Prof.A.N.Sadhu
Yet another exercise is underway to initiate a dialogue for the resolution of Kashmir issue. Ever since independence, these dialogues have been held on continuous basis with some recess periods, owing to one or the other reason. Undoubtedly a dialogue is a better mechanism to arrive at resolutions, if these are well intentioned and held sincerely, in a transparent manner. It is recognized all over the world that ” Baat banti hai boli se, goli se nahi”. Leaders repeat it themselves, time and again. Latest repetition is by our PM. Even when this dialogue is going to be unconditional, it has to be held within contours of history and constitutional provisions of the country.
Can any dialogue be unconditional? No. such a dialogue will never yield any result.The only condition that need not be there is that anybody and everybody can come forward and talk to the interlocutor about his take on the historical evolution of J&K’s relationship with the Union of India.,
Kashmir has been under discussion for a number of reasons, the most prominent of which is the continued provocation from the neighbouring country. That the neighbouring country has been raking up the issue is not because it is interested in the welfare of the State, it is because of camofloaging their own shortfalls responsible for the country’s continuing instability. The stake holders, on this side of LoC, have to acknowledge it and come forward for an objective analysis while talking to the interlocutor, failing which it will result into another volume on Kashmir to be consigned to the archives as has been the case with earlier exercises.
Over the last 30 years, Kashmir has become a multidimensional problem not so much because of internal factors as because of external factors. The dialogue, therefore, is going to be more challenging than ever before both for the interlocutor and those who will be invited for talks or those who will wish of their won, to talk to the interlocutor. During the last three and a half years, people have been watching, very intensely, the situation in Kashmir and its handling by the central Government. Nothing changed substantially during the first two years but some dent was made on it during the last one year by adopting the Operation All Out both by State and central security forces jointly. The involvement of NIA into the investigation of money laundering and the involvement of locals in it has also made an impact. Even when terrorist activities have not completely ceased, violence has definitely receded. Has this emerging scenario created an environment of useful dialogue that is going to be undertaken? Every rational thinking person will welcome the dialogue but it has to be result oriented. Some exhaustive reports on interlocution starting from K C.Pant and the latest one from Mr. Padgaonkar and his team, have been gathering dust in the shelves. That the present initiative will not meet the same fate is haunting the public.
People view the present initiative from different angles both internal and external. Internally, the excitement of the past three years, is slowly giving way and resentment in some quarters is brewing up because of the failure of wiping out black money from the system, eliminating corruption and controlling the price rise, Demonitisation, GST and Linking Aadhaar with every thing is also making people uncomfortable in several ways, although all these initiatives have been launched to correct the distortions and put the systems in proper perspective. Externally the happenings in the immediate neighbourhood and the global concerns of wide spread terror, are worrying the people about their security. The State of J&K being sensitively placed both geographically and strategically warrants a special attention.The time, therefore, seems to be ripe to initiate a dialogue process and explore the ways for long term peace and stability which will significantly impact the geo-political scenario of the region externally the position of India will become strong as the ambassador of global peace.
The question that needs to be addressed is; what is going to be the nature of dialogue and its broader contents. The stake holders are not only the three regions distinct geographically and culturally but also the different ethnic groups, primarily Kashmiri Pandits who have been living an exiled life for last 30 years, inspite of being the aborigins of Kashmir. The dialogue has to be held in an environment of cordial atmosphere with an objective of understanding the different, perhaps also the new dimensions that have been added to this issue. The issues that stand settled and have become a part of the history, need not be raised because this will make the exercise a futile one. A fresh look at centre-state relationship from an economic point of view is always required to promote faster development of a region particularly the one having a unique geographic, physiographic and climatic endowment.
The Kashmir issue needs to be addressed earnestly. The clock can’t be reversed nor can we go back to accession, which is a settled issue, be it viewed anyway. The Articles 370 and 35A are not of much relevance after 70 years of journey from 1947, when the instrument of accession was signed as per the provisions laid down in the Act of independence. Whether it is poetic or political, the aspects of Insaniyat, Jumoriyat and Kashmiriyat are very relevant and all stake holders will have to bear it in mind while entering into dialogue on Kashmir.The damage done to these tenets of peaceful living will have to be repaired to arrive at a purposeful conclusion of the talks. Neither the history nor the constitution can be rewritten. The wisdom demands that the issue is discussed with a focus on development for which peace is imperative and any fresh dialogue should strive at achieving that objective.
All the three regions need equal focus. No region is less or more important. There have been simmering of discrimination which need to be taken note of. May be the lopsided development of the State has resulted from this lapse of not giving equal and adequate attention to all the regions and the men and material resources available within these regions. The world is changing fast and to keep pace with that change demands that every part of the world is more focused on development to foster peace and progress than engaging into hair splitting of issues not having material content.
Kashmiri pundits are important stake holders to any dialogue and their concerns will have to be addressed adequately. They have played a significant role in the history and culture of the State and have richly contributed to the development of the State in all spheres. While living in exile for the last thirty years, they have not failed in exhibiting their merits, talents and capability which is a testimony to the historical assertion of their meritorious services to the State.
The interlocution is fine but I have always been holding the view that a dialogue among the cross section of civil society of the State needs to be promoted for an objective assessment of the concerns relating to Kashmir issue. There have been number of such exercises undertaken by National and International NGO’s and self styled citizen groups which have been of no avail and nor shall these be useful in so far as the complexities involved in the Kashmir issue are concerned. Let the powers that be and the civil society itself promote this dialogue to find a lasting solution to Kashmir issue.
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