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| PM's decent dig at separatists | | |
When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,during his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 63rd independence Day in Delhi on Saturday,said that vigorous participation of peole in the Assembly and the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir proved that there was no place for separatist thought in the state he was trying to belittle the importance of those who were outside the mainstream political scene.Though Manmohan Singh may not be totally correct in his assessment that Jammu and Kashmir was no place for separatist ideology,he seemed to have conveyed to the leaders of the separatist groups,especially to those belonging to the t wo factions of the Hurriyat Conference,that Delhi had no compulsions for resuming dialogue with them. When the country's Prime Minister says that the state of Jammu and Kashmir was no place for separatist thought it indicates that there was no need for the Government of India to resume dialogue with those who are on the other side of the mainstream politics.If such is the interpretation why then the Prime Minister had over a month ago said that he was ready to talk to anyone including those who are not in the mainstream politics.When he said that analysts were quick to opine that the Prime Minister was in favour of holding talks with the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups.Well during the last over three years talks between the Government of India and the separatists stand stalled and on a number of occasions the separatists,particularly the Molvi Umar Farooq led All Party Hurriyat Conference has been waiting for formal invitation from Delhi for a fresh dialogue for settling the Kashmir issue.In fact the APHC leaders are keenly awiting resumption of dialogue between Delhi and Islamabad so that the key issue of Kashmir was settled.Well the voting percentage in the Assembly election held in the winter of 2008 ranged between 35 and 43 per cent.In the Lok Sabha poll the voters participation was not more than 35 per cent and in rural belts of south Kashmir and in the eight Assembly segments in Srinagar district the polling percentage did not cross 20 and 30 per cent.So in no case the polling figures can be called vigorous and it can be called so only in the context of the political and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Manmohan Singh is not totally wrong in his assessment of the latest political and security scenario in Jammu and kashmir.In support of his statement one can refer to the peoples' participation in the Independence day celebrations not only in the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar but in other district and tehsil headquarters.Imagine a place like Shopian that remained rocked and rattled during the last over two and a half months over the murder and rape of two women holding a suprise for the Government agencies,including the police.More than 2,000 people were present during the celebrations of the Independence Day.In other areas huge and resposnive crowds in the independence day celebrations may have served as a shock to the separatists.Whatever way this is interpreted one thing seems to be clear.People have felt suffocated because of prolonged shutdown,protest rallies,call for which had been given by the separatists.If people participated in the poll process they wanted a responsible Government that would solve their day to day problems.People voted not for individuals but for better power,water supply and for greater employment avenues.Whether one agrees fully with Manmohan Singh or not his statement should set the separatists to review their political thought and ideology.They need to realise that even if the Kashmir issue is a problem it has to be decided by Delhi and Islamabad .The idea of separatists to be involved in the bilateral talks may now be a wishful thinking.What Manmohan Singh said can be treated as a decent snub to the separatists.(
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