Payal Chargotra
When a perception occupies the mind that there is no freedom for expression and thought, at a juncture situation becomes fertile the thinking process gets deceived, the illusion is felt as reality. It happens when the players who are benefited by the situation enter the site by spreading the rumour and disinformation which overrules everything. Ever since the news of killing of Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani broke out, the Kashmir valley is very tense. The separatists and their sympthaziers presented the portrait of a militant as a hero and his killing as martyrdom for Kashmir to the youth of Valley. The circumstances were made worse and chaotic by these separatist leaders by giving bandh calls against his killing. Many valuable lives have been lost, thousands have been left wounded including security personnel and several others have turned blind in this cycle of violence on the ‘Paradise of Earth’. The violence involved stone-pelting, use of sharp edged weapons and petrol bombs by the protestors and the retaliatory use of pellet guns and tear gas shells by the security forces. Although to minimize causalities and to quell protestors the Government has now recommended the use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide (PAVA) Shells as an alternative to the mainly Lead-based pellets as no life loss is expected by its use.
The most unfortunate part of these violent protests is the use of children as shield by the protestors. The children of minor age who even don’t know what azadi really means are used by the miscreants to shield themselves in protests. For these kids shouting the slogans of Azadi is like reciting the rhythms or poems of their books. They are innocent and even not aware that they have become the toys to be played with, by the people whose own children are in safe heaven. There is utter need to realize the reality by peace loving Kashmiris that separatist leaders are instigating the youth and the innocent children of valley for violent protests and making sure that their own children are safe. Why do not their children and families join the protests? Why they are leading the royal life having full security and the innocent poor Kashmiris are losing their lives in the violent protests? Every Kashmiri need to think with open mind, ‘is violence solution for the situation’? The hard reality is that those who are directing the people to involve themselves in violent activities do not have to face the impact of this violence as their families and children are studying and settled outside the Valley.
The situation has become very delicate; both internal as well as external players are proactive and are down to their business of making benefits by exploiting the situation.
A very negative picture of security forces has been drawn. It needs to be understood by the people of valley who looks at army and paramilitary forces with hatred and considers them as villains that they are here only to pursue their job, which is to ensure the security along International Borders, line of Control as well as to maintain law and order within the valley. The security grid cannot be altered; no compromise can be made with defence and security of the country. Although sometimes excesses done by security forces is not denied but when their own lives are in danger in thick battles with miscreants full restrain is impossible.
Pakistan is fuelling the burning fire in the Kashmir by providing support. An all-party delegation of central government visited Kashmir to meet all stakeholders and to find a solution for an ongoing unrest in the valley. The Separatist leaders refused to talk to members of all party delegation. Everyone is aware of the complexity of Kashmir issue that cannot be solved in a day. One more issue needs due attention here that Jammu and Kashmir does not mean only the Kashmir valley, it also includes the Hindu dominated Jammu division and Buddhist majority ladakh. In solving the Kashmir issue one thing is very clear that wishes of not only a fraction of Kashmiri people matters who wants independence or merger with Pakistan but the desires of the people of Jammu and Ladakh too needs attention. Practically the independence of Jammu and Kashmir is impossible as it is land locked country in between three giant countries that cannot defend itself in case of external aggression. It is worth mentioning that from August 15 to October 22, 1947 the state of Jammu and Kashmir was independent and defensively weak and the Pakistan fully exploited the situation by attacking the state with whom a valid Standstill Agreement was signed. Now there is no guarantee that the state cannot be victim of such aggression again in case it becomes an independent country?
Yes, at present more important is to control the situation in a way that such protests will not occur again. Here three D’s strategy is required: Dialogue, Democracy and Development are significant to deal with the situation in a long run. When we talk of dialogue it means only the credible stake holders should be involved who really wants peace. As far as democracy is concerned, India is the biggest democracy in the world, it should be proved here in its true sense by development at the grass roots level and welfare schemes so that poor can yield the fruitful results of their progress. To counter Pakistan factor security should be tightened at home and if need arises it should be dealt with stern hand.
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