FIND SOLUTION TO KASHMIR ISSUE

The  Kashmir valley has been in turmoil for the past two and a half months.  The whole valley has been  shut down by continuous mass protests and hartals, on the one hand, and the official curfew imposed, on the other.  All life is at a standstill with shops, business enterprises and educational institutions closed.

From June 11 to August 22, sixty two young people have died in police firings ranging from the age of 8 to 25.  Crowds of stone pelting  young men confront the CRPF pickets and the result invariably has been  firing, leading to  deaths and injuries.  Every such death has led to further mass protests and hartals.   There is a total sense of alienation and deep anger against the Indian State among wide sections of the people.

It is a matter of grave concern that continued police firings in Kashmir is adding to the loss of lives of young persons.   The police firing on August 30 has killed one youth in Anantnag and injured five in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar. 15 persons are also reported to have been injured in Kulgam and Bandipore where police resorted to tear gasing and lathi-charge.

This continued resort to lathi-charges, firing and tear gas shells have only delayed the task of finding a settlement to the Kashmir issue.

That Government should commence dialogue with all sections of people without any pre-conditions to find a solution to the problem.

The government of India as well as government of Jammu & Kashmir should immediately take initiative in starting the process of dialogue with a view to find a just solution to the Kashmir issue. More delay will only aggravate the situation in the state and add to the difficulties.

We can not deny the fact that there may be certain elements across the border who may like such a situation to develop.  the fact remains that what we are facing today in Kashmir is a mass upsurge. dubbing this upsurge as something engineered by subversive forces would not help in meeting the requirements on the ground. How can one explain the situation where children and women are coming out on the streets and participating in the protests. The aged too are supporting these protests. There are long drawn hartals. People are defying curfews and facing the bullets. This cannot be just a subversive activity. This is a result of a massive alienation which the people of J&K have been facing. It is also due to the disillusionment which has gripped the minds of the younger generation. Do not dub this unrest as a terrorist oriented movement only. We should  rather understand the people’s anger, dissatisfaction and the causes behind this unrest so that lessons are drawn and remedial measures taken.

A distinct feature this time has been the large scale participation of teenagers and women in the street violence. Most of those killed so far in the police firing are also very young persons. This is most surprising and also quite significant that even the youngsters are picking up the courage to face the bullets. Earlier too there was a good section of youngsters in the state who participated in the turmoil in the 1990s. But today we are seeing even children coming into the forefront of protests. If we analyse properly with perspective, it is the result of disillusionment and dissatisfaction among the people due to the wrong policies being pursued by the governments at Delhi andSrinagar. It is also due to the environment of hopelessness created by the false promises and non-responsive administration both at the state and the centre. Otherwise, just a few years ago there was an atmosphere of hope despite the past decades of violence in the state which resulted in so many deaths and damage to property. Some sort of peace prevailed in the valley. There was a peace process going on between India and Pakistan with certain confidence building measures taken. The road was open across the LoC and trading took place between this part of Kashmir and the other part. Basically, the people-to-people contact was going on and there were expectations that some solution can be found out acceptable to all the contending forces on this issue. But unfortunately the big terrorist attacks in Mumbai in which many of our people were killed halted this peace process. An atmosphere of hopelessness began gaining ground. So, there is a shift now from hope to despair.

The economic situation and lack of jobs in the state also contributed to this despair Jammu and Kashmir  does not have an industrial base and job opportunities are very limited for the younger generation. people are dependent on agriculture and tourism only for employment.  Years of turmoil has adversely affected tourism.  The state has virtually no avenues for purposeful employment. Youth  have to Primarly depend on  government sector for jobs. Government figures recently stated that there are around 5 lakh unemployed educated youth in the state. The chief minister promised that during his 5 year tenure around one lakh jobs will be created. But every year there would be one lakh youth joining the ranks of the unemployed. All these factors put together have contributed to the uncertainty among the youth. There is no hope for forward movement or for better prospects of leading a good life. The economic situation of the state is quite bad and this is adding fuel to the fire. All these concerns if not addressed now may lead to certain very unfortunate developments in future. So, these are genuine apprehensions of the people which must be understood by the people of the country. Serious efforts must be made to initiate economic reconstruction in the state with emphasis on providing jobs. Sufficient marketing opportunities for agricultural produce must be made. The central government must support this effort.

some parties are  seeking removal of Article 370 as the best solution for the crisis. Whereas the fact is that the erosion  of Article 370 has created a vacuum in the state resulting in the present situation.  It has given opportunity for those who want to snatch away Kashmir from the rest of the country. Do not try to communalise the issue.

the people participated enthusiastically in the elections with over 60 per cent voting. All of us were quite sure about the good days in the future. But those electoral gains could not be consolidated. And for this, the blame lies both with the state and central governments. Otherwise it is difficult to explain how the same youth who voted enthusiastically one and half year ago are now up in arms. This situation has been created because of the insensitivity of the leadership at Delhi and Srinagar. They should have initiated  dialogue not only with the mainstream parties but also with those who are not in the democratic process. The Government  should have initiated dialogue with Pakistan also. Dialogue is the answer to terrorism. Do not oblige the terrorists by not talking to Pakistan. All these talks would’ve narrowed down the differences and removed dissatisfaction. But the governments have failed to do so.

The government of India is insisting on restoration of normalcy in the state as a condition for holding talks. It is quite unwise and unrealistic. Don’t put conditions when you talk to your people. Already 50 young people have lost their lives. Both the governments must be made accountable for these deaths. A credible commission of inquiry should be instituted. If we want to overcome the crisis, the causes of the unrest must be removed. One can  suppress the people and control the agitation today but if we  don’t address the issue in its proper form and manner, we  will only be postponing the crisis. How can we be sure that it will not erupt again. This has been happening. So.

