Off late the kind and extent of response that the premeditated and conspired Kathua brutal rape and murder has generated is heartening and it has some how restored the common man’sfaith in humanity . Even UN chief also demanded that justice should be done. But it is appalling to see that unlikeNirbhiya case ,it took more than three months to strike the conscience of Common public in India ,especially Indian mainstream media. But better late than never , if the case could never have come to such a lime light it would have set a very dangerous precedent.
As the ex CM Omar Abdullah has rightly called this case as an entirely different from Nirbhiya case because of the planning involved in it. It has exposed many dangerous trends and cracks in the social fabric of human society ,where certain prejudices in our hearts didn’t allow us to show the basic human trait of standing against the crime irrespective of victims and criminals religion,cast,color or creed.
Now that the case is travelling a right trajectory, let’s not forget to mention those who left no stone unturned in making sure that justice should be done to little angel Asifa. The kind of reaction it generated in Kashmir valley is worth praise. From media to common people no one in Kashmir left any stone unturned till the case was properly investigated. Almost all the major Newspapers of valley covered stories ontheir front pages everyday about the progress of this case. From solidarity on social media to marches in schools, colleges and streets every Kashmiri played a crucial role and let me clear, it is not a favour that we have done towards anyone, rather it was our moral obligation.leading TV reporters from valley NazirMasoodi, Zaffar and Shuja-ul-Haq followed the case from day one and played a huge role in highlighting the issue .Asifa is daughter of Kashmir and will remain so , it doesn’t took three months for us to declare her , “ daughter of Kashmir”, like some took it in calling her India’s daughter.
History stands testimony that we Kashmiri’s have always stood for justice and against oppression and raised our voice and concern for injustices done in any part of world. Our concern has been more for our brethren in Chenab and Pirpanjalregions .Mirwaiz Umar farooq recently also mentioned that people of Kashmir will always stand for the people of Jammu. On the day when Kashmir was busy in burying its four sons Killed in kulgam CASO, JRL (Joint resistance leadership) held a strong protest in Srinagar and vowed to start a state wide agitation if justice is not delivered to Kashmir’s daughter Asifa.
Our Gujjar and Bakerwal community must realize that mere manicuring steps like grant of ST statusetc could never empower them in a state, which is waiting for its political resolution from last 70 years. Most of the Gujjar leaders either maintained a criminal silence or were never vociferous in demanding justice for Asifa. Few IAS officers could never be icons for a community, most of which is living a socially and economically under privileged life . In 1940,sPoonch served as an epicenter for political activities and these were people from Gujjar community who lead the political moments of our state. But that leadership and enthusiasm is missing in the community now. few installed leadersaretrying to hijack the aspirations of whole community and isolate them from rest of the people of valley which is again adding to the sufferings of this community.
It is high time for our Gujjar community to ponder over andrealize who are their real friends and well wishers and march with the people of valley for a better and empowered future . Believe me our political future is welded together . Kashmir is Jammu and Jammu is Kashmir, Kashmiris are Gujjars and Gujjars are Kashmiri’s , lets walk abreast of each other in fighting for our rights.
(The author is a Kashmir based columnist. His views are personal)
