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Kashmir on cross roads

By Brij Bhardwaj. Dated: 10/21/2016 10:32:13 PM

There may not be a declaration of war between India and Pakistan, but T.V. channels and TV anchors have put on the war paint, got their uniforms ready to do their bit of war reporting. With the help of sand models at their command and services of retired Army Generals and Air Marshals they are discussing not only old conflicts between India and Pakistan, but also future conflicts which they felt were about to start.
The war hysteria has hit media in both the countries as it is a cheap way to push their ratings. Even Ram Leela celebrations and Dussehra were used to build war hysteria. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared Indian Army to Israel, Defence Minister took to Ramayan to claim that they had been able to make Indian army realise its full potential. In the meantime Valley is witnessing midnight raids in which large number have been put behind bars under draconian Preventive Detention Act.
How it will bring about normalcy is not known as State has a strange situation where border trade is continuing, while there is a crackdown in border areas of Kashmir. Schools are closed, but examinations are to be held.
After over 100 days of unrest which has paralysed life in Kashmir and claimed over 80 dead and thousands injured including a large number of youth who have either lost their eyesight fully or partially after being shot by pellet guns , the valley stands today at crossroads. The leaders of Hurriyat Conference who were giving calls for a strike to register the protest over killing of Burhan Wani, poster boy of terrorists are now seeking fresh ideas to continue their movement as fatigue factor is setting in on continuous shut down of markets, schools, Government offices affecting normal life.
The problem with continuing present form of protest is that the leaders have not been able to set any long term goal or destination for the movement. It is difficult for them to convince public at large that the present movement can help in achieving goal of greater autonomy for the state or independence not to speak of Kashmir becoming part of Pakistan. The international support for Kashmir has also not been forthcoming as it is considered a bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan. The Pakistan record in terms support to terrorists has also created confusion on the issue. As it is believed that Pakistan has been encouraging terrorist groups who are active in Kashmir and Afghanistan. While acting against groups terrorists groups active in Pakistan.
There is, however, no denying the fact that world -over it is recognised that India has a problem as large section of population in Kashmir has been alienated and is giving support to militants. There are also questions about the use of force to deal with the situation leading to questions being asked violation of human rights. Under the circumstances there is strong feeling that relying on use of force only to deal with present situation is not going to work and there is urgent need to start a dialogue with all stake holders in Kashmir to bring about normalcy.
At present there is very little support for PDP-BJP coalition Government led by Mehbooba Mufti, State Chief Minister . Under the circumstances, one wonders if the BJP leadership will allow her to seize initiative by starting a dialogue with different stake holders. At present even mainstream political parties like National Conference or Congress are also not on board. The seeds of present unrest were sown during the elections held to elect State Assembly, over a year ago.
During the poll BJP worked to get majority of seats in Jammu and few in Kashmir to get a majority on its own. PDP which had been seen as a party with soft approach to secessionists while BJP wanted total integration of State with Indian union and abolition of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Many in Kashmir supported PDP in the hope that it would be able to keep BJP from coming to power. But a divided verdict forced BJP and PDP to join hands to form a majority. The suspicions about BJP and efforts to push agenda like creating separate colonies for retired army men and Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to migrate led to blowing up of a crisis triggered by inept handling of killing of poster boy of terrorists.
State Government can use present fatigue factor to reach out to civil society to bring about normalcy while militants are trying to expand their reach by asking minority community Kashmir Pandits to return to valley and has offered them protection. An appeal has been issued by Zakir Rashid Bhat, who is likely to become new poster boy of militants in Kashmir.
—[IFS]