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ands still wet with the blood of two policemen who were martyred on Hari Singh High Road on June 22, 2013, in what may be termed as an attempt to create mayhem ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to the valley; the terrorists managed to kill eight army personnel and injured several more. When will they realize that such acts of terror are no deterrence to India’s indomitable resolve for Kashmir and the Kashmiris to advance on the path of growth and development? The Economic Package: Inauguration of a railway tunnel to provide transportation service between Banihal and Qazigund, one of the highlights of the PM’s visit to the valley, is a sign of the nation’s commitment to the infrastructural development and creation of greater employment opportunities in the state. Redevelopment package for the state worth Rs 37,000 crore is no small earmarking. Spread over several sectors, the initiative was aimed at boosting the economy in the region and providing assistance to the internally displaced. It is also a bold attempt to assimilate the disaffected Kashmiri Muslim youth, ravaged by the ongoing strife perpetrated by the destructive forces of militancy and insurgency, into the mainstream thus giving them an opportunity to broaden their horizons and fully participate in India’s success story. The Myth of Self-Determination: Staying afloat in the murky waters of the Kashmiri politics, the Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference is set in his routine. Calling for a strike at the slightest pretext, his appeal for a general strike in the valley to protest against the Prime Minister’s visit wasn’t entirely unexpected. But, each time he calls for a strike, wittingly or unwittingly, he helps disrupt the daily lives of his unsuspecting followers. The octogenarian’s vision for Kashmir is myopic. It vacillates between gifting J&K to a failed state in the making - the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the one end, and self-governance on the other. But, he is not the only separatist; there are others, including many state actors, who appear to belong to the separatists’ fraternity in the state. While some are pursuing self-determination, the rest seem to favor anarchy. In fact, there are so many factions operating in the region that the distinction between their individual pursuits is blurry. Separatists aren’t the brightest stars in the sky, for if they were, they would have grasped a long time ago who their real enemy is. They would have then steered clear and maintained a safe distance from Pakistan’s malevolent designs on Kashmir and its people. Seeking moral and financial support from a country that itself is bankrupt on both accounts is a formula for disaster-in-the-making. With the tacit support from the militants and insurgents, separatists’ call for self-determination is in fact a death wish, and a fool-proof recipe for self-destruction. Why? History is replete with instances where violence has been at the core of most Islamic conquests. By that measure, should the separatists get what they wish for, they may find themselves as the very first victims of the perverted forces of radical Islam that are vying to overrun Kashmir. The myth of self-determination would thus dissolve into the reality of self-destruction. A Diabolical Plan: Recent incidents of unprovoked killings attributed to terrorist activities emanating from across the LoC portend the existence of a far more sinister plot than meets the eye. Earlier, in one of ‘My Musings’, a specter was raised as to the presence of an evil plan. It stated, “As irrational as it may seem, Pakistan’s unprovoked assault....sign of a meticulously planned conspiracy….a diabolical plan that was set in motion long before Pakistan ever carried out its first LoC violation of 2013”. Whether or not the separatists are privy to or complicit in that plan, if one exists, the rising incidence of violence suggests that their dangerous play may be nearing the final act. Unless they re-examine their unsustainable position vis-à-vis Pakistan and make amends with their own country, it is quite conceivable that they may themselves singe in the fires of discord they have lit. Incidentally, a formidable shield of the Indian Constitution is the only buffer that exists between their imprudent putsch while trading support with the militants, and the advancing Jihadists that are determined to take over the valley. Unlike the flaky governance in Pakistan, India’s democracy has withstood the test of time, standing tall, strong, and willing to offer the misguided lot, theirs for the asking, what they need most - security and protection against the menacing threat of militancy and insurgency. Is the Enemy Within? The separatists and the political parties alike have never failed to seize the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of Indian mollification. Yet, they remain forever committed to croaking at the behest of their conniving masters from within the state and from across the border. Often, with their inexplicable behavior, both, the state’s ruling party and the main opposition seem to convey an eerie sense of collaboration with the enemy. Here are a few examples of their positions that defy conventional wisdom and logic:
It is quite expected of the separatists to be unpretentious about their struggle for self-determination. They shall receive what they deserve. But, the activities of the leading political parties in the state are equally disconcerting. That they should indirectly encourage hostilities by siding against the larger interests of the Union, are the actions that border on subversion. Abdication of their foremost constitutional responsibility to work diligently in the best interests of the state and of the Union to which it belongs may potentially pose an internal threat that far outweighs any direct external threat from neighboring Pakistan. |
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