Politics

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting Jammu and Kashmir at a crucial time. It’s his maiden visit to the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 two years ago.

After August 5, 2019—when the Centre announced its decision to scrap J&K’s special status and divided it into two Union Territories—the erstwhile princely state has witnessed massive transformation and development but the recent killings of eleven civilians, including five non-locals, have to some extent eclipsed the good work that has been done on the ground level.
Militants going on a killing spree hasn’t deterred the J&K Government from carrying forward its agenda of peace, prosperity and development. It seems determined to pull the Himalayan region out from the quagmire of uncertainty and turmoil.

Since 2019, J&K has witnessed many firsts. The recent announcement of direct flight from Srinagar to Sharjah, the initiative will bring the Middle East closer to Kashmir. More than one lakh Kashmiris are working in Sharjah. The direct flight to Srinagar will bring them home within a few hours as customs, immigration and all other facilities will be available at the Srinagar Airport. It’s a welcome step and a major relief to travellers intending to fly to the Emirates.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.485.1_en.html#goog_871847915

The pace of connectivity projects, including four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and trains reaching the Valley, has increased manifold. Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, who visited J&K last month announced that the train would reach Kashmir by 2024. The Minister also assured that the Jammu-Poonch railway link would be completed after addressing viability issues of the area.

The grievance redress system in J&K has been revolutionised. There was a time, when people used to stand in long queues outside the Civil Secretariats in Srinagar and Jammu cities to reach the helmsmen. However, after August 5, 2019 the government has revamped the system.

The help lines and online grievance redressal portals have been set for a common man to drop his complaint and check the status about the action taken either online or over the phone. The officials are just a phone call away. The system which used to remain inaccessible has become accessible.

The Centre has taken many steps that a common Kashmiri couldn’t have even imagined. The tourism sector in Kashmir has witnessed a boom. The outbreak of COVID-19 did slow down the process to some extent despite that things have moved at a fast pace.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been successful in rewriting J&K’s history. The government has set new benchmarks for the governance and no one is being allowed to take his job casually.

The Union Home Minister has been personally monitoring the developments in Jammu and Kashmir and has shown keen interest in ensuring that the erstwhile princely state witnesses a massive development. He has gone on record to say that former political regimes couldn’t do much for the people.

During the past two years many new projects have been announced and the ones that were awaiting completion for the past many decades have been thrown open for the public. People of J&K are reaping the benefits and are witnessing development that they couldn’t become a part of for the past seventy years.

People of Kashmir to a great extent have understood that development needs a peaceful environment and nothing can move if the situation remains disturbed. Maximum populace of J&K has boarded the wagon of peace, prosperity and development but still there are some elements who want Kashmir to burn so that their shops don’t get closed.

A common man in Kashmir is no more interested in slogans and rhetoric as he has observed that there is a difference between lip service and proper delivery system.

J&K’s development has been the Centre’s priority. Many far-flung areas that had no road connectivity have been connected with the highways and main roads. The power scenario has improved. Healthcare facilities have got a major boost. The work culture in the government offices has seen a rapid transformation.

In a nutshell Jammu and Kashmir has taken many steps towards a new era. The breaking out of a new dawn has brought J&K closer to the country and people of Kashmir too have realized that the world has opened for them and sky is the limit.

The writer is core member of BJP , former VC JKPCC.

Article Source: https://www.greaterkashmir.com/editorial-page-2/amit-shahs-jk-visit-is-significant

The transition of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into a union territory has been so rapid that it has ripped apart the traditional political parties in Kashmir. Slogans, narratives and notions have been dispelled. There is no autonomy or self-rule left. Politicians, who used to talk about everything from bijli, pani and sadak to Kashmir being an “issue” have lost their addresses and are making desperate attempts to make their presence felt, they are finding it hard to regain their lost ground. Prior to August 5, 2019 — when the Centre decided to abrogate J&K’s special status and divided it into two union territories — Kashmir based politicians used to claim that they are the only ones who could rule J&K and keep it with India. But the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision shattered the myth. More than 40 leaders from different political parties, including National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, were detained. But not a single person came out on the streets to seek their release, nor did any part of J&K witness any protest against the Centre’s decision to scrap the special status of the princely state.

