Kashmir Peaceful wuth a Caveat: Lalit k kaul

 

Kashmir is Vibrant  and Peaceful with a Caveat

                                       Lalit K Kaul

G20 Summit in Kashmir symbolizes, for once, the declaration of India to the world that Kashmir is as much an integral part of India as any of her other states and that no messing/debate in/on Kashmir shall be tolerated/entertained. There couldn’t have been a more majestic way of proclaiming India's stand on Kashmir than holding the G20 Summit in there. Except Turkey and China all member countries of G20 participated including those from OIC.

The visibly elaborate security arrangements were necessitated to thwart any misdemeanor by the mentally sick Western neighbour. And, her “iron biraadar” was obliged to abstain as was the “Muslim biraadar”. Earlier too despite all the noises made by the “iron biraadar” with regard to Arunachal Pradesh, she was aptly responded to by initiating implementation of the schemes in the border State.

Ostensibly held to promote international “tourism” in Kashmir,  it was fundamentally a political statement made by India with aplomb and much fanfare in presence of countries that collectively contribute to 80% of world GDP.

The Homogenized Kashmir:

What meets the eye in Kashmir may be termed as refreshing what with Tricolour fluttering and the local Muslims youth and old swearing by India and supporting development activities in the Valley and looking forward to sustainable peace; as per their public statements to the press reporters- print and electronic media. The GOI having pumped in 37,000 crores in one year opens up many avenues for employment and growth.

All the initiatives of the central government may be looked at as the gift package/reward for those who had until recently challenged  Indian sovereignty led by their leadership- religious and political- under the banner “India has occupied Kashmir and should vacate it”.

But then, that ’s how a State employs all possible means to ensure integrity of its boundaries. The people are not as important as the boundaries are and it’s the prime duty of the State to safeguard the latter.

The rush of “Indian-ness” in the blood veins of the locals is a phenomenon that shall uncover its true colours in the Time to come. Only the Time will tell whether the display of Indian-ness is genuine or opportunistic. And, the litmus test would be whether this newly acquired Indian-ness shall dump the “mainstream” outfits and Hurriyat and vote for newly emerging political outfits in the upcoming elections. One can only wait and see.

Terrorism and Tourism:

Our Western neighbour’s hand in terrorism in the erstwhile state of J&K and now UT is beyond debate.  But, what shouldn’t be lost sight of is that the locals led by their leadership-religious and political- decided to wage a war for Pakistan against India and that Pakistan duly obliged as she had her own axe to grind. Terrorists’ outfits are still live and kicking, though lying low and awaiting orders from across the border.

India has taken a stand that terrorism and talks can’t go together. Yes, indeed.

Somebody tweeted: Can terrorism and tourism go together? To which I replied: terrorists won’t kill tourists as they bring them currency distributed among the populace and that currency is very handy in making bombs and buying arms to inflict wounds on the body of India. They may attack Sri Amarnath yatris as they are ordained to do so.

The Caveat:

The Kashmiri Pandits shall not return to the places in the Valley they lived in for many, many centuries. If they dare then the Target Killing squads are ready to strike and such executions have been perfectly carried out. The GOI has obliged them by forcing the Pandit families to live in segregated pigeonholes and from where they are to only peep out and not move out freely. To pronounce the success of “Kashmir Policy”, the PM package employees were forced to join back like goats thrown into lion’s/tiger’s den. None of those who, of late, have been flaunting Indian-ness have objected to the Pandit families being housed in segregated pigeonholes.

To meet with the demand of Homogeneous Kashmir, the GOI of India has not taken any initiative for rehabilitating the aboriginals in the places wherein they belonged. Instead, pigeonhole complexes are being built for the aboriginals to live segregated from local population. Common-sense would tell that by this arrangement the unwanted community becomes an easily accessible target to be hounded out if not completely eliminated with the help of bombs and arms purchased from the currency earned through tourism.

The locals flaunt their Indian-ness, but none from amongst them talk about the aboriginals. Compulsion to flaunt Indian-ness may be due to the fact that Pakistan is in dire straits and that necessitates being Indian until Pakistan revives to once again challenge the Indian integrity. One found FB discussions questioning receiving G20 guests by performing Aarti and suggested that instead versus from the Holy Quran should have been recited. Yes, indeed, that was an honest expression of the fact that Kashmir was Islamic region and not a part of “Kafir” India. The Apologists would say, “such are only in thin minority”, but history is a witness that it’s the minority thought that brought in transformations in their societies, while majority remained a silent spectator.

The Moral of the Story:

Challenge the integrity of India and bleed her for decades,  homogenize Kashmir and then get rewarded by the political leadership of democratic and secular India.

Be a patriot and the Indian voice in Kashmir; get branded as “Jansanghi” (communal) and “mukhbir”;  get ousted to become refugees in one’s own country to undergo harassments and humiliations and then face absolute indifference from those who swear by “Bharat Mata”.

Conclusion:

If one wants to have the Cake, acquire ability to hit and inflict wounds on hapless then one shall have it.

If one wants to be deprived of bread then be a Nationalistic and become a butt of ridicule.

BMKJ! VM!! JSR!!!