Kashmir is again on the boil, and there is an urgent need to set things right. Lack of credible leadership in the Valley in recent times has only added to the troubles caused mainly by self-appointed protectors of Kashmiris and aided in no small measure by ISI, the Pakistani military intelligence. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti calling on Central leaders in Delhi by itself would not make a difference to the situation, but if it helps set the ball rolling in meaningful directions, that should be a welcome step.
Mehbooba Mufti as leader and CM has her limitations; and that is true of the People’s Democratic Party that her father crafted, led and left behind for his daughter to lord over. The Muftis often gave the impression that they had one leg in the Pakistani boat as well, which they did possibly also to win larger support from the sections in the Valley that maintained a soft corner for Pakistan.
The result was that their occasionally confusing statements raised the temperature in the rest of India, but the Muftis got away with their words, if not actions. None of it, however, seemed to help Mehbooba as Chief Minister, as she is progressively losing control over the Valley and its people. So are her political rivals and father-son duo Omar and Farooq Abdullah and their National Conference. NC is seen by many in the Valley as an anachronism.
Neither has the BJP’s alliance with the Muftis to share power in Jammu and Kashmir helped; rather, the scenario is getting worsened. New icons have surfaced, as in the case of Burhan Wani, who has been liquidated at the height of a militant offensive that he masterminded, an offensive that has somewhat eclipsed the clout of established political entities there.
While CM Mehbooba might be perceived as losing grip, it is also to be admitted that India as a nation is fast losing its hold over its people. It is also a fact that every sensible Kashmiri would prefer remaining with India rather than getting swallowed by Pakistan. However, the image of India for Kashmiris of today is not of a country trying to protect and take care of them but a country that sends thousands and thousands of corrupt, cruel and sex depraved soldiers who openly loot, plunder and rape.
Under the circumstances, Mehbooba’s desperation is all too clear. That is evident also in the line she has taken in Delhi this week, proposing to the Union Government to initiate dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, alongside another round of discussions with the Kashmiri people themselves.
A dialogue with the Kashmiri people or Kashmiri militants is within the framework of the established Indian policy; and that’s an ongoing process as well, off and on, with periodic disruptions. There is merit in the plea to revive the peace talks. However, by urging the Centre to hold talks with Pakistan, though this too is not against Indian policy, she has clearly exceeded her brief.
She has exceeded it by an extra mile by saying the Kashmiri government could act as a “bridge” between the two nations. Jammu and Kashmir and its government are inalienable parts of the Indian Republic. The mindset with which Mehbooba talked might even provoke some.
The Centre must devise its own well-thought-out ways to tackle the Kashmir problem. The good initiatives that the Atal Behari Vajpayee government took in pushing for a lasting solution should be the way forward for the present government as well.
Prime Minister Damodardass Modi has spoken well today. Well, he didn’t really speak but tweeted thus: “Every Indian loves Kashmir. Kashmir wants peace. We want to create maximum job opportunities for Kashmir’s youth.”
This is one of the rare occasions when an Indian leader is not talking of number of tanks and paramilitary posted in Kashmir but has a positive take on the issue. This trend started with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who, while on his recent visit to Srinagar, talked of emotional bonding of Indians in other parts of the country with Indians in Kashmir.
There is need to ensure that militants do not gain more ground. Firing pellets and some of these missiles hitting the eyes of unruly elements which created mayhem in the streets, was certainly one way to tackle the situation; the security forces that did this cannot be blamed in view of the belligerence that was displayed by unruly youths in the streets.
What, however, the Indian leadership had lost sight of for a long period is the need of the Kashmiris. It is easy to say the local youths should learn to behave themselves. It is much more difficult to live in a place which has no proper roads, no electricity for years (not hours), no drinking water, no doctors and hospitals and not even medicine shops.
All that the youth of Kashmir sees every morning when s/he steps out of her or his home are armed Indian soldiers. The impression that many Indians hold, due to biased propaganda, is that Kashmiris live a great highly subsidized life and we all subsidize their lifestyle.
That may not be entirely true. Yes all Indian taxpayers have been subsidising heavily the presence of thousands of armed military personnel for years together without any solution in sight. Similar to the North East, the Indian forces have been, for decades, behaving like foreign occupational forces.
Joblessness among the youths is a problem common to India. Yet Kashmir being what it is, with its geopolitical importance, needs special attention for its youth.
It is now time to explore other options to restore calm.