Satwant Singh Rissam
It was summer of 2016 and in July that year, Hizbul Mujahidin militant Burhan Wani was killed which started unrest in the Valley. Since then I believe there is no peace in Kashmir, as even during winter last year the things did not turn peaceful. Another summer has come this year and on 27th May 2017, Sabzar Ahmad Bhat another militant of Hizbul Mujahidin, was killed by security forces in Tral area of Kashmir. The killing of Sabzar Ahmad Bhat was witnessed on the very onset of holy month of Ramzan and this coincidence in a way has hurt the souls of many in Kashmir. Earlier, Ramzan period witnessed cease fire kind of approach from both sides i.e. militants and security forces. After this killing, situation in Kashmir has again turned tense and many areas have started witnessing curfew and protests every other day. The intensity of initial unrest can be judged from the fact that prepaid mobile services were immediately banned in Kashmir following this killing. Incidentally, next month is July and then we shall observe one complete year during which uneasy calm prevailed in Kashmir which started after killing of Burhan Wani. In last one year, Kashmir has seen frequent events like killing of political workers, kidnapping and killing of an army man, weapon snatching and attacks on army convoy. Such routine is back in Kashmir after decades and it clearly reflects that situation in past one year has turned very grim.
After this all, so much anger also has been witnessed on the roads of Kashmir but both parties PDP and BJP, who are in alliance aren’t speaking anything about it. In a way, this governmental approach has furthered the idea of this alliance being an ‘alliance of opportunity’. PDP and BJP got the mandate of the people from two separate regions of the J and K state and at that time, for me formation of this Coalition Government was like a dream. However, when this coalition was formed, many ideas were floated to counter the allegation, that this alliance is an ‘alliance of opportunity’, and one such idea was that in time ahead the two regions i.e. Jammu and Kashmir, will come closer only because of this alliance. But this hasn’t happen in last more than two years and with present prevailing atmosphere in Kashmir; I think it won’t even happen in near future. I say this, as I have noted that in previous one year Jammu and Kashmir are deriving pleasure on each other’s pain and politics has played an equal role in it. The alliance seems to have failed to bring people together as the BJP leaders couldn’t develop any acceptability in Kashmir and so is case of PDP leaders in Jammu. Initially, people in J and K, had some clarity that these parties will now speak for people of their regions who gave them mandate. For this everyone expected that PDP will speak only for Kashmir and BJP will speak for Jammu. Strangely, as time passed, this clarity of thought turned into ambiguity as it is witnessed that both these parties aren’t even speaking for their respective regions.
The intensity of threat is highest as the local youth has started coming out openly on roads in support of militants. Earlier, militants who were killed didn’t get such kind of local support as those killed were foreign militants. But in past one year most of the militants who were killed were local boys of Kashmir. This fact is adding up the sympathy for militants in minds of local people, result of this was visible when lakhs of people turned out for Burhan Wani’s burial. Moreover, in past two decades, when was the last time in Valley we saw women coming out on roads as a stone throwing mob. In addition to it, this year students too have openly come out in support of militants. It is pertinent to mention here that this all gives out a perception that Kashmir has turned more anti-India in last one year. Stone throwing in Kashmir has picked up tremendously and it appears that use of pava shells and pellet guns, no more scare the angry youth of Kashmir. In total, the situation has declined and one of the examples to it is that now we need ‘human shields’ to control situations. On the other hand, the opposition parties are blaming the ruling government that it has failed to control the situation. Though, there claim against government is right but it gets weak because in past when such situations (of lower intensity) erupted they also turned
helpless.
We all need to analyse some questions which come into my mind every time I see my State burning for days. Firstly, how many more summers in Kashmir will witness such chilling moments? Secondly, are we progressing under the shadow of these killings or our country has moved back on Kashmir issue? You, I and many others across the world know that youth of Kashmir is being instigated to indulge in violence but just knowing that isn’t the solution. Several governments had failed to end this unfriendly air in Kashmir and it appears to be in continuity even under the present Narendra Modi led Central Government which promised meeting together of north and south poles in Jammu and Kashmir.
