Mass upsurge in Kashmir

The POST, Sun, Aug,24, 2008.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

The land transfer issue and the consequent developments have given birth to an unprecedented upsurge in the Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). Both the Hindu dominated Jammu and Muslim dominated Srinagar were experiencing rioting looting and burning simultaneously. The rioters held both cities by their throats and violent mobs clashed with police. The economic blockade of he Kashmir by the Hindu rioter gave birth to communal frenzy which the state has not seen since the early fifties when Jan Singh launched agitation.

The intensity of the riots influenced Congress decision to seek help from BJP. As the mob roamed in the streets of both Jammu and Srinagar, the incumbent governor asked the Congress led government to take a vote of confidence. Abandoned by its coalition partner the Congress government fell and the Governor in accordance with the directive from the centre imposed the governor raj.

While the former governor Gen. (retd.) S.K.Sinha in his efforts to implement the Hindutva agenda was responsible for accelerating the accumulation of Kashmiris’ frustrations, the fuse was lit by the grant of 100 acres of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board only to be withdrawn after massive protests by the people of the state. The withdrawal caused reaction among the Hindus which resulted in the imposition of economic blockade.

Many Kashmiri people in IHK view the instant massive protests as the return of Kashmiri nationalism. It is somewhat unrealistic to regard the massive protest merely as the product of the land transfer issue. In fact it is the product of combination of many factors that include the deep rooted alienation, the discovery massive number of graves, the illegal land transfer, the allowing of economic blockade etc.

The way the Indian government behaved in allowing the economic blockade of the Kashmir valley clearly reflected the colonial mind. Perhaps that is why an important Kashmiri leader stated that Kashmir appears to be treated not as an integral part of India and the Kashmiris are nothing more than slaves.

In a press conference National Conference President Omar Abdullah while condemning the excessive use of force against the people of Kashmir reportedly said; ‘They (New Delhi) think we are not their Atoot Ang (integral part). They proved we are their Ghulams (Slaves). They think they can threaten us anytime because we are their slaves’. He further stated that the people of Kashmir are on the edge of cliff and ‘it is unimaginable to think where we are heading’.

In many ways the current land disputes reminds us of the Babri Mosque dispute. In 1949 the idols were illegally installed and the local Collector, a sympathizer of RSS, effectively blocked their removal which eventually resulted into a major dispute between the Hindus and the Muslims. Consequently it led to the demolition of the Mosque. Interesting the government of the day which happened to be a Congress government, did not make efforts to prevent the demolition of the Mosque by the Hindu rioters. Similarly the illegal transfer of land led to protests resulting into the withdrawal of land grant which in turn invoked the anger of the Hindu community. The Hindus imposed economic blockade against the Muslim areas of the state.

Since the basic issue has not been addressed, the people of Kashmir use almost every opportunity to reflect their deep seated anger and accumulated frustrations. The basic crux of the problem is the future status of the state which has to be decided by the people of Kashmir. This right has been repeatedly recognized by the United Nations Security Council but effectively denied by Indian successive governments.

What is perhaps most disappointing is the attitude of guardians of international peace and security. While they propagate high sounding moral principles, the record of putting them into practice is extremely dismal. If the case in question happens to be located in a third world or Muslim world, they merely lip service is paid. They apply them in areas where their own interest is directly involved and effectively block their application of those principles if their interests so requires.

Even more disappointing is the fact that despite Pakistan’s repeated assertion that the Kashmiris should be associated with the ongoing peace process especially in the basket that deals with the Kashmir dispute, the Indian response is pronouncedly negative. The Indian government has been continuously employing diversionary tactics in order to avoid any solution.

The massive upsurge of the Kashmiris clearly reflects their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs as well as the status of the state. Time has come that not only the great powers should intensify their efforts towards the resolution of this lingering dispute. They should try to influence the Indian government to take concrete steps.

Almost every member of the United Nations Organization recognizes the fact that the ongoing Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest disputes which has effectively denied any resolution so far. The main factors are not just the Indian obduracy but also the demonstrated apathy of the great powers. Many of them dismiss it as a territorial dispute which in fact reflects the disregard for the Kashmiri peoples’ aspirations.

The monumental protests in various parts of Kashmir clearly reflect a verdict against the Indian rule. Indeed this is not the first time that massive number of Kashmiris came out of their houses to register strong protests against the Indian rule. While the UN and biog powers as usual have tried to ignore these developments in IHK, the European Union seems to have taken note of them. Since the writings are on the wall, it would be advisable for both India and Pakistan to accelerate their efforts to resolve the dispute. The international community should also play their role in a more meaningful manner.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.