K B Jandial
Along with stepped up militants’ attacks bizarre things are happening in Kashmir that again put much hyped “Kashmiriyat” to test. These weird developments is part of Pakistan’s new strategy to foment wide spread trouble this summer. Luckily, the Govt. has so far succeeded in containing the mischief, but not without losing the face politically by both alliance partners. While PDP, author of soft separatism, is criticized for continuous detention of separatists like previous Governments BJP, once an ultra-nationalist party, is mutely listening to anti India rants and intolerable slogans – “hum Pakistani hain, Pakistan hamara hai” at authorized anti-India seminar. Is it a gain of north pole-south pole alliance?
Beyond this alliance, even the mainstream parties like NC too have expediently made a common ground with separatists, whom they too had kept behind the bar during their rule, for issues like KP colonies and Sainik colony to destabilize Mehbooba Govt.
None of these parties are concerned about the fall out of politicizing such sensitive issues that have potential of further ‘alienating’ Kashmiris and ruining tourist season. None of these issues threatens J&K’s special status which BJP now “vows” to protect, or changes Kashmir’s demography.
PDP-BJP Govt can take “credit” of bringing separatists, not only to the centre stage for domestic politics but also “facilitated” unity of their warring groups by allowing to hold a seminar on 12th June, 2016 that was ostensibly against India and establishment of KPs and Sainik colonies in Kashmir. Some say that what Pakistan could not do, our Govt. did it without any tangible advantage except promoting Mufti sahib’s favourite political dictum- “battle of ideas” with BJP hiding their “embarrassment” behind the slogan of development, saying that “this is no issue”.
The unity at the seminar has emboldened separatists and their supporters. The separatists, Traders Associations, Civil Society, scholars and intellectuals accused Delhi of “changing Kashmir’s demography” , giving call to foil India’s plan “to settle non-locals in the state to change Muslim majority Kashmir into minority”.
“Battle of ideas” is okay but how it can be a new narrative in Kashmir with no one affords to contest separatists’ anti -India propaganda or empathetically present divergent views on these issues which were evident at the seminar itself when organizers showed the door to representatives of two national TV channels for their alleged anti-Kashmir stance. Separatists don’t subscribe to “battle of ideas”. There was no reaction either to seminar’s outcome or treatment to perceived anti- Pakistan media.
While anti-India seminar got a nod, a religious Abhinav Gupt yatra in Beerwa planned by Acharaya Abhinav Gupt Sheshadri Samroh Samiti, headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was banned despite BJP in the Govt. Abhinav Gupt was a great Shaivite philosopher from Kashmir who, it is believed, died in the cave, along with hundreds of his disciples and followers, on January 4, 1016. Is it fair for a secular Govt. to stop any devotee from paying obeisance? How could devotees’ visit to a temple disturb peace? Separatists’ threat contributed to this decision.
More serious is the warning of the wanted HM commander of Kashmir, Tral’s 22-year old Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a new poster boy of “reviving” militancy. In 6-minute video he strongly opposed separate colonies for KPs, saying, “We will not allow separate colonies on Israel pattern for Hindus.”
It belies commonsense as to how by raising colonies for KPs and ex-servicemen & serving Kashmiri soldiers, demography of Kashmir would change? The fact is that only State subjects are entitled to get these plots or accommodation under State law. Both migrants as well as ex-servicemen are State subjects and in no way by giving them plots would change Kashmir’s demography. Their statements display their hatred against KPs & sainik, probably considering them as “symbols” of India who should be made to live under close surveillance of the majority community.
Separatists are raising ridiculous objections to these colonies which are contradictory. For example, Mirwaiz Umar and SAS Geelani argued that while KPs should return to their original houses in different parts of the Valley and ex-servicemen should continue to live in their existing properties. Thus, they themselves concede that they are state subjects and then how their return would change the demography of the valley. Actually, they are not only intolerant to dissent and opposite views but also scared of these.
Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir “with dignity and honour” and “Kashmir is incomplete without Pandits” are very old statements that have lost its sheen. Twenty years ago, when Farooq Abdullah led democratic Govt returned to power after severest phase of militancy, KPs have started hearing these clichés.
Despite loud talks, there was no sincere welcome by Muslim majority community to KP migrants. The raucous always created by separatists and civil society KPs return shattered their confidence to return to the place from where they were hounded out by terrorists in early nineties. Even today, when conditions have imposed on their settlement in separate colonies there is hardly anyone who would like to return to their damaged roots.
It is amusing that the minority community that was made to flee from their homes and hearths during an unbelievable frenzy – combination of public threat to leave Kashmir, hatred, and selective killings, would return on the assurance of those very elements that were responsible for their migration and are still thwarting their safe return. In a free society how can any citizen or group of citizens issues writ for co-citizens where and how to live in their native place. Who has given them this right? Did Jammu civil society impose any such conditions to Kashmiri brethren when they started buying properties in their perceived safe environment in Jammu? Then why they are doing it in Kashmir?
Did anyone among those who are calling bandhs and “Friday pathrao” against KPs’ return on pretext of separate colonies, create congenial conditions in the last two decades to infuse confidence among the migrants to think of returning?
