Skip to main content

"No future" for muscular policy in Kashmir; "needed": Peace, reconciliation

By Syed Basharat Hussain*
After alleging the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to be responsible for worsening security situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) left the ruling coalition. BJP, which had allied with PDP in 2015 to rule, had 25 lawmakers in the J&K assembly, while the PDP had 28 -- which was more than the majority mark of 45.
Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav told reporters in New Delhi recently that the alliance had became "untenable." Hence, Mehbooba Mufti's tenure as chief minister came to an abrupt end with a call from ex-Governor NN Vohra, who informed her that the BJP had pulled out of its alliance with PDP. Mufti listened to the news in silence, and after a pause said there was no need for talks with BJP and submitted her resignation.
Soon thereafter, Ram Madhav made his announcement in Delhi, ending the uneasy, often fractious alliance between BJP and PDP, setting the stage for another round of Governor's rule for the valley. PDP till thrn was perceived as the advocate of reconciliation. Direct rule by the Central government gave BJP a free hand to control the state ahead of a general election that may probably be held in May next year.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti said, "I have resigned from chief ministership, shook hands with BJP for the sake of serving the people. It took us several months to form a mutual agenda with BJP."
She also maintained that the Kashmir issue could only be resolved through talks. She stressed the need for talks with Pakistan and the Kashmiri people for the resolution of the decades-long conflict. She said the BJP had betrayed the agenda of the alliance by pulling out of it. "PDP's agenda for the state was the one for boosting reconciliation through the alliance, BJP betrayed the same," she stated.
According to Mufti, muscular policy in a state like J&K, or a policy backed by force, cannot succeed. "Peace and reconciliation is the only way forward," she noted, even as the state cwme under the Governor's rule for the seventh time over the last four decades, and fourth time after the state was placed under Central rule during NN Vohra's tenure as Governor. Vohra, a former civil servant, was Governor of J&K from June 25, 2008 to August 23, 2018.
This BJP government move has been widely criticized. Several leaders expressed serious concern over the imposition of Governor's rule. The people of the state felt that this would further complicate matters. The view is strong, a lasting and durable solution can only be delivered by taking into account the political will of Kashmiris in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions or a UN mandated dialogue between Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris.
Some even acknowledged, Kashmir has been used as "an experimental table" for too long, last many decades and the Kashmir crisis just suggests "comprehensive collapse" of India's political leadership.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Report on Kashmir is first ever report of UN on gross violations of human rights, highlighted and debated in Indian as well as international media. India rejected the report in which the Indian government was held responsible for using excessive force to kill and wound civilians in Kashmir since 2016.
Syed Basharat Hussain
The UN has called for international inquiry into accusations of human rights violations. The unresolved status of Kashmir issue is a sombre reminder to the world that Kashmiri people are deprived of their fundamental rights at the hands of the so-called biggest democracy of the world.
India must understand that, despite militarily presence, it failed to control Kashmir. A muscle-power approach will make things even worse. What is needed is a proper dialogue to bring peace in Kashmir.
---
*Political analyst. Contact: syed.basharat11@gmail.com

Comments

Bhavik Raja said…
I totally agree that Peace and Reconciliation are the need of the hour. I believe that the first ever step need to be taken by the Indian government is to Repeal AFSPA and withdraw army from civil places. But I am worried that interference of UN may open up floodgates for US.

TRENDING

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra*  The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Victim of communal violence, Christians in Manipur want Church leadership to speak up

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  The first eleven days of May 2023 have, in many ways, been a defining period of Indian history! Plenty has happened in a rapid-fire stream of events. Ironically, each one of them are indicators of how crimes and the criminalisation of society has become the ‘new norm’; these include, the May Day rallies with a focus on the four labour codes which are patently against the rights of workers; the U S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report on 1 May stating that conditions for religious freedom in India “continued to worsen in 2022”; the continued protest by the Indian women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar for the expulsion of the chief of the Indian Wrestlers Federation on very serious allegations; the Elections in Karnataka on 10 May (with communalism and corruption as the mainstay); the release of the fake, derogative and insensitive film ‘The Kerala Story’; the release of World Free Press Index on 3 May which places India

Delhi HC rules in favour of retired Air Force officer 'overcharged' for Covid treatment

By Rosamma Thomas*  In a decision of May 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of petitioner Group Captain Suresh Khanna who was under treatment at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, between April 28 and May 5, 2021, for a period of eight days, for Covid-19 pneumonia. The petitioner had to pay Rs 3,55,286 as treatment costs, but the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) only reimbursed him for Rs 1,83,748, on the basis of government-approved rates. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Unlike other revolutionaries, Hindutva icon wrote 5 mercy petitions to British masters

By Shamsul Islam*  The Hindutva icon VD Savarkar of the RSS-BJP rulers of India submitted not one, two,or three but five mercy petitions to the British masters! Savarkarites argue: “There are no evidences to prove that Savarkar collaborated with the British for his release from jail. In fact, his appeal for release was a ruse. He was well aware of the political developments outside and wanted to be part of it. So he kept requesting for his release. But the British authorities did not trust him a bit” (YD Phadke, ‘A complex Hero’, "The Indian Expres"s, August 31, 2004)

India joining US sponsored trade pillar to hurt Indian farmers, 'promote' GM seeds, food

Counterview Desk  As many as 32 civil society organisations (CSOs), in a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and India joining the trade pillar, have said that its provisions will allow the US to ensure a more favourable regulatory regime “for enhancing its exports of genetically modified (GM) seeds and GM food”, underlining, it will “significantly hurt the livelihoods of Indian farmers.”

Savarkar 'opposed' Bhagat Singh's, Netaji's dream of India, supported British war efforts

By Shamsul Islam* In a shocking development, the student wing of the RSS put the busts of martyrs Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose with Savarkar's on one pedestal at the University of Delhi late in the night on August 20, 2019. Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for a socialist-democratic-secular republic and Netaji raised Azad Hind Fauj (INA) consisting of people of all religions and regions for armed liberation of India.

Undermining law, breastfeeding? Businesses 'using' celebrities to promote baby food

By Rajiv Shah  A report prepared by the top child welfare NGO, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), has identified as many as 15 offenders allegedly violating the Indian baby food law, the Infant Milk Substitutes Feeding Bottles, and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 1992, and Amendment Act 2003 (IMS Act), stating, compliance with the law “seems to be dwindling by the day.”