the havan. Did these soldiers die for us? Will they be remembered as Martyrs or just another statistic in the books - 7 jawans killed at the LOC? When terrorists die - its written in papers 10 terrorists / militants killed, when our soldiers die - its again written 7 soldiers killed. Whats the differemce in the two? It should be 7 soldiers martyred - if they are written about. Its sad but its true at the LOC.

We intercepted 2-3 militant groups that crossed the LOC and entered from Pakistan. The place we are at is 30 kms from Muzzafarabad, touching the Swat Valley occupied by Taliban. For us it doesnt make a difference if its Let or Taliban or any other group, we kill at the LOC to protect out country and even die if required. We tracked a group where one blew his leg on a landmine and so the other 3 retreated to Pakistan. There are 5-6 groups that come form different sides and meet at one point so its totally a group of 4 people into 6-7 groups = 30 or so people. In India there is a welcoming party, who wait ata place to welcome them into India, and once inside, they mix with the public and cannot be recognised. I heard the radio messages of militants talking, I saw the night vision equipment they use, I fired a few rounds of the AK-47 and the LMG (Light Machine Gun), Rocket Launchers, Grenade Launchers and other weapons they have. They are not as simple to fire as they seem and they are loud and deafening.

I was to go back down by wednesday 29th April, but there was an undeclared bandh in Kashmir as there were elections on 30th.. Yasin MAlik & other JKLF leaders tried to boycott the elections so were arrested, so i couldnt meet with them. Anyway, so I couldnt go down on wednesday or thursday. I was to go to URi wahich is another LOC but had to drive through Kupwara & Baramullah, which wasnt possible with the bandh as they had started burning cars, throwing stones and even firing. So I had to stay put in Baraf till thirsday 30th April. So I spent a lot of quality time with the 100 odd soldiers in Baraf.

I went down to PAnchgam on friday 1st May and got my car and again had army protection inside and around my car to drive me into Srinagar. I tried to meet the press in Srinagar, at a place called Lal Chowk, there was still curfew at Downtown Srinagar and Lal Chowk is a disturbed area. I was the only Hindu there between a group of muslims who said they were Kashmiris and not Indians. They told me that I should tell the govt. to give them freedom and let them decide whether they want to go with Pakistan, stay with India or have an independant Kashmir. I told them that the govt. gives them so much - electricity & water is free for them - no charge - schools and college is free - Rs.10,000 grant per household is given to them, still they are not satisfied. Its sad. There were morcha's by women saying "They will go to Pakistan, bear children of the pakistani men and send those kids to India as militants".........this is the state of affairs in Kashmir.

I then drove off to Jammu the next morning on 2nd May...........feeling sad of what has happened to our beautiful country and its people........who have been brainwashed against India....

I have lots more to write but I guess I will do that in my book. I have attached a few news clips.

Join United Force of India on www.facebook.com and tell your friends to join...........

Regards

Amit Rajan Lall
President
ITL Liningz

+91 9324242457














Hi Guys,

Its 24th April and am in Jammu tonight and off to Ramban (J&K) - The 23 Rastriya Rifles (Between Jammu & Srinagar) tomorrow.

In Jammu I stay with the Border Roads. In Ramban I will be staying with the 23 Rastriya Rifles. They were the main forces to control terrorism here. Day after I will be in Srinagar. There I plan to meet the separatist group - The Hurriyat. JKLF - Mr.Yasin Malik (I spoke to him - got his number from the press guys in Jammu) & Salim Ghelani & will try to meet Umar Faroque & Syed Ali Gelani & Abdul Gani Lone.

A little History of J&K I got form the people I spent time with here.......

