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| Geelani's shutdown call unfortunate | | |
Fazal Khan
SRINAGAR, Aug 2: Kashmir observed a shutdown today on the call of Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who believes that yatra to Kousarnag in south Kashmir by a few people, can disturb the fragile environment in the area.
Calling for a shutdown against the yatra has hurt the sentiments of Kashmiri Pandits, who after a longtime are trying to relocate their roots in the Kashmir valley. "We are a part and parcel of the Kashmiri society. Despite it being our own land we are being treated as strangers. Geelani calling for a shutdown against the yatra has made it clear that he doesn't want us to return," said Rohit Kaul.
Kaul said, "We know it very well that people are not with Geelani. They are scared of him and cannot afford to annoy him by taking direct confrontation with him."
A few locals who pleaded anonymity, fearing reprisal, were of the opinion had authorities not imposed curfew like restrictions in Srinagar no one would have observed the shutdown. "Shops and business establishments were open in the civil lines area and traffic was plying smoothly. Life came to a standstill in old city and city centre Lal Chowk due to the restrictions imposed by the Government," said a local.
A top businessmen said, "No one in Kashmir wants to go for a hartal, but these separatists force people to give up their daily chores to keep themselves relevant."
He said that till date Kashmir has achieved nothing by going on strike. "It is unfortunate that we were forced to go on a strike against the religious activity of our own Kashmiri Pandit brethren," the businessman added.
Soon after the yatra to Kousarnag in south Kashmir snowballed into a controversy the state Government distanced itself from the issue and denied giving any permission. "The state Government has carried forward the separatist agenda. People at the helm have shown that how weak they are. It seems Government too wants to keep Kashmiri Pandits away from their land that's why it sided with the separatists," said a politician.
A Kashmir University lecturer described today's shutdown call as a "mockery." "I don't know what Geelani Sahib wanted to prove by calling for a shutdown. On one hand he says that Kashmiri Pandits are an integral part of the Kashmiri society and wants them to return. On the other hand if these people want to perform their religious duty he calls for a shutdown. His actions are speaking louder than his words," the lecturer added.
A senior columnist while talking to Early Times said, "Today's shutdown call was in a bad taste. It can have far reaching consequences. There is every possibility of 2008 like scenario recurring. It seems separatists want to once again threaten stir like 2008 and 2010 so that they can call the shots and get people killed."
"Most people across Kashmir are least bothered about the lectures delivered by these separatists. They want peace to return and want to live a normal life. They don't like disruptions as they have realized that they have been misled by a handful of people for the past two decades," the columnist added. |
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