On April 22 there was a most horrible attack on entirely innocent tourists from various parts of India in Kashmir in which 26 persons were killed. Pakistan’s instigation of this is widely believed, on the basis of the past record as well as recent indications.
While this attack has been widely condemned not just in India but in various parts of the world, two kinds of responses can be distinguished—good as well as bad, encouraging as well as discouraging. Coming to the good part first, some determined tourists have stated that we are not going away in a hurry and those who want to use terror to create a gulf between us and the people of Kashmir will not succeed.
At the same time, at a very wide level, the Kashmiri people have held meetings to express their grief and condolence and also to condemn those who have used indiscriminate violence and cruelty in the name of religion and Kashmir to kill innocent persons.
Haseeb A. Drabu, former finance minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has captured the feelings of the Kashmiri people in the following words (see The Tribune dated April 26, article titled ‘As the Valley unites, the nation must listen), “It has been very encouraging to see that not just politicians, business associations, professional bodies but also apolitical motely groups of men and women come onto the streets to sympathize with the victims and stand firmly against the crime committed against humanity. Indeed it has been seen as a criminal act against Kashmir and Kashmiris…The entire Valley has revolted against the killings and how. Right across the Valley, from Kulgam to Kupwara, and from Shopian to Sopore, people have been unequivocal in their condemnation of the killings of the 26 tourists…The solidarity with the people in the country has been exceptional.”
At the same time, several people in various parts of the country have been expressing their appreciation of such a response in Kashmir.
Now let us come to the bad or unfortunate part of the response. Some people due to their pre-existing narrow and prejudiced views have started criticizing the Muslim community in general for this, despite the fact that members and leaders of this community have come forward in many parts of the country to strongly condemn this and other such attacks, now and in the past. In some places Kashmiri students have been harassed after this attack.
The Times of India reported on 26 April that in a village of Rohtak district (Haryana) some influential villagers reportedly issued a diktat ordering Muslim residents to leave. Whenever any such incident comes to their notice, local authorities must be under instructions to intervene quickly and decisively to stop such victimization and harassment of innocent persons.
It is also important to ensure that even as political and other leaders re-emphasize their determination to deal very firmly with terrorism, something that is really needed to protect innocent people from such attacks, whatever they say, plan and do should be within the framework of what would be also accepted at world level to be within a broad framework of peace and inter-faith harmony.
By acting in such a responsible way, India would further strengthen its international position and would be able to better consolidate a harmony-based integration of Kashmir with the rest of the country within a wider framework of peace, inter-faith harmony, justice and democracy.
Towards this end, whatever the well-justified demands of the people and political leaders of Kashmir are pending, and which are in harmony with this framework of peace and justice based better and deeper integration with the entire country, should be accepted as early as possible. This will further strengthen a common strong response of the people and government against terrorism instigated by Pakistan.
In the article quoted above, Haseeb Drabu has made another significant observation, “The spontaneous response of the people and the efforts of the local political class (in Kashmir) represent the green shoots of a people’s movement for peace…The public expression of rejection of violence this time around is being done in the belief that it is blatantly violating the values and norms, indeed the value system of Kashmiris.
If persisted with and nurtured carefully, it will, over time, build a network of social connectedness between the civil society institutions, transcending the boundaries of the Valley.” At the same time, this article cautions that “the harassment of Kashmiris, especially the younger generation--the students— in many states will nip the emerging people’s peace initiative even before it gains any traction. This cannot be the way forward for anyone.”
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071, and Man over Machine-A Path to Peace
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