It has been proven beyond doubt that denizens of J&K have accepted the change in the status quo and have moved on with their lives. They have sent a clear message to the world and the extremist forces that they want to live in peace and they are not interested in any sort of rhetoric. During the past two years, New Delhi has made every attempt to inculcate the spirit of nationalism among the people of Kashmir and has expedited the development process. People too have responded by not resisting the change and seem happy with the way things are changing but a very important element seems to be missing i.e. no attempt is being made to build a narrative that can bridge the gap between New Delhi and Kashmir once for all. The narrative building is missing.

After August 5, 2019, the national flag has been hoisted across J&K, and at many places people have come forward to participate in the activities to show their love and affection towards the nation. But a lot still needs to be done. People of J&K have understood that the clock cannot be reversed and the leaders who are claiming that they will get everything back cannot be trusted. They are good actors and are once again trying to stage a drama. People of Kashmir need to come forward and become a part of the nation-building process rather than acting like mere spectators. They need to take a cue from Indians, who are settled in foreign countries, despite them being far away from their country, they have kept the culture of India alive and they proudly identify themselves as Indians.

The abrogation of Article 370 has provided New Delhi with a chance to end the uncertainty in Kashmir once for all. The complete merger of J&K with the Union of India is a clear message to one and all that no power on earth can snatch J&K from India and the people of Kashmir are like other Indians. Nor are they special, neither different. They are pure Indians. The ball is in the court of New Delhi. Leaders sitting in the national capital have to ensure that no one gets a chance again to tell Kashmiris that India hasn’t done anything for them. New Delhi has to own the people of the Valley and it needs to provide them with equal opportunities and chances to compete with the rest of the country. Kashmiris need jobs, employment avenues, and most importantly peace, which has remained elusive during the past three decades.

By now it’s clear that Kashmiris are not hatemongers and don’t believe in a separatist ideology. Kashmiris during all these years have been living under the shadow of guns. They need to be told that they are safe in their own country and no one will snatch anything from them. People of Kashmir need to be reassured that their future lies with India and they have nothing to fear for. People handling the affairs of J&K have an important role to play. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is leading from the front and has taken revolutionary steps to put the newly carved out Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on the right path. The narrative, which teaches inclusiveness, needs to be built so that coming generations don’t fall prey to false propaganda and hoax slogans.

he Jammu and Kashmir administration is gearing up to meet yet another challenge as the second wave of Covid-19 seems be knocking at our doors. The officials who have been at the forefront of fighting Covid-19 during the past one year have done an exemplary job and have been lauded by everyone. They may face yet another challenge and their management skills are likely to get tested again. It’s not only the Covid-19 which the administration has dealt with during the past one year. It has handled many issues simultaneously. Since the day Manoj Sinha has taken over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir, he has revolutionized the entire system.

Path-breaking initiatives taken by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha have helped in putting the derailed system back on track. What the political regimes couldn’t do for so many years, the dispensation led by Sinha has done it in just a few months. Curbing corruption and acting against the big fishes have been one of the biggest achievements of the J&K administration. L-G Sinha has given a freehand to the anti-graft agencies and these organizations have not disappointed him. They have gone after the corrupt, who were of the opinion that they were above the law and no one could touch them.

Besides working on various fronts, L-G Sinha-led administration has concentrated efforts towards giving development a push by expediting the pace of the projects that were kept in limbo by the erstwhile political regimes. The officers have ensured no chances are taken. The change is visible. Work culture in the government offices has improved. Employees don’t take their jobs lightly anymore, they are aware of the fact that employment rules have also changed. Anyone having completed 22 years in service or having attained 48 years of age can be shown the exit door if his/her performance is found unsatisfactory.

Law and order situation in Kashmir has improved significantly. The stone-pelting incidents have declined, street protests and shutdowns that were orchestrated by a handful of people have become a history. L-G Sinha is on a mission to put J&K on the path of development, peace and prosperity. The leaders who used to claim that Kashmir would burn after August 5, 2019—when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories—have been left dumbfounded as they are unable to digest Jammu and Kashmir’s transformation.

