Srinagar, April 08: After Mohali Summit, India and Pakistan are looking forward to foreign secretary level talks between the two countries with the intention of moving towards a comprehensive and broad- ranging engagement. Despite somewhat modest forward movement on 26/11 issues, Pakistan agreed to the visit of judicial commission from India during the recently concluded talks between the home secretaries.
Though the Cricket diplomacy-as it is popularly known- could not attract many in the state of Jammu and Kashmir given the cricket- mania, as watching world-cup somehow was more important for people here than the engagement of the two countries at the highest political level. The disillusionment of people viz-a-viz the process that has a very long history of vicissitudes at its back can be cited as yet another reason for not generating much fanfare among the people. Having said this, the resumption of dialogue process between the two countries and the momentum created by the Mohali Summit cannot and should not be wished away as the world scenario is rapidly changing which, of course, has a direct bearing on the two nation states of Indian-subcontinent.
However, what effect the discussions between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan have on the situation within J&K state remains to be seen. The least one can expect is that the situation in Kashmir will remain peaceful if the renewed engagement is not allowed to dither away by any sort of eventuality created rather pushed by the vested interests.
The efforts to ascertain the truth about the happenings in Jammu and Kashmir by various non-state actors and the response of the peace-loving people of J&K makes it emphatically clear that people have little faith in war as a solution to the problems confronting them. More relevant in the present scenario is that majority of people in the conflict ridden Jammu and Kashmir state feel that dialogue-though often marred by inconsistency and indecisiveness of the political leadership- is the only viable option available at present to take recourse of.
The overwhelming support to dialogue between the two countries when General Parvez Musharaf was at the helm of affairs in Pakistan is still considered as the bed-rock for any sustainable engagement between the two on a whole range of issues. But to the extent that the views of the people in J&K are to be taken into account, the members of Indian civil society interacting with the people in Kashmir over past few months can provide useful pointers.
The overall mood in Jammu and Kashmir reflects an overarching dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs and a yearning for change. However, what will surprise many is that the people in both regions view the main problems as political but economic -unemployment, corruption, and poor infrastructural development never evade from their minds. However, human rights situation is a solid cause of concern for Kashmiris. It is clear that these issues that affect their personal lives along with human rights abuses are uppermost in their minds, dissatisfaction on these grounds being particularly high in the Kashmir Valley.
Being a close watcher, what has been interesting for me to note through all these month’s developments is that India being powerful, prosperous and stable, could afford to make a bold and generous gesture that would sap the hatred and suspicion that has been eating up the vitals of the two countries for decades now. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they started playing each other at cricket – three wars, in fact, since 1965 – and the enmity between the two is as bitter as anything in the Middle East. A lot has been written about “cricket diplomacy” and the sub- continental wounds it might heal. On the other hand, by stressing and preserving national difference, what can it do for a problem like Kashmir? It has seen cricket come and may well see it go, and it will depend for a solution on new ways of thinking about borders and nation states.
In terms of solutions, there are few takers in the state for diametrically opposite views being expressed by right-at-centre and statesmanship of course demands that many other considerations like a sense of history, strategic and economic interests, and a feel for what is do-able within national and political contexts be factored in. And leaders are meant to lead people rather than be led by them.
Rise above politics
Feel good through police reforms
Bashir Assad
Srinagar/April 6; Will reducing the number of troops and rolling back Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and other such laws alone bring about the desired respite to the people, will these measures calm the situation so much so that the government too feels relieved and relaxed, are a few questions that strikes the mind of an average person while listening to such demands emanating from political circles. Reduction in the size and authority of armed forces alone can’t make any difference unless the state police is given human face for the situation to ease up and calm down, entire security grid needs to be reoriented and reconfigured for it is central to the consolidation of a democratic framework of government.
Lets examine this argument in terms of the existing ground realities. Since last couple of years, the demand for vacating the government buildings especially school and hospital buildings by security forces were gaining momentum with each passing day and separatists aside, all the Kashmir based mainstream political parties pressed very hard for it and finally the Ghulam Nabi Azad led government-initially as a symbolic gesture followed by consolidation after criticism from the civil society- ordered redeployment of security forces occupying government buildings and other such public installations.
