In a bid to practically give teeth to the famous dictum of Abraham Lincoln that ‘Democracy is the Government of the people, by the people and for the people, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has proved she can honestly uphold the principle as well as practically run the Government along enviable norms of equity, justice and humanism. Democracy is the only known form of Government which not only claims but practically owns people as the props and pillars of Government and the real source of its strength. Failure of a democratic Government reflects failure of its managers to overcome human weakness of nursing animus and hatred against dissenters and failure to forsake the vicious sentiment of revenge.
We have militancy in the state and have the youth gone astray from the national mainstream, the path of righteousness and human values. Unfortunately, they have been misled by vested interests.
When she assumed the reins of the Government, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti promised to review the cases of a large number of youth in detention on charges of throwing stones and indulging in street rabble rousing. In the first phase, she examined such cases from the year 2008 to 2014, and as a result 104 cases involving 634 youth were withdrawn within two months of her assuming power. The process of review had to be suspended temporarily owing to eruption of unrest in 2016, but has been revived. In a major decision, the Chief Minister recently approved the withdrawal of cases against 4327 youth involved in 744 cases of law and order nature. Elucidating her decision of approving withdrawal of these cases, she actually dealt with what may be assumed as the human aspect of the issue. They are the youth, immature and perhaps oppressed by certain social-economic constraints that led them to giving vent to their pent up anger and deprivation. Forces with vested interest sensed their deprivation and converted it into rage and resentment against the Government. A responsible Chief Minister could not close eyes to the reality and once the police authorities confirmed that there were no serious criminal charges against them, the Chief Minister took no time to approve their release. She has not only performed formal act of release as an administrative matter but has added humanistic and personal touch to the entire phenomenon of stone throwing and other aberrations to which the youth have become a victim. This is a laudable decision that is bound to win the hearts of thousands of youth and their families. Policy planners have never lost sight of the youth returning to normal life after leaving behind the dark phase of misguidance. This is why the Government has provided various avenues for gainful employment of the redeemed youth segment. Training institutes, skill imparting units, scholarships, increased avenues of employment, opening entry to multi-national and corporate sector and above all facilitating inexpensive professional/technical education etc. are all the efforts of rehabilitating the misguided youth of Kashmir.
Addressing Attestation-cum-Passing-Out Parade of 947 cadets at Police Training Centre (PTC) in Kathua, the Chief Minister paid tribute to the brave and dedicated police personnel of JK Police Department who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation. It has to be understood that J&K Police are facing very difficult and sensitive situation with utmost discipline and restraint. The example of JK Police handling the situation in a unique way is a class service the like of which is not to be found in any other state of India. She exhorted the police to consider the stone throwers of teenage not as criminals but simply misled youth. They have to be handled with affection and tolerance. Though, the police and security forces are performing the duty assigned to them to respond to the challenge of militants and terrorists, yet in broader sense of the term, complete eradication of criminality is possible only when the thinking and mindset of vulnerable segments of society is framed along healthy and positive lines. That is not the job to be performed by the gun but by patient persuasion, development and good governance.
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