Need a Patel to resolve the Kashmir crisis

This refers to the editorial, “Bee in Omar's bonnet” (August 13). The editorial has rightly voiced concern over the political game that is being played out in Kashmir and the attempt by the State's leadership to blame the Opposition for ‘communalising' the violence in Kishtwar. Unfortunately Jawaharlal Nehru, otherwise known for his statesmanship, also contributed to the mess that the State finds itself in today, by internationalising a dispute that could have been resolved domestically.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel integrated several States into the Indian Union but for reasons best known to leaders of the time, the Kashmir issue was kept out of his jurisdiction and wise intervention. later, even Indira Gandhi could have abrogated Article 370 on the grounds of it being an anachronism after Jammu & Kashmir's accession to India, but chose not to. Seeds of separatism were nurtured under vote-bank politics to retain Article 370, with a calculated demographic change over the years adding to the fire. When and whether Kashmir will stop bleeding, is a decision that rests entirely on future statesmanship.