Shafiq Mir
I am not sure whether his intention was sincere or not, but apparently the way he displayed his body language, suggested that he really wanted to share the pain of flood victims in Kashmir and wanted to know what could be done for their rehabilitation. But the way flood victims of Kashmir responded, it was more confusing and hypocritical as compared to Mr Narendrer Modi whose latest visit to valley on the eve of Diwali was described as political gimmick by certain quarters.
For instance, on one hand, the traders of Kashmir by and large put their shutters down on the call of a top separatist leader, Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, to protest against the prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir, on the other hand, same traders and their leaders were seen in queues at Rajbhawan Srinagar to meet the same prime minister and seek special financial packages for the reestablishment of their shattered and devastated business due to floods . Large number of delegations of traders organizations met with the prime minister and sought special financial packages. According to reports the leaders of the traders organizations not only sought the special financial packages, they also appreciated the prime minister Narendra Modi’s efforts of rehabilitating the Kashmir flood victims. Even some of the leaders of the traders organizations complained that they were not given an opportunity to meet the prime minister who were denied the same due to the shortage of time . Interestingly, these are same traders who had shutdown their business establishments on the call of separatists against Modi and were same persons who were in queues to meet the same Modi at Rajbhawan on the same day. Is this not hypocrisy? According to Mirza Galib (rind kay rind bi rahey aour haath sey jannet bi na chooti). In fact, hypocrisy is not something new in our personal, social and political life. Perhaps,this was felt long back by then prime minister of the state,late Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad. It is said that during his tenure as prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir, once in Delhi, Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad was posed a question by a journalist that how many people were with him in Kashmir?, Bakhshi promptly replied and said 40 Lakh. The journalist posed an other question that how many people were there with Sheikh Abdullah? Bakhshi again promptly replied and said (40 Lakh). On this, the journalist was surprised because he knew that the total population of Kashmir was only 40 lakh at that time and how it was possible that both the leaders were enjoying the support of 40 lakh each . He posed the question on Bakhshi with the same argument . Bakhshi smiled and
said they are with all. Such hypocrisy was not witnessed first time in Kashmir . In the past three decades at least, we have witnessed hundreds of such events when a collective hypocritical event was displayed by the Kashmiris . For instance, when any separatist leader gives a bundh or shutdown call all the business establishments remain closed. And on the next day, if a mainstream or pro India politician organizes a public meeting in the same locality thousands of Kashmiris are seen there and raising slogans in favor of his party and program.
We have seen this in 2008 land row when the processions comprising millions of people were seen marching towards Mauzafrabad and similar type of anti India processions were seen with in Srinagar and its surroundings. Interestingly, in the same year when state assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir, the same Kashmiris were seen in long queues standing before the polling stations and casting their votes in favor of Indian constitution. And the practice still continues.
Look at the an other story. Late Miwaiz Kashmir Moulvi Mohammad Farooq was killed in 1990 and he was laid to rest in a local graveyard declaring him as great and prime martyr of Kashmir. Interestingly, later when his alleged killer was killed, he was also buried in same graveyard in Srinagar. And both are called “Shaheed” martyrs of Kashmir . Till date no body dared to make a difference between Mirwaiz and his killer.This practice has been going for long back.
In this hypocrisy, the separatist leaders are some steps ahead of the other political parties. They are also enjoying the facilities and currencies of both India and Pakistan for the past three decades. Now the time has come when common people of the state must introspect and ask their leaders to come out from the hypocritical approach and take a position.
( The author is freelance journalist and columnist based in Jammu. He is also Chairman All J & K Panchayat Conference).
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel