Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir can be seen in more contexts than would ordinarily appear. Not that it was his first visit after abrogation of Article 370, not that to take stock of the security scenario alone looking to infiltration of Pakistani armed men in Jammu’s Poonch and Mendhar areas and hiding in dense forests to carry out cowardly attacks, not only to seek clarifications from the security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir about perceptible security lapses that recently probably resulted in soft target killings by terrorists , not to extend his three day visit here just for a routine visit but to show complete solidarity with the people , lay stress on holistic development and extend ”friendship with the youth” . Besides all that, what matters most -the unequivocal message of ushering in total peace , progress and to tread the path of fast economic development- needs to be taken seriously. Developmental projects worth Rs.15000 crore having been launched in Jammu and Kashmir is a pointer towards the thrust on greater and faster development along with wiping Pakistan sponsored militancy and killing of innocent civilians.
It must be adequately noted by those elements advocating for some talks with either the sponsors of terror or even those who choose this destructive path of terror that there would be no talks with Pakistan while there were no reservations about talking to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. His saying that there would be no dialogue with Pakistan as he would rather prefer to talk to people of Jammu and Kashmir and its youth is conveying reaffirmation in the process of dialogue and discussions within the constitutional and democratic framework. Hence , his trust in the youth and expectations of them being partakers in Prime Minister’s vision of a peaceful and developed Jammu and Kashmir stems from the fact that people particularly the youth talked more about development and economic issues including employment related ones rather than any other non productive matters. The opportunity was not momentary but needed to be seized in a positive way.
While the Home Minister might have seriously pointed out certain weaknesses in the exercise of coordination between the Police, Army and para-military forces which has been one of the chief reasons of increase in terror violence in the valley, he did the other balancing act too to boost their morale in fighting a treacherous enemy not fighting in the open. That was exhibited in his visiting a CRPF camp in Lethpora Pulwama , a militancy hotbed where he not only talked at length to the security personnel , sharing food with them but spending in their camp a full night also. This was a message to the security forces that in the pursuit of fighting terrorism and related violence, the Government was all at their back and support. Claiming it to be his ”most important engagement” during his visit to the Union Territory , his assertion that Modi Government had zero tolerance policy towards terrorism needed to be read between the lines. It may be recalled that it is the same area of Lethpora where a Pakistani trained suicide car bomber blew himself up to cause martyrdom of our 40 personnel of CRPF last year. The Home Minister , at the Martyrs’ Memorial, also paid floral tributes to these brave martyrs lest their sacrifices for the motherland and in the pursuit of fighting the scourge of terrorism is not , even in the lest , forgotten while giving more strength to the said resolve in this respect especially on the day coinciding with 74th year of accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India. His longing for and expectations of ”seeing ” a peaceful Jammu and Kashmir – ”in our lifetime” was emotive as well as determinative of letting it happen. Piecemeal or short lived or inadequate peace in the Union Territory should be no reason of drawing any satisfaction but his call of ”total peace to be achieved” should be the aim and the vision of all .
His clarion call to the youth , “I want to be friends with the youth of the valley” (in particular) had an implicit message to come to terms in respect of throwing away any inhibitions regarding settling and resolving issues through talks .Such offers and assurances do not keep coming very frequently hence needed to be reciprocated positively. Speaking to people without a bullet proof shield , he brought home to those avowed critics about the rationale behind imposing internet restrictions and imposing curfew that as a result of exploiting the sentiments of people and abetting them to break law and order on abrogation of Article 370 , they could have been harmed by being exposed to police action. Meeting people by the Home Minister in the open without any security restrictions denotes building trust in them though much needs to be done and to achieve resounding results it was imperative to subdue apprehensions and doubts of any hue. Inaugurating houseboat festival at Dal Lake in Srinagar is a symbolic commitment of tourism related activities to generate employment avenues while fighting terror side by side.
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir needs to take ahead from where the Home Minister kick-started the intention to sincerely talk to the youth , that it should take enough initiatives in taking the youth in confidence and win their trust. At the same time, the youth need to reciprocate positively, adequately and materially in isolating and abhorring militancy and related issues. Setting up of 4500 Youth Clubs wherefrom nearly over 35000 youth having been benefitted need to be expanded in number and area so as to put an antidote to the activities and the nefarious designs of Pakistan trained and indoctrinated militants. Let the sweeping of new, soothing and pleasant breeze, now be not only felt but seen too by the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
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