Why didn't PM announce it when all was well in Kashmir
KASHMIR BY DR. SHEIKH SHOWKAT HUSSAIN
After two months of bloodshed and mass mobilization, Manmohan Singh finally uttered a few words on Kashmir. One wonders as to why it took so long for PM to express his views on Kashmir despite the fact that the mobilization in Kashmir had reached such an extent that mobs were targeting everything that symbolized India in every nook and corner of the valley. Had it not been the intervention of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, things would have taken an ugly and irrevocable turn by the time Manmohan Singh responded. The speech of Prime Minister was in chaste Urdu which he as well as Kashmiris understand better, but instead of addressing the problem he kept his focus on symptoms. He did not use the term stone pelters for agitating people nor did attribute mobilization to foreign hand as was done by his Home Minister. He did not mention that the mobilization is confined to few assembly constituencies or Police stations as his Chief Minister of the State would like him to believe. He acknowledged that Kashmir is a political problem and needs to be addressed politically. The solutions suggested by him however didn’t go beyond Autonomy and Economic packages. He offered some lollipops to the boys who he felt remained alienated from India. He mentioned that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) can be modified. All these measures according to him can be pursued only when there is peace and younger generation of Kashmir returns to Schools, Colleges and Universities.
One may ask why Manmohan Singh didn’t address these issues during his previous visit to Kashmir when the valley was relatively peaceful and boys and girls of the valley remained within their educational institutions and Prime Minister had a chance to address them at SKUAST-K (Sher-e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology). At that juncture he simply confined himself to address the issues relating to development and scarcity of commodities. Elaboration for this attitude of Prime Minister was provided by a columnist of a National Daily that he did not need to do so as everything in Kashmir was moving positively towards strengthening the Status Quo. The peace which he perceives to be indispensable for any political package was at that time interpreted to be a symbol of Kashmiri acceptance to their association with India. It is not for the first time that Manmohan Singh expressed about inhuman dimensions of AFSPA. In 2005 during his address on Aug 15, he had uttered similar words and promised to make Armed Forces Special Powers Act sensitive to Human Rights. Why New Delhi didn’t take any action in this direction for past five years though the peace it aspires today did exist.
There is nothing new in the promise of Autonomy. The offer of Manmohan Singh was preceded by “anything within the ambit of Humanity” by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and “sky is the Limit” of self rule of Kashmiris by Narsimha Rao. Both these promises were made when India was facing adverse situation on the ground. Nothing concrete came out of these declarations as soon as militancy was contained and mass upsurge in Kashmir became dormant. This in spite of the fact that National Conference sent a detailed Report on Autonomy to New Delhi after its adoption by the State Legislature. Having seen the fate of previous promises and NC proposals, how Kashmiris can be expected to take the latest promises made by Manmohan Singh seriously. The issue of Autonomy has another dimension as well. Kashmir had Autonomy prior to 1953. Its relation with Indian Union dejure remained confined to Defense, Currency, Foreign Affairs and Communication. The de facto situation even at that juncture enabled India to dismiss the Prime Minister and get him arrested through a local police officer. Article 370 of the Indian constitution provided that any changes in these relations can only be made with the concurrence of the State Constituent Assembly, New Delhi kept extending its constitutional provisions to Jammu and Kashmir even after abolition of the J&K Constituent Assembly in 1957. The issue of Autonomy thus pertains to restoring what has been grabbed even within the parameters of Article 370. This can be achieved by an ordinary person through Public Interest Litigation from the Supreme Court. The rider of unanimity associated with the promise is an oblique reference to concurrence of people of Jammu and Ladakh.
Such references and conditions remain ingrained in the concoction that people of Non Muslim dominated Districts of Jammu and Ladakh can feel insecure in autonomous state of Jammu and Kashmir. If Hindus of Jammu and Buddhists of Ladakh can feel insecure in Autonomous state of Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri Muslims remain justified to feel insecure within India. The socio-economic indicators of progress of Jammu and Ladakh belie the apprehensions of Jammu and Ladakh whereas; horrifying experience of Kashmiri association with India substantiates their argument for secession.
The statement of Manmohan Singh has no takers in Kashmir; Syed Ali Shah Geelani rejected it. Moderates who in past put their popularity on stake for participation in dialogue too discarded it. In such a scenario the one option that remains with New Delhi is to proceed towards this formulation of Autonomy unilaterally or with the concurrence of its assumed “representative government” in J&K. Given the fact that Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is opposing this formulation on inception it remains doubtful whether Manmohan Singh can proceed to enact it even if he wishes. The tragedy with Bhartiya Janata Party is that it proceeds for ceasefire with Hizbul Mujahideen and sending Jaswant Singh to Kandahar while in power. Once out of power the same party advocates scrapping of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution while its parent body Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS) advocates change of Kashmir Demography. Positive approach of Communists however can still facilitate the Package provided Prime Minister Manmohan Singh means what he says other option is to accept the demands of demilitarization, release of prisoners, withdrawal AFSPA and set a time frame for a meaningful dialogue as demanded by Mirwaiz. Separatist voices of Kashmir can’t be expected to subside unless the dominant sentiment of Kashmiris is addressed. Urge for self determination continues to become irresistible with every death of innocent and on every sight of instruments of oppression be they in the form of Army, Rapid Action Force (RAF) or Paramilitary Forces.
