S. K. Bhat
The situation in Kashmir is in quite departure from the other conflict zones of the world in so far as the circumstances of Kashmir do not match with any oppressed and repressed places of the world. It is so now; it has been so in history. In all other conflict zones around the world the state is the oppressor while the subjects oppressed. But to the greatest astonishment, as it would be of many, the herd mentality of the majority in Kashmir oppresses the state at its peril and then on the top of it makes the state as the sole culprit through manufacturing of state oppression by instigating the forces to act against the oppressors. The whole stone-pelting game plan is thus manipulated in such a way that it is but natural to cast shadow over its credence as being motivated and spiced-up by the inimical elements for no sooner than the forces leave the state of restraint, hue and cry is raised of human right violations by those orchestrating the stone pelters. Hence it being just a ploy to trap, as any action by the forces against the stone-pelters is being constantly used by separatists to fan anti-India sentiments in order to create further disturbance in the valley. None the less the forces not only have the right to prevent that from happening, but it is their duty to do so. Yet Kashmiris need to thank the democracy at home for the avenues of popular protests that still exist in the Valley unlike Pakistan where Pak Army’s misadventures against protestors in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir besides in other parts of Pakistan is seen to be believed. As per reports appearing in the media quoting those who were lucky to escape the Pakistani culling machine by eventually fleeing the scenario of genocide, Pakistani military establishment kidnaps those who come out to protest peacefully and then their family is also kidnapped and their womenfolk raped. And then, as if it were not enough, Pakistani Army men, in order to cull the protests all together, execute these protestors at public places in broad day light while acting, at the same time, as the judge, the jury and the executioner.
On the contrary, the Indian leniency, large heartedness and soft state characteristics can be gauged from a recent video which went viral on India’s national digital landscape showing disturbing pictures wherein the Kashmiri stone throwing youth were putting the lives of a group of Gun-wielding Army men in danger of jeopardy by making them suffer through incessantly stone pelting. Whereas the men in uniform, in order to avoid any casualty, were adopting to a Himalayan Bardash, as it were, by maintaining a state of total restraint. Even as it were the human rights of forces that were actually getting abused, yet no body complained and no propaganda was instituted. Pertinent to mention here that it is because of such democratic values which we cherish that even all the Muslim countries across the world, excepting Pakistan, are so very fond of India that they prefer India for trade, export, import, travel, higher education, Medical care et all. And these countries include the real abode of Islam. Even the militants who came to Kashmir, after having been motivated on false information, developed their fondness for Indian freedom to profess ones religion and other freedoms. They returned lamenting that they had been misguided by the vested interests operating from Pakistani side.
Notwithstanding all this, any loss of life is unfortunate especially when such incidents are avoidable but the onus of the action by the forces completely rests with the organizers of stone throwers who, more often than not, are Over Ground Working accomplices of the Militants with a clear motive to help the militants escape the clutches of the law by putting the operation in complete jeopardy through incessant stone pelting which at the same time puts lives of forces in danger. Any such stone pelting- an ‘Aasari Quadima’ act is neither any form of a democratically rightful protest nor any sort of a justified demonstration staged against state’s alleged oppression, the only idea is to turn the combat into a multi-corner contest of a sort by making the forces face the bullets (-a fear of a certain death) in the front and stones (an appreciation of a certain injury) at their back so as to ultimately help allow Militants give a slip to the cordon wielding security apparatus by putting the whole operation in a limbo by way of incessant stone pelting which in turn also putd lives of security forces in danger of getting killed at the hands of Militants as their focus dwindles. Having said that, any loss of life should be avoided at any cost on all the sides and then any barbarism on part of state is as deplorable as is stone pelting.
Here this Scribe would rather like to advise the unrest-mongers out there to peacefully agitate if they feel like agitating (for it is their democratic right to do so) because by adopting a democratically valid means which are largely peaceful ways, the precious lives on all sides would, at least, be saved. Exactly same thing was advised by the then Russian leader to a handful of Indian people, who wanted to do arms struggle against British prior to partition and who had gone to him for support and supply of arms. He advised them to adopt democratic means of struggle and rather to gather under Gandhi’s umbrella because, as he told them that Sun did not set on then British empire and doing any arms struggle would just be suicidal. Even the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir G.M. Sadiq had, reportedly, told Sheikh Mohd Abdullah (then spearheading the Plebiscite movement) on the pedestals of State Assembly that any misadventure undertaken to separate Kashmir from rest of India would be utterly counterproductive as it would yield no results besides, what he projected as, would only lead to five lac deaths. Already one lac people are dead due to Kashmir unrest since 1990.
This apart, the contemporary reality of Kashmir is rather made complex by the lack of clarity in the minds of common Kashmiris. This confusing situation which does not differentiate between longing and lacking, desire and destiny, envisaged and entailed is an apt reflection of present day reality of Kashmir. As for as the living standards of Kashmiris is concerned, they need to compare themselves with the national reality to underscore that they are far ahead of their counterparts elsewhere and even after decades of unrest which had left everything destroyed, the last village in Kashmir is connected by a metallic road, free education is available up to post graduation level, Secondary and Higher Secondary level Schools are functional at almost every village level while as Colleges are operational at Tehsil and District levels besides there are umpteen number of UGC funded Universities imparting quality education almost free of charge. Then medical care is free with even quality Multi-specialty Government Hospitals now functioning at every district centre. Electricity is being used across the valley without caring for bill payments. Public Distribution of food supplies is ensured at door-steps even in the remotest village. Trans-Kashmir Trains are plying from Banihal to Baramulla regularly and promptly with almost negligible fare. Best of the class cheap local transport network (comprising of both public and private vehicles like Busses, Sumos, Taxis, Autos et all) is available connecting all places in Kashmir with each other besides Kashmir is connected by a sea of public and private transport network with Jammu.
Now, in the light of all this, one would naturally ask why then is the normalcy eluding Kashmir. Actually, the unrest in Kashmir is caused by devout propaganda machinery at work which operates on falsification through rumours and then after adding a pinch of rhetoric by way of romanticizing the radicalism, the whole scenario turns into a lethal destructive chaos of sorts. Notwithstanding all this, however, since 2016 upheaval in Kashmir, nothing much has been done to engage the youths in a dialogue, the onus of which lies with the Government of the day that they, in the meanwhile, did nothing to dissuade the habitual offenders from attacking forces at least during the counter insurgency and combat operations. In this context giving clemency to most had actually ceased deterrence from the rest.
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