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| Kashmir stays calm, cautious & mature reaction to Guru execution | | Transition in mood….? | |
Bashir Assad
Jammu, Feb10: The fallout of Parliament attack convict, M Afzal Guru's execution in Kashmir valley was on unexpected lines but in the process many unexpected things came to the fore. There is curfew like situation across the valley again on expected lines. Omar Abdullah administration took extraordinary precautions by unprecedented security arrangements which was again an anticipated move. Resentment, outburst though expected but the reaction to the incident which shook whole Kashmir was totally on unexpected lines. Reaction this time was a matured one and people showed wisdom in this direction, which was totally on unexpected lines. There is calm, uneasy one but one would appreciate the calm is there. And different explanations are being offered to this calm.
First; for Congress, BJP and other national political parties which were desperate in politicizing the issue of hanging Afzal, it may be a point scoring game and for others whose perception was that Guru was symbolizing terrorism, it could be a moment of satisfaction. However, for people in Kashmir, it could be yet another motif of concerns and resentment, for Guru's family it is of course the moment of pain, agony and anguish. What is however, least debated is the timing of execution. Timing- not the one BJP and Congress speak about, it is about the timing which was chosen from security point of view.
Knowing that the issue has the potential which could take Kashmir back to 2010 and which could really change the present tourist bonhomie Kashmir to a forsaken one where death could dance in the streets again, the timing chosen is therefore seen as perfect for more than one reason.
Almost all top brass separatist leadership is either in Delhi or elsewhere on one pretext or the other but from layman's point of view- they are out to avoid chilling winter as usual, most of the Kashmiri youth are presently outside Kashmir because of the winter vacations either in Jammu or Delhi or other parts of the country, a good number among them selling Kashmir handicraft outside the state and yet another chunk with the family in Jammu with the annual Darbar Move.
Congress might have chosen this time only to disarm its political rival the BJP of an emotive issue just before the commencement of the Budget Session. But the timing of execution from security point of view was well planned rather unparallel.
"Of course, we were not expecting the execution of Guru so immediately, it was total surprise for us, but at the same timing was unique because most of the separatist were out of valley, Nayeem Khan behind the bars, Yasin Malik in Pakistan, Mirwaiz and Geelani in New-Delhi. not only this most of the youth were out of Kashmir for varying reasons, some studying outside the state, some with their families in Jammu, even some in other parts of the country doing business" a senior police official told Early Times adding that those who could trigger it into a major law and order problem were out. Though all have issued statements to vent their anger but issuing statements from comforts in Delhi carry little meaning and instigating people while being with them is entirely a different thing, the official said.
Whether people in Delhi accept it or not, one of the factors that kept Afzal alive for eight years was the fear of the Valley erupting. And now if it remains calm, it would be a significant pointer that Kashmir has left behind 2008 and 2010 and it has moved on. But at the same time ,timing of his execution could also be a major factor in keeping Kashmir calm.
Second; according some political analysts, next few days are very crucial, if Kashmir stays calm, it could certainly send a message that Kashmir is undergoing transition. Separatist in 2008 and 2010 claimed that unarmed upsurge during these two years was transition of Kashmir from armed to unarmed (peaceful) struggle and if this time Kashmir stays calm, it could be transition from unarmed upsurge to be peaceful tolerant society. However, it can be big blunder on part of the political establishment to draw any kind of conclusions from this transition because Kashmir has always the volcanic potential to erupt.
Third; people have become wise because they understand that any unwise reaction could land them in trouble and at the same time they are disappointed with the leadership (separatists) who have failed in realizing the defined goal. But resentment is much deeper as the new incidents add to the alienation. What, however, makes the difference is that people have become more cautious while reacting to new developments. |
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