Alka Vasudeva
Though the people in rest part of the country are not able to digest the two ideologically different parties together try to run the government in Jammu and Kashmir but still they have their own set of expectations. This state sharing border with our arch rival cum twin sibling Pakistan ignited hopes in the minds of all.
Kashmiris expected for bigger cream on their plate and Jammu region felt that seven decades biased attitude may discontinue and their region may see the equal amount of expenses on development. Ladhakhis too have their own wish list.
The residents here suffer the same pangs of pain like their brothers and sisters in other states. The youth here looks forward to better facilities and employment opportunities. They do desire uniform upswing in their lives and better civic amenities. In addition they anticipate state government to accept all regions and religions at par.
The critics may object to this statement of mine but they must remember that exodus of minorities from the valley has been state sponsored. Had it not been then the people belonging to Hindu minority might have been respectfully allowed to return and settle again in the land of their ancestors.
When educated and well informed masses can question the Chief Minister of Haryana on the destruction to public property during recent Jat agitation there then they have full right to hold those running the state government since seven decades here.
It will be wrong to say that riots and insurgencies affected only here. Punjab witnessed it too but the will of the state government brought down the surge in militancy under control and the people who migrated during the troubled phase in 1980s returned to their native places in Punjab. Today that state enjoys affluence alongside it suffers the demon called drug mafia.
In comparison to Punjab the forcefully migrated Kashmiris fear for their life. Their properties have been encroached upon. Each year the government shows the world that they care for minority Hindus in the state by superficially arranging Baba Amar Nath Yatra. The pious pilgrimage is filled with hindrances from the separatists and radicals. Though the media never covers such news but those who take on this yatra share the first hand experiences when they return to their respective homes.
The tales of horror shared by the migrants from valley arouse sympathy among the fellow neighbors and co workers. These migrants live in refugee camps within the state as well as far off places like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Though most of them have worked hard and shifted to either rented accommodations or purchased new ones after sensing no hope of return. The land law in Kashmir does not allow them to buy back their properties.
Jammu Kashmir is the only state where the daughters lose their right to property if they marry a non Kashmiri. This biased rule does not apply to sons. Omar Abdullah is married to a non-Kashmir but still enjoys the liberty to represent Kashmir as its former chief minister.
Understanding all circumstances NIT Srinagar incident seems to be volcanic eruption of emotions. Just as a volcano erupts where the upper layer of the Earth is thin and fragile enough to break open when the heat within rises the same way the students who had joined NIT Srinagar in hope of better future could not resist themselves from being part of the student community who believes in keeping the Tri Color fluttering high.
The electronic media provided that soft ground for the young blood to boil when all channels were debating on the slogans raised by Kanhaiya and Umar Khalid in Jawaharlal Nehru university.
Ironical it is that flying the national flag triggered the spark. The same flag that makes us Indians feel high at every sport win is disrespected by few radical groups.
Nefarious ambitions of Pakistan are evident as the flag carriers of ISIS and Pakistan always cover their faces with black clothes fearing identity disclosure. The members working on the support from Islamabad have deeply penetrated in the state as often stated by the ex RAW chief.
Cheering the rival country on their win in the T20 World Cup was a repeated hit on the wounded psyche. The young blood was expected to boil. In place of the small scuffle the incident shook the entire nation. The people of the nation stand in support of the agitating NIT students though the state police is trying level best to snub those who want the Tri Color hoisted in the campus.
Yesterday in the parliament the home minister assured that the students who were forced to leave the campus and return to their homes were allowed to appear for the exam on 29th April 2016. We can look at it as goodwill gesture.
Similar to volcanic eruption this issue kept on smoldering entire April. The fire has not fully extinguished as the young India wants to know the reason behind apathy of state police towards non Kashmiri students especially when number of Kashmiri students are enrolled in various central universities across the nation.
Political class known for corruption and self centered approach is unwilling to extinguish this fire of disharmony and lack of mutual trust.
When so many scams and scandals are unearthed these days then this situation too can turn out to be a political stunt. To be in power our politicians can stoop to any level.
The onus lies with residents of Kashmir to come forth and prove to the world that they are not radicals rather socialists in true sense.
