People have no business to venture near encounter sites or glorify such ‘bravado' in ‘azadi’s name. There is no love happening in the line of fire
There is a saying that one should not play with fire unless one has the desire to get burnt. This is apt in the context of the recent statement given by Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, warning of tough action against stone-pelting mobs that disturb the forces engaged in encounters with militants in Jammu & Kashmir. Gen Rawat’s words may sound harsh to some, but as the commander of the world’s third largest standing Army, he needs to be assertive and not brush aside any provocation that might ultimately result in further bloodbath. The remark should not be treated as a threat, but as a genuine concern that needs serious introspection.
It is highly unfortunate that certain sections of our society have tried to present the Army chief as a rogue, without taking into account the challenges our soldiers face on an everyday basis on the ground. We cannot act naïve or sound idealistic and say anything to please a narrative which has no sound basis or logic.
People have no business to venture near encounter sites or glorify such ‘bravado’ in the name of ‘azadi’. These acts are fraught with danger, as there is no love happening across the line. Crossing the line would mean more casualties which none, apart from the fringe elements (who provoke gullible people) want. It is not difficult to understand that cross-firing does not differentiate between a friend and a foe.
Kashmiris have to accept the reality and be honest to their conscience that nowhere in the world would any Army tolerate a civilian population disrupting encounters by pelting stones or mocking at the soldiers. Going near the encounter sites or helping the militants flee is tantamount to suicide and it should not be condoned. It also takes away our right of being called civilians or what certain media outlets call ‘peaceful protestors’. This ill behaviour of people must not be overlooked and those who claim to be their well-wishers must be held responsible for any untoward incident that happens in the course of such events.
We have to learn to express our political beliefs in a democratic and peaceful manner. It is our right. However, stone-pelting is not the way. What purpose does it serve to attack the Army, knowing well that it will end in retaliation and hence, civilian killingsIJ It brings us nothing apart from physical harm and creates misgivings about our expression of ‘genuine’ political issues and grievances.
The separatists and their sponsors in Pakistan want to prolong the conflict, as it is serves their purpose. They want people to get killed, so that they can play politics over the dead bodies. Meaningless violence, which brings about death and destruction, is futile and incapable of ever helping the people’s cause.
No doubt, the Army has done an incredible job in containing the insurgency in J&K and bringing back normalcy, but there have been gross mistakes committed on its part as well. When people failed to see justice dispensed in rights’ violations, it further alienated them from the system. Though it was easy for the Governments to stand by the people, yet it chose to act indifferently and insensitively.
However, people have also played their part in establishing peace by participating in the democratic processes repeatedly. They reciprocated to every reach-out initiatives by the Army, and that is the reason we see a huge transformation happening over the years in terms of peace. It is why we hardly come across any case of human rights violation in the recent past.
The fringe elements may feel encouraged by Gen Rawat’s statement and try to push more and more civilians towards gunfights. Nevertheless, the Government has to be proactive and counter this emerging trend by launching a systematic campaign to discourage people from following this self-destructive ‘heroism’.
Killing militants always complicates the problem further. We should think of different methods to bring them back to the mainstream. If there is a consensus on the issue within the security establishment, it will bring about a total turnaround in the situation.
If there is anything that has failed to supplement the Army’s success in Kashmir, it is the failure of the political establishment to connect with the youth. It is not out of any ‘sentiment’ that the young resort to violence, but frustration, which brings them in harm’s way. The chalta hai approach adopted by Governments in the past has brought more misgivings than anything else has. Genuine concerns about the younger generation’s future, education and lifestyle need to be addressed. Innovative ways must be adopted to reach out to those who see stakes in death, not life.
State Governments in Kashmir over the years have failed to engage with the youth despite the latter coming in large numbers during elections to vote. That sentiment was never respected, resulting into further desperation for the young.
The new Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti has been taking serious measures to bring back the lost confidence in the system. The efforts to see reforms in education and focus on sports ought to be welcomed as stepping stones towards achieving the larger goal
There is no harm in people fighting for their political ideals and goals, but there is no logic in sacrificing the lives of our youth for the sake of these battles.
(Views expressed are personal. Twitter: @traluk)