KASHMIRI Muslims, who convey the impression that justice has been denied to them, are in fact biting the very hand that feeds them.
The violence engulfing the Kashmir Valley has arguably taken a turn for the worse with the separatists and their followers ruling the roost. Such heinous acts like stone pelting, setting police stations and government buildings on fire and attacking policemen are all part of a dangerous campaign by separatists who have their own agenda and support from across the border. It is disheartening that those instigating youngsters and women to resort to violent protests have no qualms about seeking a platform to highlight their rights violations. Indeed, with street violence acquiring a dangerous magnitude with each passing day, the Valley has become a land of happy go lucky fanatics who have been responsible for propagating distorted falsehoods and deliberate half truths. It is no wonder then that in the past week many young men and women have died due to the opportunism of these instigators who chant “Azadi” and egg on the youth to sacrifice their lives on the street while sitting pretty in their hideouts. What is particularly surprising is that the pointlessness of such mindless and life threatening confrontation indulged in by the youth has been underscored by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, head of the Hardline faction of All Party Hurriat Conference. “Let all the people come out of their houses to protest. When they are stopped by the police or CRPF, let them sit down there with their hands up,” he is reported to have said in a news conference at his Hyderpora residence. Of course this does not mean that Mr. Geelani has started singing a different tune and has any noble intentions of eschewing separatism. What may have led to this apparent change of stance is the well known fact that separatist propaganda no longer finds credence among larger sections in the state. This has given rise to apprehensions among Geelani and his foot soldiers that others may fill the vacuum and try to direct the separatist movement in the Valley. The very fact that the separatist leader rejected the idea of the ongoing movement being leaderless and claimed that people were acting upon the programme of the Hurriyat illustrates this point.
Chief Minister Omer Abdullah, who is expected to lead from the front has failed to get a grip over the situation and does not know how to deal with the crisis. The rising toll of violence clearly indicates that Srinagar is in the grip of serious leadership crisis. Promising to focus on governance just a year and a half back, he has been far from delivering on promises of hope and fresh approach. His impassioned speech in a Lok Sabha trust vote brought him much attention and goodwill but he has done little to counter the impression that his lack of leadership skills has dealt a blow to his credibility. It speaks a lot about Mr. Omer’s inability to strike a chord with the people of his own state that he has to be reminded by the Home Minister to visit the strife torn areas. It needs no reiteration that the authority of the state has collapsed. The state police personnel are being beaten on the streets. Besides snatching their weapons, their homes are also torched. Even two senior officers including an SSP recently refused to be moved to Baramulla district. Some policemen even use civilian ID card to get by safely. The desperate attempts to restore order are seen to be foundering and political authority is almost bankrupt. This has been corroborated by the Home Minister P. Chidambaram in parliament when he said that there have been 872 stone pelting incidents in June-July 2010 and 1456 security men were injured.
Much of the mischief is caused by the distorted view held by many that there is a conflict between the security forces and the people in the Valley due to the religious element. Yet, as everyone knows, the truth is different. The people of Kashmir know in their heart of hearts that it is better for them to remain in India than to become independent or accede to Pakistan. This has been underscored by the high voter turn out at the 2008 Assembly Elections. It is only a small section of the people who carry out protests at the behest of vested interests. The current unrest and defiance of administration is therefore a manifestation of the last ditch efforts of those who can not digest the welcome support to the elected govt. as well as the developmental activities taking place in the state.
Kashmiri Muslims feel that they are being victimised on account of their religion by the Union Government. They must bear in mind that the congress that heads the coalition in Delhi has always followed a policy of minority appeasement since its inception, if only to keep its vote bank intact. That explains why the congress leadership is making a hue and cry about the death of a criminal with terrorist links in Gujarat. Also, its General Secretary Digvijay Singh went all the way to Azamgarh to mourn the death of an alleged terrorist arrested for his role in 2008 Delhi bombing.
Many other misconceptions have contributed to the current crisis in more ways than one. That very methodically planned sabotage to undermine the Indian state’s legitimacy in Kashmir is at work is very clear. To work up the emotions of the people, an impression has been conveyed by the instigators of violence that justice has been denied to Kashmiris all along. The real fact is that Kashmir enjoys a special status through the Article 370, which no other territory in India has in place. Doling out more funds in the name of political solution will only exacerbate the situation. Instead of reciprocating the gesture, the people of Kashmir are playing in the hands of enemies who have started a well thought out campaign to discredit India. The solution does not lie in offering a political package or an economic package to the state. It lies in withdrawing all the special treatment. There is no point in toeing a soft line while dealing with the mobs. The need of the hour is to come down on violent agitators so that their masters are denied the success they desperately seek. Those resorting to violence should be made to understand that it is not going to lead any where.