Time for Govt to issue advisory against non-local workforce proceeding to Kashmir

JAMMU: Yet another Jihadi attack in Kashmir and yet again non-local labourers Chotta Prasad and Govind of Uttar Pradesh became the fodder of radical guns Annantnag village last evening. They were, however, luckier than Ram Sagar and Manish Kumar of the same state for not succumbing to their injuries, like they did less than a month ago on October 18, much to the discomfort of Jihadis and perhaps vast mass of their sympathizers in the Valley, notwithstanding the fact that they were serving the population in their orchards, paddy fields, construction sites and what not, just to earn two time meals for their families back home.
The selective killing of non-locals has hugely endangered their movement, especially in the countryside of the Valley.
The target attacks on non-locals in Kashmir are not new. This has become a new norm with the alarming rise in such incidents in recent times, which does not bother either the Kashmiris or the administration. No political, religious or social organisation finds it necessary or strategically feasible to come forward and take a stand against terrorists, as their gruesome acts ultimately puts common Kashmiri to lot of miseries. This may be because of their subtle support to Jihad. Ironically, the common people also prefer to ignore these inhuman attacks, knowing well that such a scenario will jeopardize the security of their kith and kin in the rest of the country as retaliation. Resultantly, the attacks have become more rampant and widespread. The security forces cannot guard every single labour, like they do in case of most of the caged employees under the Prime Minister’s Package or those appointed in terms of the quota in reserved categories. So, if the citizens of India can’t be assured security in their own country, why should they be pushed to death traps? By doing so, the administration is inadvertently becoming a party to the butchering of its citizens. It is a crime and needs course correction. If the government feels genuine threat to the non-local residents of India in the Valley, based on intelligence inputs, it must issue an emergent advisory to them not to visit Kashmir till the situation becomes conducive for their safe stay. Obviously, such a measure will raise many eyebrows, especially of the pseudo seculars, politicians and activists. Some in the Valley may attribute it to ‘persecution of Kashmiris, economic blockade’ and what not but that should not deter the administration from fulfilling its obligations towards security of the Indian citizens.
Safety of citizens is the primary obligation of any government across the world. Time and again, the governments have been issuing advisories to their subjects against visiting hostile places. Kashmir is integral to India but the vitiated security scenario has potential threat to life and safety of innocent citizens, especially the workforce, who despite serving the people do not enjoy their affection and sympathy. Sympathy lies for gun-toting Jihadis, who evoke massive protests in case of deaths with almost the entire population of the area thronging to attend funerals. Burhan Wani’s funeral, like numerous others, is a case in point. In the case of brutal, inhuman and barbaric killing of non-local labourers, no protests have ever been seen in the Valley; no tears drop on seeing the poor young people falling prey to Jihadi guns or no word of public condemnation comes in the wake such killings. If the people prefer to be so cruel and ruthless, why should the poor labourers be risked to serve them? Of course, such an option will mean doom for the Kashmir economy and way of life, as the Valley is totally dependent on the non-Kashmiri workforce in every sphere and sector? From brick kilns to apple orchards, from domestic chorus to paddy fields, from construction work to animal rearing-in every activity non locals are visible. Such is the dependence that even baby sitters and workers in traditional Kashmiri crafts are from various parts of India. The only field that is forbidden for non-Kashmiris is perhaps the terror factory, which remains exclusive domain for the foreign Jihadis and their radicalised lackeys in the Valley, who keep giving new dimensions to over three decade long terrorism.
What does exodus of non-Kashmiri workforce mean for the Valley? To understand this, it is imperative to note that the Valley has given send off to skilled professions like masonry and carpentry after the flow of money through various channels and dawning of luxury among the majority of people. The local labour force is hardly to be seen anywhere. Even the peasantry is in the hands of non-locals. The local produce like vegetables, eggs, sheep, rice, atta and almost every eatable reaches the Valley from outside. The dependence is so enormous that the situation on account of essential commodities becomes precarious whenever highway gets blocked due to weather vagaries. Exodus of the workforce will mean paralysis to normal way of life with the economy coming to abrupt standstill. If so, let it. The people cannot have a cake and eat that too.