Huriyat Leaders – Yasin Mallik, Omar Faroq, Abdul Gani Lone & Syed Ali Shah Gelani. I am scheduled to meet Salim Gelani who will make me meet Omar Faroque in Srinagar . These people want J&K as a separate country or to be merged with Pakistan . They also fight for a different currency of J&K and for creating their own army not Indian Army = "Naya Kashmir". Earlier Tariq Hamdhara – Finance minister had said that J&K should be able to accept both India & Pakistani currency. There is a 370 in the constitution that is the root cause of the problem here in J&K. All laws passed by the central govt. are applicable all over India except in J&K. The bill or law has to be passed in J&K after the law has been passed by the central govt. and only if it is approved by J&K is it applicable. No Indian law is applicable in J&K till it has been passed in J&K.This is the only state in India which practices this. This was done in 1947 by Jawaharlal Nehru. There is another law here that if there is any problem in J&K there will be a public voting done. Only locals can own land here and only locals can get govt. jobs. The 370 was made in 1870 by Maharaj Ghulab Singh so that Britishers cannot own land in India and take control. This law is still applicable after independence. At that time this place was Jammu ,Kashmir & Tibet Adi or etc. (includes Tibet , Swat Valley , POK upto Afghanistan ). Another system started by the maharaja in 1870 was called the Darbar Move which is practiced even now. The Darbar Move is when all govt offices are shifted to Kashmir from May – October when the roads are open and shifted back to Jammu form November – April when Kashmir is snowed in and Jammu is cool. THE DARBAR MOVE IS ON TOMORROW WHEN I MOVE TO KASHMIR.This shifting of office takes 15 days each way and they spend approx. Rs.15 – 20 Crores on this shifting process every year. In 1984 Farooque Abdullah tried to have the secretariat in Srinagar and keep offices in one place and there was a revolt saying that jammu is open thoughout the year so it should be kept in Jammu , to this the kashmiris objected and that was the end of that and the darbar move has continued. J&K is divided into 3 parts geographically, culturally & politically – they are Jammu , Kashmir & Ladakh. Jammu is 30% muslims, Kashmir is 90% muslims & Ladakh divided into 2 parts Leh (Buddhists) & Kargil (muslims). J&K is 65% - 70% muslims. Hindus are a minority in this state. The independence was signed on 15th August 1947 in all states except JK, which was signed in October 1947. The Huriyat movement started in 1971 when Hashim Qureshi hijacked a plane. He has returned to mainstream now. The real effect happened in 1987 – 1988 when hindus fled from Kashmir and moved to Jammu . The last -4-5 years things have returned to as close as normal as possible and a few hindus have moved back to Kashmir , but Kahmir valley is muslim dominated. There is a book written by Jagmohan – "My frozen turbulence in Kashmir" if you need to know the full history of J&K from 1800’s till date – the 7th edition has been printed. I will be meeting the Huriyat in Kashmir , lets see what comes out of it.

I met Brigadier Dadu here and presented him the Indian flag and met his officers. He informed me of the trade between India & Pakistan which happens twice a week. More from here in Jammu than in Kashmir. So whose side are the Kashmiris on? If they were Pro Pakistan, they would trade more, but seems like Jammu trades more and they are 100% Pro India. Just a few observations we discussed - Brig Dadu & myself.

I have a meeting with ABRS - Akhil Bhartiya Rachnatmak Samaj - the 1st Gandhian movement NGO - by Mahatma Gandhi - President Mr.S.P.Verma. I meet him tomorrow and head off towards Kashmir after meeting the Jammu University students & the ABRS I had a press meet where they mentioned me meeting with the Hurriyat in the Jammu papers.

I have attached a few Simla news clips - See the Daink Bhaskar - it has those kids that I vistied at the orphanage in Simla. I have also attached the Jammu news clips which I could get, the other papers I could not get as they will carry the story tomorrow..


Regards

Amit Rajan Lall
President
ITL Liningz

Latest Updates from kashmir

On 22nd April Amit reached Jammu, from there he moved futher to Srinagar, and drove down to the LOC in the Baramullah district of Kashmir, the Indo - Pak border, where he stayed with the military for 5 days. 9 Paki militants were gunned down, the updates will soon follow from Amit, as he is on the road..

He returned to Srinagar, which was curfew ridden, and had to move immediately to Jammu, which is a more peacefull part of J&K. From Jammu Amit left for Amritsar, this morning, where he is currently attending the flag down ceremony at the Wagah border.

Please stay tuned in to the blog for all the real life adventure updates with militants, coming to you straight from Amit Lall shortly.

Shefali Arora
Blogger
"Second Freedom Movement"