Political turmoil in Kashmir
I still remember her face...!
Her beautiful long white hair perfuming whoever stood near her... Her deep dark shimmering eyes, narrating myriads of fairy tales... Apple-red lips arching at a flawless angle... The prettiest Mother on Earth- Kashmir!
She has a different face today. Her white hair are damp with red ribbons of blood... Her eyes, losing sight, still narrate tales but of death of humanity... Streams still flow, but from her eyes at the sight of her children tearing each others' flesh.
I still remember her face! She's not herself now!
The Two Nation Theory by Jinnah paved way for dispute and unrest between the two newly created states. It was, perhaps, the side effect of this POLITICAL PHENOMENON that Kashmir is a disputed blot today. The political history of the issue goes back to 1947 when Hindu Maharaja Hari Singh, who had signed a temporary pact with the Pakistani Government, became disturbed by alleged Pakistani intrusions into Baramula and Srinagar by 27 October. While Hari Singh acceded to the Indian Union, UN intervention resolved the matter with large portion still under the control of Pakistan, which is known as PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir).
Besides, the perpetual Pakistani interventions, the Indian government has not been very successful in handling the situation politically. Although, military insurgencies and counter-attacks are well carried, little is done for the civilians. Kashmiris are usually woken up by the noises of shattering window glasses, gun shots and clamours of people. They are used to of these kinds of morning alarms.
The Second Indo-Pak War (1965) and the Third Indo-Pak War (1971) which saw India's inclination to the formation of Bangladesh added fuel to fire. It heated up the political war. Today, terrorists have expanded so much in Pakistan that it has become difficult to distinguish Pakistani soldiers from terrorists. There are politicians who call 'them', "Boys with Gun", and exact political pleasure and heat up the "Burhan aftermath". Kashmir Issue has ushered opportunities for terrorists to plan attacks in thirst of revenge. Policy makers have proved their failure by playing games with the emotions of the civilians and the chaotic situations that prevail.
Recently, the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew from the coalition government with the National Conference Party giving the latter a painful knot in the already knotty situation. Most Kashmiris believe that the manner in which the BJP masterminded the fall of the Mehbooba Mufti- led coalition government had little to do with the situation in the valley. The local perception is that the withdrawal of support was a part of a Grand Strategy of the BJP with an eye on the 2019 general election, the report by Yashwant Sinha-led Concerned Citizen Group (CCG) read.
Kashmir is a mother who carries immense pain in her womb. She's a beautiful lie. The closer you look, the farther you will want to go. Areas like J&K are 'Blood Drenched Gifts' to the modern world. Terrorists blot the name of humanity, usher corruption, mayhem and deaths. Terrorism has no nationality or religion. Terrorism is a game of 'divide and rule', but what of the innocent civilians or even soldiers who do not wish for destruction? Why 'peace' is at stake for a 'piece' of land?
The United Nations is taking crucial steps to eradicate terrorism from the world. The will to make a difference is indispensable to extirpate the dark night of ignorance! It is time for policy makers to wake up. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do", wrote Mark Twain. To solve this problem, national leaders must peacefully negotiate. Malala Yousafzai said, "With guns you kill terrorists, with education you kill terrorism". Youth must be educated that terrorism in the smear of religion is unjust. Pens and books are the weapons that beat terrorism. It'll spill over if you don't speak up.
Nobody asks what the people of Kashmir want... It's a truth that religion is never the problem, it's the PEOPLE who use it to gain power. It's said that all religions preach LOVE. But love has no RELIGION. It's a RELIGION itself!
The people of Kashmir await their political rights... Rights of their Mother, Kashmir. Every Kashmiri heart agrees to what Amir Khusro (Persian poet) said, " Agar Firdaus bar ru-e-Zaminast, Hami ast o-hamiast o-hamiast". (If there is heaven on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here!)
If Gandhiji was alive, today, he would have surely been in despair to see the world absolutely contrary to what he had hoped for. We have heard but not realised- "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind!"
- Tanya Ahuja
