Thoughtful piece by Dr Haseeb Drabu The new generation has grown up in, and with, oppression and occupational siege. Their notions of ethnicity are very different; they relate to Kashmir differently and so too to India and Pakistan. As such in the emerging politics, there is a huge risk of radicalization of the youth. This sets the stage for going back to none too distant a past. Notwithstanding anything it is impossible not to acknowledge that the form of protest in J&K changed in 2009-10: from violent to non-violent; from group action to mass based; from induced to spontaneous. The mass, spontaneous and peaceful protests were a major gain: socially as well as politically. For, guns don’t have a role. Now, this positive development can come under threat of reversal. The net result will be that the idea, intent and indeed the ideology of separatism will undergo yet another change. And for the worse.It is precisely for this reason that Modi needs to establish the intent that J&K will be handled with care and consciousness. More importantly, by him. The signs so far, in this regard, have been less than encouraging. On Kashmir, till now, Modi’s minions have put on display BJPs political immaturity. Far from exhibiting statesmanship, it has demonstrated a penchant for needless political ruckus and ideological brawls. Instead of the shrill and trying to up the ante, it might help to see the resolution of Kashmir is not independent of the normalization of India-Pakistan relations. Not only do these relations provide the context, they will also catalyze the process of resolutions. In as much as the people of Kashmir accept the mandate that BJP has got nationally, the BJP must acknowledge the mandate that the people of Kashmir have given and will give in the forthcoming elections.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 11:05:23 +0000
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