By Seema Khan
The reasons behind the meeting of the Kashmiri leaders and the Indian Prime minister Narebdra Modi and home minister Amit Shah at prime minister's residence on 24th June, which lasted for three and half hours, had thrown up many questions.
Why this change of heart after keeping the leaders under arrest for so long? These were the same leaders whom Amit Shah had called the ‘Gupkar gang’ and said that they are irrelevant.
The second question is; why did these leaders who were jailed and denied access to their homes and family agree to attend the meeting at all?
The third question is; why were the Hurriyet leaders not invited? Just one cup of tea at the Prime Minister’s house has mellowed these leaders down, who came out positive and hopeful when not a single word of confirmed promise?
Only assumptions are being made for the reason of holding the meeting. It could be international pressure, or possibly ‘Biden Effect’. While Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden had seeked India to take necessary steps to restore the rights of Kashmiris, and expressed disappointment over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
Will this meeting remove the trust deficit between the government and the Kashmiri leaders?
There was no set agenda from either side. Home Minister said they are ready to hear anything that these Kashmiri leaders wanted to discuss. Nothing much was offered by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, and only assurances were given that after delimitation, elections will be held. Statehood will be restored when the atmosphere is conducive is what those leaders were told.
Much conflict and confrontation was expected, but nothing much happened. Only hands met, not the hearts. If the Modi government is to regain the people's trust, it is very important to restore the statehood Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and restore article 370.
What has Kashmir lost in these two years?
After article 370 was repealed, Kashmiris were treated as second-rate citizens. They did not have the same rights as the citizens in other parts of India.
The real question is ‘will the expectations of the Kashmiris be met, will their marginalization come to an end? Will their emotional trauma be eased?
It has always been one step forward and one step back. It has to be seen whether the centre deviates from its ideology. How far things will be implemented is not certain.
What went in the meeting?
The meeting was described as a step towards the growth of the state. Prime Minister stressed two points, to carry democracy to grassroots and all-round development of J&K. The process of giving an elected government to the state has begun. All parties agreed to it.
The most important demand was to restore statehood and holding assembly elections. Farook Abdullah urged to restore the trust by restoring the statehood. Omar Abdullah also emphasized the same thing and said its canter’s duty to restore. Maheboba Mufti said people are angry, feeling humiliated, emotionally shattered, and facing difficulties. She further said it was unconstitutional and immoral to remove article 370.
BJP leader Kavinder Gupta blamed Omar Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti to have made their participation in the assembly election conditional after their recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding restoration of statehood and special status to Jammu and Kashmir before the polls.
Gulam Nabi Azad from congress raised five demands; statehood, assembly elections and restoration of democracy, rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits, the release of all political detainees, and restoration of domicile rule.
There was a conflict in the Gupkar alliance where Mahboba Mufti took a hardline stand and insisted on a dialogue with Pakistan as well.
What did Kashmir lose in these two years?
Jammu and Kashmir, a sound state on many parameters, is no longer the same. Removal of article 370 and statehood, cutting off the internet has proved a disaster for the economy. Tourism which was the primary industry and source of income to the people has come to a standstill, with a large number of security forces roaming in the streets. With tourism on a long pause, the hotel industry too suffered losses. Gulam Nabi Azad said that 65% of the industries have been shut down.
Jammu and Kashmir was better than many states in the country on several parameters. On social and economic indicators and poverty rate; it was better than most of the states in India. On human development; it was ten among 22 states. On infant mortality, fertility, education it was much better than most of the states in India. GDP of the state was also good. So the obvious question is; what did the central government achieve by making it a union territory and abrogating article 370? The fact is; those changes have proved an economic and social disaster for the state.
Many theories are being discussed on the change of heart of the union government.
First, it could be international pressure. 4G services were restored in the valley after American government chided the Indian government on human rights violation and democratic rights in the valley. The Indian government knows that Americans are keeping an eye on it’s actions in J&K.
US acting assistant secretary in bureau of south-central Asia affairs Dean Thomson has said that some Indian actions are inconstant with democratic values. That statement indicates that India is being watched on Kashmir affairs.
Modi’s meeting with J&K leaders was highlighted in Pakistan too. BBC reported that it was a national news in the Pakistan media. Dawn, the Pakistani national newspaper, carried the headline that Modi wants to improve his international image through this meeting. Dawn also pointed out the absence of Hurriyet conference leaders. Pakistani leader Abdul Basit called this meeting a drama.
The conversion with ‘Gupkar gang’ leaders remains a mystery. Why a U-turn on Kashmir when there was no such turn for the Farm law bill, demonetization, GST and privatization?
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