Highest level of violence in a decade, lowest economic activity and unending political uncertainty in Kashmir today is the outcome of the BJP government’s wrong policies due to which there is gloom everywhere in the Valley.Kashmir is in constant chaos and the new realities are being sketched under the shadow of guns and the BJP’s aggressive, muscular Kashmir policy – an approach long called for by its parent organisation, the RSS. Kashmir looks like a ruined place, with human life at great peril.There is a trail of disappointment, let-downs and downright lies and broken promises by the BJP government. The BJP’s toxic agenda is reflected in the beatings of Kashmiri students, businessmen and employees across the country after last month’s barbaric terror attack in Pulwama. When the government acted as a mute spectator, the Supreme Court had to intervene.More than three year of BJP-PDP alliance, which ended last year in June, has left the state in a quagmire of violence, polarisation and crisis. The words and deeds of BJP and PDP leaders don’t match as they claimed so much when they entered into an alliance and ultimately left the state in perils.Prime Minister on 15 August 2017 said, “Kashmir needs hugs, neither abuse nor bullets.” But instead of hugs Kashmiris faced pellets, bullets, deaths, jails and PSAs. Indiscriminate arrests, registering cases, slapping PSAs and NIA raids is not going to solve the problem. Kashmir’s young are dying and, tragically enough, death has become a wish. There seems to be no light at the end of this dark tunnel. With relentless killings across the Valley, the only places that show signs of expansion are its graveyards. BJP-PDP government made Kashmir years of the dead, of funerals, of chest-beating and hair-pulling, of unanswered prayers and dashed hopes.To hold dialogue with all stakeholders, including the voices of dissent is the only answer to end this cycle of violence and uncertainty in Kashmir.
Death and destruction has virtually taken over and the saner voices have become the causality. Votes and ideologies apart, can all the mainstream and separatist parties have internal dialogue as to how some relief could be given to the people of the state.Can’t all of us (mainstreams and separatists) have dialogue on some fundamental issues if the government of India isn’t willing to hold dialogue? Why have we become mere spectators to the miseries of common people? By issuing mere statements on every issue, we can’t absolve ourselves from our responsibilities. Can’t all of us in Jammu and Kashmir, including voices of dissent, have some common approach to give some respite to the people of the state.The best option recognised by the civilised world to settle disputes is the process of dialogue as violence only leads to death and destruction. Even those countries which have been on the war path with each other, finally settle the issues only when they sit on negotiations table. New Delhi must engage with the leadership of J&K, including voices of dissent. Political dissent has to be dealt with through dialogue, not power.While addressing the convention, Ghulam Nabi Malik, State Secretary CPI(M) said that the economic activity in Kashmir valley has been severely hit due to the unrest in the last almost three years. Real reason behind the dip in economic situation of the state is due to the ongoing unrest since the middle of 2016. Almost everything has come to a standstill. Historically, tourism-oriented sectors, such as hotels, transportation, handicraft and horticulture, have been the major sectors driving credit growth.He demanded adequate compensation to the snow affected farmers, implementation of crop insurance scheme and said that PM Kissan Samman Nidhi scheme of Rs. 6000 per year for small farmers is too little, too late and mere a joke.The convention was presided over by Ghulam Nabi Wani, senior leader. Others who spoke on the occasion include Mohamad Afzal Parry, Ghulam Ahmad Ganie, Gh Hassan Dar and Shabir Ahmad. (GNS)