Dost Khan
Those getting killed are not kin of Geelanis, Maliks, Bhats, Lones or Shahs.
JAMMU: The people of Kashmir will have to give a serious thought to where secessionists and soft-secessionists in the so-called mainstream camp are leading them to, especially in the backdrop of recent spurt in violence across the Valley, or else incidents like killing of a 21-year old young man in Kulgam may continue to happen. A young life is gone and murky politics has begun. This has been happening for twenty five years. The self-styled mourners are real sadistic, ruthless and emotionless death-merchants who use every traumatic situation to their benefit and to further their sinister designs. The lap of a mother has been emptied but coffers of drum-beaters are filled.
While the hullabaloo of chronic secessionists over the Kulgam firing is understandable, the crocodile tears shed by National Conference are incomprehensible. More than expressing solidarity or sympathy with the grieved family, the out-of-power outfit is making awkward politics by asking arch rival PDP why they didn’t react over the incident. This is sheer politics and a competitive exercise to be seen on other side of the fence. Earlier, this used to be domain of the PDP and now the sides have changed with the changed situation. National Conference is outwitting others, including hardcore secessionists, in a bid to gain some political mileage. Otherwise, as a responsible opposition, it ought to have commented over the situation having been brought to such a morass where little options were left for the law enforcing agencies to respond to reportedly unruly scenario. They, including the ruling PDP and BJP besides Congress, have not condemned the terrorists who entangled themselves in an encounter with security forces, resulting in public reaction.
The people of the Valley are aware about gimmicks of politicians and secessionists. They know the melodrama being enacted after every such incident like the one happened in Kulgam. But they are bewildered. They are clueless about responding to such situations for being undecided or compelled to keep quiet. Their perpetual silence has given lease to terrorists, secessionists and soft-secessionists, who are driving the situation as per their needs and requirements. As a consequence, the exploited people keep suffering, which is why the Valley is simmering with discontent.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s Hurriyat Conference has been a little forthright about the incidents-encounter, protests and the action by law enforcing agencies-that resulted in death of a young man.
While eulogizing eliminated terrorists, Geelani says, “Our beloved youths are consciously adopting the path of brave hearts against the forced and illegal military occupation of India and they are sacrificing their ‘youthhood’ (sic) for the better future of their nation but the cruel and merciless forces of India are also killing our those innocent and unarmed students who have no arms in their hands and whose only crime is that they take part in the peaceful protest demonstrations.”
Geelani would have certainly deserved a pat for his forthrightness, had any of separatists’ kin volunteered to ‘adopt the path of brave hearts’. That has not happened. They have been bestowing this honour to children of poor Kashmiris by indoctrinating and exploiting them. Those getting killed are not kin of Geelanis, Maliks, Bhats, Lones or Shahs. They are the sons of faceless Gulla, Sulla and Jalla. They are the hopes of old parents or brothers of young sisters. They are the daily earners of their poor families. They may be anything for their families, but they mean nothing to dream merchants who showcase their ‘sacrifices’ for flourishing their enterprise. Nobody has heard of sons of Gilani carrying AK 47 or kin of Yasin Malik attaining martyrdom. This is reflected in immense measure in grave-yards across the Valley. Geelani’s ‘freedom movement’ has seen grave yards getting extensions, happy parents becoming destitute, young children turning orphans and brides becoming widows.
If Geelani is really believing that Kashmiri youth are consciously volunteering to die, then why so much hue and cry. But he knows he is lying. He also knows that by professing ‘Shahadat’, he is actually luring poor boys to die, which is reflected in what he said post Kulgam incident, “Our new generation is seriously committed with regard to the freedom movement and they will never compromise on this issue.”
This is the time when the people of Kashmir should see the things in a long-term perspective, with open mind and not with jaundiced eyes. After passionate introspection they may find themselves facing the toughest test of life- choosing between the graveyards and the vistas of opportunities across the world. And if their decision is for the later, let they rise and revolt.