The state Home Ministry claims that around 1,225 buildings including 427 government buildings have been vacated from occupation of the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir till date.
Apart from the 427 government buildings, 766 private houses and 32 hotels were vacated from the occupation of the security forces, they Home Ministry officials claim.
The officials said 100 government buildings were vacated in 2010-11, including 39 educational institutes and 8 health institutions.
The buildings were vacated by shifting the security forces to alternate accommodation being constructed in a phased manner, they said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir government is committed to lessen the footprint of the security forces in the state, depending upon the improvement in the security situation.
Has it any impact on ground, especially in the aftermath of 2010 summer unrest in which 117 people lost their lives? Certainly not because the fact remains that state police enjoys monopoly over all other security forces deployed in the state for it is the executive of the immediate state authority. During summer unrest in 2010, Law and Parliamentary Minister for state Ali Muhammad Sagar clandestinely tried to put the blame squarely on CRPF saying that the Central Reserve Police Force was not paying any heed to the clear-cut instructions of the state government to observe maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situation. Contrary to this, the Union Home Ministry always maintained that the central forces were their to assist the state police under the given situation. And honest analysis suggest that Sagar was lying as it was the state police that was in command of the entire security grid. One wonders as why M Y Tarigami, a CPI(M) MLA stands isolated for last eight or ten years on the issue bringing in reforms in the state police force, as non other than him raises this issue during discussion on grants of the Home Department and the principal opposition party- the PDP- the champion of human rights- never stand in support of Tarigami on such a vital issue having paramount importance in improving the human rights situation in the state.
Analysts are of the opinion that over the years the security apparatus has been accorded holier than thou status, which has put it beyond the purview of public scrutiny and institutional accountability.
“In the face of receding or absence of renewed combat, police are more likely to affect average citizens than any other executive or security arm of the government. Therefore, the importance of a thoroughly reformed police cannot just be overlooked. Unfortunately, despite the importance of police reform and public security issues, governments in the state and at the centre have thus far shown little willingness to go for such an exercise.
Political assertions emanating at the top aside, on its part the government too has not been able to bring about any semblance of accountability in the policing here. This is why instead of contributing to the situational calm, the ill-prepared and unprofessionally commanded police have been only adding to the turbulence. For a healthy state, there must be healthy police, and for having a healthy police it is of paramount importance that the men in Khaki are taught to obey the rule book. Once they follow rules, likelihood of their undermining people’s rights becomes minimal. Being the extension of the government in terms of its monopoly over the use of force, a fair and humane police is the reflection of the government controlling it” observes an analyst.
See 10-Day Forecast
Geelani appeals people to boycott Panchyat polls
‘Indian has increased troops from 8 lakh to 10 lakh in JK’
Srinagar/ April 6; Appealing people to boycott the ensuing Panchyat polls, the hard-line separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Wednesday, said that New Delhi was trying to ‘mislead’ the international community ‘under the garb of elections.’
In a statement, Geelani said, “From 1947 to 1987 elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir several times for administrative issues. We also participated in the elections. But after long experiences we came to know that India speaks only language of gun in Kashmir and elections are only to mislead the international community.”
“After 40 years in 1987, Kashmiris had to take another route for their struggle and thousands of people sacrificed their lives for the cause. Now useless exercise like elections can’t be substitute for right to self determination,” he added.
The Hurriyat chairman alleged that India has increased the strength of its troops from eight lakh to 10 lakh in the state. “Under such circumstances no election drama can be termed as democratic process.”
He appealed the people to completely boycott the ‘so-called’ elections. “Though nobody will become Indian after voting, but New Delhi portrays at international forums that Kashmiris are satisfied with India and have voted so called elections,” he said.
Come forward for resolution of K-issue: Mir to leadership
‘Let us discuss, argue, debate issues’
Bashir Assad
Srinagar/ April 7; The Minister for Agriculture and President Democratic Party (Nationalist) Ghulam Hassan Mir, Thursday called for a unanimous approach and urged leadership cutting across political ideologies to come forward and help resolve Kashmir issue.
Talking to this correspondent Mir said, “We all belong to this society and owe something to it. I don’t want to blame anybody for the present crisis. Nobody did anything wrong intentionally. The intentions of leadership were bonafide, but it didn’t work. So we have to re-strategize and see where we went wrong.”
