Terrorism in J&K has to end
By abhay mokashi
The killing of two teachers in Jammu and Kashmir is painful and has to be condemned. All killings and deaths are painful, whether of teachers or of farmers or of any other human being.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting for the establishment of peace in the region, as much as peace-loving people in the rest of the country are looking forward to the end of bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is more painful and troubling to see political leaders and some anchors of television channels trying to give it a political colour. Needless to say, that when such incidents occur, the government and the administration are questioned for their failure to prevent such acts of terror. As such, in the current situation the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power at the Centre and with Jammu and Kashmir is under Centre’s rule and control, the BJP would be held accountable.
But given the habit of the BJP’s spokespersons, they have been blaming the Congress for the trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, just as the they blame the Congress for all that goes wrong in the country, even under the BJP rule.
If the Congress has failed in the past and the people have believed so, the Congress has been punished, by being kept out of power in two consecutive general elections. People have put faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, after both made tall promises of restoring peace in Northern-most region of India.
At the time of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, Modi had stated that among other things, the decision will help curb terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Modi made a similar statement at the time of abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. But that did not happen.
The Centre has claimed that the situation in the two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with special status, has improved in terms of the number of terrorists attacks. The Union Home Ministry booklet issued recently, stated that step taken by the Centre has paved the way for new industries, created new employment opportunities, decreased terror incidents, brought atmosphere of peace and security, nurtured democracy, eradicated corruption, brought new Central laws for betterment of people in this region.
The reality is not so. The unemployment rate is higher than before the abrogation and the government’s claim that jobs have been given, is based on the filling up of some vacancies in the public sector, which is a routine exercise.
The booklet has also claimed that the Nashri Tunnel, the Zojilla Tunnel, the establishment of 50, degree colleges and various medical colleges have come up after the abrogation of Article 370, but that is far from the reality, as stated by Omar Abdullah former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as by People’s Alliance of Gupkar Declaration, as these were launched much before the abrogation of Article 370.
The main issue is that the government has failed to stop terrorism. There has to be a dialogue with the people, give them confidence that they are as much part of India as people from other states and create jobs for them. This will be a step towards stopping radicalisation.
With elections in Uttar Pradesh just a few months away, the BJP is bound to use the killing of the two teachers to consolidate the Hindu votes by fanning communal feeling. The party had used the Pulwama attack during elections. It has to be seen if the voters will see through such propaganda.