The separatists in Kashmir have further scaled down their ongoing agitation by restricting the strike call to every Friday. In a fresh protest programme issued, the separatists hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief Yasin Malik also called for observing a ‘black day’ on Republic Day. They asked the people to observe strike only on Fridays. After the unrest broke out in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in July last year, the separatists have been issuing regular protest programmes. The protests have died down since November and the separatists restricted the strike to Friday and Saturday every week. Is it the fall-out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘mid-night stroke’ of demonetisation which has to some extent curtailed the free circulation of fake Indian currency pumped-in by Pakistan to keep the battle of Azadi in Kashmir alive? In view of Republic Day, the separatists have called for a shutdown on Thursday as well this week. They have also called for joint protest on Monday after the afternoon prayer. This is nothing new as far as separatists are concerned their stand has been anti-India always, which has helped them garner support from across the border. All separatist leaders at some time or other had political alliances with various Kashmiri and national political parties. Their existence is actually supported (though not so blatantly and openly) by leaders of these parties. These are marriage of conveniences. Certain party would ask them to propagate their anger against another party, so the vote bank can swing their way. No love lost of country here. Throwing away these leaders would actually look really bad on India. How it’ll get projected to world is – India occupies part of Kashmir, holds under army rule, atrocities to civilians and the ‘Independence’ leaders are given exile to ask for their right of freedom. It is no denying the fact that these leaders have huge support base from all sections of the society. If the Government of J and K thinks the claims of Central Government are not true, they may decide not to take action. Recent examples include the scene when the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti sprung in defence of Masarrat Alam.
