Jammu and Kashmir opposition leaders led by National Conference supported by Congress, CPM(I) and others have been to New Delhi for the last few days and met everyone from President, Prime Minister and AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi to find a way out for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir. The unrest spearheaded by separatists and now managed by stone throwing youth has been going on for the last over 40 days which began after the killing of a Hizbul militant Burhan Wani. Surprisingly this is the same dispensation headed by National Conference which ruled the State throughout the turbulent 90’s and had created an environment when the members of Muslim United Front (MUF) were defeated in an rigged election by the party paving the way for the militancy which has seeped into the environment for over three decades. Then onwards National Conference remained on the helms of the State and militancy which was a token of resistance flourished with Pakistan pushing militants to Valley which changed the situation on the ground. Today the same National Conference alongwith Congress were in New Delhi appealing everyone to find out a solution to the problem created by the politically motivated parties. The divided opposition is trying to show a united and humane face to their own created human tragedy. Today both National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party are on the same boat. And both are trying to find a way out. NC has been critical of PDP policy on construction of Sainik Colonies in Valley, resettlement of Kashmir Pandits, industrial policy etc. under the guise of demographic changes. The party has been taking almost the same stand as Hurriyat. Congress has been critical of use of pellet guns against protesters. It was the Congress Government at the Centre that had offered to J and K the pellet guns following the 2010 agitation which claimed over 100 lives during the NC rule. Politicians have been playing all the cards and formulae they can think of like Mehbooba Mufti visiting the families of firing victims and giving statements with an emotional outburst of ‘pain’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has expressed ‘pain’ over the situation and has gone to the extent of saying that students should carry lap top instead of stones. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too went a step further saying that they should carry books instead of stones. The divided political leadership is the bane of Kashmir which talks with a split tongue which has benefitted the
separatists and youth to keep the agitation going on. There won’t be an element of surprise if Kashmir turns into
another West Bank of the east in coming days.
