Deepening alienation in Kashmir

Though bigger challenge for any government in Jammu and Kashmir is to facilitate a dialogue with the separatists, but the tragic part of the mainstream politicians in Kashmir is that none of the popular governments tended to work seriously for the facilitation of dialogue with the separatists. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed talked much about ‘healing touch’ policy’ during his reign of power from 2002 to 2005 in Jammu and Kashmir and so does her daughter and the incumbent Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The irresponsible response of the incumbent Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her party’s ally BJP commanding and controlling the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the unending violent street protests against the killing of about one hundred civilians during last year’s unrest has belied all the expectations of people in the state particularly Kashmir valley .The regimes come and go but the issues standing at the core of difficulties in restoration of peace and political stability like withdrawal of  the Armed Special Powers Act (AFSPA), release of political  detunes, and talks with the separatists over the political future of Jammu & Kashmir don’t attract the attention of governments taking over reign of power in Delhi. When luke warm responses coincide with the occurrence and re-occurrence of militancy related incidents, the helmsmen in both Srinagar and Delhi politicize the issues for their petty political interests instead of taking initiative for creating a congenial atmosphere for a workable conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir state. Surprisingly the BJP encouraged by the recent landslide victory in UP assembly elections is totally rejecting the idea of political outreach in Jammu & Kashmir with focus on engagement with youth and the joint separatist leadership in the state. Though healing touch policy propagated by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is still the crying need of the hour for the proverbial common man but top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are issuing provocative statements against engagement with agitating youth and the joint separatist leadership only to hurt and humiliate the incumbent Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who runs the Jammu & Kashmir government in alliance with BJP for the last  more than one year.  Fact remains that involvement of separatists in a dialogue is riddled with paradoxes.

Unless and until governments in Jammu and Kashmir and at the centre don’t tend to work in harmony for the settlement of the core issues like withdrawal of the Armed Special Powers Act (AFSPA), release of political detunes, and withdrawal of army and paramilitaries from populated areas, the situation on ground can’t be changed by either by categorically rejecting the idea of political outreach in Jammu & Kashmir.

The claim of the mainstream politicians that they are the “genuine representatives of the people” does not hold ground in Jammu and Kashmir state as has been proved by the all time low turn out of 7% in recently held by polls for Srinagar parliamentary constituency. Since the relevance of the mainstream political leaders has come into question after the all time 7% low turn out in recently held bye polls in Srinagar parliamentary constituency,thet cease the right to claim any responsible role in conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir state. Like the previous central government the incumbent Modi led BJP government too is out rightly denying to extend any offer to negotiate settlement on issues standing at the core of difficulties in conflict resolution process like   withdrawal of  the Armed Special Powers Act (AFSPA), release of political  detunes, and withdrawal of army and paramilitaries from populated areas of the state. So when New Delhi is not ready to even budge an inch from its stated position over the issues that concern the security of the people of the state, how come the alienated people can be made part of the developmental processes in the state. Unless and until governments in Jammu and Kashmir and at the centre don’t tend to work in harmony for the settlement of the core issues like withdrawal of the Armed Special Powers Act (AFSPA), release of political detunes, and withdrawal of army and paramilitaries from populated areas, the situation on ground can’t be changed by either by categorically rejecting the idea of political outreach in Jammu & Kashmir.