As the unrest in Kashmir continues unabated, PM Manmohan Singh, spoke of his anguish at the loss of life in Kashmir and hinted that New Delhi would consider any solution acceptable to a cross section in Kashmir. Iftikhar Gilani reports.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh seems to have woken up to take stock of Kashmir unrest, but he disappointed all at an all-party meting called at the initiative of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as he promised nothing but words. Both his own Congress party and the Leftists were awaiting an announcement to send an all-party parliamentary delegation to Srinagar to probe factors behind unrest and to make State government accountable. But Dr. Singh seems getting swayed by Omar’s assertion that nothing should be done to appear he was buckling or resonating at the instance of New Delhi.
A senior government functionary confided that Chief Minister in private had offered to become “sacrificial lamb” if Centre thinks this would turn the situation around. But he was pleading to continue the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance, ostensibly to save job of his father as Union Minister. A senior minister here told Kashmir Life that this could be an option now for the government as situation was showing no recovery, but also pointed out the Central government’s proverbial moving at snail’s pace to take any decision. “Look it took them one month to call this meting. Last July 12, Omar Abdullah had asked for an appointment for this delegation,” he added.
Noted civil rights activist Justice Rajinder Sachar told Kashmir Life that nuances of Azadi, Plebiscite and greater autonomy apart, India will remain the loser unless the face that it presents to the people of Kashmir valley is humane, compassionate and understanding. “At present that face is ugly and insensitive,” he says, pointing out the axiom “If you hit me with stones, I will return it with bricks”. But the security forces have turned this on head by returning with bullets. There are limits which no civilized government can cross – unfortunately Kashmir and central government let the security forces cross quite a few lines. The noted jurist believes that to reassure the people of J&K, central government should agree unilaterally to withdraw all Central legislations which have been extended upto date to J&K.
At the end of the four hour long meeting, Prime Minister said the government would consider any solution widely accepted by a cross section. He told them to arrive at a consensus on any solution be that autonomy and his government would consider it under the ambit of constitution. “After all we are all servants of constitution,” he told them. Pointing out how sensitive and alive was his government; he referred to the presence of battery of his senior cabinet colleagues.
He had invited entire Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to interact with J&K based political parties.
In his inaugural remarks, Dr Singh hinted amendments in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sensing desperation of the Kashmiri youths who grew up in 20 years of militancy with no employment opportunities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also held out a carrot of jobs in both public and private sectors to stop them pelting stones on the security forces as the only way to register their anguish.
“I can feel the pain and understand the anger and frustration that is bringing young people out on to the streets of Kashmir. Many of them have seen nothing but violence and conflict in their lives and have been scarred by suffering, he said.
The youths will, however, have to wait for at least three months for any job opportunities as that is the deadline set by the PM for a 6-member expert group headed by former Reserve Bank of India governor and his economic adviser Dr C Rangarajan to formulate a job plan that increases employability in the state. Members of the group are Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy, Tarun Das, the Chief Mentor of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Syed Shakil Qalander, president of Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir, economist P Nanda Kumar and an official of the J&K government.
Announcing the constitution of the group at a meeting of the leaders of all political parties in the state at his residence, the Prime Minister appealed to the youth “to go back to their schools and colleges and allow classes to resume” and asked parents: “What future is there for Kashmir if your children are not educated?”
“I am convinced that the only way forward in Jammu and Kashmir is along the path of dialogue and reconciliation. The events in Kashmir over the past few weeks have caused me great pain. I share the grief, the sorrow and the sense of loss of every mother, every father, every family and every child in Kashmir,” he said.
Dr Manmohan Singh also hinted amendments in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act that is seen as draconian by the Kashmiris and human right activists, saying the J&K police have to eventually take on the burden of normal law who do not require special powers to discharge their duties.
Those attending the meeting also saw a hint of withdrawal of the central security forces and Army from the civilian areas in his remark that the Centre will accelerate the process of strengthening and expanding the J&K Police so that they can function independently and effectively within the “shortest possible time.”
He said the state is only now emerging from the shadow of more than two decades of a deadly insurgency, which brought only death and devastation and two lost decades in the history of Jammu & Kashmir’s development. “Our government, more than any other government in the past, has invested heavily in the peace process in Kashmir. The brave rejection of militancy by the people opened the door for us to pursue an unprecedented and intensive internal and external dialogue on the issues that have bedevilled Jammu and Kashmir for six decades,” he underlined.
Urging the people to give peace a chance to rebuild the state and its institutions, promote economic activity that creates job opportunities, Dr Manmohan Singh frankly admitted that the key to the problem is a political solution that addresses the alienation and emotional needs of the people.
“This can only be achieved through a sustained internal and external dialogue. We are ready for this. We are willing to discuss all issues within the bounds of our democratic processes and framework. But this process can gather momentum and yield results only if there is a prolonged peace,” he said.
He also extended the Centre’s full support to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in making efforts to renew contacts with the people and asked the assembled leaders of various political parties in the state also to reach out to the people and reinvigorate peaceful political activities on the ground that are lacking today. “The youth wings of your parties should be activated. In a democracy, leaders have to listen to the voice of the people and gain their trust and confidence,” he said.
“Every possible effort should be made to reach out to the youth in Jammu and Kashmir. We must respond in a sincere and substantive manner to their genuine aspirations for freedom from fear and for freedom to build for themselves a life of dignity, security and well- being,” he said while promising the youth that their genuine empowerment will be accorded the highest priority in his government’s J&K policy.
The Prime Minister also stressed that the local body elections should be held early to increase peoples’ participation in democratic governance and to ensure political empowerment at the grassroots level.
