WINDS OF CHANGE IN KASHMIR
There are many stories to tell and many other to be followed depending upon individuals inclinations and the ideologies they follow after the abrogation of Article 370. But the one which is relevant and most prevalent these days is the story of peace, prosperity and happiness. We can witness happy faces everywhere we go now a days. The bloodshed witnessed by Kashmir from past three decades has come to a halt. There are no more funeral processions in the valley with slogans of ‘Azadi’ (Freedom) or cursing the establishment. The Kashmir which was known for its stone pelting, hartals and disruption of social life has been peaceful without any loss of life after 5 August 2019.
The events that unfolded in the form of a popular revolt in the Valley in 1989 was at first led by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. Within a year, however, the JKLF had ceded ground to the Hizb-ulMujahideen, whose own commitment to a multi religious Kashmir was much less certain. The cry of Azaadi (freedom) and Jihad (Holy War) reverberated in the valley. As a popular slogan of the Hizb-ul cadres went: “Na guerrilla jang, na qaumi jang: al Jihad, al Jihad.” (This is neither a guerrilla war nor a national liberation struggle; this is jihad, jihad.)The growing militancy in Kashmir was actively aided by Pakistan. That country’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ran camps where terrorists were trained in the use of arms and provided maps of the region. With the ISI’s help, Kashmiri activists moved freely across the border, into India to kill or bomb, then back to Pakistan for rest and replenishment. The indigenous militants had been joined by foreign mercenaries – Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks – who had cut their teeth in the war against the Soviet puppet regime in Afghanistan. When that war ended, and Russian troops had returned, defeated, to their homeland, these fighters found another holy cause in the liberation of Kashmir.
Thus, it is never defined by anyone but a propaganda christened by our neighbour to keep the youth confused. It has kept generations in darkness but now everyone has understood that the true meaning of Azadi is development and progressive society which will help everyone to reap the fruits ofdemocracy. It has all been possible when these people has stopped eulogising the fantasised idea of Azadi (freedom).
The biggest proofs of this debauchery being defeated are the peaceful existence of everyone in the valley by the even after restoration of 4G which the UT establishment was apprehensive first and the successful conduct of DDC elections. The turn out during DDC election has been 29.9% which used to be meagre single digit number during assembly elections. This is a clear indication that people have successfully defeated the idea of Azadi and has held the hand of development and prosperity. Over the past one year the stone pelting incidents has reduced by over 90 percent. There is no fatality in the valley due to stone pelting and the retaliatory action by security forces. Moreover the locals have come forward in helping the security forces and the government in nabbing these anti social elements. It has become clear to everyone in valley that this idea has been propagated by some who has their vested interests and has nothing to do with the welfare of common man.
Now as the normalcy is returning with leaps and bounds the disruption in the lives of people has become almost negligible. The money which was pumped in from across the border to their emissaries has drastically fallen with diligent efforts of the government agencies; it can be said with conviction that there are no takers of this idea in valley anymore. The all prevailing peace in the valley is a testimony to that. We see kids coming out inopen with tricolor and raising slogans supporting India which was not a common sight due to the fear of oppression by militants. There has been no call for Bandhs on the death anniversaries of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt. So, finally the process of peace returning to the valley has started and everyone hopes for it to continue.
