Prime minister’s initiative on Kashmir came after columnists in national newspapers criticized the silence of Prime Minister on the recent killings in Kashmir. After the silence was broken, I wonder what was better – the silence or the speech. The words he spoke were difficult to comprehend. The speech did not come from heart, but was tailored to cover the medico-legal aspects and to make it impervious to the criticisms of the opposition.
Though condolence of deaths and consolation of families who suffered in the present violence came late, the Prime Minister missed a prime point here. By restricting himself to condolence and consolation, Dr. Singh is perhaps underestimating the magnitude of the tragedy – called Kashmir. The wounds are new, the wounds are old –while the new ones are bleeding, the old ones are aching, oozing and hurting – the body, the mind and the soul of Kashmiri’s, constantly. What has Dr. Singh done to address these wounds? What package will satisfy a woman who has lost her son, a child who has lost his father, a father who has lost his son or daughter and a devastated woman who has lost her husband? Justice would do that perhaps. The Prime Minister could have started with a promise of a justice. We know the faulty delivery of justice in our part of land, we know how it is denied, buried and at times made a mockery of. Every mother who lost her son would want the guilty to be punished. If Prime Minister was really disturbed with the recent happenings in Kashmir, he could have started with a goodwill gesture – a promise that deaths would be probed and the guilty would be punished.

Dr. Singh should have explained why stones are answered with bullets in Kashmir? He should have apologized for the deaths of those who were killed in their homes, on their shops, on the streets – when they were not pelting stones. He did not promise a probe, did not tender an apology instead said, “Nothing should be done to demoralize security forces”. Would punishing the forces who are guilty, mean demoralizing them? Is unaccounted killing of Kashmiris a tonic for the security forces which helps to boost their morale?

The Prime Minister said, “The cycle of violence must end, we cannot allow turmoil to continue”. The initiative to break the cycle should have come from the Prime Minister. Cycle or no cycle, Kashmiris continue to die, the difference being that in the present cycle, their numbers are counted, otherwise they die unaccounted…. The Prime Minister could have assured restraint from security forces, assured non-lethal ways of handling the mobs and assured that special powers would not be misused. After all, security forces are not autonomous, they are working as per a scheme, following a carefully drafted plan. If they are directed to kill – they will, if they are directed not to, can they afford to disobey?

Dr. Singh says that he understands the public sentiments on AFSPA. We know that Centre understands many things, but will a mere understanding do? What has he thought about its revocation? It is an ‘unholy shade’ under which lakhs of Kashmiris have been humiliated, mutilated and striped of their honour and dignity. What is unholy for us becomes a cherished ‘Holy book’ for them – is not a clash inevitable? The alienation which the Prime Minister is promising to address cannot be done while lakhs of troopers are caging a tiny population of Kashmiris whose dignity and honour is erased every moment. Crackdowns, tortures and frequent checkings have challenged their self esteem whereas fake encounters disappearances and killings have charged their emotions. Stone is a manifestation of that emotion mind you.
Dr. Singh appealed to the youth of the State to go back to schools and colleges, at least here his advice was a shade better than the Home Minister who advised our youth to stay indoors. If school going and college going youngsters are killed everyday in the streets of Kashmir, how will their brothers dare to go to schools and colleges? If curfews and restrictions are imposed day in and day out, how will the children go to schools? Elsewhere in India if a teacher hits a child, an issue is created-Police swings into action and child protection groups raise a hue and cry, but in Kashmir children are beaten to death, mercilessly killed, and thousands of them are lodged in lock-ups. What concern has Dr Singh shown for these children of Kashmir? Kashmir is trapped in a cycle of curfews protests and hartals for the last two months. The daily business has suffered, education has suffered, health sector has suffered and functioning of government has come to a standstill.

The loss is tremendous and government’s careless attitude to the situation is compounding the problems. What is the government of India doing about this crisis into which people are pushed? If the government is concerned, isn’t this the time to display that concern? Kashmir, Dr. Singh said is a complex problem that has defied resolution for 63 years. Dr. Singh should own the moral responsibility for non-resolution of Kashmir issue as he belongs to a party which was at the Centre for a greater part of time since independence. He should do introspection as to why Kashmir, which has witnessed death and destruction over the last six decades, remained unresolved. The founding members of Congress promised Kashmiris a solution as per their aspirations, after armed uprising it was Congress who promised Kashmiris ‘Sky is the limit’ option. We remember the promises word by word. The commandments which were written and re-written, written and erased; for we were treated like those animals. Congress is a witness to every major mishap in Kashmir over the last 63 years. For all the years that they were in power, they relied on patchwork and not on a permanent solution. If Dr. Singh wants a solution, he should initiate it now. By saying “It will take time” he is merely postponing its resolution to another year, two years, 5 years or a decade, so that a decade later, it can be said, “Kashmir is a 73 year old very complex issue.” Some leaders are outstanding because they accept a challenge and defy an age-old tradition. Is there someone outstanding to stand up to this challenge?

Geelani may be a hardcore separatist, a not giving up totalist but he displayed wisdom and helped to douse the flames of mayhem by his appeal to youth of Kashmir. This I believe is a goodwill step – Dr. Singh should have reciprocated this move by announcing a few confidence building measures Mirwaiz Omar I am sure will be prepared to walk two miles for each single step that government of India takes, but Government is entrapped in its inertia, in its unwillingness and people of Kashmir continue to be under seige – suffering and dying. God help them. Dr Singh must have discussed Kashmir with the mainstream politicians of Kashmir who will never present a true picture of Kashmir-it is against their survival policy. If he is unwilling to talk to separatists, let him talk to Indian opinion makers, to Indian intelligentsia who look at Kashmir as humans would-they will guide him better. Kashmiris have made for themselves a place in the hearts of conscious Indians-hold an opinion poll if you don’t believe.

On August 15 Dr Singh returned to his “atoot ang” song. Alas! Regarding Kashmir he had nothing solid to offer, nothing certain to bank on. I don’t have words in English to express Centre’s stand on Kashmir, in Kashmiri this policy is Halai no dalai no Panini hini chaley no.

(Feedback at rumanahamid@rediffmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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