Shakeel Bakshi _Valley of discontent | Deccan Chronicle

Valley of discontent | Deccan Chronicle

Delhi failed to read J&K’s pulse
Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi

Yes, militancy is returning to Kashmir and the Indian government will be wholly responsible if the youth are attracted to the gun again. The so-called key players in international politics too can’t escape responsibility. Islamabad, which was historically playing the role of a promoter of the Kash-miris’ just cause for freedom by extending them moral and political support, has chosen to fraternise with the usurper in order to serve its own interests or to hide its weaknesses.

Those at the helm in New Delhi have failed to read the pulse of the people. The establishment did not respond when crucial players in the freedom struggle turned to it in the hope that it would understand their language. New Delhi failed to behave in a democratic way and show wisdom.

The ruling elite could not rise above petty politics and think beyond party and private interests. It relied on the military factor and used force to suppress dissent. Even voices seeking better amenities for the people were silenced with the barrel of gun. See what happened during the three successive civil unrests between 2008 and 2010.

Peaceful protesters, young and old, were showered with bullets. The youth faced arrests, prolonged incarcerations, torture, humiliation and ruthlessness at the hands of the men in khaki. Many, in order to escape cruelty, fled their homes and went underground. Even today, many have to do the rounds of courts on almost a daily basis as they have been booked by the police in multiple cases on flimsy grounds. The “released militants” continue to be treated as militants. They are not being allowed to live a peaceful life. What do you expect from the victims of such persecution?

Also, international state and non-state actors have failed to live up to the expectations of the people of Kashmir, especially its younger generation, whi-ch has — through the Internet — easy access to almost first-hand information on events unfolding in far-off places. The Arab Spring and the events in Sudan and Indonesia have left their impact. The critical questions being posed in Kashmir to international leaders are: If rage and hostility are a better way of achieving your political goals in these parts of the world, then why is the outcry of Kashmiris being ridiculed as terrorism? Why have the United States and the United Nations failed to hear the voice of Kashmir where peaceful protest is met with the barrel of the gun? The double standards on display have disillusioned people.

The interlocutors appoi-nted by New Delhi had the chance to dig deeper and come up with sensible ideas to address the problem. But they too failed as they only wished to uphold preconceived notions. So we find that in Kashmir even minor local issues bring the people out on the streets to chant pro-freedom slogans, and sometimes try their hand at their own version of the “Intifada” of Palestine?

What happened to the promise of “sky is the limit”, and finding a solution “within the framework of insaniyat (humanity)” made at the Prime Minister’s level? It’s clear that the people of Kashmir are being pushed to the wall.

The writer is chairman, Islamic Students’ League