Ravi Nitesh
Rising Kashmir, 10 April 2018
http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/bridging-the-gap
Kashmir has been on turmoil since decades and no permanent or say, even long term solution was found. However, anyone who know little about Kashmir or if someone travels to Kashmir and talk to people there about the least possible measures to peace, one would know the importance of Vajpayee’s policy and its affect.
Despite the fact that Vajpayee represented a party that is known more due to its right wing ideology, his approach towards Kashmir was much different and full of humane touch.
People believe that his initiatives to dialogues, his actions to start cross LoC Bus services and trade are those long desired demands that provided direct benefit to people.
Narendra Modi, on the other hand adopted an all different policy and his reign witnessed much bloodbath in Kashmir, mistrust of people upon state and an open show of human rights violations.
Yashwant Sinha, who has been in the cabinet during previous NDA regime seems nearer to Vajpayee’s policy and visited the Kashmir in capacity of a concerned citizen. His delegation names as ‘Concerned Citizen Group’ that visited the valley in last week of October 2016 and since then, delegation has made at least three visits to valley and other cities of J&K and the fourth visit to areas near LoC.
They have also submitted report to PMO with the approach that it may be looked by the concerned officials for any possible recommendations. Report includes the analysis of situation, reason and recommendations.
During their first visit, group included eminent faces like Yashwant Sinha (Former External Affairs Minister), Kapil Kak (Former Air Vice Marshall of Indian Air Force), Wajahat Habibullah (Former Chief Information Commissioner and former Chairman of National Minorities Commission), Bharat Bhushan (Sr. journalist) and Sushobha Barve (Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation - CDR) and they all are highly regarded for their sensitivity on issues related to peace building and human rights.
Kapil Kak, who has been in the track II talks on Indo-Pak issues is the one who always stood for peace, encouraged young people towards tools of dialogues and peace building for a sustained development.
I met him on many occasions and had listened his thoughts patiently. He happily shared reports of the visit with me and encouraged to read these.
Their report found reasons of disturbances in Valley. During their meetings with various persons including civil society members, political representatives, traders, journalists and common people, they chalked out reasons as immediate one such as extensive use of force, use of pellet guns, night time raids, misuse of PSA, destruction of electric transformers, attacks on Kashmiri students outside, and reasons that are running since long such as refusal to recognize Kashmir as political dispute, refusal to recognize emotional and sentimental aspects of Kashmir issue, designating all Kashmiris as Pakistani agents and others.
While they tried to find problems from experiences and opinions of local people, they also discussed the possible solutions, people’s opinion and desire and after the analysis, they also provided recommendations as an interim measures to bring peace. These recommendations include release of first time offenders and minors under PSA, repeated minor offenders must be given counselling.
Compensation to those who got killed in police action, rehabilitation packages to those who permanently lost sight due to pellets, opening of a blind school and ban upon pellet guns.
They also said that there are measures needed to dispel perception that Kashmiris are being used for electoral tools.
It is of much importance at present that the central government should take these recommendations on board. Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti speaks about peace and reconciliation and in fact, it is of much appreciation that she regularly advocated for peace and dialogues in almost all forums.
Talking about peace, dialogues, reconciliation and solution, that also in a state like J&K deserves appreciation for her courage.
Presently, centre appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma is roaming in Kashmir and meeting with people. Efforts of any of such kind need to be acknowledged but on the other hand, regular violations by security forces, aggressive speeches by army general creates a mistrust of people upon state.
Earlier interlocutors and their reports could not be publicly discussed or followed yet and it adds the suspicion of people on the objective of state.
In such a situation, when there are sufficient issues about Kashmir problem already available in public domain and the fact that there is a trust gap between people and state, it is always in wisdom to initiate the process and action instead of discussion.
Vajpayee did that by initiating actions on ground that directly benefitted the people. Narendra Modi has only spoke about hugging Kashmiri people and wining their hearts and his Kashmir policy is still in discussion mode through his interlocutor’s meetings.
There is a greater need to take ground actions for peace. Reports of concerned citizen groups may help the government of it is willing to do so.
