How to break the socio-politico nexus that normalises violence?
Let’s be honest to ourselves, and analyse – what did the “political movement” give Kashmir… except graveyards, sufferings and pain. The society that boasts of rich and vibrant culture of empathy, tolerance and love, has been reduced to a junkyard of frustration. The protracted conflict is eating vitals of our society. The alarming penetration of narcotic substances among our youth should have made us all restless, but the story is different. It seems not an issue for us at the collective level.
Politics, no matter how genuine, can wait, but what does one make out of the silence over the drug abuse our society has been subjected to by visible and invisible forces. Have we really given up to whatever is being done to us for the sake of reaching some mystified political goals?
There is an urgent need for a realistic and practical political order in J&K that will help allow people to live in peace!
In a democratic setup people have freedom to raise voice against any injustice, and be assertive about it. But in any case, the rule of law is to be obeyed and upheld. Anarchy and chaotic means of protest weakens the case of the people by divesting it of legitimacy. Discipline, on the other hand, ensures progress, and safety of protagonists.
Beyond secessionists and Pakistan, there are factors responsible for blood-letting and destruction in the state. The machinations of the mercenary intelligentsia are far more dangerous than somebody wielding gun.
The structures that have been created with the patronage of people in the system have been on the forefront to create environment of hate against the country. By glamorising violence, this class of people is exploiting hopelessness among our youth.
The kind of lies, conspiracies and propaganda they shell out, has devastated many families. Their falsehood needs to be countered through imaginative ideas that offer hope and enlightenment to youth whom they have been misguiding and pushing into the depths of purposelessness.
No one will object to actions against those who breach peace, but punishing an entire population for the sins of few is not justified, nor justifiable!
Though there is a perceptible change in the security scenario in Kashmir, the major challenge, however, for the government remains: how to break the socio-politico nexus that normalises violence in Kashmiri society?
Identifying those who have been legitimizing violence is important to create order. It will also encourage sensible people to come forward and contribute in ending the ongoing madness.
Jammu and Kashmir is heading for a different course. For the first time, in last three decades, the state seems acting like a state.
Will it serve the purpose, it is to be seen. But, so far it is showing some encouraging results.
No nonsense approach to deal with the situation will help in saving lives. It will allow people to prosper and grow. That is what a common man here aspires for.
People are tired of bloodshed. No father wants to carry coffin of his son. No mother wants to wail over the dead-body of her lost child.
Identifying those who have been legitimizing violence is important to create order. It will also encourage sensible people to come forward and contribute in ending the ongoing madness.
The decline in violence is encouraging. New recruitment to terror ranks is showing downward slide. But it won’t qualify for being the state’s success unless the efforts are sustained.
Banning highways and creating unnecessary hassles for people should not be the answer.
No one will object to actions against those who breach peace, but what is the sin of a common man who leaves his home to earn— and a student who goes out to study? Punishing an entire population for the sins of few is not justified, nor justifiable! There is need of better ways to deal with the situation to win over the public trust.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Kashmir made many things clear.
First, India is now looking for unconventional ways to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and win their trust. That is why Mr Shah didn’t meet any politician from J&K, barring those from his own party — the BJP.
Second, there will be no compromise on development, accountability and delivery of the public services to people.
Government of India has been accused of maintaining different yardsticks when it comes to dealing with corrupt politicians and officials in J&K.
Punishing an entire population for the sins of few is not justified, nor justifiable! There is need of better ways to deal with the situation to win over the public trust.
Such an approach has emboldened some of these politicians, top officers and businessmen, who have brazenly looted the state and have thus far remained unscathed.
This violation of public trust had been allowed with a special impunity in the garb of “national interest”.
How ironic!
The crackdown against the high and mighty in the state is reassuring. At a place where an ordinary clerk would be punished for taking a bribe of few odd bucks, and the powerful accused of usurping millions rewarded— these are very significant developments, offering an opportunity to make course corrections.
The machinations of the mercenary intelligentsia are far more dangerous than somebody wielding gun.
As said, “Power of intention brings energy to our actions to assure accomplishment of purpose.”
So, there is an urgent need for a realistic and practical political order in J&K that will help addressing complexities of the issue, and allow people to live in peace!
—by Javaid Trali