Violence by another name

By Sunita Vakil
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 outprotests 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 Muslimis 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.

Comments

surajcap's picture

Hindus must demand 'Jammu &

by surajcap - 08/13/2010 - 02:34

Hindus must demand 'Jammu & Kashmir' split into Two states -
1. Hindu majority entire Jammu Region, Buddhist majority Ladakh District, Shia majority Kargil District and Anantnag district containing Holy Amarnath Temple and required for settling all refugee Kashmiri Hindus called Pandits be formed into a new normal Indian State like any other called "Kashmir" only with permanent capital at Anantnag city.
2. Rest of Kashmir Valley with all Sunni majority districts of Srinagar, Badgam, Pulwama, Baramulla and Kupwara along with permanent capital Srinagar city be made a separate Indian state with Article 370 of Indian Constitution called "North Kashmir."
http://hindunationalismmuslimunity.blogspot.com/
These steps will save the people of Jammu, Ladakh and the Pandits & Shia Muslims from highhandedness of Sunni Kashmiri Muslims of Vale of Kashmir being beneficial to India by restricting separatism and the insurgency to just 15% area of current 'Jammu & Kashmir' state. Non-Muslims in both Jammu & Ladakh reduced from 90% in 1951 census to 65% and 51% respectively due to influx of Muslims from valley of Kashmir as per 2001 census and unless these policies are implemented now, even Jammu & Ladakh will become Muslim majority like Kashmir valley very soon!
To return to power BJP need strong economic policy which must be the combination of both labour market flexibility in a dynamic economy as well security for workers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexicurity
Along with Scandinavian Social Democratic Economy -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_model
Following Gandhian Socialism or Integral Humanism BJP got only 2 MPs and crossed 100+ only by pursuing Hindutva & Swadeshi like ousting Bangladeshi & Kashi-Dhar-Mathura-Ayodhya liberation movements! Earlier BJP Govt responsible for d price rise now! BJP introduced Commodity Forward Trading & scrapped Essential Commodities Act and made way for hoarders & inflation ignoring the advice & opposition of Swadeshi Jagran Manch of RSS -
http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20000710/nation.html
Social Democracy the Third Way must!

Dr K Prabhakar Rao's picture

Gun is the answer to them,

by Dr K Prabhakar Rao - 08/09/2010 - 00:59

Gun is the answer to them, separatists and arsonists.
Dr K Prabhakar Rao