People predominantly believe that politicians are never true to their words and more so when it comes to restoration of peace,resolution of conflicts and handholding of youth in Kashmir. Politicians raise slogans and their follows beat drums just to create false impressions in the hearts and minds of the people in Kashmir and interestingly latest slogan on Kashmir has come from none else than the Prime Minister of the Country Narendra Modi who in his independence day address from the ramparts of the historical red fort in Delhi said “ Na goli sey, Na gali say, samasiya hal ho gi Kashmir ko galay laganay se” means neither with the bullet nor with abuses but the crisis in Kashmir can be resolved by embracing Kashmiris. Narendra Modi is not the first BJP Prime Minister to raise slogans of peace and conflict resolution in Kashmir but Attal Bihari Vajpayee the first BJP Prime Minister was first to raise a slogan on Kashmir as he while extending a hand of friendship to Pakistan from a rally in Srinagar said “ Dost tou badal saktay hain leykin hamsayey nanhin badal saktay” means “friends can be changed but neighbours can’t be changed”. The incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi having himself committed to work on the Kashmir doctrine of Vajpayee the corner stones of which were “Kashmiriyat,Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat” does not obviously work on the road map Vajpayee had rolled out during his five year term as Prime Minister. Vajpayee was judged by his deeds but not the words of good will and mutual trust he extended to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the leadership in Pakistan . The ceasefire agreement in the year under Vajpayee government has brought respite to the people in border areas but on the contrary the continuous shelling on borders from both the sides triggered by India’s claims of striking into the Pakistani territory by carrying out surgical strikes has made border population in Jammu & Kashmir vulnerable to shelling from both sides on the border.
In the absence of deadlock with Pakistan word’s of Prime Minister Modi won’t carry a bigger message of peace and love to youth in Kashmir but he like Vajpayee will have to muster the courage to resume dialogue with Pakistan and take some bold initiatives for increasing the frequency of people to people contacts between the two divided parts of Jammu & Kashmir.
Pakistan in the immediate neighbourhood of India has been hostile to India only due to conflict over Kashmir and to boost friendly relations with Pakistan Vajpayee has extended hand of friendship to Pakistan from Kashmir soil and rolled out ceasefire plan with that country on borders in Jammu & Kashmir. Vajpayee did not restrict his plan to ceasefire agreement on Kashmir but the credit of throwing open the travel and trade routs between the divided parts of Kashmir also goes to Vajpayee. Above all Vajpayee had the courage to arrange a summit level meeting with then then Pakistan President General (Retd) Parvez Musharaff and had some hawks within the BJP not spoiled the ground work Vajpayee would have sealed the political fate of the people of Jammu & Kashmir for ever. Under Modi government only new controversies are taking birth at the instance of the RSS and its hard core affiliates and dozens of civilians are killed month after month in street clashes in Kashmir. In the absence of deadlock with Pakistan word’s of Prime Minister Modi won’t carry a bigger message of peace and love to youth in Kashmir but he like Vajpayee will have to muster the courage to resume dialogue with Pakistan and take some bold initiatives for increasing the frequency of people to people contacts between the two divided parts of Jammu & Kashmir.
