If there is a plebiscite in Kashmir, to check whether Kashmiris want to remain with India or want separation from that country, then…
There should also be plebiscites in the Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan, to check whether they want to remain with Pakistan or want separation from that country.
There should also be a plebiscite in Tibet, to check whether they want to remain under Chinese occupation or aspire for independence.
There should also be a plebiscite in the “Parbatya Chattagram” region of Bangladesh, to check whether they want to remain with Bangladesh or want separation from that country.
There should also be a plebiscite in the Northern Ireland and Scotland, to check whether they want to remain with the UK or want separation from that country.
There should also be a plebiscite in the Basque region of Spain, to check whether they want to remain with Spain or want separation from that country.
There should also be a plebiscite in the Bavarian province of Germany, to check whether they want to remain with Germany or want separation from that country.
There should also be a plebiscite in Chechnya, to check whether that region wants to remain a federal subject of Russia, or aspires for a full-fledged sovereignty.
There should also be a plebiscite in the Aceh region of Indonesia, to check whether they want to remain with Indonesia or want separation from that country.
There should also be plebiscites in the Kurdish dominated regions of Iran and Iraq, to check whether they want to remain with those countries or want separation from them.
And yes, one more thing I would like to add. There should also be a plebiscite in the so-called “Azad Kashmir”, to check whether they really feel themselves to be independent or whether they find themselves (and their puppet government) to be a pet dog of Pakistan.
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Whether there is a referendum on Scottish independence is down to the Scottish parliament. Even the Scottish National Party (SNP) who currently hold power in thyat parliament and whose goal is Scottish independence have delayed a vote until 2011 at the earliest.
The people of Northern Ireland voted on whether Northern Ireland should stick with the UK or join with the Republic in 1973. The Catholic population largely chose not to participate, so the vote to stay with the UK represented the opinion of just over 57% of the electorate.
From Wikipedia...
A possible referendum on a united Ireland was included as part of the terms of the Belfast Agreement. Currently about 42% of the Northern Ireland electorate vote for Irish nationalist parties that oppose the union with Great Britain and support a united Ireland as an alternative, although it is not the only issue at election time so it is difficult to take this figure as a direct indication of levels of support for a united Ireland. A survey taken in 2008 showed support for a united Ireland at 18% and support for Northern Ireland remaining in the United Kingdom at 70%. 8% support independence or other arrangements.
You should be proud that India is the world's largest democracy and be brave enough to accommodate the will of the people rather than support your arguments with reference to less admirable states such as China, Russia and Pakistan
Thank you so much for your comment Mr. Alistair. While I am not sure whether I can completely accept your point, but it was certainly informative and enriching. It is readers like you who help a blogger/commentator to get more matured in his/her writings.
At this rate , we will end up with thousand kingdoms, and have some modern day Chengis khan or Alexander or whoever it is to come charging down the Great mountains to conquer the kingdoms one by one!
Raja Boshu, I agree with most of what you said about the plebiscites. I agree that there should be plebiscites in Tibet, Aceh, Chechnya, Kurdistan, etc, similar to the one in Southern Sudan. This is the only way to resolve world conflicts. Nothing is worth the shedding of human blood as Mahatma Gandhi pointed out.
Wherever there is sufficient evidence that people of the region may not wish to remain with their rulers they should be given the option to decide their fate.
I don't think there is any such movement in Sindh or Baluchistan. You could have mentioned the Sarhad province of Pakistan where there is some signs of separatism at least.
In the Hill Tracts of Bangladesh too there is no significant movement. There are some signs of separatism not much dissimilar to those in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal in the north-east of India. However, I would have no objection agreeing in principle to a plebiscite in all these regions if there appeared to be sufficient demand for it.
As for Kashmir, both Pakistan and India had agreed to a plebiscite there, but there was a change in government in India soon after that, and then it became history.
Raja Boshu, I forgot to mention about Norhern Ireland. There was a referendum held there as Alistair rightly pointed out.
As for Scotland and Wales they can secede in a constitutional way if they wish.
There is a good example in Europe, one that caught many by surprise in the smooth manner it happened. The Czechs and Slovaks mutually decided they will split up and form different countries. I don't see any reason why others can't take example from that.
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