On the contrary, media reports tell us the opposite. It reports that KPs feel that Kashmir has become more radicalised. Instead of national anthem, many schools have Islamic prayers. Some of KP women employees who got jobs and living in transit accommodation under PM package, feel that “islamisation has increased” and locals expect them to follow Muslims’ practices like not to move out without covering heads and desist wearing short-sleeved kurtas. They feel that they cannot express their views contrary to that of the majority community. Is it the beginning of new phase of Talibanization in Kashmir?
In fact, the migrants should have been given the choice of living in separate colonies or at their abandoned houses. Their visit to Kashmir should have been encouraged. Staying in accommodation with institutionalized security would have facilitated revival of old relationship by frequent interactions and depending upon their own assessment of situation, overall confidence and attitude of people, they could think of returning to their abandoned houses in different localities. Nobody including the Government can force anyone to live at a place where they feel unsafe. Much less the separatists, on whose security Rs110 cr. is spent annually, dictate the migrants as to how and where to stay?
Mehbooba Mufti has articulated well her Govt.’s point of view on these issues and nailed all rumours of separate KP colonies. There would be only “composite transit accommodation”. How correct Mehbooba was when she said that the Govt. would not put the “pigeons among cats” when opposition MLAs demanded KPs to be sent to their houses from where they had fled. Even though she later clarified and restricted her “definition” of cats to militants but what she had said was the truth.
NC had accused her for “demonising” Kashmiris who were portrayed as “hunter” and migrants “hunted”. More realistically, Mehbooba showed the opposition the mirror when she reminded them that even today workers of different political parties cannot return to their villages and the Govt. have to keep them in hotels besides security for movement. “But the people who had fled the valley 20 or 25 years ago…you want the Govt. to send them directly to their homes. This is not humane. This is not possible.”
Despite being co-author of several plans in the past, yesteryears’ rulers today found “mischief “in separate colonies for KPs. In 2008, an Rs.1614 cr. special resettlement and employment package was sanctioned which provided exclusive colonies for KPs but it was messed up. The main issues were of security and economic opportunity. Modi’s package gives 6000 Transit accommodation units for the migrants whom government jobs have been or will be provided under PM package. Instead of righting the wrong done to 26 years ago, Kashmiri leaders and separatists are using different uncharitable and offending description for their proposed accommodation like Israeli-type settlements, caged accommodation and ghettos.
Many migrant houses are either destroyed or sold. Farooq Govt. had enacted a law in 1997 against distress sale of migrants’ properties that also empowered the DM to take possession of the immovable property for preservation. What is the current status of such properties? What about those properties that cannot be retrieved for various reasons? So, those who are opposing placement of KPs even in composite transit colonies must not be blind to these facts. Moreover in the environment of almost daily terror attacks in the Valley which Pandit migrant family would think of returning to the valley? The entire debate becomes infructuous.
Geelani and other separatists also are trying make Kashmiris believe that “10 lakh soldiers” would be settled in the proposed Sainik colony. What a facetious argument? Separatists can make fool of their own brethren but not everyone. There is one Corps with four divisions in entire Kashmir region which account for not more than 80,000 soldiers. From where 10 lakh soldiers would be brought and accommodated in a Sainik colony? Stop fooling gullible Kashmiris. Then, State’s special law on permanent residents cannot allow settlement of non-state subjects soldiers. Had it been possible then much lesser number of West Pakistan refugees would have been long settled in Jammu. Since it is not possible, this human tragedy continues even today despite election promise of BJP.
The fact is that Kashmiri Muslim ex-servicemen, numbering over 5000 and serving soldiers of Kashmir whose number is increasing every year, wanted a colony in Srinagar on the lines of Jammu’s Sainik Colony. They asked for 44 acres of land where about 1000 plots would have been developed. Nothing wrong, any group of state subjects can demand for land for setting up a colony under rule. Interestingly, the process was initiated during Omar’s rule and he did not oppose the proposal. The alliance Govt might have considered it to be a “hot potato” or no state land was available for allotment.
Like all other things, the separatists paint even the Industrial Policy with same brush of suspicion. They see in it a strategy to “make us economically dependent and snatch our natural resources.” Sheikh Abdullah was a visionary who formulated this policy to give push to industrial development creating jobs in non- Govt sector. Keeping pace with the changing trends of development the policy include new concepts like PPP model for establishment of new Industrial estates on private land with protection of State’s special status and laws. Scared of hot summer, the cautious Govt. puts this provision on hold.
Never wishing repeat of 2008 type agitation the Govt. preferred to succumb to separatists’ pressure to buy peace, may be to save tourist season. But this has definitely increased separatists’ appetite for the coming days. Anantnag bi-election on 22nd June would also unravel separatists’ actual writ.
Separatists move to scuttle return of KPs and establishment of Sainik colony again exposed their commitment in Kashmiriyat which is basically an amalgamation of four great traditions and faiths represented by Buddhism Shaivism, Islam, and Sikhism. It is peaceful co-existence and harmony. But it lost its essence to some extent with the exodus of the Pandits who formed one of the basic pillars of Kashmiriyat. And even after 26 years, their honourable return is being thwarted but they continue to maintain lip service to this great tradition that is Kashmir’s original way of life.
(feedback:kbjandial@gmail.com)
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