Col J P Singh, Retd
I loathe casting aspersion on youth because they are our pride and future of the nation but the way Kashmiri youths have sprung a civil war on themselves exhorts me to discuss them in that context. Budgam encounter videogarphy showed youth literally opposing and preventing SF personnel from carrying out operation against the militants holed up in a house and losing three young lives in the bargain. This was despite the recent warning of the army chief that such actions will be viewed as anti-national activity and dealt with accordingly. Youth doing it and losing lives is a bitter pill to swallow. I firmly believe that youth are the pillars of a nation and future of India lies on hopes and aspirations of its youth. India is a youthful nation. Youth are the engine of growth. Conversely and pitiably I see the future of youth in the valley despicable. It is amply clear that many, if not most, youth in the Valley do not share the aspirations that bind rest of the Indian youth together. I see narrative of Kashmir taking a distinct course, different from rest of the country which leads its youth on war path. Ironically they are being pushed into it by the religion driven bigots. They are being commanded by militant commanders to pelt stones for Islam. I connect to agitating youth not only because they belong to my state but because of many other reasons. I see Kashmiri youth as innovators, IAS aspirants, remarkable test players, Bollywood actors / singers, (remember Dangal Girl) and disciplined military men. Why should they be stone pelting on the security forces which they aspire to join. Every recruitment rally is a sight to see and lessons to learn. They should be studying, learning, performing and aspiring for bigger achievements. And I comprehend Kashmir as heaven on the earth, a paradise, and Switzerland of the East. I can’t miss Kashmiri catch phrase ‘Hamlawar Khabardar – Hum Kashmiri Hain Tiyaar’. Kashmir Banega Pakistan, Azadi and stone pelting going viral instantaneously is alien to my understanding of Kashmir issue. What has gone wrong and who is to be blamed has lost it relevance. However it is secessionism and the religious bigotry which has turned the paradise into hell. Religion has been completely eroded in the valley. The tolerant, mystical and spiritual Islam has been pushed aside and ridiculed. Youth belief has been distorted from the real Islam that they don’t consider it Islam any longer. They are being turned urchins by Maulvis who are generally outsiders. The pandits were driven out and moderates and Sufis are being eliminated. So far as the religion is concerned, it is not only radicalizing youth but also taking away everything else which belongs to them. Sunni youth are brainwashed into believing that religion backed insurgency can get them Azadi. Fear of gun and social ridicule makes public mute spectator whereas indoctrination, cash rewards and relentless Pak support favours insurgency and keeps the pot boiling. I understand that India has also made mistakes over the years while this govt seems willing to mend those wrongs. Undeniably India has made a hash of managing Kashmir by day dreaming and appeasement.
Azadi dominates the agenda of youth in the valley today. Thus the question arises, are they genuine protestors and understand implications of demand. Or are they misguided youth, over-ground workers, street urchins or hired goons for Azadi drama? Going back to the history, since 1987, Muslim youth from the valley were taken to Pakistan where they are trained in arms and brainwashed to unleash Jehad in J&K. Today they are not going to Pakistan but Pakistan has come to them. Young boys are being turned criminals and terrorists by ISI. ISI agents are prompting 10-12 years old youth into stone pelting and turning them into child soldiers. I have seen young boys and girls turned child soldiers in Srilanka and am reminded of own stone pelting. As students, five of us faced a police case for stoning a bus and see no reason why shouldn’t the stone pelters be prosecuted. While we did it impromptu and regretted, valley youth are doing it deliberately without any genuine reason when their elders, the Hurriyat are already agitating for Azadi and main stream political parties are fighting for autonomy and self rule politically. Let them do their job and youth do their own ie study and brighten their future. But they are doing what is being thrust upon them allegedly for money and religious motive. Some get closer to the SF personnel, hit them, snatch weapon and provoke them to fire pellets at them to make a hue and cry. TV channels make TPR out of it. Paid stone pelting on the SF fall in the category of mercenaries which is an issue of human rights violation apart from a crime. To my understanding, they are being misguided in Madarsas, turned to urchins by religious zealots and the separatists are making them child soldiers, all of which are human rights violators. No one is raising this issue because it won’t be TPR friendly.
What can be done to get them to the mainstream? Ms. Mufti seems to be handling this issue sensibly after the recent Budgam incident. Her appeal to the parents to control children from coming out during anti-terror operations is workable. An emotional approach is desirable under difficult circumstances. Her overall approach to the problem is pragmatic and conciliatory. She should involve popular social and political leaders and the govt agencies in reaching out to the stone pelters directly or indirectly and prevail upon them to shun the stone pelting. She should also repeal her statement on compensation to stone pelters. Instead she should consider relief and security for families yearning to shun violence and keen to embrace peaceful livelihood. She should facilitate return of Pandits and creation of Sainik Colony in the valley. Other things which she needs to look at are rampant corruption, good governance and employment. Jobs are either sold or given to the blue eyed. No action is taken against the criminals and corrupt because law enforcing agencies are in hand and glove with them. Taxes and electricity bills are not paid. Development funds are bungled. Youth are disillusioned. Their future is gloomy. She must reverse youth disillusionment. Militancy, terrorism and breakdown of law and order should be left to the security experts and all the other contentious issues must be dealt with politically.
Politicians have also failed the state. When in power they are status-quoist. When out of power they fuel troubles and alienation. Whenever they get an opportunity, they undermine the govt to score a brownie point. Under the compelling circumstances if stone pelting becomes order of the day, there are other options. Centre can dismiss the state govt, impose President rule. If India is generous to Kashmir by appeasement, it can be tough enough not to allow any unethical and anti-national activity. Simultaneously centre can initiate direct talk with aspiring youth and redress their genuine grievances such as unemployment and alienation. India must also make it abundantly clear that religion backed separatism will be dealt with iron hand. India is a secular state, it just can’t let it happen. Pakistan, on the other hand must be militarily humiliated. While the Chief has warned the army to be ready for a conventional war, another surgical strike may be desirable to show Pakistan its place. Declaration of American President, “will end Islamic terrorism form the face of the earth” must be exploited to Pak disadvantage. The ruling elite in Pak must be made to realise that route to militancy will lead them to doom and destruction.
Coming again to the main question, who are the stone pelters? No aspiring youth will walk into bullets. Who are they needs no description. Obviously they are over-ground workers of ISI. They are the drugged youth, paid and forced into the trap in the presence of media. This proves that stone pelters are hired goons and are being made sacrificial goats by the separatists to pursue their Azadi agenda. Hence the evil must be nipped in the bud.
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