After August 5, 2019, bureaucrats have put in all their efforts to ensure that the benefits of the centrally sponsored schemes trickle down to the deserving people and no one is left out. Participation of people in the District Development Council elections has shattered the myth that people in Kashmir believe in boycott. The changed scenario has proven it beyond doubt that the former rulers mishandled J&K by raking up the issues which didn’t fall in their domain. Had they focused on peace, prosperity, development and governance people would have never rejected them. They indulged in petty politics to cling onto power. Had they invested in youth and welfare of the erstwhile state, today people would have stood by them. Leaders are reaping what they had sown.

L-G Sinha-led administration has formulated a new model of governance and has set an example for how any state or union territory has to be managed. The Centre by extending its full support has proven its sincerity and has shown to the world that Kashmir and its people hold a special place in the hearts of policy makers and helmsmen. The Lieutenant Governor-led administration in J&K is leaving no stone unturned to implement the slogan of “sabka saath, sabka vikas,” raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With each passing day, young faces are coming to the fore and leading from the front. People of Kashmir too are responding to the initiatives being taken by the Centre and the UT administration. It’s a ‘win-win situation’ for New Delhi as well as the people of Kashmir. The leaders who used to project themselves as Messiahs of Kashmiris and claimed that nothing will happen without them have lost their relevance and are finding it hard to make a comeback. Nothing seems to be working out for them and the political careers of self-proclaimed leaders have hit a dead end.

Article Source: https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/in-jammu-and-kashmir-lieutenant-governor-manoj-sinha-led-administration-sets-new-benchmark-3570113.html

Terrorists killing a sarpanch, Ajay Bharati, a Kashmiri Pandit, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has once again exposed the real face of terrorists and their masters. Sitting across the Line of Control, once again it has been proven beyond doubt that terrorists and their handlers are the worst enemies of people of Kashmir. And they are faceless murderers, who have no regard for human lives.

Bharati’s killing is one more addition in the long list of innocents, who have been killed by these trigger-happy terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 30-years. Whosoever has tried to talk about peace and development in Kashmir has fallen prey to the bullets of the terrorists.

The deceased Sarpanch had returned to Kashmir along with his family in 1996 as he loved his roots and had rejected the idea of living in a separate township. He was a symbol of Kashmir’s pluralism and Kashmiriyat. No one from Jammu came to vote for him in the Panchayat elections, which were held in 2018. The people who voted for him were Kashmiri Muslims of his own village.

Bharati’s killing has saddened every right-thinking Kashmiri irrespective of him being a Muslim or a Hindu.

His killing has highlighted the fact that true Indians in Kashmir are the soft targets for the gun-wielding terrorists whose only job is to create fear and spill innocent blood. These indoctrinated terrorists are just a handful of people. Their presence in Kashmir doesn’t mean that every Kashmiri is a terrorist and is a hardliner.

More than 95% people in Kashmir are peace lovers who want to live a peaceful and prosperous life. Terrorism has been imposed on them by our hostile neighbour, who during the past 30 years has left no stone unturned to turn Kashmir into a huge graveyard.

In 1947 when Pakistani tribals (Kabalis) reached north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, a 19-year-old youth Shaheed Maqbool Sherwani stood like a wall and didn’t allow these raiders to move towards Srinagar. He was killed by the tribals after they realized that he is a “true-Indian”.

Since 1990, many true-Indians like Sherwani have been killed by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. But these killings have not shattered the resolve of the people in the Valley, who love their country and have stood by it during the most difficult times.

Ajay Bharati’s cold-blooded murder by the terrorists has raised an important question. Why has our leadership failed to protect the people who have been loyal to the country? Why did the regimes led by Congress and other parties prior to 2014 just focus on few political families and the separatists? Had the erstwhile governments given loyal people a chance today, J&K would have been a better place to live in. It’s unfortunate that loyalists were always taken for granted.

