Kashmir: An iron fist proving to be less effective

Those pelting stones in Kashmir don’t seem to be stopping despite the lapse of time (and the use of tear gas shells, pellet guns and bullets). These young men are being viewed in various ways. Farooq Abdullah had stated on the eve of the Srinagar byelection that those young men throwing stones are doing so for their nation. This statement of his came under scathing criticism from various quarters and sections of the media and was dismissed by many as a pre-election statement.

Another way of looking at those pelting stones, as gleaned from sections of media, is that these are pro-Pakistan elements. They are being instigated by Pakistan and that they are doing this for money. Stone-pelting has been used as a method of protest in Kashmir since ages but it has become more glaring and frequent in the last few years. Intimidated by terrorists-militants on one side and security forces on the other, these young men have been resorting to pelting stones as a form of protest and anguish. One can see a clear pattern in worsening repression and an increase in their activities. Usually, after every major act of hanging-killing, the protests have become more intense, for instance, after the hanging of Maqbool Butt (1984), then after the hanging of Afzal Guru (2013) and now after the killing of Burhan Wani (2016).

Who are these boys who pelt stones? Are these merely Pakistan-inspired and Pakistan-funded youth? In the aftermath of state crackdown, hundreds have died, thousands have been wounded and many more have lost their eyesight! A section of TV and other media is going hammer and tongs about the role of Pakistan and the funding they receive.

The question which needs to be answered is, would young people risk their lives, loss of eyesight or other physical injuries just at someone’s bidding or for some money? Many of them are barely in their teens, are tech-savvy but they are so full of hatred that they are willing to risk their lives, not caring about their future. By all accounts, the degree of frustration among them is horrific.

Only a small section of the media has gone deeper into the issue and have interviewed some of them. The stories of their experiences and feelings shatter one’s pre-conceived perceptions about law and order in Kashmir. Many belong to families which have given up all kind of hope. Most of these young boys have experienced torture, beating, harassment of sorts and often humiliation.

For many of them, stone-throwing comes as a sort of catharsis, a feeling of taking revenge for what has happened to them. It is the only strong way of protest left for them. Many of them are pro-Pakistan for sure but the basic point remains political alienation which is seeping in deeply. This, in turn, is result of the suffering and pain to which Kashmir has been subjected due to the prolonged military presence in the area.

Post-Burhan Wani killing, the Kashmir-based PDP, or even National Conference has witnessed from the sidelines the intensity of their feelings and the volatile situation on the ground shrinking the middle space. Mehbooba Mufti, the Chief Minister of the ruling coalition, wanted to go for a dialogue with the dissenters, but coalition partner and the party leading at the Centre, BJP shot down the idea.

Mehbooba Mufti felt that dialogue was the only way out but BJP feels that dialogue is a way to befool the people. It wants to take a hard line to deal with dissidence, and believes that dissidence is there only due to Pakistan, ISI or ISIS and so repression should be intensified.

What are the earlier efforts for peace which need to be recalled in the present damning times? In one of the most significant moves, UPA II had appointed a team of interlocutors to understand and suggest the way out. The eminent team suggested that the autonomy of Kashmir Assembly, which is part of treaty of accession, be restored, dialogue with dissidents to be initiated and also talks with Pakistan be undertaken along with repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Today, there can be two approaches. One is to recall the treaty of accession and gravitate towards that and take the recommendations of Interlocutors seriously. Nearly seven decades after the accession of Kashmir to India, there is a need to recall that forcible merger; repression of dissent was never the idea of founders of Indian nation.

Let’s see what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had to say on the matter way back, Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel said at a public meeting in Bombay on October 30, 1948: “Some people consider that a Muslim majority area must necessarily belong to Pakistan. They wonder why we are in Kashmir. The answer is plain and simple. We are in Kashmir because the people of Kashmir want us to be there. The moment we realise that the people of Kashmir do not want us to be there, we shall not be there even for a minute… We shall not let Kashmir down” (The Hindustan Times, October 31, 1948).

The situation in Kashmir is critical, and worsening by the day due to the high-handed response of the Centre. Even the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and the people like Farooq Abdullah need to be listened to, if we want peace in the Valley, peace that is crucial. The deeper peace can only be won through winning the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir, ultra nationalist formulations don’t work in the long run.

The author, a professor of biotechnology, took voluntary retirement from IIT Bombay to work full time for communal harmony.

This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own.