AIP Supremo and MLA Langate Er Rasheed has asked Indian army and rulers to introspect why has army as a institution failed to gain the same respect in the hearts of Kashmiris as it has been enjoying elsewhere in India. In a statement issued to KNS, Er Rasheed said that all efforts of army, defence and political analysts and politicians to make Kashmiris believe that on 27Th October 1947 Indian army landed in Kashmir to save them from Pakistani tribals and volunteers have miserably failed. Er Rasheed said, “Almost every Kashmiri is of the opinion that had Pakistani volunteers not infiltrated in Kashmir, the part of land under occupation of Pakistan would have been also grabbed by Indian army. The bitter reality which Indians have been denying is that Kashmiris see Indian army as an occupation force and despite all propaganda against the Pakistani volunteers, Kashmiris give them credit for liberating Azad Kashmir form Maharaja’s regime. Despite all efforts by Indian army to glorify people like Maqbool Sheerwani, over whelming majority of Kashmiris see them as traitors and collaborators.Let army introspect that why it has failed to create even nominal space in hearts of Kashmiris during last 69 years.” Er Rasheed added that history reveals that Maharaja was forced to sign conditional instrument of accession, but later there was a complete breach of trust, as the army which landed under the perception of being saviors of Kashmir strengthened its roots as a colonial and occupation force. (KNS)