Since the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken over the reins of the country, there has been a paradigm shift in New Delhi’s Kashmir policy. Politicians, who used to call shots and dictate terms to Centre, have been cut to size. MLAs with separatist leanings have been shown their worth. The Modi government has sent a loud and clear message that pseudo-nationalism is not acceptable. Interests of the country are supreme and they cannot be compromised with.

However, in the process of acting tough against the anti-nationals, a few hyper-nationalist leaders and some media houses are trying to label every Kashmiri as a hate monger and a separatist. These leaders and media houses need to change their attitude. They should remember that people of Kashmir have given immense sacrifices to uphold the tricolour. They have faced bullets and bombs but have not allowed Pakistan to succeed in its nefarious designs.

Top officials in the security establishment have often reiterated that its due to the local support and information that security forces have got an upper hand against the terrorists. These glaring facts and realities cannot be ignored.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always said that Kashmiris have to be embraced and taken along. The leaders who give provocative statements and talk about resorting to violent means against the people of Kashmir are not doing any good to the nation. They are just adding fuel to the fire.

Ajay Bharati’s addition to the list of the martyrs has further strengthened the resolve of the “true-Indians” in Kashmir that they won’t allow Pakistan and its agents to create a wedge. One hopes that the nationalist people in our country will honour the sacrifices of Kashmiris and would allow things to fall at place rather than adding to the confusion.

Article Source: https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/kashmiri-pandit-sarpanchs-killing-why-has-our-leadership-failed-to-protect-those-loyal-to-the-country-2664383.html

The PDP leaders and ministers were repeatedly told by the former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to visit their constituencies and remain in touch with their people but they refused citing security reasons.

Fall of the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir has once again brought to fore the uncertainty which prevails in the state. BJP pulling out from the government surprised the Peoples’ Democratic Party but it did not come as a shock for the PDP as its leaders knew that it was coming. May be the timing surprised them.

The BJP after pulling out the plug made it clear that PDP couldn’t do much for the people and its leaders and ministers failed to deliver. The PDP ministers and leaders who used to claim that they are the grassroots leaders forgot their roots soon after coming into power and started reaping the fruits of their hard work which they had done to come into power.

The PDP leaders and ministers were repeatedly told by the former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to visit their constituencies and remain in touch with their people but they refused citing security reasons. 

The PDP promised it to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Panchayat elections would be held in the state even after announcing the dates the PDP backtracked and failed to keep up its promise. BJP leaders in New Delhi are of the opinion that the Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh went out of the way to accommodate the concerns of the PDP. The BJP central leadership had expected PDP to reciprocate and carry forward the initiatives of the central government but it did not happen.

The PDP ministers remained busy with politics and rhetoric. They forgot that their mandate is to ensure that developmental activities take place across Jammu and Kashmir and people get benefited. Had they engaged with the people and tried to know what they want situation in Kashmir would not have gone out of hand.

The common perception which prevailed in New Delhi was that if the Kashmiri leaders cannot do anything for their own people what will they do for them. The internal bickering within the PDP also disillusioned the people sitting in New Delhi.  

Another factor which went against the PDP was that its leadership remained confined within its family and no effort was made by the party to empower people outside the family.  All the decisions were taken within the family. In fact at present also the top party positions in PDP are also held by the family members.  The BJP has always opposed the Family Raaj and PDP leaders were told on many occasion that BJP is a national party and its allies should take care of the issues which could put the BJP in an embarrassing position.

Till the day BJP shared power with PDP it ensured that controversial issues are put at the back burner to allow the PDP to focus on the governance front. If one sees the record of the PDP during the past three years one can easily say that it achieved nothing on the development front as its ministers couldn’t spare much time for the people who braved all odds and took part in the elections. BJP is a national party despite that it handed over the command to PDP in Jammu and Kashmir just to ensure that people of Kashmir feel the change and become part of the progress and development.

PDP should come out and list it achievements if it has any. When BJP entered into an alliance with PDP it had made it clear that borders cannot be redrawn.  At that point of time PDP had no objection and went ahead with an alliance. When Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away the PDP took nearly two months to decide whether it should carry on with the alliance or not. 

