This refers to the article, “Kashmir on the boil: What can India doIJ” (August 22) by Joginder Singh. Kudos to the author for not mincing his words about opposition parties and their leaders in Kashmir. India needs to go farther than just controlling the separatists elements, many of whom are just hooligans.
Instead of feeding the separatists in the hopes of pacifying them, India should use its resources for settling Kashmiri ‘migrants’ and retired security personnel in new townships along the line of Control in Kashmir valley, at least until Article 370 is abrogated.
Until Kashmir is opened to all citizens for settling and establishing businesses there, it will not develop like the rest of the country. Kashmir deserves better.
Kashmir has to be given the opportunity to stand on its own two feet rather than be a begging bowl in a permanently stretched out hand, before the Union Government. The special status of Kashmir has been a noose around its neck. The noose needs to be removed or at least loosened.