View From The
Valley The Congress has taken charge of
government in Kashmir after a gap of 30 years during the course
of which not water but much blood has flown down the river Jehlum. Gulam Nabi Azad, first CM from outside the valley, will have to work tirelessly to provide corruption free administration and good governance. To give him credit he has made an assurance of continuing Mufti’s healing touch policy to soothen wounded Kashmir.
Today’s Kashmir has traveled far from the traumatic nineties but it would be naïve to trumpet victory, as situation in present is far more complex then it was in 1975.Terrorism has gripped the state badly and religious fundamentalism has laid siege to the traditional Kashmiri ethos causing deep scars on body and soul of Kashmir. Violence has laid to rest thousands of children in graveyards. The war machine has produced a huge army of widows and orphans. Likewise, thousands are forced to live outside the valley as refugees, in their own country, in camps.
Though remarkable progress had been made to bring semblance of order, restore democracy and restart development especially tourism. But it will not be not be an exaggeration to say that opposite of everything holds true in Kashmir.
It is true that from 1989 masses have participated and endorsed election to local bodies, legislative assembly and parliament. Yet it is also true that a hostile section has kept away from it. The frequency of terrorist attacks have come down but their infrastructure is still intact. Human rights violations are still going on. Despite one shining example of Qazi Tauqeer there are still ten, if not hundred as was the case earlier, prepared to join militancy.
The steps like armed forces constructing a bridge, opening schools and maintaining roads to win confidence of locals, central
government reducing troops and proving an economic package, state government reviving tourism and trying to bring back
pandits to valley national political parties holding rallies or for that matter any high profile like national games, conference etc. being evens in valley without any fear of terrorism are all helpful to generate goodwill and bring it back to normalcy. Such events do generate economic activity and inspire youth to be part of mainstream India but all these well meaning steps prove inadequate in absence of a holistic approach.
The important task is to win back hostile sections, bring back all pandits and provide an impetus to peace process with Pakistan .The peace process in important to curb terrorism from its roots. And without its accomplishment the return of total peace will remain elusive and efforts must be sustained to revive the glory of Kashmir.