It took over 115 days to governments in the Centre and State as well as court to react on the vandalisation of schools in Kashmir Valley. Around 30 schools have been set on fire by miscreants who may or may not have the support of the separatists. The situation is piquant. Even the Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani too have condemned the burning of school buildings, a face saving exercise after keeping the street violence and turmoil going on. Today, the separatists see no way out of the quagmire they have created under the guise of the precious ‘Azadi’, which they already enjoy in abundance courtesy Government of India, wants to share it with Kashmiri people. A misnomer ‘Azadi’ has given everyone a space to play in Kashmir and it has been exploited for ulterior motives which if seen in larger perspective has not benefitted the masses in any form. Political leaders and anti-establishment elements have reaped the maximum benefit out of the non-ending disturbance in Kashmir Valley. They and their dependents have become rich and have been enjoying the best of life during all these years and in future also. Burning of schools, business establishments are not new as this has been going on since the outbreak of militancy in late 1990 and response of the government was as mild as it could be. All through the difficult times it was Indian Army which was able to restore some of the damaged infrastructure even in the cities and in the interior under ‘Operation Sadbhavana’, which was conceived by none else than former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee so that education of children does not suffer. Today those children must be in their thirties and forties and some must have taken part directly or indirectly into the vandalisation of same schools which army must have restored. The killing of a terrorist, Burhan Wani was a lame excuse to carry forward such destruction. The present unrest has affected the education very badly. It will take some decades to restore the damaged infra and army again will not hesitate to extend the helping hand but core question is will the people of valley raise voice against such colossal damage?
