JAMMU: There can be no argument that peace in Jammu and Kashmir is imperative for sustainable development. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday underscored the importance of peace for the future of the Union Territory where Pakistan continues to pursue its designs to cause instability. Few in J&K have become a party to these mischief-spreading designs of the neighbouring country. They live in an illusion that this mischief will succeed one day, forgetting that J&K is an integral part of India. This is an irreversible reality.
OUTLOOK
Peace in Jammu and Kashmir has two dimensions – based on the past, present and future. The past has been quite gory despite the Nature’s blessings. The territory has been a witness to the trauma of thousands of youth going to graves, and many more having lost their way in self-chosen wilderness. Lakhs suffered displacement, and continue to live in a status of people of nowhere.
Second, it is very clear that J&K can make its future bright only if it preserves its present. It said goodbye to its violent past of over 30 years in August 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated by the Modi government to fully integrate the erstwhile state into the Indian union and opened gates of development wide open. The life of this present is just a little over five years – counting from August 5, 2019 onwards. It can be prolonged if the development and the change in the mindset is taken into future. J&K should be caring about its tomorrow by making its today a spring board for its leap into next day.
It has to be remembered and understood that this present is not an option to go back into yesterday of pre-August 5, 2019. It has to be forward-looking. This needs a little bit of explanation for the benefit of those unaware of the situation of J&K. In the past so many years, the life in this territory, whether in cities or towns or villages, was a nightmare. There were restrictions imposed by terrorists to which the people had to submit. These restrictions chased them in their homes and outside. The adherence to the restrictions could not guarantee safety. Even without violations, these would invite death.
That sense of restrictions and fear made the people to compromise with their life style. They were enslaved by terrorism and those perpetrating it. This was unbearable situation for the people but they were unable to speak out for the fear of reprisals.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 , there has been a transformation in the situation; people have lapped the normalcy that was brought about by the relentless efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Their focus was on embracing the people and giving a leg up to their aspirations while neutralizing terrorists who had a hellish mindset of killing and maiming people. This normalcy has been consolidated with a big boost to tourism, mega events and vast investments in agricultural and industrial sectors. This has given several avenues of look-ahead moment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Obvious, as it is, Pakistan is not happy with the changing reality of Kashmir from a terrorism hub to tourism hotspot. Pakistan is weighed down by several factors, but the prominent among them are – its defeat in pursuing and executing anti-India ideology. It used to use the troubles in Jammu and Kashmir as a smokescreen for its own people. The projection was that the people in Kashmir were engaged in their battle for “liberation”, and as Muslims they had a duty to support them. Pakistani establishment would keep the people in dark about the reality. At the same time , Pakistan is fearful of showing the changed atmospherics of Jammu and Kashmir – the life is normal , people are living and doing their work without any fear and real or imagined restrictions . That change sits in contrast with what is happening across the LoC in PoJK where people are starving and have raised a rebellion against the Pakistan state and government. They know that they have been subjected to atrocities because they were fooled with the religious and emotional slogans. That myth is broken and they know that the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir is progressing.
Pakistan, to keep its narrative of troubles in J&K, is doing mischief to cause derailment of the progress. That is where handholding and consolidation of peace by all the peoples is necessary. The Police and the government alone cannot achieve the sustainable peace. The message is quite loud and clear.
