Dost Khan
JAMMU: Kashmir has lost an opportunity. A face saver, in fact, to open up after nearly two-month shut down imposed by Pakistan controlled separatists. The opportunity knocked the door of hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who, by bolting it for senior Indian parliamentarians and politicians, actually put peace in the Valley in jeopardy. People are in real quandary. How long shall they withstand economic paralysis, closure of schools and deaths on roads?
Geelani and company have issued yet another set of calendar, extending the schedule of protests and ‘Chalo-Chalo’ campaign till September 16. Will it go on like this until India offers the separatists ‘Azadi’ on a platter or facilitates ‘Kashmir Banega Pakistan’? If this day dream did not came true despite four wars and the ongoing proxy war for the past twenty-seven years, how come the people will buy separatists argument of ‘now or never’.
The current spell of soft terror violence in Kashmir has been dragged too far. The Valley has suffered too much. On an average over one death is occurring each day for the past two months, given the number of killings crossing 75. Similarly, 150 persons, civilians as also security forces, are getting injured every day, some of them turning blind. True that blame is being put on the police and the security forces but has anyone ever thought as to who actually were the actors pushing young people to death and destruction. The euphoria of Azadi should not take over these basic questions which have far-reaching ramifications for the people, who are blindly adhering to the horrendous calendars.
Undignified refusal to meet the group of four opposition parliamentarians has exposed separatists, who are not interested in peace. Peace and normalcy for them means closure of the enterprise, sponsored by their mentors in Islamabad. They also don’t want peace to return back to Valley for fear of questions being posed by people about choosing of path that ends in a dark tunnel.
The violent protests that began on 8th July to avenge killing of terrorist Burhan Wani have entered into a phase where ‘iconic heroes’ (who are allegedly killers and addicts) have submerged into oblivion. Now the real Pak agenda is in circulation. Killing of much romanticized Wani has faded like a bubble. Those donning the streets, especially in rural Kashmir, do not even know the names of youth killed in violence they unleashed for few rupees being pumped by Pakistan through lackeys like Geelani. Had Jihad or Shahadat been so sacrosanct then kith of brand separatists would have rehabilitated ‘martyrs grave-yards’ since. That has not happened. And, this is going to be the only question people of Kashmir will pose to Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah and those intellectuals and columnists who keep wooing poor youth through their blogs to become fodder of cannons, once normalcy returns.
By issuing ‘Chalo-Chalo’ calendar, the separatists are alluring more youth to commit suicide by attacking police stations, army camps and other vital installations. There has been a pattern in abetting deaths because this is the only factor that keeps the Valley boiling. Separatists know that each death has potential of delaying the process of normalisation and therefore more the number of killings, more the Valley will distance from peace. This strategy may become fiercer once the Centre implements its new strategy of withdrawing concessions and security cover to separatists besides nailing those indulging in money laundering through Hawala channels. The separatists have started feeling the heat. Not only that they will be deprived of doles, they may have to make lot of explaining to their people, especially the parents of those killed in recent violence, why they were in receipt of concessions from the Centre. Hence, they will indulge in fomenting trouble.
To avoid further mayhem, the Centre and the State Government are constitutionally bound to take action per law, in the interest of protecting the lives of people. There is enough evidence against separatists like Geelani about enticing young boys to plunge into death. This virtually amounts to abetting youth to commit suicide. Therefore, the promoters of death and destruction need to be arrested and dumped in jails, if Kashmir and Kashmirs are to be saved.
