Kashmir is witnessing the worst ever human rights violation since the partition of Subcontinent. Kashmir has sacrificed more than one lakh people to resolve the issue but the conflict remains as it is, where as India and Pakistan fought three wars over Kashmir in 1947, 1965 and Kargil war in 1999. The issue is an internationally recognized dispute and is discussed every now and then in different decisive institutions around the world.
Kashmir has lost its identity, morale and conscience for the resolution of this issue. Every other day we witness encounters, cordon and search operations, operation all out, pellets, bullets, Pava shells, our youth is sacrificing their lives on streets. Our days are red and nights dark. Walls are painted everywhere with the slogans for independence and withdrawal of Indian illegal occupation. According to human rights report on 2016 the total number of killing were recorded as 100000, custodial killings 7073, civilians arrested 10,37469, enforced disappearances 8000-10000, structures destroyed 107043, women widowed 22826, children orphaned 107591 and women gang raped/ molested 10717.
Violations are still on the peak, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Insha and others are the examples , even a children of an eighteen months old Hiba is the victim of violence in Kashmir.
It is high time to introspect about the title of my opinion: If Kashmir and Kashmiris are struggling and sacrificing to reach certain destination, then how did we split?
Mainstream parties are claiming for the resolution through their own perception, they are sympathisers of the issue when elections are at the verge, rest of the times not less than the monarchs.
National Conference founded as the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim conference by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, ensured people the self rule and autonomy under article 370 of the Indian Constitution, still securing their future by raising same slogan and claiming the party as main stake holder of the issue. Time and again they failed to keep their electoral promises and are now known as hypocrites and swindlers.
Meanwhile Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rouse into prominence within a short span of time in south Kashmir and turned famous all around Kashmir. The party’s popularity was attributed mainly to Mehbooba Mufti, the daughter of its patron Mufti Mohamad Sayeed who played the soft separatism and human rights card right from the party’s foundation in the year 1999. Few years after the real incarnate of the party was exposed, as people’s democratic party contested elections on the agenda to keep Hindutva radical forces especially Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) out of the state but post elections they make an alliance with them and made their roads hurdle free to enter in the state assembly with full zeal and zest.
While as Hurriyat conference is believed to be the main stakeholder of the issue, but through my spectacles and my point of view they too are approaching the issue and leading us in different directions, now the question is, if all the groups of hurriyat are having the same agenda then why are their parties different and why they are leading the common masses through certain followed but different paths. It was the “Kul Jamaat –e- Hurriyat Conference”. “Kul” in Urdu means “All” in English and “Hurriyat” means freedom. Freedom is the single motto and dream, but nowadays it is Hurriyat Geelani Sahib. Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar. Hurriyat Professor Bhat. Hurriyat Abbas Ansari. Hurriyat Bilal Lone. Hurriyat Shabir Shah. Hurriyat Azam Inqilabi. Hurriyat Nayeem Khan. It reflects freedom for individuals not for totalitarian. While as adjacent ideologists are working under different banners.
Another group to make an entry with completely different agenda is MLA Langate Er. Rashid led AIP which believes in new policies to resolve the Kashmir issue, and are demanding for plebiscite on the streets of valley. Where every assembly member of the state is enjoying power, perks and privileges, Engineer Rashid spend his maximum time in police detention. Representative of a far flung area North Kashmir’s Langate is well known and famous for his activities but is still unable to convert his fame into vote because of the broken promises of previous mainstream parties.
Such an improvements in the political scenario of Kashmir had broken an every thread of trust among the people of Kashmir.
Yet another stalwart, Shah Faesal, topper of the civil services batch 2010, resigned from the post as a mark of protest against the unabated killings in Kashmir, humiliation and rise of Hindutva radical forces, with a say that “we can re-imagine the politics and represent the people correctly”.
Now it remains to be seen what will be the policies and agenda of Shah Faesal, but every policy must stick to the manifesto and cause of right to self determination.
It is well said by Sheikh Noor ud Din Noorani R.A .
“Saeri Samhov Akesi Razi Lamhov, Teli Kyazi Raavihey Kahan (11) Gaav”.
It means unity is only way to reach the goal, but unfortunately two roads diverged in this spectrum, the road which we took made no difference and the road which can make a difference is still waiting to be travelled.
The need of an hour is to adopt a common route which may be full of thorns but will lead us to the destination.
“Remember that the revolution is what is important, and each one of us, alone, is worth nothing”.
Author is a socio-Political activist, can be reached at jkydf1@gmail.com
