JK News Today Commentary
We are in the middle of crisis , ironically soon after the healthiest Assembly elections in decades . The crisis has emanated from across the border. It is nothing unusual , but the difference this time is that Pakistan is targeting so many things all at once .
In late 1980s , when Pakistan lured the Kashmiri youth to launch an armed struggle against the Indian state it had a fertile ground in the Valley disenchanted and disillusioned by the 1987 Assembly elections which were alleged to have been cheated and disenfranchised the youth that were looking for a change . The democracy and its credibility was challenged.
Today, it is an altogether different scene. The democracy as won in all its forms and manifestations . Kashmir is happy and satisfied with the vote . The situation in which it voted gave it a lot of sense of empowerment that the vote has value. This empowerment came as a result of peace and the freedom that it gave to the voters to exercise their right to vote without any fear.
It was nothing short of a miracle . The vote in 2024 was not all about electing a government as per aspirations of the people but it made a huge geopolitical statement for rest of the world ; in which circumstances democracy flourishes and Kashmiris love that. This overturned several misperceptions that Kashmiris were not interested in their vote because they were averse to their contribution to the Indian democracy. They voted for the democratic institution when “ Bharat” Hindi and original name of the country had started replacing English word “ India’ in many quarters .This fact should not be overlooked.
Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister of J&K yet again with no questions on the elections and the vote is a face of the new-found democracy in the land , while the opposition represents other side of it . The ruling parties and opposition are fundamental to real time democracy .
In the times leading to the 2024 Assembly elections after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has seen and experienced epoch-making changes- the shadow of terror was removed to large extent and the new sunrise brought hope and promise for the people and their land . they sought to consolidate it through their vote.
There is a clear line to be read in this. They endorsed agenda of peace and prosperity of J&K unfolded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Home Minister Amit Shah , which was implemented in letter and spirit by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha . The guidelines were clear that peace for J&K is must and no design of Pakistan and its agents would be allowed to succeed .
This anti-terrorism approach of the Centre, vigorously pursued by Manoj Sinha , was taken in a mission mode . This was a national requirement because the Valley being in the grip of terrorism had brought several mortifying moments for the country . Manoj Sinha took it upon himself as a true nationalist to do not only as part of his duty and responsibility because of the office he held but also because as a true patriot . How could a part of the country, so strategic and sensitive like J&K, be watched in trouble . Doing nothing was no option . A proactive approach was needed and that’s what Manoj Sinha did by his strategic thinking in which an all-out and ruthless approach against terrorism and its ecosystem took precedence along side addressing other issues of the development .
After, the elections when the democracy was being celebrated , Pakistan could not digest it. Any celebration of peace and democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is an anathema to Pakistan . The reasons are not far to seek. Pakistan is guided or misguided by its approach of Islamic radicalism in which it sees Kashmir as its own part because of the Muslim-majority character of the erstwhile state . It has also rested its hope in the now defunct UN resolutions that Kashmir question would reopen at some point in time . Its anger multiplied when on August 5, 2019 India revoked Article 370 and the special status that it granted to Jammu and Kashmir from the Indian constitution .
And, after the elections and formation of the Government in J&K, Pakistan feared that post- Article 370 abrogation era would gain strength. It had lost the game yet again . It was a striking blow to its proxy war . This defeat made Pakistan jittery and that’s why it upped the ante on terrorism , activated and reactivated its terrorism network. The Kashmir is witnessing violence of gone by era yet again .
This is the crisis aimed at destabilizing J&K, its democratic structure, peace and life without fear of the people . It deserves a ruthless response . No compromise on terrorism is the mantra that LG Sinha has repeated . It should be implemented with renewed vigour against agents of violence , no mercy . It is also important that the institutions of democracy are made partners in this to make permanent peace an all-time reality. Chief Minister has already said that a partnership in peace-making effort is the way forward . Everyone agrees with this.
