Thursday, March 9, 2017

It pays to be a separatist in Kashmir

The recent exposé of Syed Ali Shah Geelani's grandson getting a plum posting has once again exposed the working of an unimaginative,  thoughtless government in handling the Kashmir issue.

Over the years, it has become abduntaly clear that none of governments irrespective of the party they belong to have any vision, strategy or plan to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio. They have no expert for this conundrum.

There was a hope that with Modi government in centre and BJP in power in Jammu & Kashmir, there will be atleast  a clear thought process on the way forward.

But unfortunately, the BJP has continued with the policy that has plagued the Indian system for too long. The lack of vision and misconceived notions of Sangh Parivar (who is quite active in Kashmir issue) have taken situation from bad to worse.

The first thing that was expected out of Indian state after the new government took over was to stop extending favours to separatists in hope of winning them over. Second was to weed out the pro-seperatists government officials, act against them and atleast ensure that they are given postings that are insignificant, with very limited influence. Third, but very important was to keep heat on the seperatists by ensuring that legal cases against them are taken to their logical conclussion. And last but most important was to have people who are loyal to the state and government in key administrative positions.

All these basic principles has been grossly violated in J&K and today the whole nation is paying the price of this folly.

From offering MBBS seat to Syed Salauddin's son in early 90's to helping Asiya Andrabi's son get admission in Malaysia, to offering VIP treatments to anti-India rabble rousers, to the recent incident of giving a government job to Geelani's grandson, all show the government assumes their acts of foolishness as magnanimity.

It does not require even commonsense to see that the key postings in the Kashmir valley across government departments from judiciary to police department to horticulture to key educational institutions are with people who are seperatist sympathisers. Last year a senior police officer heading a very crucial post in South Kashmir was believed to have acted as a broker in a dispute that erupted between Abu Dujan of L.e.T and now dead Burhan Wani, who was then the head of Hizbul Mujahedeen in Kashmir. If sources are to be believed, even the death of Burhan Wani was not a chance encounter, but an attempt by a senior police officer to please his political bosses to consider him for the top role in his department. A DSP, who is now on deputation to another department was hired by Mufti government inspite of being a former deserter. He was supposedly hired on a recommendation of a well known separatist leader. By turning a blind eye to the background of these employees while recruiting and posting them on important postings after giving them a job – the field is left open for the anti-India elements in J&K to create an entire ecosystem that takes salary from government but works for seperatists.

Indian state over the years have always acted in a way that has always put the well wishers of Indian state or for that matter, people who supported Indian state for whatever reasons including personal or materialistic gains at risk. Ikhwanis, who almost wiped out the militancy in Kashmir (their approach and creation can be debated) were exposed and given almost as gift to be killed by ISI backed terrorists. Kashmiri Pandits, who have always been Indians from the core of their heart, enjoying tremendous respect (even by their adversaries) for their sincerity towards work have been denied job opportunities in Kashmir or sidelined when it comes to key positions in the state machinery. Even non Kashmiri speaking muslims, who form a sizeable population of the state and are largely seen as pro-India have been ignored and discriminated. All policies in Jammu & Kashmir are planned in such way that they are favourable to valley residents, especially to seperatist sympathizing population.

Multiple cases against terrorists and seperatist leaders are lingering in courts for decades. From henious crimes like murders, assassinations, rapes, to cases like sedition, hawala, assault on law officers have seen no closure. People like Yasin Malik, Bitta Karate, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and many others have virtually no fear of the law. In 2006, the TADA designated judge Mr.Wani while giving his judgement on releasing Bitta Karate said the following "The court is aware of the fact that the allegations levelled against the accused are of serious nature and carry a punishment of death sentence or life imprisonment but the fact is that the prosecution has shown total disinterest in arguing the case, which is in complete violation of Article 21 of the Constitution." Even after 27 years, there has been no progress in the case against Yasin Malik on the charges of killing 5 Airforce officers. Law in Kashmir today is not a deterrent but a great motivator, as it gives instant fame without any fear of punishment.

It is time that Indian state comes out of the delusian they can purchase peace. Because peace is not in the intrest of the people they  buy up from. For them conflict means money. The message in Kashmir is clear; if you want incentives
join the chorus "Hum kya chahte azadi"

https://rainaamit.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/%e2%80%8bit-pays-to-be-a-separatist-in-kashmir/