Shujaat Bukhari
Editor, Rising Kashmir
When Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his
Indian counter part Narendra Modi on May 27 in New
Delhi, there was no mention of “Kashmir” in the briefing
by both sides. Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz did
tell the media later that it was discussed but officially it
was not confirmed as part of the 50-minute long
meeting. This did raise eye brows in Kashmir about how
the policy on this contentious issue was being followed.
But the analysts gave it a pass for the reason that both
leaders must be given time to match up the chemistry
to find out ways and means to address such complex
issues.
However, it seems now that Kashmir does not figure
anywhere in the priorities Modi has set for himself for
next one year. Discussing it with Pakistan is surely an
external dimension and that may come up any time in
case both sides agree to see it as the issue that keeps
them at distance. However, the Modi government has
not made up its mind to even address the internal
dimension of the problem. When President Pranab
Mukherjee addressed the joint session of parliament on
June 9 (first after the general elections), he spelled out
programmes and policies; the Modi government would
follow for next one year. There was no mention of
Kashmir as an issue that needed attention.
The only priority Modi has set is about the return of
Kashmiri Pandits who have left Kashmir in early 1990
after the armed rebellion broke out in Kashmir. There
are conflicting figures about how many left at that time.
Kashmiri Pandit organisations claim that 4 lakh people
migrated but the government figures suggest that 24202
families went out of Kashmir which roughly comes to
not more than 1,50,000. Again the government data
reveals that 219 KPs were killed. President Mukherjee
said in his address “Special efforts will be made to
ensure that Kashmiri Pandits return to the land of their
ancestors with full dignity, security and assured
livelihood.”
This surely is a welcome step and Kashmiris have
always shown their concern over the plight of KPs, even
as they have themselves faced the worst of conflict in
last over 20 years. What is more disturbing that Omar
Abdullah government has reportedly proposed
repurchase of their houses disposed of in distress before
fleeing Kashmir. This, according to a report in THE
HINDU is part of a Rs. 5,800-crore Prime Minister’s
Reconstruction Programme aimed at incentivising
Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley. This will further
distances between the two communities and put them
on loggerheads.
Return of KPs to valley must come after taking all the
stake holders into confidence. Putting them ghettoes
without even deliberating the issue with the
representatives of majority community will not suit their
return. Gun totting security men may provide them
security in designated zones, as is evident from the
course of statements being made by the government,
but the real confidence and sense of security can only
come from their erstwhile neighbours.
Ignoring the ground realities in Kashmir and not
prioritizing them is something disturbing when one
looks at the new government in Delhi. During the
election campaigning in Jammu Modi had invoked
former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s line of
“Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat and Kashmiriyat” to address the
Kashmir issue. Vajpayee had not only walked an extra
mile to reach out to Pakistan but along with then
Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf he had laid a
strong foundation for reconciliation, peace and
compassion through Confidence Building Measures. He
had also engaged with the separatist leaders in Kashmir,
though that could not yield much.
Prime Minister’s no road map policy for Kashmir was
further vindicated with the visit of trusted lieutenant and
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley who virtually shut the
doors on any political engagement in the near future. He
not only was non-committal on the issue of withdrawal
of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA) but he also put conditions on any possibility of
talks with those who challenge the Indian rule in
Kashmir. “We are willing to talk to everybody who
wants to function under Indian constitution and Indian
sovereignty. Constitution and sovereignty are two issues
with which there can be no compromise,” Jaitley told
reporters on June 15. That means the Government of
India does not recognize the political dissent on the
ground.
Interestingly Jaitley was appointed as interlocutor for
Kashmir by the previous Vajpayee led government in
2002. He had held talks on devolution of powers with
then National Conference nominee and Minister Ghulam
Mohiuddin Shah.
One could take Jaitley’s statement on face value. But
the talks or demands within the ambit of Indian
constitution have so far failed to yield anything.
Rejection of Autonomy resolution by Jammu and
Kashmir Assembly with two-third majority stands
testimony to the fact that how New Delhi has
undermined the institutions it wants to strengthen in the
state. The BJP, which is in power, again has instead
called for abrogation of Article 370, which gives special
status to the state. So the question of giving more does
not arise.
Now that Modi has taken over as the “strong” Prime
Minister, he has in the first few weeks ignored the real
issues in Kashmir. Addressing one particular issue in
isolation also sounds like that he would follow a one-
sided approach. With this mandate Modi should not try
to address the one community that has voted for him at
least in Jammu and Kashmir. This problem needs a
comprehensive approach that is inclusive and has all
the dimensions in place.
The dialogue between Delhi and Separatists that broke
down in 2008 must be resumed without conditions.
Prisoners’ cases must be dealt with compassion and the
economic issues also be pursued with an open mind.
Distances between Srinagar and Delhi have increased
over the past few years. Youth are completely alienated
and angry at the treatment they are receiving.
One can hope that Modi modifies his priorities and
includes both external and internal dimension of Kashmir
in his priorities. Resumption of dialogue with Pakistan,
strengthening existing CBMs and doing more on
Kashmir is the need of the hour. Sitting on this
simmering political unrest won’t serve any party. Modi
must show that his policies are not framed on the basis
of vote bank but on the realities on ground.
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