Contradictory signals over Kashmir

By DR. JITENDRA SINGH
On the eve of Republic Day and in the background of the row over hoisting of tricolour at Srinagar's Lal Chowk, it makes an interesting case study to follow the sequence of events of the last one year beginning around the time of Republic Day last year.
Exactly a few weeks before the Republic Day last year, the Union Home Minister made a dramatic disclosure that his ministry was engaged in what he described as ‘‘quiet’’ talks with Kashmir based groups including separatists. But, what the Home Minister failed to realise that by going to the press he had himself unleashed a ‘‘disquietening’’ or a rather deafening controversy over the issue.
Then followed the announcement regarding withdrawal of 30,000 troops from the State on the pretext of improved security situation but the announcement simultaneously coincided with a ban on prepaid mobile though later reverted and at the same time the claim in improved security scene was not befittingly matched by a reduction in the personal security of the high-ups who pompously announced this claim.
Then came the claim of fully controlled security situation on the eve of Republic Day but precisely on the Republic Day, mobile phones were jammed for five hours.
Soon thereafter came a statement from the Union New and Renewable Energy Minister during his visit to Jammu that there could be no possibility of talks with Pakistan unless Islamabad brings to book the culprits of Mumbai terror attack but then within a week came the announcement of foreign secretary level talks and by the end of the year, the Union Renewable Energy Minister also seemed to have stage a volte face to favour talks with Pakistan.
Amidst all these contradictory conflicting signals as well as the confusion resulting therefrom, came the Union Home Minister's announcement endorsing the demand of the so called mainstream but Kashmir-centric political parties to bring about a plan facilitating return of Kashmiri youth who have over the years voluntarily crossed over to PoK which the Union Home Minister adds on to claim as a part of India. However, while exuding human compassion, the Union Home Minister conveniently forgets the Govt of India's twenty year old promise of repatriating, resettling and rehabilitating tens of thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits who did not leave the Valley voluntarily but were forcibly thrown out of their homes and hearths in one of the history's most shameless ever mass exodus. And, what about the Sikh youth who fled the State and some the country in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star followed by Indira Gandhi's tragic assassination and whose applications for repatriation are pending with the Government for over quarter of a century.
The present rulers of the State take pleasure is declaring publicly that they are aware of their his- tory.... personal or collective! If that be so, the people of the State expect them to be aware also of the history of 1947 refugees from PoK as well as from the then West Pakistan who continue to languish as outsiders for the last 63 years without being granted their legitimate rights as the residents of the State where three generations of theirs have lived or grown up. The displaced persons of 1965 of whom there is little record. The dislocated victims of 1971 war for whom a resettlement authority was set up without much consequence.
Meanwhile, three high profile ‘‘Interlocutors’’ appointed by the UPA Government came and went interlocking themselves in new controversies instead of unlocking the earlier existing ones.
Be that as it is, neither the people of India nor the polity of India is going to allow this harakiri to happen. Incidentally, those advocating such unrealistic proposals from either Union Government or State Government also know this but continue to do so simply for strategic reasons of ‘‘political posturing’’. And, this is precisely what the common man needs to be educated about. To clear the air of confusing signals over Kashmir, Umapathy cites poetic inference ‘‘Takhaliyaat Ke Dhoke Hain Subh-o-Shaam, Na Aaa Raha Hai Na Jaa Raha Hai Koi !’’


(Courtesy : www.dailyexcelsior.com)