B L Saraf
From all accounts it appeared that Prime Minister had undertaken a day’s visit to the State to underline importance of all round development which could usher in peace and prosperity to all regions of J&K. The impression got strengthened when PM Narendra Modi dedicated number of high valued infrastructure projects of development to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, at a one go. PM spoke at various places and on different occasions, during the day. His common refrain was,” there is one solution to all problems and that is development.” He called for balanced development of all three regions of the State.
True, development can solve many issues. But concept of today’s development is grossly different from what it used to be in not so distant past. Modern concept of development isn’t economic progress, simpliciter. Development means nothing if it is not sustainable, or is human rights non- compliant. There must be regard for some basic rights of the citizenry. It is very complicated in J & K. PM has to take a holistic view of the matter. Economic prosperity alone won’t yield desired results. Let us be clear : Jammu and Kashmir is not a economic problem. We witness, here, a convoluted mix of economy and weird politics, with more emphasis on the later. This disproportionate emphasis has brought all engines of the progress to a grinding halt. Economic amelioration can only act as a facilitator and not a clincher of the issue.
The ‘development ‘ component will prove effective, only, if it is backed up by a simultaneous and well thought out political component. A dialogue must commence. In this context, one may take note of the signals which emanate from important members of the separatists group. Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone, while addressing people in Kupwara on occasion of death anniversary of Late Abdul Gani Lone, have expressed hope that GOI will soon start a dialogue with Kashmiris. When that is to happen, we trust Professor has his ‘ other ‘ colleagues on board.
Then, there is a dilemma. Will they care to listen whom PM has intended to talk to about development and sought their alignment with” your own family” in the mainstream : and for whom he had passionate advice to shun violence ? They can’t be averse to the idea of development. Someone should tell the ‘ misguided ‘ youth that it does no good to any one – certainly not to them for whose ‘liberation ‘ they put their lives in the line of fire- to shun the thought of development and espouse cause of whole sale destruction. These ‘misguided’ should leave some intellectual space for the prosperity component and not let out their all faculties to the prophets of doom. Unfortunately, it looks that these merchants of gloom have overtaken the ‘ misguided.’ They seem to have no attraction for the concept of development.
That is why we see highly qualified technocrats and academics, who are gainfully employed, queued up to embrace death and destruction in a mistaken bid to reach heaven. It is a travesty, that in present day Kashmir no one complains about economic deprivation so hard as some do it for” other” purpose.
For the ‘misguided ‘ youth in Kashmir, who have taken to the gun, surely it is problem of the plenty. Nonetheless, It will be in their supreme interest if they understand that what PM Modi is speaking to them is being spoken to the ‘misguided ‘ young on the other side of LOC, by none other than the PAK Army Chief himself. Gen Bajwa has been telling students across Pakistan Universities to shun the path of violence, concentrate on studies and come on the road of Law and Constitutionality.
PM visit had another message, also: political importance of which cannot be lost sight of. Before coming to Kashmir PM led Central government had positively responded to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s call for peace during Ramdhan, in the hope that this will help Valley come out of its vicious circle of violence. Central government has asked security forces not to launch operations during this month so that people can observe their religious obligations without inconvenience.
There is a general feeling among the public that an attempt to provoke violence and sabotage peace measure will not be viewed favorably by people of Kashmir. Former C M, Omar Abdullah has said that if the terrorists fail to respond to the ceasefire offer they will stand exposed as” the enemies of peoples.”
It fell in fitness of things when PM Narendra Modi invoked importance of the days and said”Holy month of Ramdhan is the time when we rededicate ourselves to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It is honor that I am here this month.” As was his invoking of former P M AB Vajpayee’s line of thinking to resolve the issue around values of ‘ Kashmiryat, Insaneyat and Jamhooryat.” Modis’ reference to his own thoughts,on the issue, expressed from the Red Fort -Delhi- in his last year’s Independence Day speech – that all issues must be solved by embracing one another and not firing at one another – were refreshingly encouraging.
PM Narendra Modi reach out is clear and visible. If they sincerely care for the people, the ‘ other side ‘ in Kashmir must respond favorably.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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