Srinagar: If Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Thursday speech was to allay fears over his government’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, it appears to have done little to achieve that.
Although much of the volatile belts of Srinagar remained calm during Friday prayers, the first since the Centre enforced a shutdown in Kashmir, residents in the Valley and Jammu have refused to buy into the Prime Minister’s promises of all-round development, early and transparent elections and an end to terrorism.
Instead, many say the decision to revoke Article 370 and Article 35A will render the “ecologically-sensitive” province “vulnerable” to exploitation due to infrastructure-related activities.
“With revoking of the Article, floodgates will be opened for the corporate sector to invest in big projects like hotels, flyovers and other big buildings,” said a Kashmiri journalist, who did not wish to be identified. “It will harm our pristine environment, which had so far been left largely unharmed due to the restrictions that come under the Article.”
He cited the example of Uttarakhand to support his claim, saying the country saw how houses and hotels built close to rivers damaged the environment in the state. “We do not want that to happen in our homeland,” he said.
Ajaz Ahmed, a Delhi-based physiotherapist who is in his 30s, alleged, “They (the government) only want the land of Kashmir, they do not want to win the hearts of Kashmiris.
“If they wanted to win our trust, they should have taken us into confidence, discussed the pros and cons of the exercise and made us feel secure,” he added. “Our families are living under siege there. If an emergency arises, our families won’t even have access to an ambulance.”
Aejaz Ahmad Rather, Jawaharlal Nehru Students’ Union general secretary said, “They are saying that it has been done with an agenda to bring development. But according to figures, Gujarat is lacking in development as opposed to Jammu and Kashmir in many indices… What the government has done is a grave mistake, and they will regret it later. They have taken away our identity.”
Also read: Kashmiris did hear Modi’s speech – no DTH or radio channel was shut in Jammu and Kashmir
‘They have killed our history’
Few in the Valley also believe that the Prime Minister’s assertion, that Jammu and Kashmir will not remain a union territory for long, will come to fruition.
“They have not killed article 370 or our statehood. They have killed our history,” said a pharmacist who did not want to be named.
Majeed Wani, who runs a hotel, said business had picked up in the last two months before the government’s decision. “Modi talks of developing the state, then why implement a move when things had begun to normalise?” he said. “Truth is there are people who want to keep the state burning.”
A bank employee who wished not to be named said, “How can a decision that is supposed to benefit the state require imprisoning people in it? Instead of giving sermons he (Modi) should have apologised first.”
Also read: Don’t come home for Eid, a Kashmiri mother tells her son on a one-minute phone call
No love for speech in Jammu too
Many Jammu residents were also not enthused by Modi’s speech, in which he spoke about the benefits that will accrue to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
“The Centre should have taken the people or at least the mainstream politicians into confidence,” Shah Rukh Ali, 25, an MBA graduate, told PTI over the phone from Jammu.
“How can you put the J&K leaders under house arrest and, decide on the fate of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, without asking the local people. Is that a democracy?” he asked, adding, this complete communication cut off in the Valley needs to end.
A Delhi-based university student from Jammu, said she thought the revoking of the article and its repercussions are debatable, but the way in which it was scrapped is “extremely undemocratic”.
“Besides, the environmental impact on the state of such a move would be catastrophic,” she alleged. “Moreover, if this is seen as a gateway to development, it would only be beneficial to the capital-owning bourgeoisie, who can buy land and open up their businesses, and would not really benefit the common masses. The gap between the rich and the poor would increase.”
(With PTI inputs)
Also read: Srinagar readies for low-key Friday prayers, the first since govt’s Article 370 move
Ajaz Ahmed, Aejaz Ahmad Rather, Majeed Wani were interviewed. Even in Jammu they interviewed Shah Rukh Ali but skipped Ram Manohar, Ashok Gupta and Sukhwinder Singh.
At the end of the piece they clarify they asked a “university student” named Karl Marx at JNU. ?
With such twisted minds, biased reporting, any wonder Indian liberal media has such a low credibility. And then on election night, Pranoy Roy and Hindu N Ram are shell shocked and find out they live in a bubble.
”Ajaz Ahmed, a Delhi-based physiotherapist who is in his 30s, alleged, “They (the government) only want the land of Kashmir, they do not want to win the hearts of Kashmiris.”
Name one non-Muslim country which has won hearts of Muslims. Even in the west, where many Muslims live on the free handouts of the governments, Muslims bomb the buses and trains. Muslims will only be happy when they can take this world over. Their objectives are all political control of every non-Muslim countries.
The killing of ‘kashmiri Hindus’ and driving them out from their own place, was democratic?
The time is up for the separatists and their sympathizers. They are free to make noise but government will not tolerate any form of violence. The government will not allow Kashmir valley to be turned into an Islamic state.
Practical reality adjust somewhere ,public has to maintain balance in between
Well keeping it closed has been very bad for them and the rest of the country. If they had been meditating and singing peaceful hymns like the Buddhists in the neighboring Union Territory Ladakh, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Those interested in this topic should read a fantastic article in Rediff by Mr Gumaste titled “Article 370 was an instrument of blackmail”.
Article 370 itself was established in a very undemocratic fashion, suppressing the dissenting voices and through fraudulent collaboration between Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru. As usual Nehru was naive, Sheikh Abdullah’s motive was establishing a mini fiefdom for him and his dynasty.
I request you all bised anti India British media to take views and expression of Jammu and Ladakh people about the abolition of the Article 370…instead of taking the views of only Kashmir valley Muslims.. So that you blinded anti Indian media can realize the truth and realities..Because of your blind biased pseudo secular thought nobody in India interested in your filthy media or channels…
Why spread lies, did you talk to the residents really?? Sitting in a coffee shop and writing it.