One may ask why Manmohan Singh didn’t address these issues during his previous visit to Kashmir when the valley was relatively peaceful and boys and girls of the valley remained within their educational institutions and Prime Minister had a chance to address them at SKUAST-K (Sher-e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology). At that juncture he simply confined himself to address the issues relating to development and scarcity of commodities. Elaboration for this attitude of Prime Minister was provided by a columnist of a National Daily that he did not need to do so as everything in Kashmir was moving positively towards strengthening the Status Quo. The peace which he perceives to be indispensable for any political package was at that time interpreted to be a symbol of Kashmiri acceptance to their association with India. It is not for the first time that Manmohan Singh expressed about inhuman dimensions of AFSPA. In 2005 during his address on Aug 15, he had uttered similar words and promised to make Armed Forces Special Powers Act sensitive to Human Rights. Why New Delhi didn’t take any action in this direction for past five years though the peace it aspires today did exist.
There is nothing new in the promise of Autonomy. The offer of Manmohan Singh was preceded by “anything within the ambit of Humanity” by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and “sky is the Limit” of self rule of Kashmiris by Narsimha Rao. Both these promises were made when India was facing adverse situation on the ground. Nothing concrete came out of these declarations as soon as militancy was contained and mass upsurge in Kashmir became dormant. This in spite of the fact that National Conference sent a detailed Report on Autonomy to New Delhi after its adoption by the State Legislature. Having seen the fate of previous promises and NC proposals, how Kashmiris can be expected to take the latest promises made by Manmohan Singh seriously. The issue of Autonomy has another dimension as well. Kashmir had Autonomy prior to 1953. Its relation with Indian Union dejure remained confined to Defense, Currency, Foreign Affairs and Communication. The de facto situation even at that juncture enabled India to dismiss the Prime Minister and get him arrested through a local police officer. Article 370 of the Indian constitution provided that any changes in these relations can only be made with the concurrence of the State Constituent Assembly, New Delhi kept extending its constitutional provisions to Jammu and Kashmir even after abolition of the J&K Constituent Assembly in 1957. The issue of Autonomy thus pertains to restoring what has been grabbed even within the parameters of Article 370. This can be achieved by an ordinary person through Public Interest Litigation from the Supreme Court. The rider of unanimity associated with the promise is an oblique reference to concurrence of people of Jammu and Ladakh.
Such references and conditions remain ingrained in the concoction that people of Non Muslim dominated Districts of Jammu and Ladakh can feel insecure in autonomous state of Jammu and Kashmir. If Hindus of Jammu and Buddhists of Ladakh can feel insecure in Autonomous state of Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri Muslims remain justified to feel insecure within India. The socio-economic indicators of progress of Jammu and Ladakh belie the apprehensions of Jammu and Ladakh whereas; horrifying experience of Kashmiri association with India substantiates their argument for secession.
The statement of Manmohan Singh has no takers in Kashmir; Syed Ali Shah Geelani rejected it. Moderates who in past put their popularity on stake for participation in dialogue too discarded it. In such a scenario the one option that remains with New Delhi is to proceed towards this formulation of Autonomy unilaterally or with the concurrence of its assumed “representative government” in J&K. Given the fact that Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is opposing this formulation on inception it remains doubtful whether Manmohan Singh can proceed to enact it even if he wishes. The tragedy with Bhartiya Janata Party is that it proceeds for ceasefire with Hizbul Mujahideen and sending Jaswant Singh to Kandahar while in power. Once out of power the same party advocates scrapping of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution while its parent body Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS) advocates change of Kashmir Demography. Positive approach of Communists however can still facilitate the Package provided Prime Minister Manmohan Singh means what he says other option is to accept the demands of demilitarization, release of prisoners, withdrawal AFSPA and set a time frame for a meaningful dialogue as demanded by Mirwaiz. Separatist voices of Kashmir can’t be expected to subside unless the dominant sentiment of Kashmiris is addressed. Urge for self determination continues to become irresistible with every death of innocent and on every sight of instruments of oppression be they in the form of Army, Rapid Action Force (RAF) or Paramilitary Forces.
Published in Greater Kashmir dated 18 Aug 2010
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