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| Better to have a policy of carrots for separatists | | | | Will the security and sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir in particular and of India in general be endangered if the Government of India accepts the five-point demands of Syed Ali Shah Geelani for facilitating the centre-separatists dialogue on the settlement of the Kashmir issue ? Well this question has assumed significance after Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has claimed that the centre was in favour of accepting the five demands of Geelani in the interest of the resumption of separatists-centre dialogue for solving the Kashmir issue which was key to the restoration of peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. Already the BJP leadership in the state feels incensed over the reports that the centre was planning to rope in Geelani and others by accepting Geelani's five demands, which includes acceptance of Kashmir as a disputed territory, release of all detained people,repeal of the AFSPA and withdrawal of troops from within the state. And reports indicate that the centre has yet not made any commitment on Geelani's demands. Even if it agreed to accept his demands heavens may not fall because even when the US President,Barack Obama,stated that Kashmir was a long dispute Delhi had not reacted against it when the statement had been made by him while he was in India.That Kashmir is a dispute neither India nor the state Government can contest it because apart from the three wars Pakistan fought for wresting Kashmir the Islamabad sponsored insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir have brought the Kashmir issue on the map of disputed territories.As far as the release of the detained people is concerned the Government may not have any major problem.It has already made it clear that those who were involved in heinous crimes may not be released but those against whom no serious charges had been filed could be set free. It is the demand for the repeal of the AFSPA and the withdrawal of the troops that had to be given a serious thought. Hitherto top functionaries of the Army and other security agencies have opposed repeal or dilution of the AFSPA on the plea that the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir had yet not become normal. These functionaries have conveyed to the Government that the troops engaged in counter insurgency operations were not indulging in human rights violations under the cover of AFSPA.They have also conveyed to the Government that 97 per cent complaints against troops for violating human rights have been found false. They have assured people of the state and the Government that the soldiers have been given strict instructions to honour human rights. As compared to the demand for the repeal of the AFSPA withdrawal of troops may not be difficult because already the strength of the troops and the BSF has been reduced during the last three years. This way if the central Government lures the hardliners to the dialogue process it may not be a futile exercise because at least these very hardliners could be engaged in talks so that they do not have time for inciting people to violence.Yes,the Government can come down heavily on the separatists if it has the backing of the majority of people in the state.Unfortunatly not many are prepared to support Government's policy of sticks against the separatists. This is the case in those states also where the Maoists and the Naxals have managed to see their writs run. In these states also the centre is trying to reopen the channels of dialogue. One could not have ruled the possibility of majority of people ready to support Government action against the separatists had not the people in Kashmir and other areas of the Jammu region been scared by militants during the last 21 years. People may not be willing to face the wrath of militants if they(people) supported Government action against the separatists. Hence the safe course is to keep the separatists engaged in dialogue which could also make them lose their face in Pakistan and among their staunch supporters in Kashmir. |
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