Bullets cannot buy peace in the Valley

By Nabeel A. Khan

On the 81st day of unrest in the Valley, the ire of the people continues to rise and intensify. Courtesy, the central and state government’s misconception, wrong crowd controlling measures and partially hypocritical approach. As many as 65 people have died in the ongoing unrest in the Valley since June 11 this year.

The first blunder from the government side was to overrate the mass turn-up in the recent assembly polls which they touted as a triumph. And the government remained intoxicated with unfair sense of victory disregarding the ardent desire and hope for change among the masses of the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir. No doubt that the common citizens in the state are fed up of living in a hostile environment for generations and they are desperate to bring normalcy by any means.

But the people’s hope and desire were shattered when more than a year after its reign, the youngest chief minister of the state Omar Abdullah could not bring much change. Abdullah's performance has been almost similar to his predecessors when it comes to creating opportunities for the unemployed youths, developing infrastructure and most importantly persuading New Delhi to reduce the presence of the Indian army in the state. While another shocker for the people was no amendment in the Armed Forces Special Power Act.

The cycle of violence in the Valley is primarily considered as a handiwork of the terror groups based in Pakistan. The hand of these militant outfits cannot be denied in any sense, but if we give all credits to these groups for the unending conflagration in the Valley – that would certainly be utterly unfair. These foreign elements only possibly played a role in the early outbreak of frenzy in the region.

The maniac mob throwing stone, with almost predetermined state to bear the bullet is not result of mere provocation. And, it was obvious from the continuous increase in the number of protesters on the street. Even the parents keep encouraging their children to take part in the bloody orgy.

The security forces’ insensitive firing and killing of few people who had no role in the unrest acted as the hottest currency for the warmongers of the state to buy protest-killing-protest cycle. Initially, the establishment’s strategy to open fire on unarmed (some time stone-pelting) protesters to create fear and avoid repetition of such occurrence failed brazenly. But the government is still not waking up and trying to suppress the flood of emotional outrage with bullets—which is no way going to be a success.

The current upsurge in the Valley is most dangerous than ever since independence. As of now, the reason behind the spark in the Valley is not only political, but also emotional. In recent arson by protesters at a government office, the support of the officials came openly when they took out their service book before letting them set the place on fire.

The routine death of protesters, which consists of youth, women, professionals, students and even government employees, is the biggest concern.

This time it’s not one section of separatists’ follower who has come on the roads. But this time those who have no links to any such groups have also taken to the streets seeking answer to the brutal human rights violation.

The government has totally failed in the using the right method in controlling the ire of the people on the street. The use bullet and highly dangerous smoke shells have been another fuel to the fire.

But the fire is taking very perilous shape and the people of the Jammu and Kashmir need to be warned against getting entrapped under Pakistan’s hidden ambitions. The rise in violence will further aggravate the situation in the region. The people of Jammu andKashmir need to take advantage of New Delhi’s offering for talks and even considering autonomy for the state.

The separatists call for a tripartite talk on the issues is subject to scrutiny, but if they really want to bring peace in the region they should welcome a dialogue with New Delhi. But the separatist have mistaken the people’s upsurge as their support to them.

While there has been a positive change today as hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani agreed for talks with New Delhi with five conditions, which includes revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act, release of political prisoners, and India should agree to accept disputed status of Kashmir.

Today's offer for talks from hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and New Delhi's recent overtures are clearly a welcome sign. If such gestures from all the stakeholders is taken up seriously and in a positive way, the days would be not far off when the Valley would see signs of normalcy and peace returning forever.