New Delhi, Oct 10: Senior Advocate and Chairman Kashmir Policy and Strategy Group (KPSG), Ashok BhanMonday said, “PM Modi has both intent and commitment to set right the Kashmir turbulence.”
He was speaking at a seminar in Delhi,as a key note speaker. The seminar was organised by the Strategic Community.
According to a statement from the organisers, Bhan said that the Prime Minister NarendarModi’s statement ‘DilkeedoorianaurDilise dooriKomitannahai’ (that the distances between hearts and from Delhi need to be removed), is always intended to set right the Kashmir turbulence by a reach-out process with a genuine development and the benefits of pro-people schemes reaching to the last common man in the remotest areas.
He said it is a laudable manifestation of current Government of India module for Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory.
“Kashmir has been in turbulence with continuing unrest for the last few years and sizeable numbers of local youth are driven for recruitment to militancy.Kashmir is on the boil perpetually for the last more than three decades,” he said.
Bhan further said that the “wolf of mayhem” continues to consume human lives. Anti-terrorism units of the Army, the J&K police and other operational security forces and agencies are terming the elimination of terrorists and fewer arrests as a major success in anti-terrorist operations. It indeed is, but with a caveat. The collateral damage — the death of civilians and security personnel and damage to individual properties — is painful.
“The subtle OGWs support to militancy contributing to selective killings of soft innocent citizens are issues that should worry all citizens and the government,” he added.
According to Bhan terrorism has rendered the state, especially the Valley, without liberty and individuality. It has devastated the economy, education and normal living pattern, the plural ethos, and imperilled institutions. The societal psyche is turning cynical and despondent and that is what Pakistan and militancy have managed to do with the people of Kashmir, he said.
Highlighting the miseries of common people in Jammu and Kashmir Bhan said, “In the name of self-determination, people have no voice of their own and the emotions are controlled and charged by proxies. People know the disastrous consequences of the harm Pakistan and terrorists have done to the current and future generations of Kashmir. But the anti-India sentiment that has grown over the years is so strong that people refuse to see the logic.”
He said that Modi’s outreach with people is intended to address the attitudinal,socio-cultural,political and economic grievances of the people in order to win the hearts and trust of the people and let the menace of terrorism be handled by the professional security forces.
While talking about the problems faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community Bhan said that another pressing issue of reversal of exile of aborigines Kashmiri Pandits, the natives living in exile for last 33 years.
There is a consensus in the political spectrum for their return,rehabilitation and political empowerment back in the valley.The Government of India needs to demonstrate the requisite political and governmental will to plan the return of KPs in the Valley, he said.
“They are yearning to return home.Let the Union Government talk to them also and return them in at least three smart cities in Baramulla,Srinagar and Anantnag district headquarters.Otherwise idea of India in Kashmir is incomplete without their physical presence and peace shall always allude,” he said.
The government has acknowledged that the use of hot pursuit against terrorists and OGWs on the one hand and a blend of engagement,dialogue with all the stakeholders and massive development is only way forward to defeat the menace of terrorism and usher in peace in the UT, Bhan said.
Stressing the People’s participation in the Home Minister’s public rally, Bhan said Peoples’ participation in large numbers in political process of various political parties and most recently in HM Amit Shah’s public meetings in Baramulla,demonstrates peoples yearning for peace,democracy and right to terror free peaceful life.It further manifests the rejection of Pakistan’s bigotry,terrorism and radicalised narrative.
“New Delhi seemingly has adopted an approach to the issues-keeping in sight the fact that India’s strategic interests are intertwined with the goodwill of the Valley’s ordinary people, including Kashmiri Pandits, and not the land alone,” Bhan said.
