Ki Khushi Say Marr Na Jatai, Agar Aietbar Hota
B L Saraf
Speaking in Rajya Sabah, the Home Minster, Amit Shah said many things on the latest Kashmir situation from which one could gather that, after thirty five year long turmoil, all has become well, there . The Home Minister was replying to a debate on the working of his ministry when he said ” Article 370 was the root cause of insurgency .The seeds of separatism were sown by this Article .On 5th August 2019 the Article was abrogated and the dream of constitution’s architects was full filled. Earlier terrorists were glorified and their funerals attended by the thousands but now they are buried where they are killed. Their family members in Government service have been ruthlessly suspended to send a message .We have banned terrorist organizations and debarred supporters of terrorism from getting Passports.” On the impact of abrogation of Article 370 Shah has said that between 2004 to 2014 there were 7217 terrorist incidents which have come down to 2282,between 2014 to 2024.
Coming close on the heels, was a statement of the LG Manoj Sinha that peace has returned to the Valley. He was speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of Tawi Filmatsova held on 23rd March, in Jammu .He said that due to the peaceful conditions in the Valley 330 films and web series were shot there in the last five years .
There is no denying that the terrorist related incidents have come down over a period of time. It is statistics only .But it is hard to say that the terrorism and sense of separatism have been rooted out of Kashmir as to make life easy for the people . Literally speaking, the ink of HM’s statement hadn’t dried up when a fierce encounter ensued between the terrorists and the armed forces in Kathua area – a place much nearer to Delhi than Kupwara where such incidents happen on a regular basis. This incident prompted CM Omar Abdullah to say that today it is Kathua yesterday it was Rajouri and Poonch .It will go on until all sections of the people are taken on board to find durable peace .
We were under an impression , supported by the repeated utterances of the persons yielding power , that the ultimate parameter to test the level of normalcy in Kashmir is the safe, secured and fully empowered living of a displaced Kashmiri Hindu there; where he can feel free to move around and take up any vocation for a decent living : without fear of having to witness another exodus like the one he saw in 1990: where he can celebrate occasions as per the spiritual demands and social customs . Alas! there is no indication available that such a return and rehabilitation of displaced persons is possible at the moment, or is in the serious contemplation of the Central or the State Government . Even, such a thought or an urge is missing the minds of the internally displaced persons.
What the HM told Rajya Sabha about current situation in Kashmir and manner the terrorists and their sympathizers have been dealt with in the last five years conveys a meaning. That the heavy hand strategy is working .But we have to analyses the situation rather holistically. These measures are in the nature of law and order maintenance. One can hardly say that they have turned tables on the fear psychosis or the sentiment of separatism which, respectively, still lingers in the minds of the displaced persons and many in Kashmir. In simple terms, could one dare say that what the HM has said is it sufficient to instill a sense of confidence in the displaced as to make him embark on the return journey ?
Normalcy is often defined in relative terms. A brief spell of calm after an avalanche of violence can be seen by some as an attribute of the normalcy. Peace can’t be true and lasting if it is bought intermittently at the cost of blood .Nor can it be built on exclusion .Without tolerance, true democracy, regard for human rights freedom of speech and movement there can’t be true and enduring peace .
Absence of physical violence, stone pelting mobs from the streets and public demonstrations is no sign of normalcy having returned to the Valley, unless it is matched by the absence of fear and mental restraint on a resident. The fear of life emanating from the unknown is more devastating than the real one which could indeed be coming. It was the fear of the gun shot coming from unknown corners than the real assault on the whole community that forced all KPs to move out of the home .
When the HM and LG describe Kashmir as peaceful place on the basis of increased tourist flow, frequency of film shootings and holding sports events -or absence of stone pelters from the streets -are we hold that the State has relegated the essential attribute of peace — the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the back burner. Is it that the real barometer to test peaceful conditions in the Valley stands forsaken. That assumption makes it appropriate to recall the statement of the BJP Secretary Organization, made some time before in Srinagar, burdening Kashmiri Muslims with the onus to see Pandits are rehabilitated in their neighborhood — almost withdrawing hand of the State authorities in this regard. Rightly so to a large extent, he reposed more faith on the good will of a Kashmiri Muslim than the force of state authority in ensuring return and rehabilitation of the K Ps in the Valley. Many well-meaning persons have been arguing on these lines, since long. Now, it is for the internally displaced persons to reflect upon the matter with calm nerves, shorn off the misplaced expectations and the non paying prejudices .
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
