news details |
|
|
| Fear of losing ground forced separatists to call of strike | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Aug 24: What the security forces could not do groups of people, even though small, were able to achieve. What? An end to the prolonged spell of violence, shutdown and curfew restrictions. What the National Conference led Government could not achieve small groups of people at scattered places were able to achieve. What? Atleast respite from the spate of violence, clashes and stone pelting in which about 63 lives were lost and several hundred people, including scores of security personnel, were injured. Peace seems to have returned to Kashmir on an auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Tuesday when the separatists announced to have called off the shutdown which had brought normal life to a standstill.
Soon after the state authorities learnt that the separatists have withdrawn their call for shutdown curfew restrictions were lifted from all over the valley. What happened between Monday evening and Tuesday morning? Nothing miraculous. Three major developments are said to have motivated the separatists to withdraw their call for shutdown and protest rallies. First, the recent incidents in which shopkeepers had clashed with the protesters at Peerbagh in Budgam, and Meehama in Pulwama and in other localities in various towns while giving vent to their anger against losses they had suffered because of over 70-day long shutdown and curfew restrictions are said to have made the separatists wiser enough to call off the strike. Large groups of parents of students had already voiced their resentment against the plans of the separatists.
The separatists had started feeling that whatever support and sympathy they had gained from the people of Kashmir had started turning into waves, if not the tides, of anger agains them. They feared they may lose the mass support if people were forced to face severe difficulties because of curfew restrictions and the shutdown. And they followed the old saying that retreat is the first step towards success.
Secondly, separatists had already got the wind that the Government had prepared what is called a contingency plan of initiating firm and tough measures against those indulging in violence. The separatists consequently thought that in case they did not withdraw their call for shutdown and protest rallies more and more people may have to lose their lives which had the potential of kicking up anti-Geelani and anti-Maulana sentiments.
Thirdly, separatists are stated to have received a signal from across the LOC that they should withdraw their call for shutdown and protest rallies so that Islamabad and its agencies were no longer blamed for inciting violence in Kashmir. Besides this Islamabad had received reports that various sections of anti-Government and anti-India elements had begun berating Pakistan for supporting Kashmiri separatists whose programmes had spelt ruin on the valley's economy. The separatists were also worried over the role some agencies played in Kashmir by engineering communal conflict through threats given to Sikhs living in the valley. And separatists found that any mischief at this juncture could tarnish their image and force them lose the support of people.
Whatever may have motivated the separatists to call off their strike one thing seems to be clear. These separatists have not lost their ground by withdrawing the call for shutdown which they could have lost had they told people to continue with the general strike and with the protest rallies. It is hoped that now onwards these separatists play a role that could keep the valley violence free. It is the duty of the Government, both in Srinagar and Delhi, to address to the problems of unemployment, power and drinking water crisis and other related issues. If the separatists have shown grace, even though belatedly, it is now the turn of the Government to respond which it can do by releasing all those arrested on charge of stone pelting. Let Omar Abdullah be given a chance to show results which can be possible if the state remains peaceful. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
