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Spring
time crawling back in Kashmir
Sunita
Vakil
Strange
as it may
sound today, Kashmir is tottering back to normalcy. One earnestly
hopes that the ‘healing touch’ of the state government goes a
long way in putting Kashmir on the tract of peace and healing the
wounds of a bruised state.
It
was perhaps for the second time in the history of Kashmir that the
true and beautiful essence of undaunted human spirit was at display
when Kashmiris came out of their winters of discontent and attended
the Republic Day parade in large numbers braving militant threats
and insurmountable odds, the first time being when they reinforced
their belief in peace by exercising their franchise.
If
there were any wistful anticipation’s that a change in Kashmir for
the better was on the cards, these have been realised to a large
extent. Having perceived the light at the end of the tunnel, the
people of Kashmir are no longer silent spectators and blind
followers of the regressive diktats of the Islamic moralists.
Terrorism has long ceased to be a weapon to stifle and subjugate
them.
There
is an urgent case for helping restore peace in the valley. The
common man today aspires for his security and prosperity as the
realization that nothing is to be gained by pursuing a Jehadi agenda
has at last dawned upon him. He would rather like a happy and
peaceful present than follow the Chimera of an uncertain future. The
paradigm shift in the power equation is too obvious to be missed.
The
people today are more worried about the shambling state of their
economics than fundamentalist caper. They crave for peace and not
Jihad. They crave for harmony and not hatred. The events in the
recent past when militants tried to spread fear by targeting women
and children have made the people of Kashmir see the light and
exposed the custodians of Islam as brutal killers.
Despite
the fact that three girls were brutally murdered by these self
styled moral cops for defying the burqa diktat, the people refused
to be cowed down and instead of remaining passive spectators
protested the attack vehemently. In fact the resentment of the
masses was so widespread that the perpetrators of the massacre had
no other choice but to apologise and reconfirm that the writ was not
to be taken seriously. Likewise , in Poonch, militants had to run
for their life from a house in Faislabad when the owners of the
house fought the militants bravely and snatched their rifles.
This
is clear indication that the people are now taking a firm stand
against these cowardly attacks and trying to come out of their fear
psychosis that has been deeply entrenched in their minds. With the
public opinion against them, the fundamentalists are being condemned
by Kashmiris for attempting to control their lives, subjugate them
and bring them to their knees by cultural policing.
Whatever
the case, it is clear that the new government in the J & K state
has a difficult task ahead of it. The hopes of the people of Kashmir
are tied, one way or the other, with the CM of the state Mr. Mufti
Sayeed. He has to prove his credentiality as well as deliver his
promises of bringing round the militants who have been fighting a
futile war for more than a decade.
It
has to be admitted that his policy of healing touch has produced
some good results. He needs to be lauded for working towards
ushering a certain degree of peace and development in the state. Mr.
Sayeed has earned the goodwill of the people by personally visiting
them and showing concern in solving their problems. His people
friendly tactics as well as strong administrative skills are proving
to be reasonably popular in J & K.
Moreover,
it can not be denied that the forces of terror can be defeated if
the Centre and state confront this menace in tandem instead of
putting accusing fingers at each other. The Centre should encourage
every effort of the state government to improve the situation in
Kashmir. It is mandatory for the Central leadership to have an open
mind and not to use Kashmir card for petty political games.
Today
Kashmiris are panting for peace. They have suffered too much for too
long. They are prepared to pay any price for the elusive peace, fed
up as they are with a decade long of insurgency. They want to win
battles against poverty, and not autonomy. They would give
preference to education and prosperity rather than hold an AK-47. It
is time that Kashmir is given a much needed chance so that the lost
paradise is regained.
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Author
is Special Correspondent for Weekly Kashur
Gazette
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By
an exclusive arrangement with Weekly Kashur Gazette,
New Delhi
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