More than BJP, PDP has to blame itself for the miseries of the Kashmiri people. The PDP leaders could have acted as a bridge between the Centre and the people of Kashmir but they didn’t make an attempt.   BJP did not even win a single assembly seat in Kashmir and it had nothing at stake in the Valley. BJP’s hard line is known to everyone and there is nothing hidden about it. But PDP is a Kashmir centric party and people expected a lot from it. Had PDP ministers stayed away from discussing politics and focused on the task that was assigned to them Kashmir today would have been a better place to live. PDP needs to introspect rather than blaming BJP for its failures. 

Article Source: https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/no-grassroots-leaders

Shujaat Bukhari would be remembered by one and all as he was a bold journalist who during his 30-year career gave voice to the voiceless people of Kashmir.

Kashmir lost yet another son of soil to the mindless violence that the valley has been witnessing for the past three decades. Assassination of Shujaat Bukhari chief editor of Rising Kashmir on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr has shocked everyone. 

Shujaat’s cold blooded murder has evoked widespread condemnation from every section of the society. It has left everyone speechless. Shujaat’s killing is a message to moderate voices that anyone who talks about peace and reconciliation is not welcome. Shujaat as a journalist as a columnist and as an orator always advocated peace and wanted bloodshed to end. Unfortunately a peace lover like him was killed mercilessly. 

A few people don’t want peace to prevail as it would harm their interests and would leave them issueless. These actors want Kashmir to burn forever and to keep the pot boiling they keep on adding fuel to the fire. People who believe that violence is the only solution, need to bear in mind that this mindless violence would consume them also. No sane person can justify Shujaat’s killing or for that matter anyone’s killing. The merchants of death are in no mood to listen to anyone. Their only aim seems to be to spill the human blood.

Soon after Shujaat’s killing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq raised a valid query stating that everyone is condemning the brutal murder. If everyone is shocked and moved then who killed Shujaat?

We as Kashmiris need to wake up and have to muster courage to call spade a spade. Otherwise we will keep on losing our brothers. It’s unfortunate that killings have become part of our lives and we have accepted them as our fate and have started believing that our reaction hardly matters. We need to wake up and make it clear to the people who are inimical to peace and reconciliation that we cannot tolerate this torture anymore. A message has to go that no one would be allowed to establish his writ by killing innocents.   

Shujaat’s killing has created a vacuum which would be difficult to fill. His assassination is a message to the fourth estate that freedom of press means nothing to the people who have turned into merchants of death. People who think that violence is the only solution they need to be reminded that issues cannot be resolved on streets. History stands testimony to the fact that all the issues across the world have been resolved through negotiations and talks and silencing the voices which care for their own people is no solution.

When Centre announced Ramadan ceasefire in J&K everyone was hopeful that situation would improve and peace would be given a chance. Now it looks like that peace initiative is fast losing its sheen and it may end soon. This is not good news for the people of Kashmir as it would once again lead to more violence which would consume more lives. It’s really sad that graveyards are getting filled and the number of youth is declining fast.

It has been observed that whenever it appears that a breakthrough is in offing something or other happens which leads to status quo. Late Abdul Gani Lone in 2002 had indicated that Hurriyat would talk to New Delhi and he had made it clear to everyone that dialogue is the only way forward, and Kashmiris should be allowed to decide the future course of action but before he could proceed he was silenced forever.  Late Gani Lone’s assassination pushed the peace lovers on the back foot and they just stitched their lips.

Violence has emerged as the biggest enemy of Kashmir. It has to end for things to move forward. Shujaat’s killing is a big set back for the peace process. When Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Kashmir earlier this month he had given enough hints about the Ramadan ceasefire would be extended. But now the truce has been called off and the last hope is over.

Shujaat Bukhari would be remembered by one and all as he was a bold journalist who during his 30-year career gave voice to the voiceless people of Kashmir. A bold voice has been silenced forever. He would always live in our hearts and his contribution towards journalism would always be remembered. Rest In Peace Shujaat.  

Article Source: https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/another-son-of-the-soil-silenced