JAMMU: Kashmir is scripting history by relegating yesteryears heroes as zeroes. In their wildest dreams king-size secessionists would not have ever thought of the drubbing they may be getting at the hands of the electors, who are not only defying their diktat but also mocking by thronging in huge numbers to polling booths.
Yet another huge turnout in the ongoing Assembly elections is sure veto to the separatists’ boycott and militants’ successive attempts to derail the process. The killing of a Panch and incidents of shoot-outs have neither deterred the contestants nor their voters. This is triumph of democracy; this is victory of India and this is defeat for the separatists and their mentors across the border who have been meddling in murky waters to have their pound of flesh from the wounds of Kashmiris.
The average 70-75 per cent voting in two of the five phased elections is a slap on the faces of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and company, who tried worst to enforce their diktat. As if Geelani’s open coercion was not enough, the isolated militant acts, aimed at generating fear psychosis among the electorate, also did not work. All methods to scuttle the electoral process have so far failed. Even hotbeds of the separatist movement, like north Kashmir’s rural and urban constituencies, witnessed enthusiastic campaigning and massive voting. The joining of ex-separatist Sajjad Lone has been a pleasant breather, who has sent the separatists and power-lorn mainstream leaders in jittery. They are finding heat under the carpet because the two and half decade militancy has created vicious circle in the Valley. Whosoever tries to invade this circle is obviously not welcome. Sajjad has, however, taken off the lid and opened up space for many to jump into the electoral arena. Credit for this must go to forward looking vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is setting a stage for real peace in Kashmir. The process, therefore, initiated will mean end to the flourishing enterprise of pampered elements, who have been thriving at the cost of peoples’ miseries. Since Jammu and Kashmir is in full electoral gear, fingers will remain crossed over the upcoming phases of elections. But the beginning has been extremely well. This has rekindled hope for an excellent turnout in each of the remaining phases.
This is not for the first time that the people of Kashmir have voted. Since 1947 they have been participating in the democratic exercise and reposing their faith in Indian democracy. Their participation in 14 Assembly elections, several elections to Lok Sabha besides civic and Panchayat polls in the past is their reaffirmation in the Constitution of India and annexation of the State with Indian domain.
The unprecedented voter turnout speaks of yet another, but very important, dimension of the so-called Kashmir imbroglio, which unfortunately has missed the attention of political analysts, Kashmir watchers and various pro-active organizations championing the cause of Kashmir, albeit the fringe elements. India, or its Kashmir Panels and Ministerial Groups, have never bothered to feel the pulse of Kashmir especially its rural pockets, Gujjar and Bakerwals, Paharis, Ladakhis, Baltis, Sikhs, Dogras and other ethnical groups who have pronounced in unambiguous terms their rejection for the cult of violence, or the demand for secession from India, not once but several times.
Jammu and Kashmir is not just a city or a few towns: a few individuals or a few so-called separatist parties, who hold the mandate for deciding the fate of over ten million population. Why should all those, who matter in the national and international arena, rally around a miniscule segment of the population and ignore the majority? There is something very wrong with the strategists, more particularly India’s media managers, who have not brought this stark reality to fore.
Let New Delhi and rest of the world take the call from and view the ‘Kashmir imbroglio’ in realistic prism.