In a recent address, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the nation that his government would soon find a permanent solution to the vexed Kashmir issue. Close on the heels of this statement, which Singh reiterated in Delhi Sunday, BJP president Amit Shah reassured that the problem in the Valley is restricted to a small area, and there was no need for worry.
He also promised that the government would soon bring the situation under control. However, neither Singh nor Shah could convince the people, as incidents of terror attacks, infiltration, firing across the LoC and stone pelting by students are on the rise. The situation has touched nadir after the security forces gunned down Burhan Wani’s successor Sabzar Ahmad Bhat and his two associates during an encounter in Phulwara district, Saturday.
During the last few months Kashmir has witnessed a unique uprising wherein school and college students are taking to the streets and pelting stones at the security forces. It is uncertain whether these stone-pelters are actually students. If they are not students, it suggests that they are hardcore antisocial elements guised in school uniform.
On the other hand, if they are students, are their parents and teachers provoking them to undertake such nefarious act? Unfortunately, the Centre does not have any answer to this. Similarly, the government also has no answer as to when the by-election to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, which was stalled due to escalated violence, would be held.
The government has been reiterating that Pakistan is fuelling violence in strife-torn Kashmir. This is neither something new nor something that the people of the country are unaware of. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ought to know that his responsibility does not end with issuing such statements, for his job is to ensure that Pakistan does not meddle with the country’s internal affairs.
Whether the government admits it or not, the fact remains that either it is not doing enough to deal with Pakistan or its measures are ineffective. No doubt, Pakistan is not only fuelling separatism and terror in the Valley but also promoting a jihadi movement for the independence of the Kashmiris.
While the situation in the Valley is deteriorating with each passing day, no one seems to have any clue regarding the Centre and state government’s plans to restore peace in the region. Both BJP and its ally, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), are trying hard to project that they are keen to solve the issue together; but their actions suggest otherwise.
While the Centre is adamant that it will not hold discussions with the separatists, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s party is in favour of a dialogue with Hurriyat leaders. Incidentally, the Opposition National Conference, too, wants the authorities in New Delhi to solve the problem through dialogue.
In general, the Kashmiris are poor people and want employment for their survival. Their main source of income is from tourism, but the escalation in violence has prevented tourists from other regions of the country from visiting the strife-torn region. The state’s economy has also been hit by an unprecedented flood in 2014.
It is unfortunate that despite announcing a package for the flood-affected Kashmiris, the Centre failed to keep its promise. This has aggravated the situation further, while deepening the sense of neglect among the people. Such neglect and apathy have left the youth in Kashmir a frustrated lot.
What has angered the Kashmiris more is that despite having an elected government in the state, the shots are being called from New Delhi. Apparently, Mehbooba Mufti is keen on the stability of the ruling PDP-BJP alliance than governance. Disowning her responsibilities, she has repeatedly harped that Prime Minister Modi is the only person who can solve the Kashmir issue. Unfortunately, Modi’s priorities seem to lie elsewhere.
The Centre’s nonchalant stand on the issue is perplexing. New Delhi should introspect and try to understand what prompted pro-India Kashmiri leader Shabbir Shah to change his stand and support the cause of independence for Kashmir.
Similarly, Yasin Malik, who has been vocal for a solution within the framework of the Constitution, is now favouring the separatists. Perhaps, the main problem is that the Centre has exploited Article 370 to such an extent that it has alienated these leaders, who are now finding little support among the Kashmiris.
It is high time that the Centre takes an initiative to convince the people of the state that their identity is not at stake. At the same time, New Delhi needs to understand the importance of knowing what the common Kashmiri wants. Modi needs to convince the people that they are not being governed by New Delhi, but by their own people. Unless the government initiates these measures right away, the situation may soon get out of hand and there are bound to be more Wanis and Bhats.
