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| Has Kashmir really taken a favourable turn? | | 168 killings in 5 months belie the claim | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 6: Contrary to the reports of intelligence sleuths that Kashmir had taken a favourable turn, the Valley continues to be hot. If the number of persons killed during the past five months is any indicator, then the Prime Minister has every reason to feel worried. The killings show an alarming increase (25%) when compared to first five months of the year bygone. The slain persons include 5 army officers and 32 police and CRPF personnel. If the number of SPOs and police informers is added to the list, the message conveyed is horrible. Militants have set their system in order!
If 29 civilians including students, women and children get killed in times of zero tolerance, the situation cannot be favourable by any standards. In normal times, `elected representatives' need not a draconian law like AFSPA to strengthen democracy. When the Chief Minister says that AFSPA and Public Safety Act (PSA) are needed to run the state smoothly, the situation can only be imagined.
An enthusiastic scribe was decorated by state award for his bold statements during the assembly elections. He said separatism had died down. But to his dismay, separatism is not only alive but sells like hot cakes in Kashmir.
Congress leader, Ghulam Rasool Kar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and the president, Mahbooba Mufti, National Conference leadership pursue a separatist agenda fort heir survival. This is what some people call stark reality of Kashmir.
While addressing a Congress convention at Sopore last month, Kar said he like all Kashmiris loved Pakistan. Mufti Muhammad Sayed could not even win a municipal election in Kashmir. It was Dr Farooq Abdullah who facilitated his berth in the Raj Sabha in mid 80s. However, in 2002 Mufti and his party emerged as a strong force in Kashmir. The party formed the government with Congress support. What made the Mufties a force to reckon with?
Immediately after forming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mahbooba Mufti assumed the role of `Rudhali of Kashmir'. She would go to far flung and remote areas to mourn the death of militants killed with encounters with the army. The PDP entered into an understanding with some separatist organizations and managed the win seats by their tacit support especially in South Kashmir. But after occupying the seat of power, the PDP had to play to New Delhi's tune. The top brass of Hizbul Mujahideen was wiped out during PDP regime. But, the authors of healing touch policy, which slowly became the party's philosophy, did not abandon the practice of shedding tears on the demise of militants. The PDP came out with Self Rule proposal and sought active engagement of militants in any parleys concerning the future of Kashmir. At one of point of time, the PDP became a staunch separatist organization and almost pursued Hurriyat agenda.
Even the National Conference changed its strategy. For six decades, Sheikh Nazir, who was an active member of the Plebiscite Front, was ignored. But last year, the leadership suddenly made him the party's poster boy. He was chosen to kick off party's membership campaign. Sheikh Nazir boarded an Indian plane for the first time last month to get treatment in a New Delhi hospital. He has never applied for a passport and does not consider himself an Indian. The largest party in the state felt the need to field him last year to present a separatist face of the organization. The National Conference has gone to the extent of seeking resolution of the dispute.
On the other hand some separatists fell from grace for diluting their stand. Some of them contested elections and vanished from the political spectrum of the state. A senior and most respected separatist was shot at for welcoming New Delhi's offer of secret talks.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani has his hands on the pulse of Kashmiris now. His strike call still paralyses life in Kashmir. Has separatism really died down?
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