War like situation in the valley along with worst ever fuelcrises caught the whole Kashmir in great hardship. Instead of helping Kashmiristo come out from this mess, a two-day strike call added to the sufferings tothe already overburdened people. This has compounded the chaos, confusion andmental agony.
Before issuing Hartal calls, have we ever foreseen itsconsequences. If no then we have tointrospect ourselves. By observing Hartals, who is going to be affected,whether the elite class who mostly are outside the valley for annual Darbar orthe poorest class who are running from pillar to post to meet their ends eitherbecause of harsh weather or because of circumstances prevailing in the valley.We have witnessed continuous Hartals for months together which has landed usnowhere and when we have achieved nothing. How come we expect that one or twodays Hartals will turn the tables.
One thing is clear that by observing Hartals we are not going to achieve freedom as one of the constituent of amalgam has once made it clear. When this act will no longer land us anywhere, then why observe. We must be clear on this point that this Hartal will be observed only in the valley and beyond Qazigund it is nothing but news only. On this day some areas remained under strict curfew and some enjoy freedom, some areas witness stone pelting and some witness a picnic like situation.
For permanent employees it is a fun day but for daily wagers it is a tense day. For moneyed this day will be enjoyed on some Hill Station while for ailing persons who are admitted in hospitals from far flung areas, this day is worrisome. Hartals hardly affects Government functionaries as the same are familiar with the situations and are ready to curb people tightly by imposing curfew in some six police stations and by banning internet for the day. Here again the common masses have to face the brunt as the people are living on a double edged sword.
It is not first time the pro-freedom leaders of the valleyhave been raided. Infact it is not the first time, we have witnessed earliersuch raids on militant families as well but we have not observed any hartal atthat time. Undoubtedly, Pro-freedom camp shows their power to Delhi howpowerful they are by putting the inhabitants of the whole valley inside theirhomes irrespective of the situation prevailing in the J&K.
Time is ripe enough to devise a policy which will benefitthe Kashmiris and by this we can rectifythe follies earlier committed. We should not be helpless to justify that ifthere is no other option than we should go for Hartals. If the said act is tobe impressed upon to the general masses to be observed in its letter and spiritthen need of the hour is to first highlight its object, purpose andconsequences as people of valley observedsix months hartals without bearing any fruit.
This write up is not to criticize the Hartal policy but toimpress upon to devise a way forward strategy which will serve as pressuretactic to the concerned and will fulfill the purpose.
Asrar Ali is an Advocate in J&K High Court
Asrar Ali