B.L. Saraf
The octogenarian separatist leader Ali Shah Geelani is in news for the second time in this year, for the reasons best avoided . In summer he, preposterously, equated return of Pandits to the camping of Mossad and a precursor to the demographic change in the Valley; now he cites ecological reasons, as a camouflage, to scuttle the annual Amarnath Yatra. A sudden surge in the ecological activism of Ali Shah Geelani, unknown hither to, is indeed amazing. His heart bleeds for ” melting of glaciers of the Valley, felling of trees, Macadamising of roads leading to the mountains.” Earlier none heard him raising such a concern when in Kashmir loot of forest wealth , felling of majestic Chinnar and mindless cutting of protected walnut trees went on in the last two decades. He didn’t utter a single word on Dal lake turning into a sewer pond, or, on the conversion of Saffron land into the automobile workshops, spilling toxic oil with devastating effect on the local environment. It was condoned as a part of the” on going freedom struggle.” The cement plants set up in non- designated areas go on polluting the atmosphere.
Tide seems to have started to turn. So, someone must have reminded the separatist leader of the advice Bernard Baruc, an American political thinker, has for a politician,” A political leader must be looking over his shoulders all the time to see if the boys are still there. If they aren’t still there, he is no longer a political leader.” Motivated reference to the Israeli intelligence agency and increasing volume of the Yatris to the Holy cave are made to prop up his sagging political fortunes and keep the pot of death and destruction boiling in the State. Flock must be kept together which compels Geelani” to look over his shoulders.” Or, is there something else to it? Addressing his supporters a few days back , Geelani described Amarnath Shrine Board a” launching pad for carrying out religious, social and ecological aggression.” He then castigated the Governor, who heads the Board,” as running a State within the State through the office of Shrine Board.” He alleged the government was planning to construct”Amarnath Nagar”along the Yatra route. Earlier, he described the increase in Yatra volume as an attempt by the ubiquitous SanghPariwar to launch a “Dharamyudh” on Kashmiris. Geelani’s refusal to have an aerial view of the route, proposed by the government, indicates environment is not his concern .
Geelani and ShabirShah demand disbanding of the Shrine Board and entrustment of charge of the Holy Cave and management of the pilgrimage to the Pandits. Flattering words indeed! They would ring sincere if these leaders had ever spoken about the plight of hundreds of Pandit’s religious places lying vandalised in Kashmir. Nor has there been a word in support of Kashmiri Hindus demand to have a law for the protection of their temples and religious places. Though, some of these religious places have been restored with the active help of the locals.
Same thing is said about the increased tourist flow to the Valley. One may recall the Baltal route was adopted for the Yatra more on the demand of residents of Kangan and Sonamarg area. They rightly saw a big economic opportunity in the move. The Hurriyat leaders should visualise the huge economic potential of these events. Monies generated by them trickle down to every soul in the Valley. Take out this component, what remains in the Valley by way of economic resources? May be, counterfeit currency, unethical money generated by the Havala transactions, poppy yields and corrupt cuts of the State spending. Someday law will catch up the manipulators. Given the meagre industrial and trade base, how will then a common Kashmiri survive? He would definitely look to other things. It would be pertinent to recall International Herald Tribune of 14 4 1989, where someone reportedly said, ” If I were a Brazilian without land, or money, or means to feed my children, I would be burning the rain forest too.” Ecology is good survival is essential.
The scars of 2008 Amarnath land row are too fresh to be reopened which brought the State to the brink of a communal disaster. Despite the provocation, the Jammuites have shown a marked restraint so far. So have Kashmiris ignored the divisive ranting. But then we are living in a highly volatile atmosphere where one spark could start a major fire, engulfing all of us. One hopes Geelani Sahib and his friends have learnt lessons, as seems to have been done by the opposition party which was a part of the coalition government in 2008 and whose role in raking up the ugly controversy can’t be forgotten .Fortunately, Kashmir civil society members have stepped in. They are well meaning persons of emancipated outlook. We can trust their intentions and hope, with their intervention, better sense will prevail .
Government has denied construction is going on en route the Shrine. To prove the point it took media persons on aerial survey of the road. They have testified to its claim. The Government has to be pro-active on this very sensitive issue and, simultaneously, take care of the State’s fragile environment. The ecological and environmental issues are too serious to be politicised. A holistic view has to be taken in the matter. We are witnessing fatal consequences of the climate change. The trend has to be arrested before it spells doom for all of us.
(The author Former Pr, District & Sessions Judge )
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