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| Honesty and the politics of Kashmir | | | Jasbir Sarai | 4/19/2012 7:04:31 PM |
| The flames if insurgency and terrorism have engulfed Kashmir for almost three decades now aided and abetted from within by a separatist movement which has its moorings in blatant self interest. The anarchical forces have no agenda for the future, they make outlandish calls from merger with a failed state like Pakistan to for outright independence while being absolutely aware that the first option would spell disaster and the second is simply not feasible in the existing geo-political and strategic environment. Insurgency and terrorism has taken its toll, more so, on the common man. According to official figures released in the J& K Assembly, there were 3800 disappearances as on July 2011; the conflict had left more than 52,000 dead. The silver lining is the fast emerging environment of normalcy brought about mainly due to the resilient will of the people to shed the shadow of the gun, juxtaposed with relentless anti-terrorist operations by the security forces. The number of insurgency-related deaths has fallen sharply in the last five years; since the start of a slow moving peace process.
Regardless of the emerging peace, brinkmanship amongst a few feudal families of Kashmir who share the political space continues to be the order of the day. These families seem to be fighting a personal battle for political space at the cost of the common man. They indulge in politics of divisiveness and instigation for personal ends. They remain perpetually in a state of conflict with complete disregard towards what is good for the people in general. Some accuse others of selling the state; others reply by insinuations of engineering divisiveness and disruption. The media battle goes on and on without respite. To quote a recent development; it is surprising that the Abdullahs, whose three generations have been in power, now regret the State's accession to India. Perhaps, they nurse the ambition to make J&K a sovereign and autonomous entity with their family at the helm. Predictably, such machinations by its main rival have raised the heckles of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is looking at throwing the blame for the entire mess on the Centre which is, in any case, the most significant flogging horse in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir. Thus we have Mufti Mohd Sayeed lamenting that New Delhi is not seeing the "inevitability of resolving the Kashmir issue". There are many other instances of immature politicians speaking out of turn and spoiling the peace process. Take the case of a senior Congress leader in Jammu and Kashmir, Gulam Rasool Kar. He has most obnoxiously declared, "Every Kashmiri is emotionally attached to Pakistan whether they are in Congress or National Conference". Kar termed Kashmir as disputed and urged Congress to strive for a resolution with Pakistan on the issue. Obviously, fault lines do exist in the political landscape of the region.
The separatists are not above changing coats like chameleons when it suits them, take the instance of senior separatist leader Abdul Ghani Bhat stating out of the blue that some prominent hurriyat leaders were killed, not by the security forces as is being commonly inferred, but by militants and terrorists. One wonders at the timing of such stories and the reason behind keeping them under wraps for decades. How did these people reply to their conscience by keeping quiet about blatant murders of their own leaders? Can there be a better example of political opportunism ?
There is a need for some more honesty to come by in the politics of Kashmir. The truth is there for everybody to see and the facts are lying straight on the table. This should serve as a harbinger for a change in the political mindset of the State. It should catalyse a movement to bring about a healthy and much need for questioning and accountability. It should bring about the realisation that in Kashmir it is not only the state but the non-state actors also who should be blamed for killings and rights violations as Tahir Mohiuddin, chief editor of a weekly `Chattan' has very rightly said, "Though people always knew who killed whom in Kashmir, the statement is instrumental in breaking the silence over such killings. Now people can openly question political strategies and seek answers to demystify various secrets kept in cold storage so far". It should bring about a unity of purpose amongst the political set up and give it a direction in which the good of the people reigns supreme. In case some political groups feel strongly about a point at issue they have every right to pursue the same. However, there should exist no doubt that Kashmiri Pandits, Jammu Dogras, Ladakhi Buddhists, Sikhs and other non Muslim minorities of Jammu and Kashmir shall be the worst sufferers should the political dispensation change in the State.
The emerging peaces and well established personality rather than ideology driven divisions in the Valley politics pose yet another looming question for the central leadership - why should the weak, inept, consistently wavering and ineffective Kashmir policy of the central government not be decisively revisited by firmness befitting the stature of the largest democracy of the world? appeasement has led to a mess, given Pakistan an upper hand and the separatists a license to sell anti-India, anti secular and disruptive ideology. India should not bow to any extraneous pressure. If suffering is destined for disregarding "pressures", why not accept the same like a truly sovereign and powerful country? Now is the time to get all actors on the table and resolve all issues decisively, within the framework of the Indian constitution, sans any external interference. The sooner the better since the clock is ticking away and the moment of peace may just fade way.
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