The Kashmir issue is no longer political. Neither is it limited to the State. Kashmir is an integral part of India. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the citizens to support the Government in handling the situation tactically
The dastardly act by the Pakistan Army of killing two Indian soldiers and mutilating their bodies could not have been possible without active participation of separatists from Kashmir, who are planning and acting concertedly, and with impunity. It is because such terrorist acts can’t be eliminated through democratic means that the Government is succumbing to political pressure, from within the country and outside, and refraining from taking harsh measures against the separatists.
Kashmiris don’t have to pay income tax; while other States get Central assistance in the ratio of 70 per cent debt to 30 per cent grant, Jammu & Kashmir (as a special category State) gets 90 per cent of its assistance as grant, and only 10 per cent as debt.
Gross State Domestic product (GSDP) at constant (2004-05) prices for the year 2014-15 is estimated at Rs 45,126.30 crore (advance estimates) as against Rs 45,847.15 crore for the year 2013-14; first revised estimates (RE), registering a negative growth of 1.57 per cent, over the previous year.
During 2012-13 and 2013-14, GSDP grew at 5.34 per cent; second RE, and 5.63 per cent; first RE respectively. Per capita GSDP in 2014-15 in Jammu & Kashmir was Rs 77,599 as against Rs 88,533 for India. It is thus ranked 22nd out of the total number of States. Above all, it has its own Constitution.
The Kashmir issue is no longer a political. It is time India speaks in one voice and the political bickering since 1960s has to be stopped, for which the Indian Government has to take the initiative. It is also time that the silent majority in Kashmir realises that the Government cannot indefinitely continue with development measures when acts of terrorism are carried out continuously and they will have to face the consequences of retaliatory measures recommended as following:
Protective measures provided to separatist leaders must be withdrawn.
All police personnel, cooperating with terrorists, overtly or covertly, must be dismissed from service.
Government must clearly state that banks and educational institutes, which are attacked or burnt, will not resume operation.
Stone-pelting mob and violent demonstrators must face punitive action, including use of spray bullets.
Army must be given a free-hand in dealing with the Pakistani Army and terrorists.
The silent Kashmiris must be motivated through discussions to appreciate the reality that the future of Kashmir is bright only within India.
It is also time for the Indian Muslims to convince Kashmiri Muslims to oppose separatists and terrorists and have faith in the Indian Government and democracy. If the Muslims, as a community, is seen as automatically supporting the separatists, it would mean that they still hold on to the notorious ‘Two-Nations theory’ that led to the creation of Pakistan as the homeland of the Muslims. Therefore, Kashmir is no longer a problem specific to Kashmir alone, but an all- India problem with Muslims in the country having a very large stake in it.
Pakistan is not amenable to reason. It thrives on anti-Indian hatred, which is derived from obscurantist and radical Islamic preaching that call for destruction of non-Islamic State and its people. Such preaching is rampant in India too. It is time to clamp down heavily on such preaching in India.
Finally, intense pressure must be put on Pakistan Army, both militarily and diplomatically, which is the sole preserve of the Government of India and tactically and strategically, needs to be thought out. Kashmir is a very integral part of India and has to be preserved so, at any cost.
(The writer is a commentator on contemporary issues)