Col J.P. Singh
In the present scenario, Kashmiris are killing men in uniform in the holy month of Ramzan in lieu of goat slaughtering. Defying all norms of insaniyat, a DSP is stripped naked, dragged and beaten to death outside Jamia Masjid Srinagar on an auspicious day of Shab-e-Qadar at the hands of those who had assembled for prayers. It happens days after lynching of 6 Kashmiri policemen which followed the brutal killing of Lt. Umer Fayaz. Today Kashmir is bleeding and the world is watching. Neither the killings nor the unrest is new but if you look at the scenario today, it is unprecedented because of Ramzan. Same day in 1953, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee died in Kashmir jail under mysterious circumstances. He entered J&K to defy the discriminatory permit system. He was jailed for unauthorised entry. Though the permit system was revoked after his martyrdom, the separatism stayed as an irritant, turning ugly, today it is horrifying. Hence ‘the present scenario in Jammu & Kashmir’ was the subject of Martyrdom Day Seminar, held by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Foundation New Delhi in Jammu Convention Centre on 23 June 2017. It was timely and necessary. The present turmoil in the Valley was ascribed to the past history by senior RSS functionary Krishan Gopal and BJP Vice President Shyam Jaju. Blaming Pt. Nehru for Kashmir imbroglio, they said ‘Kashmir is not the problem, the problem is within Kashmir’ which was a creation of Article 35 (A) which was not passed by the Parliament but created by a Presidential order. Calling it betrayal of 125 crore Indians, their assertion was that accession by Maharaja Hari Singh sustains nationalism in J&K which will not be allowed to be defeated. Dy CM was candid in stating that moment they find unable to defend nationalism, they will quit. This cleared lot of webs from public mind. Ironically no short/long term solution was offered by any speaker, no mention of illegal immigrants, except that the normalcy will soon come to the valley.
Looking at public upsurge at mourning the death of terrorists versus inhumanity when policemen are killed, one gets worried. It looks as if the govt has given up and public has taken over. What else one needs to prove that the nation remains mired in collective amnesia. Whatever be the outcome of the seminar, the present scenario needs a continuous review from various angles . (i) public, (ii) separatists, (iii) opposition, (iv) geo-political and (v) the Government.
Looking at the public angle, Kashmiris view Modi led Delhi govt as Hindu Government and Modi a Hindu leader. This is fanning the perception of a Hindu nation bent upon imposing its agenda in Kashmir. By extension security forces have also acquired a religious hue. Hence the security forces are being detested more than before. BJP is being blamed for raking up Article 370, Pandit homelands, Sainik Colony, beef ban, fuelling demographic changes and ‘Hinduisation of the valley’. Ever since BJP got the foothold in the state, it is perceived to be a threat to Islam. Religiously Kashmir has extremely rich and ancient history of Hinduism. It is understandable that people with such legacy and the Pandits in particular would like to reclaim and revive Hinduism just as Muslims would resist this reclamation for fear of being overwhelmed. An entire generation has grown up not seeing a person of another faith without a uniform. When men in uniform are seen to be part of the revival process it is bound to lead to conflagration. Public, unlike the past, is purposely attacking security forces to terrorise the Indian state. Presently, it is face to face with the security forces as if the battle lines are drawn. The rage is also directed against policemen and those who are seen to be on the Indian side. Thousands of Kashmiris are rising against the great Indian state when a militant is killed and they go into hibernation when Lt. Umer Fayaz or DSP Mohd Ayub Pandith are lynched. Kashmiris are killing fellow Kashmiris. Those who are supposed to defend Kashmir are defenseless. Azadi is the agenda presently. Religion, Pakistan, China and changing geo-politics in Kashmir neighborhood are influencing the Azadi aspirations. Radicalization and Islamisation of the valley is also playing an important part in the current unrest.
Looking at Separatists’ angle; they are anti-national. Lesser talked the better. Presently they are much stronger. They get liberal funding and support from Pakistan and Gulf countries. Latest Hawala investigations by NIA, though symbolic, proves the allegation. Their disparate factions have come together and are speaking in one voice which restricts legal action against them. Dr. Farooq Abdullah, considered to be diehard nationalist, has joined ranks with the separatists. They will not let normalcy return to the valley. But who will bell the cat when cat has turned monster. Govt stand of not engaging them in any dialogue recedes chances of early normalcy to oblivion.
Opposition’s stand presently is dangerous. Its stand is that wanton killings and mass outpouring in the streets of Kashmir is against Hindu agenda of BJP Govt imposed on Kashmiri people through an unholy alliance between PDP & BJP. Another argument generally assigned to the current scenario is reaction of Kashmiris to treatment meted out to minorities in other parts of the country such as beef ban. Both arguments are absurd, because no such thing is seen happening in the Valley but the opposition continues fanning the fire.
Looking at geo-political angle, Pak-China bonhomie is getting stronger and dangerous. Pakistan is getting closer to Russia as well. China has started calling J&K as disputed territory. Pakistan has successfully changed the demography of Gilgit-Baltistan region. By laying claim over Gilgit-Baltistan and fanning their cause, Government is merely shying away to read the realities of changing geo-political landscape which is adversarial to India. Karakoram Highway, which passes through Gilgit-Baltistan, is a reality and the planned CPEC will be passing through POK and Baluchistan. Chinese army is camping in POK in large strength which is cause of concern. Pakistan is doing everything politically and militarily to provoke India to make mistakes. The silver lining is that India is not in a hurry to fall into the trap.
So far as the State Government angle is concerned, most of the legislators are said to have gone into hiding as neither the CM nor any minister turned up to mourn policemen killing. The senior coalition partner (PDP) is soft on separatists and wants centre to talk to them. But the central govt policy “No Talks with Separatists” is irksome in the coalition. Last year a young militant’s death brought the state and Central Governments to a standstill. They didn’t know what happened, what was in the offing and what to do. The coalition failed to act effectively exhibiting weakness because they were pulling apart. The net result was unprecedented rise in stone pelting. Collective amnesia of the coalition was exposed. In the past, after every violent phase of protests, such as in 2010 when 120 people died in police firing, normalcy returned, political processes continued and peaceful election was held. But a year behind Burhan Wani killing, a by-election to the Anantnag Constituency just cannot be held. Hence the current unrest is not because of extraneous factors as is being made out to be. It is continuation of 70 years discontent and absence of Kashmir policy. It festers because of collective amnesia of the nation.
If by inaction the govt feels that people will tire of protests and normalcy will return; it is living in fallacy. It does not realize that situation is deteriorating by the day. Meaningless terms such as ‘Jamhooriyat, Kashmi-riyat and Insaniyat’ are being banded about by the Home Minister who with complete disregard to history, harked back to Vajpayee’s famous statement to reiterate his Government’s commitment towards Kashmir when Kashmiris have totally rejected this philosophy. Presently a different initiative is needed to handle Kashmir. People can be forgiven for short memories but the state can’t be forgiven for collective amnesia. If rhetoric is nationalism, action is needed to defend it. It is high time for the Central leadership to cut the Gordian Knot which has kept the Kashmir issue in limbo.
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