The Kashmir mainstream is morally obliged to decode what it expects from talks between a democratic nation and a rogue state.
They talk about dialogue first and development later. They even term the disturbed conditions and unrest among ‘misguided’ youth (who are indeed on the pay rolls of Pak sponsored terror outfits) as manifestation of their urge to get Kashmir resolved and not what they used to say in the initial years of terrorism, as unemployment or economic deprivation. Which is why, irrespective of their party leanages, they keep pleading for amnesty to chronic stone-pelters, the new Avatar of ‘Mujahids or misguided youth’ and their rehabilitation in terms of getting jobs for them. In fact, some of the stone-pelters were recruited also; intriguingly in the police force, who, as trainees, showed their teeth two years ago when they refused to perform Amarnath duty and in protest ransacked and vandalised the administrative block of Manigam Training Centre.
Kashmiri mainstream leaders are confused over the unrest among some segments of society, similarly as secessionists are about Azadi and annexing Kashmir with Pakistan. Whether the unrest is off-shoot of unemployment or economic deprivation and whether some of the outfits in Kashmir want Azadi or merging with Pakistan, the common plank between them all is to keep New Delhi on tenterhooks. This time the confusion within political ranks in Kashmir is colliding with the government formation and at the receiving end is none other than Bharatiya Janata Party, which has mellowed down its stand on ‘Ek Vidhaan, Ek Nishaan, Ek Pradhan’ and Article 370.
By invoking Vajpayee and marginalizing Narendra Modi, what does the Kashmiri mainstream want to convey? They have not so far specified as to what Vajpayee, as Prime Minister of NDA, stood for, as far as Kashmir is concerned. Mere rant of ‘Insaaniyat Ke Dayree Mein’ and ‘Jamhooriat Ke Dayree Mein’ will not be enough to invoke Vajpayee because as an ancient civilised nation and largest democracy across the world, India is expected to be civilised, humane and democratic. BJP leadership on its part, not come forward to spell out Vajpayee’s vision on Kashmir. This has become a big riddle, especially as the former Prime Minister is not maintaining a good health and being in a position to clarify what Kashmir mainstream is talking about.
Now that the Vajpayee vision has come in the way of the government formation in this sensitive State, both BJP and Kashmir mainstream must decode Vajpayee. Onus lies on BJP to speak out its stand on voices coming from Kashmir about dialogue process with Pakistan, especially in the backdrop of renewed skirmishes in the Samba sector, which has again left two jawans and a civilian martyred besides thousands uprooted from their homes and hearths.
The Kashmir mainstream also owes it to their supporters, both in the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, as to what they are actually expecting from talks between a democratic nation and a rogue state. The people have voted for them; this time in large numbers.
Kashmir, the breeding ground for terrorists, separatists and soft secessionists, have rejected, yet again, the secessionists diktat of boycotting the polls, which in essence is a vote for India, though the mainstreamed leaders may not like to put it that way. While mocking at negative elements, the people of the Valley have posed a very simple but a vital question during the just concluded elections, in a very subtle manner, to mainstream leaders about their stand on Kashmir, as the vibes they have been giving from time to time are not only contradictory but confusing as well. Take for instance the reaction of the mainstream parties on the ongoing Panchayat elections before these took off on apolitical basis. The responsible leader, both in the government and in the opposition, stated that the massive democratic exercise had nothing to do with the Kashmir issue, though there was no need of saying that unless something was bothering their mind. Almost similar views were then aired by Congress leaders also. This time, however, they cannot say the current elections were merely for Roti, Bijli, Kapda and Sadak. Had it been so, the major bottleneck in the formation of the government would not have been assurance about resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. The cat has come out of the bag and the parties concerned are duty bound to spell out their stand and solution of ‘Kashmir problem’, a bogey they keep on raising as an arm twisting mechanism. They can’t keep it under the carpet for long by yelling from roof-tops, “Talk India talk”.