Kashmir continues to be edge on day 56th of the protest movement catalyzed by the killing of militant commander, Burhan Wani. 74 people- mostly youngsters- have been killed in the orgy of violence and counter violence that has Kashmir in a vise like grip. While the violence shows no signs of abating and its nature and spread is akin to a concentric circle- with the peripheries of Srinagar (South and North Kashmir) most affected by the violence and Srinagar- the centre of gravity of Kashmir- bearing the fallout. Historically, it was Srinagar city from where violence spread outward; but this time, violence radiates from the peripheries towards the city. Delineation of the spread and perimeter of the violence that has gripped Kashmir is not an idle exercise. It is relevant and pertains to the politics of the state, electoral dynamics and the alliance between the far right party, the BJP and the PDP. This descriptive assessment is in the nature of a background to the All Party delegation headed by Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, slated to visit Kashmir in the 4th of September.
While it’s not entirely clear what exactly the all party delegation is going to do in Kashmir, we may assume it is to suss out the nature of the protest movement and arrive at some modus Vivendi to resolve the current crisis (uprising). If indeed this is the raison d’etre of the All Party delegation, then it is as pedestrian and prosaic as can be. And it will neither dissipate the protest movement nor end it. The reasons are manifold- of both the micro and the macro variety and levels. At the micro level, protests 2016 emanate from the sense of betrayal over the JKPDP’s alliance with the far right party- the BJP. The PDP sought votes against the BJP, obtained a reasonable number of votes for allegedly stopping the onslaught of the “ Hindu” far right party, the BJP but then after the elections, allied with this party. It needs to be stated here that the PDP got the most number of votes from South Kashmir and even North Kashmir- the very regions of Kashmir that are up in arms, so to speak, as we write. From a macro perspective, this betrayal feeds in to the very nature of the conflict in and over Kashmir. The two levels- micro and macro- blend and blur into each other and we have the crystallization of the protest movement at hand.
Given this and the nature of the All Party delegation or what we believe its nature to be, it would appear that its “mission” would come to naught. First, Kashmiri sense of betrayal is strong and the BJP is part of the delegation; second, the remit of the delegation apparently makes no forward movement on the conflict in and over Kashmir. The apparent aim of the delegation appears to be pacification of Kashmiris. But this will not suffice. There are deeper and profounder issues at stake. The All Party delegation’s rationale appears to skirt over these real issues and focus on peripheral issues.
Does this mean that the delegation’s visit will be in vain?
Yes. Indeed. It will be unless the delegation has a paradigm shattering idea or set of ideas up its sleeves. What would these paradigm shattering ideas mean? First, these would mean and entail the delegation using Kashmir as a platform or venue to address Pakistan and make a genuine attempt at rapprochement with the country. This suggestion is not meant to elevate Pakistan over Kashmir and Kashmiris but merely as a gesture of boldness on part of the delegation, Second, then after making this gesture, the delegation could talk to stakeholders in Kashmir without setting any pre-conditions. This dialogue should be a free for all dialogue that lays bare all issues. Third, despite the bad name that Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) have gotten, the delegation must announce a slew of these and more essentially, follow up on these. The combination of measures suggested here is not an end point but merely a starting point for setting the ball rolling. Will, the question is, the All Party delegation goes beyond what its apparent remit is and follow measures offered here?
Unlikely is the answer. The reasons pertain to politics – elections in key states in India later- and the political philosophy of the far right party, the BJP and its allied organizations- the RSS and the VHP. This, among other things, will militate against bold and beautiful steps and measures. What then will the delegation achieve in Kashmir? While it may too soon to sing a dirge on the delegation and its remit, it may be safe to conclude that the delegation, unless it does something revolutionary , will merely get to smell the autumn as it descends on Kashmir, a few photo ops, sound bytes and media commentary.
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