It is not any cynical propaganda but a downright reality that the central agencies operating in Jammu and Kashmir, by and large, do not recognize the state authority. It is not with regard to internal security or law and order only that these agencies work in isolation, and mostly in complete disregard, of the State government; there are many glaring examples suggesting that in the matters of civilian administration also these agencies do not take the State authorities into confidence. This does not only speak of the mistrust between the Central agencies and the State that has been looming large right from fifties when the first Central office, the post telegraph department started working in the State and the then Prime Minister of the State, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah had to send a bitter missive to Prime Minister, Nehru over the appointment of a postman, but it also tells a tale about hegemonic mindset of these agencies in the State. The latest example in this regard was the decision of closing the only civilian airport by the ministry of defense for twelve days from September 1st.  The Indian Air Force that has been manning the runway of this international civilian airport had taken it over about a week earlier, asking all the airlines to suspend their flights and cancel their bookings for twelve days. There is no precedence of closing the airport to civilians even during the war times in the State without providing an alternative arrangement. The Indian Air Force had mooted the idea of closing the airport from April not realizing that it would affect adversely already sick tourist industry of the State. The State authorities had tried to convey its concerns about closure of airport to the authorities manning the runway but they paid no heed to their pleas and decided to go ahead with the program.  It was only after the CM took up the matter with the Defence Minister in New Delhi that the runway repair was postponed. There can be no denying that the runways need timely repairs for smooth operations but what is important is carrying out these repairs in ways that cause least inconvenience to the people. The airports that are managed by Airport Authority of India are regularly repaired but there is no instance of closing even the smallest of airports. The Authority has been carrying these repairs in shifts or at night without disturbing the air traffic.  Any decision to close an airport for days together would not only cause heavy losses to the airlines operating their flights, but would put a huge number of passengers to grueling trouble. The Air Force Authority cancelling operation of civilian flights to Srinagar on the occasion of Eid, the most important Muslim festival,  not only tells a tale about its disconnect with the sensibilities of the majority community  but also speaks about its insensitivity to the situation as has been prevailing in the State for past three months. The total closure of the flights for such a long period has not only an economic dimension but a humanitarian aspect also. Hundreds of boys have suffered bullet injuries and many of them may need special treatment outside the state. There are scores of cancer, cardiac and kidney transplant patients that have to visit specialized hospitals outside for treatment, many of them on emergency basis; closure of the airport would be endangering their life. These patients cannot afford to take hazardous travel by road. In keeping with the situation in the State and respecting the sensibilities of the majority the Defence Minister should have on his own prevailed upon the Indian Air Force authorities to postpone the repairs of the Srinagar Airport runway till the time an alternative arrangement was made, as was done in the past.   Now that the news has come that Prof. Saifud Din Soz, president J&K chapter of Congress, and member Parliament has approached PM, and has also got assurance from the Civil Aviation Minister, the formal decision to postpone the runway repairs is only likely to follow. It is something that can come only as a relief, but the point remains that Central agencies can’t be so oblivious of the sensitivities of the people of this State. After all if the decisions about this State are not in congruity with the needs and sensitivities of its people it smacks of an anti-people hegemonic mindset, which can only lead to the worsening of things in Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST