New hopes, new innings

Hurriyat (M) has, purportedly, taken the bold initiative toparticipate in the dialogue on Kashmir, although any official confirmation isyet to come. Whether it is an all inclusive decision of the entire amalgam orjust the Hurriyat (M) is yet to be made clear. Whatever it be, the fact thatthe ball has been set rolling deserves all applause and sincere appreciation byone and all. The present dispensation at the centre is required to cease thevery first opportunity to give it a practical shape and set the stage for ameaningful, sincere and positive discussion among all stakeholders till itslogical conclusion. Enough blood has been shed over the last seven decades bypushing Kashmir dispute under the carpet for personal aggrandisement of someself-centred politicians at the state and national level. To our dismay,intentions in the past have always lacked sincerity of purpose compounded byexalted false egos. Ever since, the pot has been kept boiling causing havoc toall concerned, worst of all to Kashmiris.

The JRL is expected to come clean on the issue sooner thanlater. The forthcoming elections to the state Assembly is throwing up anopportunity to pave the way for resolving the long pending disputedemocratically. Fighting the adversary in a democratic way is likely to yieldpositive dividends and may even empower them to achieve the hithertounachievable. We have already lost generations to the despair and disdainupping with every passing moment. It is high time for the realisation to dawnupon us that violence of any kind can’t fetch us peace or resolution of themother of all disputes in the subcontinent. For the love of our own people andcountry at large, all parties to the dispute should shun their hardenedpostures and adopt a missionary zeal to settle the matter amicably toeverybody’s satisfaction. It is, of course, easier said than done but certainlynot impossible with a positive mindset and un-dithering determination.

   

Recent assertions of J&K Governor pledging to make thestate best and safest in the country coupled with some tangible steps takentowards reducing, if not outrightly remove, corruption, nepotism and misuse ofauthority, streamlining the administration by making them more responsive andtransparent are quite heartwarming. Bringing bureaucracy at the doorsteps ofmarginalised populace too deserves full appreciation. But all these enticementsfall flat in the prevailing political uncertainty. Any attempt to fiddle withArticle 370 and 35 (A) will tantamount to add fuel to the fire. The democle’ssword has been hanging over the head of Kashmiris ever since some so calledpolitical pundits and politicians have been lending voice to theirill-conceived intentions and misplaced dreams. Modi 2.0 is expected to pave abetter path for peace and reconciliation. The divisive misadventures willsurely recoil and prove counterproductive. The new narrative at the centre isheartily welcome in case it lays a roadmap to curb sick and prejudiced mindsfrom resorting to criminal and inhuman acts like lynching, gang raping andmurdering of hapless and weaker ones.

In response to Hon’ble President’s address to Joint House ofParliament, leader of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad spilled the beanscandidly and honestly. While drawing the contours of prevailing and upcomingpolitical and social scenario of the country, he couldn’t be more right byasking for “Old India” wherein peace, harmony, mutual brotherhood and trust wasthe hallmark of our secular India. If “New India” envisions hatred, trust deficitand monolithic society, then it is not worth having it. We prefer to have acenturies old “Glorious India” which had impacted the rest of the world andsocieties with its peaceful and nonviolent coexistence. Azad has merely spokenthe heart of the millions. After very many years, a level headed astute andpolitically mature leader of substance has displayed commendable courage andconviction of principle.

The new government has just begun its second innings.Without looking back on the mixed bag of previous one, we pin our hopes on ourworthy Prime Minister to take his best foot forward to give us an epoch makingpeaceful and progressive India, which will outshine all the rest not only indevelopment spheres and achieve his own vision of Five Trillion economy butmore importantly rewrite its political history positively. He does have thecapacity, capability and potential to lead the nation from the front in a verypositive and m cohesive manner. For a change, it is desirable to keep thecommunal agenda aside. The intrinsic feelings may be kept at bay.

While watching the oath taking ceremony of the newly electedLok Sabha members, one couldn’t but be pained deeply by hearing some newlyelected Hon’ble members either commencing or concluding their oath taking withreligious bigotry. The sanctity, supremacy and sacredness of the super mostdemocratic forum of world’s largest democracy was virtually trampled. The leastthat could have been done was to nip the evil in the bud. By what parameters isit necessary to prove your nationalism by chanting a specific slogan? You haveto be a tolerant and nationalist at heart regardless of your roots in one orthe other faith. Bygones are certainly bad but here onwards the PM must takecorrective measures in the right earnest. Equally if not more condemnable wasattempts to demean the stature, office and persona of the Prime Minister bycalling names. The unpalatable phraseology used during election campaign wasnot only too harsh but also outrightly unacceptable. It need not be overemphasised to say that the Prime Minister of India is the crown of the nationwho has to stand, interact and intermingle with the galaxy of personalities ofinternational stature, head of governments and monarchs. By indulging in such bizarreand petty minded politics they have themselves fallen in the eyes of thepeople. The whole world was watching our fight. Do we have a face worthy of anIndian to meet other nationals outside the country???

(Siraj Quraishi (IBS) is Ex Deputy Director GeneralDoordarshan)

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