In the fourth month of unrest, the political crisis in Kashmir sees no end. There seems no headway on the political front amid the shutdown calendars and massive ongoing protests headed by the separatist camp. The deal which the separatists endeavour to break with New Delhi by its shutdown Calendars so far proved ineffective.
New Delhi doesn’t seem to have moved an inch despite facing the massive political uprising in this northern region bordering with Pakistan and China. Though at certain points to defuse the crisis Narendra Modi led government in New Delhi tried to reach out to the separatists, however, it absolutely was not carrying any significant political message that could allure the separatist’s camp to break the deadlock on negotiation table. In the fourth month, however, the crisis is gradually fading and the protests are also dwindling substantially owing to the massive crackdown on separatists who are almost all behind the bars right now. The government figures suggest that more than 8000 youth have also been picked up by police involved in the protests and creating law and order problem. Though the figure is contradicted by the rights groups and locals who put it over 13000 but one thing is clear that the government has heaved a sigh of relief and ensured the err calm in the troubled valley.
The season of killings barring the unfortunate one of 13 year old Junaid in Old city last week has stopped now and substantially doused the anger of local populace and averted massive protests. So far this uprising recorded 91 civilian deaths, hundreds rendered sightless by pellet injuries. Over 10000 civilians got injured in the forces action. On the other hand two cops also died and more 3000 suffered injuries to handle the unrest. Massive damage to the public and government property was also reported though officially it is yet to be estimated.
But statistics suggest that the Kashmir is going through the worst phase of turmoil in last decade. If anything was left unscathed, that was damaged by the separatist’s shutdown calendars. The economy of valley has crushed which is evident from the desperate attempts of low business class people who set their stalls on the roadside to earn bread and butter for their families. Most of the shopkeepers also either do their business while pulling up shutters of their establishments partially or from the backdoors. Almost all the government offices have also started functioning smoothly and those who own personal transport also move normally. Now the resistance movement triggered by the killing of Burhan Muzaffer Wani-Hizb Commander and spearheaded by separatists on July 8 was left to fight by the few sections of society notwithstanding the en-masse participation of Kashmris from its nooks and corners initially. The government employees virtually bowed before the diktats of government and resumed their offices at a time when the ambulances were not safely plying on roads. The shopkeepers partially and fully in many places operate their business. The only sufferer who continues this resistance is either a student or a transporter. In fact among these students the upper middle class parents have already shifted their children to Jammu schools or to other parts of country. As the government is making all its efforts to bring normalcy on the roads of Kashmir without succumbing to the pressure of separatists, the scenes on the roads must also awaken this resistance camp and find the alternative to this long lasting battle without affecting a common Kashmiri. Unless the day is not far when their every move will lose the relevance among the masses which otherwise backed them overwhelmingly at every juncture in last 30 years of conflict.
The editorial appeared in Print edition of Oct 26 to Nov 1, 2016
