Two time chief minister and former Union Minister and patron of National Conference Farooq Abdullah speaking at a workers function at party headquarters Nawai Subh recently maintained that Kashmiri youth are sacrificing their lives not for becoming assembly members or ministers but for Azadi. He said that people in Kashmir are rendering sacrifices for their rights as this land belongs to them and no-one else. Praising the youth Abdullah said that they have left their homes and everybody loves him (militant). Nobody wants to die. But they left (their homes) to fulfill their promise with God to make this nation free. Not only Farooq Abdullah even former Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram recently said that India is at a brink of losing Kashmir as he was referring in context with the statement of Army chief General Bipin Rawat that people who will pelt stones on the forces will be taken as over ground workers of the militants and will be dealt sternly. These messages by two mainstream politicians is an indication that all is not well in Kashmir. Only few years ago when Farooq Abdullah’s party was ruling in the J&K with Congress Farooq Abdullah used to advocate for bombing in Pakistan and Pakistan Administered Kashmir but out of power the former chief minister is speaking a different language. These types of statements reflect that there is strong confusion within the top mainstream leadership of India and they have never taken initiatives that will bring peace in the region. Be it Farooq Abdullah or the current chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti are politicians who know how to grab attention of media and sympathies of masses to gain their lost political ground. With an eye on two parliament seats – Farooq Abdullah is adopting the same tactics which was used by PDP leadership to gain votes across Kashmir. However, once in power these top politicians never dare to make statements that will help to resolve situation on ground. And statements though will bring few votes to politicians however in the long run it proves as a catalyst for worsening the situation. And the future consequences of these provocative statements by the political opportunists would prove detrimental for peace and stability in the fragile valley and catastrophic for the young generation which is already alienated from the mainstream politics.
The editorial appeared in print edition of 1 to 7 March 2017.
