We all condemn the killings of CRP constables but say no to war

Radhakanta Barik

The terrorist attacks which killed poor CRP constables need to be condemned by all including sensible people all over world. But the question arises that information regarding the terrorist shows that he was a school drop out from the J and K not trespassed from Pakistan. He must have got some links with terrorists trained in Pakistan but he is not product of terrorist politics of Pakistan. On the contrary he is the product of Indian government’s policy towards Kashmir. The democratically elected parties wanted to form the government in the State but were not allowed to form the government but the President’s rule got imposed on them. People of Kashmir do not have an access to the corridors of power as it is a bureaucratic rule headed by the governor who has come with a single agenda that he would help the ruling party in the centre BJP to win the State assembly election whenever it is going to be held. This belied the faith of people of Kashmir on democracy. Democracy brings each community be linguistic or religious or cultural group to come to an agreement with the state when they feel to say ‘we the people of India” where their aspirations need to be satisfied in constitutional means. In the agreement with the people of Kashmir it was decide to have as much autonomy as they desire. Article 370 shows that their autonomy is guaranteed by Indian constitution not by the present government  on the contrary their autonomy has further eroded under Modi regime.  Art 35 gives special protection to Kashmir people regarding their land and culture which is under review by the present government. Trust deficit has created problems for the present government.

 It seems that the Modi's undemocratic policy towards Kashmir has brought such a political impasse which has resulted in creating internal terrorists. Their attacks on stone throwing  children created fear in the minds of these children.  Without any dialogue with all the stake holders no solution is possible.  Moreover Kashmir problem is a problem where three parties are involved where Pakistan is a party. Any dialogue without Pakistan cannot bring peace in the state of Kashmir. Modi can support the   Hindu militants belonging to the Sanatani Sanstha  who killed four rationalists  and the rapists in Jammu who killed a small girl baby belonging to pastoral community. The ministers belonging to the BJP took procession in favour of the rapists.They are involved in all sorts of anti-national activities which has resulted in destroying the reasonable peaceful agreement  in Jammu and Kashmir. It is like demonitisation which resulted in decline of economic growth and resulted in rise of unemployment.

Times of India has brought out map showing the rise of terrorist attacks during Modi rule. It shows that there has been a steady decline in militant activities which reached at the lowest level in the year 2013. This has happened during the UPA because of various measures were taken by Manmohan Singh government. The government constituted a team of interlocutors headed by the former editor of Times of India who interviewed a large number of people and discussed the matter with all stake holders including the Hariyat members produced a wonderful report. Negotiation with Pakistan government was a continuous activity during the UPA government. The graph tells us many things which any government may give into serious thought regarding the graph. As usual Modi does not bother about data or graph only uses verbiage full of jingoistic words. Any policy making requires a sober thinking based on facts, figures and analysis. No serious attempt has been taken by the present government in initiating the dialogue among the stakeholders in bringing peace in Kashmir.

We are in the midst of political war where fighting between fascism and democracy is going on. The real issues are being debated by people as it is the election time. They feel free to debate among friends in the field while working or in the factory. Passivity of India tells us that they want to protest against the economic and social policies of the present government during the election time where they have a maximum freedom. They are busy while discussing issues affecting them as farmers. Crisis in farming sector has acquired a gigantic proportion. The survey by NSS of the Department of Statistics of the central government shows that the rate of unemployment has risen the highest in the past 45 years. It includes the impact of demonetization which resulted in decline in the growth of economy by around two percent. It has reduced the employment in the informal sector of the economy which is the key area of employment in India.   But a tragedy has occurred in Kashmir which pains us. But to diverting the real issues towards war phobia is incorrect as there are other diplomatic channels to deal such a serious problem. Modi as the prime minister must handle the issue rather than handing the responsibility to the generals which is the abdication of political responsibility. This is the way military entered into civilian authority acquired space in the state which erodes democracy as it has happened in Pakistan. This  is  a serious blunder by the civilian authority. During fascism the leaders always wanted to launch a war against the foreign county to create false nationalism.  We calculate the pros and cons of the present situation arising out of the killing of CRP people in Kashmir and reach at a conclusion that all should say 'no to war'. Moreover war is an expensive affair. The best example is this that during Vajpayee regime before the 2004 general election the movement of arm forces happened on Indo Pak border which costs around Rs 1000 crores to the Indian state. Let us provide a peaceful environment for initiating a discussion where public is participating to teach a lesson to their masters whom they elected in 2014. The state must act in such a manner by which people feel free to debate over the issues not get a blurred picture because of war psychosis.

Prof Radhakanta Barik, retired as Professor, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi

Frontier
Feb 17, 2019