Security forces have been asked to perform certain duties. But unfortunately certain elements of the forces are not functioning within the framework of those duties. Otherwise how would there be custodial deaths. Before the start of this agitation, three innocent youngsters were picked up and killed. First it was announced that they were terrorists but later after investigation, they were found to be innocent. So, will not such actions create uncertainty and dissatisfaction among the larger sections of the people? A few years ago in Anantnag district there was a Pathripal incident in which  five youngsters were  picked up and gunned down dubbing them as terrorists. After a hue and cry, CBI inquiry was conducted and it found the youth innocent. It is not a question of opposing the security forces but there must be action against the guilty in such cases. Even in the recent agitation, 50 persons have been killed by the security forces. So, there is a demand for  a credible inquiry into the circumstances of these killings also. The  Security forces are facing very difficult situation but they have to exercise maximum restraint.

There are different factions of Huriyat. Some of them are under detention while some have been released. The fact remains that they are an important opinion which should not be ignored. They have to be involved in the process of finding out a solution. In the past some attempts have been made by the government but in a half-hearted manner. Let there be a parliamentary committee which can enter into sustained process of dialogue with such forces who are yet to enter democratic mainstream. What we expect from them (Huriyat) is to be more responsible so that people do not suffer.

Immediately, let the prime minister of India speak to the people of Kashmir in the parliament itself and tell them that whatever wrongs have been committed, the nation as whole will look into those wrongs and make corrections. He must also express grief and  sorrow over the sad deaths in the recent past. Secondly, a credible mechanism must be evolved to look into the genuine grievances of the people of Kashmir. Thirdly, release all the leaders and youngsters who have been arrested in the recent agitation and give them an opportunity. Some avenues for a better life through employment must be made.

As part of confidence building measures, steps must be taken for ensuring less infiltration from across the border and reduction of terrorist violence. There must also be reduction of security forces, at least in areas where there is no terrorist activity. Also, telephonic contact with the other part of Kashmir has to be restored. Today, one has to come out of Kashmir in order to make calls to people in the other Kashmir while they can call us. Such things create avoidable mistrust. The government of India must strengthen the process of overcoming such mistrust.

IMMEDIATE MEASURES

The immediate steps which are required to be taken to bring about a return to normal life and also allow peaceful political activity are as follows:

1.     The administration should immediately put a halt to the use of police firing as a means to curb protests.  Other methods of crowd control should be utilised.  Security forces entering houses during curfew and harassing the inmates, particularly women, should be stopped.

2.     All those who have died, or, are injured belong to the poorest sections of the working people.  There should be adequate medical treatment and compensation for all the injured in the hospitals.   There are a number of injured who will be permanently incapacitated.  A programme of rehabilitation and means of livelihood  for the sustenance of their families should be  worked out.

3.     All juveniles held in jails should be released.  Cases of a minor nature against them should be squashed.

4.     The draconian powers conferred by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should be curbed.   The  Disturbed Areas Act applied in places like  Srinagarand other urban centres may be revoked.  This will automatically make the AFSPA inapplicable in these areas.

5.     Due to the prolonged economic standstill, many shopkeepers and small enterprises have been ruined.  Steps should be taken for reviving their trade and business enterprises and  providing financial assistance for the same.

6.     Not only is there rampant unemployment among the youth, the daily wage earners have been deprived of their livelihood in the past three months.  The government has to urgently initiate steps to generate employment and to compensate those who have lost their livelihood.

7.     There is a need to have a credible probe into all charges of police excesses.  This must be done speedily and anyone found guilty should be brought to book.

ACT AGAINST EXCESSES

One of the sore points  with the people is the failure of the Indian State to take action  against those found  guilty of excesses and human rights violations.  Earlier, in the Pathribal incident in which some army officers were involved, permission was not given to prosecute them.  In the recent Machil encounter in which three innocent villagers were killed on the pretext of their being jihadists crossing the border, no action has been taken. It is this last incident which began the whole cycle of the current protests.  The prime minister’s assurance that there will be zero tolerance of human rights violations must be implemented. Action should be taken against those found accountable for the false encounters.

HISTORY OF BROKEN PROMISES

The history of Kashmir is also one of a long record of broken commitments and promises.  The special status accorded to Jammu & Kashmir in the constitution through Article 370 has been eroded over the years.  Successive governments at the centre have failed to live up to the promise made to the Kashmiri people that their identity and special status would be ensured. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had promised maximum autonomy and stated that the “sky is the limit”.  The BJP-led government had refused to consider the resolution adopted by the Jammu & Kashmir assembly which called for restoration of the pre-1953 status as far as autonomy is concerned.  The reality is that both the Congress and the BJP are averse to the provision of more autonomy to the state.

The UPA government has a poor record as far as the political initiatives for  promoting a dialogue are concerned.  What was required was a dialogue which would involve all sections of the state.  Instead, in the first tenure of the government, there were the round table meetings held in Delhi and Srinagar and the formation of four sub-committees.   The report of the working group headed by Justice Sagheer Ahmed on centre-state relations was the most disappointing.

UNCONDITIONAL DIALOGUE

The Government should intiate the process for granting  maximum autonomy for the state and  autonomy for the three regions of  Jammu, the valley and Ladakh.  A  political settlement should reflect in the changes in the constitutional set-up to ensure such autonomy.  At the present juncture, what is required are the steps to bring about a semblance of normalcy and for democratic and peaceful political activities.  Having ensured that, the UPA government should waste no time in spelling out a framework for a political dialogue which should involve all sections.  This will be possible only if there are no preconditions set for the dialogue by any side.

What is of utmost importance is to instill confidence among the people of Kashmir that there is an earnest and sincere effort to discuss  all the issues concerning  Kashmir keeping also the people’s aspirations in mind.

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