The Central Government has made it clear that bringing peace in Kashmir valley is one of its top priorities, exhibiting seriousness towards which, it announced a unilateral ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan and is not averse to its possible extension even though the “stooges of Pakistan” have tried to abort and shatter peace with many terror attacks and stone pelting incidents. That Modi Government is serious about seeing an end to senseless violence in Kashmir was confirmed by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who, on his visit to Srinagar, appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to help bring in peace else “we might lose another generation of the state to darkness.” His clarion appeal for peace having a significant importance came from his press conference in Srinagar.
He made it clear that the Central Government was ready to hold dialogue with all “right minded” people if not “like minded” people . This move, perhaps unprecedented one, takes the wind out of the sails of the separatists, who have all along been taken the refuge and the alibi that the “Indian Government” was not interested in holding talks without conditions. Not only they, just to make political hay, many political leaders, mainly in the opposition just for playing to the galleries, very often come out in endorsement of this demand. Now the ball is in the court of the separatists who should respond to the offer very positively. An interlocutor, more or less a permanent one was already appointed by the Government otherwise to sort out problems and issues particularly in the valley.
Such occasions and opportunities visit very rarely and prudence demands that these must be made the best use of, if there is really an intrinsic desire to see the “created” stalemate was resolved. The passionate appeal by the Home Minister to the misguided youth not to fall prey to the propaganda campaign being carried out from across the border and their stooges in the State, must be taken in the right earnest, looking to the consequences of violence all these three decades having been death, destruction, arson and dislocations only. Continuance of the same violence would bring no results, unfortunately other than the ones, enumerated.
Questions have started, now being openly raised by many young Kashmiris direct to the Hurriyat and separatist leadership about their role in “misleading ” the youth and bringing dismay, death and destruction in Kashmir. Having fully been cornered and exposed, the separatists have done a volte- face by saying “we welcome dissent”. Peace brings with it all round succor, prosperity and vigour to march on the path of development and in this connection, the Home Minister gave a sort of undertaking that “We would make every effort to change the face and destiny” of the State. Since education is given top most priority in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has promised empowering the youth with education and also helping them excel in sports as there is a good measure of latent available in the State in the field of sports.
The alternative to peace was abject darkness and another generation unwittingly falling in the trap of darkness. Let it be seen how the peace initiatives of the Central Government, laced with sincerity and the intent of purpose, are responded to. The separatist leadership must value the softening in the attitude and the policy of the Government, bidding adieu to alleged rigidity, in respect of offer of dialogue, of course, with right minded people.
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