"I wrote my novel, Mr Stone And The Knight’s Companion, in Kashmir. I’d like to
revisit it" - Noble laureate, Sir V S Naipaul.
The other segments of public opinion in Kashmir, have adopted an antagonistic
approach to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) led coalition government headed by
Mufti Sayeed, which severely hampers the efforts of the ruling coalesce to arrive at
a 'broad-based consensus'.
If the statements of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik,
and former chairman of All Party Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq are any
indications, the separatists are not only sticking to their guns, but also using
every opportunity to take pot shots at PDP.
This makes the assignment of Sayeed all the more difficult, who has time and again -
despite lack of enthusiasm from New Delhi – demonstrated resolute determination to
give his ‘holistic approach’, an honest try. His contention to set his own house in
order first, ahead of actually going about unshackling the deadlocks of the larger
Kashmir issue, has despite reservations from the separatists, received benefaction
from the people of Kashmir, in addition to the media fraternity in India.
Over the years, Srinagar's point of view seldom appeared on the Indian media
horizon, but of late, the media does not seem to blindly follow the leads, and hints
given out by the Home Ministry, but rightly takes an optimum view, something, which
surely has gone well with the people of Kashmir.
The diabolic attack on the historic and symbolic Raghunath temple, recently did as a
matter of fact, make some mainstream Indian newspapers to switch over to the hard-
line approach of the Home Ministry, questioning the soft approach of Sayeed towards
militancy. A leading national daily despite having a strong Srinagar bureau, jumped
the hard liner’s bandwagon, when it front-paged the reactions to the Raghunath
Temple attack.
Nevertheless, surely one cannot, and should not squarely blame Sayeed for the
despicable act. One ought not disregard that last time, when the same place of
worship was attacked in March, it was the BJP’s coalition partner, National
Conference at the helm of affairs. During the tenure of Farooq Abdullah, innumerable
number of similar attacks took place all over the place, which coupled with the
large-scale killings of minorities, especially in the Jammu region, does show
Abdullah senior in a very poor light.
Sayeed has a fundamental problem, a grave one. This stems from his coalition and not
with elements within the given dispensation, with separatists elements, who till
yesterday provided him patronage, and clandestine support with the singular
objective of sending Abdullah senior packing, have after making an appraisal of the
prevalent situation, deciphered that they have no options, but to attack Sayeed,
something which they believe is essential and fundamental to their survival as a
political force.
It is in this context that one should observe the rhetoric of Yasin Malik, terrorist-
turned-politician, who spends time these days in addressing public gatherings in the
state, using the occasions to lambast Sayeed, and raise the larger Kashmir issue,
something, which Sayeed is keen to keep under wraps, at least for the time being.
The separatists belonging to Malik’s school of thought believe that it is essential
to attack any dispensation, Sayeed or not, to ensure that the separatist bandwagon
does not become irrelevant. They are also increasingly worried about the effects
that Sayeed’s healing touch might have on the populace, and that should the therapy
work, it may lead to an indifferent attitude of larger sections in Kashmir towards
hurriyat and company in the future.
Sayeed is wisely keeping the contentious issues on the backburner, and has fittingly
taken a principled stand to put the nuts and bolts in order before directing his
energies to what the other sections want. But come what may, that is not acceptable
to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and company who are adamant that Sayeed
address the larger issue first on the priority basis, which in their opinion is the
root cause of all evil. The contention of this school of thought in the separatist
bandwagon is that Sayeed is making a grave mistake of treating the symptoms, rather
than the disease.
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq articulated the viewpoint of APHC vocally in a recent interview
to a news channel, when he stuck to the conglomerate line, carrying on and on with
the same old rhetoric, demonstrating little flexibility, something, which is not
going to help solve matters.
On the contrary, to expect his expectations to come true, would be taking things a
bit too far. Despite being considered a moderate, his whole approach during the
conversation was so combative; that one got the feeling that to expect any headway
towards the larger Kashmir issue would not be pragmatic, at least in the very near
future.
Still it goes to the credit of the CM of J&K, that despite all the provocation by
the separatists, he refuses to join issue with them, but at the same time he is not
taking any stand, which may contravene the working relations, PDP seems to have
developed over the period of time - largely due to his vibrant daughter, Mehbooba
Mufti. Nevertheless, PDP chief is adamant to get things done his way, which stems
from the belief that the most effective cure, in the present circumstances, may not
be drastic surgery.
Sayeed, to borrow an expression, is caught between the devil and the deep sea. Pick
your choose. The indications emanating from Kashmir, confirm as true that the
divergence in the stances taken by the PDP-led combine on one hand, and the APHC and
company on the other hand, may create unforeseen problems for the government, and
consequently the winter-chill coupled with icy rhetoric’s may well make the weather
far too inclement for one’s taste. And, Sir Naipaul, in the mean time could realise
his cherished desire to revisit Kashmir in spring, or may be in summer, but let
winter pass.
*With exclusive arrangement with KashmirTelegraph.com