Elaborating it, Mir said, “The strategy of our leadership in 1953 and later in 1990 failed. Now we all cutting across party lines and political ideologies need to sit and see where we went wrong and what needs to be done in future. The past strategies have ruined Kashmiris and if we will continue with it will destroy us further. ”
“Let us discuss, argue and debate the issues. This is the time when intellectuals should come forward and play their role. We have to decide what we want for our future generations. Whether we want to send them to graveyards or show them path towards progress and prosperity,” he added.
With reference to his participation in a meeting with the members of Indian Civil Society recently in Srinagar, Mir said, “I never shy away from discussing the things and presenting my view-point to the people holding entirely different views”. The Minister further said that such exercises would certainly reduce trust deficit between the people representing contending ideologies in Kashmir. Mir said “I am hopeful that continued discussions and debates would help in reaching some meeting ground viz-a-viz the problems we are confronted with”.
Mir said that a ‘vested class’ has emerged out of conflict who, he said, is enjoying the miseries of sufferers. “They (vested class) want that conflict should continue so that they can enjoy at the cost of miseries of people.”
Advising youth to channelize their energies and talent in shaping up their future, Mir said, “Our children should aim civil service. We should be in policy and decision making of the country. Don’t allow vested class to ruin you.”
However, Mir made it clear that he never wants Kashmiris to surrender their rights. “It is not question of winning and losing but changing the strategy.
I don’t want to say that people of Jammu and Kashmir shouldn’t fight for their rights. But for achieving the goal, we have to develop our selves economically, educationally and technologically. Then we will have better bargain power,” he said.
The DPN president said that even this time Muslim world wants to have better relations with India. “India is an emerging global power and every country wants to have good relations with it. Even Muslim countries want to keep better relations with India. Why should Kashmiris fight with India when others want to have better relations with India,” he asked.
He also urged New Delhi to take initiative to chalk out a broad base employment opportunity for the youth of the state.
Mir also appealed to the expert group for job plan process, which is headed by former RBI Governor C Rangarajan, to take steps so that the measure was implemented at the earliest.
Dogra Certificate, Property tax issues
Geelani calls for strike on Apr 11
Bashir Assad
Srinagar/ April 7; Warning that situation could go out of hand, if Dogra Certificate order isn’t revoked immediately, the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, called for a shutdown on April 11 and protests after Friday prayers tomorrow against issuance of Dogra Certificate and imposition of property tax.
In a statement, Geelani said, “The Dogra certificate is not a surprise development but a part of India’s long-term policy. New Delhi not only wants to effect a demographic change in Jammu and Kashmir but is also engaged in the process of establishing the dominance of a particular section over the majority.”
“This section already enjoys more than its fair share in incentives, jobs and economic privileges, and the majority has always been robbed of its economic rights to appease this class,” he said.
The Dogra certificate, he said, is aimed purely to give legal and constitutional sanction to this injustice and inequality to emasculate the majority further,” he said.
“The certificate is also a mechanism to settle Dogri-speaking non-state subjects in Jammu and Kashmir, and those who have had past associations with Dogra nationalism,” he said.
“The RSS ideology is to convert Jammu and Kashmir into Dogar Desh and turning the state’s majority into a minority. Around 2.5 to 5 lakh people were slaughtered in Jammu in 1947 to give this plan a practical shape, and a systematic genocide of Muslims is on even today,” he said.
“The state’s rulers are concerned only about their power, and therefore they not only remain silent over such conspiracies but also actively aid New Delhi in carrying them out,” he added.
Warning that if Dogra Certificate order isn’t revoked immediately, ‘situation could go out of hand.’ “All the responsibility would lie on the shoulders of the government,” he warned.
On Property tax, Geelani said, “This is an anti-people legislation aimed at crippling the economy of the people of Kashmir. Such legislations are aimed at choking the progress and prosperity of Kashmir and harass the people.”
“On one hand salaries of MLAs are being doubled while on the other economy of Kashmir is being crippled,” he alleged.
Geelani called for a shutdown on April 11 and protests after Friday prayers tomorrow against issuance of Dogra Certificate and imposition of property tax.