Cruelty let loose in Kashmir unlikely to subdue popular resistance

Kashmir Times, 6 August 2010

Editorial

Incurable paranoia
 Cruelty let loose in Kashmir unlikely to subdue popular resistance

It needs no expertise to assess how New Delhi is looking at what all has been happening in Kashmir over the past about three months. The arrival of planeloads of ‘additional’ contingents of central para-military forces in Srinagar, following chief minister Omar Abdullah’s recent visit to the union capital, tells it all. Central government’s approach in this case continues to be influenced by the entrenched militaristic mindset of the intelligence-bureaucratic establishment. There is no sign at all of any worthwhile political input into New Delhi’s decision making apparatus. Obviously no one over there feels any need for such an approach. Looking from here, it is clear beyond doubt that the central government, now in effective control of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, is on course to sharpen its coercive tools in dealing with ‘obstinate’ people of Kashmir. Various definitions are being trotted out to justify this stance. By now it is obvious beyond question that the present situation is an outright revolt against gross injustices being perpetrated upon the people of this state in general and those in the Valley in particular. This line has always suited the partisan political interests of whosoever happens to be at the helm in Delhi. Kashmir bashing is not only a fair game in the domestic politics of India but it also helps the incumbent beneficiary to extract that extra bit of mileage against rivals in the field. The greater the degree of repression in Kashmir better are its dividends in terms of domestic political calculus. This is also a familiar pattern of centre-state ‘relationship’ dating back to 1950s. It has been practised over and over again.

What, however, is new is the fact that this kind of narrow mindedness is accompanied by colour blindness. Repression is nothing new for the people of Kashmir. But their determination to resist it and fight it with whatever they have is certainly something which others are yet to come to terms with. What one sees happening across every nook and corner of Kashmir Valley today is unprecedented. It is a full blown resistance movement against injustices, against suppression and against tyranny. It is inconceivable that in a similar situation in any other state of India voices of reason would disappear as blatantly as they have in the case of zulm in Kashmir. Daily dance of death and destruction does not seem to be pinching anyone’s conscience. Innocent children, boys and girls, are being cruelly gunned down. It is shame on the society that calls itself civilised and expects to be recognised as such. The huge casualty toll resulting from resort to naked repression upon unarmed people seeking justice and voicing their basic rights is staggering. Lack of compassion and sensitivity is starkly evident in the authoritarian statements coming out of New Delhi. There is a grudging reference to colossal loss of precious human lives while so much energy is wasted in ‘our determination to crush anti-national and anti-social forces’. Sonia Gandhi’s statement that the present popular movement in Kashmir is ‘instigated by vested interests’, union home minister P Chidambaram’s oft repeat version that ‘elements from across the border’ have a hand in it and the Congress party’s position that the ‘trouble makers should be dealt with firmly echo the UPA government’s line of thinking. Despatch of additional para-military forces to the already over-militarised Valley caps the paranoid afflicting the central establishment.

The disastrous results of this myopic approach are mind boggling. The people of Kashmir who were till recently being hailed as ‘patriots’ are now sought to be subjugated at gunpoint. Their grievances are being seen as a great threat to the Indian nation. They were being praised for their courage in defying grave threat to life posed by militancy and making recent elections a success for the benefit of Indian democracy and Indian diplomacy. But suddenly the same lot is now targeted for worst kind of atrocities and excesses. The only change between then and now, which brought about such a radical shift in centre’s thinking, is that the genuine grievances resulting from gross failure of the system of governance have found the only available outlet. The entire population is being treated as hostile and dealt with as an enemy. Licence to kill with impunity and wanton destruction of private property is being made use of liberally by the growing number of police and para-military forces. How these forces have developed a sixth sense for manufacturing situations for indulging in wanton killing and destruction is no more a secret. Numerous instances of fake encounters have been unearthed but has anyone been held to account? The system is impotent in this case because Kashmir is a fair game for excesses and atrocities so long as it is a profitable bargain in the Indian political market. But, for once, Kashmiris seem to have had enough of it. They have shown their determination to do whatever it takes to resist and fight this tyranny. Human spirit has never been vanquished by these tactics. This awareness seems to be the driving force behind the present phase of popular struggle in Kashmir, irrespective of who is spearheading it.