In an interview given to a TV channel, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has traced the roots of three-week-long strike and unrest in Kashmir in the unholy alliance among certain groups that have made creating unrest their business of life. She did not name the groups and elements that are part of this conspiracy, but it is evident from the diabolical statements of some out of power leaders that they would not desist from falling to the level of instigating people to indulge in mass rallies, stone throwing and damaging public properties.
The fact is that we may be practising democracy by casting votes and choosing a Government. The reality is that we have failed to imbibe democratic spirit in its proper manifestation. The first and most important stipulation of a democratic dispensation is tolerance in power and out of power, especially when out of power. The opposition has great responsibility when sitting on opposition benches. However, if it comes to personal vendetta or to overthrowing the Government, then such a democracy is to be abhorred and despised.
It is evident that those who give calls for strikes, mob violence or instigate the youth for attacking police stations and burning public property have sent their sons and daughters abroad to receive education and training in excellent institutions. As against this, they instigate the youth of poor families to come out on streets, throw stones, attack and vandalise public property and face the reaction of law and order maintaining agencies. And when they are wounded or disabled, they raise the cry for human rights and accuse the police and security forces of using overdose of power.
Mehbooba Mufti is the first Chief Minister ever since militancy began in Kashmir in 1990 who has brought the onus of disruption of law and order not only to the doorsteps of the separatists and secessionists but has also exposed the so-called mainstream political parties. In this way, she has exposed the fake nationalism of these parties, something which has often been said by honest and truthful people in the State. It is rumoured that lots of money has been made available to the separatists who are distributing it among the youth to create disturbance. Although the Chief Minister has not mentioned the name of any source that provides money to the miscreants, yet it is an open secret that some separatist leaders have been receiving money through hawala and other sources for keeping the pot of Kashmir unrest simmering. Castigating parents for not reining in their kids and wards, the Chief Minister has lamented that the teen aged kids who could become the asset of the State are brainwashed and forced to join the band of miscreants. Instead of being at the schools and colleges, they are made to be part of the vandals who are bent upon destroying their own house. Large public property has been destroyed and set on fire. This is the loss of the people of the State. It takes lot of time and money to rebuild the destroyed structures. There is hardly an example to be found where people become their own enemies and contrive their own destruction. The Chief Minister said that these acts of vandalism do not lead people anywhere. Issues are resolved through dialogue.
The notable thing about the Chief Minister’s statement is that she has not brought in Pakistan as the main culprit and the villain of the piece as is the wont with leaders in power. It makes sense. If we are able to win over the people they will not respond to those who want their destruction. The people need to understand what they are doing and what they are asking. Who has suffered the most as a result of twenty-five days of bandh? Who will lose further till the calendar of the leaders who have given a call for extension of bandh till 5th of August? It is the poor people of Kashmir, the wage earners, the labourers, the petty cabman, the petty shopkeeper, and the poor student who is hardly able to make hand to mouth living. For Kashmir economy it is disastrous to give a call for strike when it is the peak of tourist season. The roads are empty, the hotels are empty, house boats and restaurants are empty. Hundreds of thousands of people associated with these economic activities are put to great loss.
We would repeat the appeal of the Chief Minister to all sections of people in Kashmir to make some self-introspection and see what they are doing. Giving calls for strikes, raising anti-national slogans, fluttering ISIS and Pakistani flags, setting public property on fire and disrupting law and order are not the means that will help them achieve anything. Sanity must prevail and people should stop adopting confrontational attitude towards the Government on the behest of people with vested interest.
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