Dost Khan
JAMMU: Two important developments have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in recent days. And, both these have exposed the fragility of trust and respect for national integration in a segment of political leadership, especially in Kashmir that has been pampered, promoted and incentivised at the cost of two equally important regions of Jammu and Ladakh. The worrisome factor is how Kashmiri secessionists and semi-secessionists in the so-called mainstream camp are seizing and utilising every opportunity to create mistrust towards the nation and precipitate the divide between communities with malicious intent of hammering Indian interest.
The unfortunate death of a Sikh youth in Jammu has found instantaneous reaction in the Kashmir secessionist camp. Expressing grief over a death would normally have been most appreciative, had there not been an element of mischief. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and all other secessionists lost no opportunity in grinding their own axe while shedding crocodile tears over the death and pretending sympathy for the Sikh community. They did a big blunder in trying to provoke a community, which is known for its valour and sense of patriotism. They have forgotten that it is the community which has remained all along in the forefront to defend sovereignty and integrity of India. They are continuing to do so along with other compatriots even on Kashmir turf which has been polluted by Pak sponsored terrorists.
What could be the brazen act of provoking Sikh community than reminding them of 1984 Delhi riots and Operation Blue Star in the Golden Temple than Geelani describing the Jammu killing as ‘worst kind of state terrorism’. He has attempted to provoke the entire community by saying, “Present communal government in India is an acute threat for the entire minority of this country and they are in hurry to accomplish their communal agendas.” Trying to make a common cause in the wake of killing of a youth, the hardcore hawk says the minorities in India are treated as second class citizens and their life, property, honour, dignity and even religious places are not safe here. Almost similar has been the refrain of other secessionists and some pseudo-secular mainstream leaders. This speaks of their rotten and prejudiced mindset.
The second development that took place this week and did not evoke any attention or sympathy from the Kashmir based mainstream leaders is gruesome killing of 18 soldiers in an ambush by insurgents in Manipur. They included six bravehearts from the Jammu region, JCO Naib Subedar Ram Singh of Samba District, Havalder Sunil Kumar Sharma of Rajouri District, Havalder Satpal Bhasin, Lance Naik Kuldeep Raj, Havaldar Randeep Singh, Sepoy Vijay Kumar– all from Jammu District. While the indebted nation saluted all the 18 soldiers for their martyrdom, why Kashmiri mainstream leaders preferred silence over the death of at least six of them who belonged to this State? This ‘formality’ was left to be performed by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and Senior Congress Vice President Sham Lal Sharma. Nothing pronouncedly was heard from Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed or his predecessor Omar Abdullah, who has taken to tweeting on each and every issue as pastime. Congress President Ghulam Ahmed Mir and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti too ignored the deaths of the sons of soil. Had it been any other state, perhaps the entire administration, including the political leadership, would have made it their prime duty to be with the grieving families.
The ‘poles apart’ approach of the ruling coalition partners speaks volumes about the state of affairs in this sensitive State. When it comes to espousing the cause of Syed Ali Geelani with respect to his passport or Masarat Alam for his release, the PDP feels obliged and duty bound to ‘do the job’ and when it becomes ‘extremely mandatory’ to say a good word for the slain martyrs, BJP is pushed forward to issue a statement. The so-called secularists maintain a reasonable distance with national cause. They find it more paying and comfortable to be seen on the side of secessionists. On most of the issues, the separatists and the so-called mainstream leaders remain on the same page. This is harsh truth of Jammu and Kashmir.