New Delhi: Seeking a better future for the strife-torn Valley, an informal group of politically aspiring Kashmiri activists is meeting the top tier of the Narendra Modi government with two demands — open up mobile networks in Jammu and Kashmir and fulfill the promises made.
Mir Junaid, a representative of the group — which participated in last year’s panchayat elections in the former state and has Kashmiri youth from different walks of life — had a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this month. He is now seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to ThePrint, members of this group expressed keenness on being part of the political system in Kashmir and plans to create a new political party.
These members also said they are looking forward to the pending block development council and assembly polls in the newly-created Union Territory.
Putting the onus of the Modi government’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on the political leaders from the state, the group also said only the ruling families developed under their rule.
On Kashmir’s future
Mir Junaid, who had a meeting with the home minister, told ThePrint about the demands he made concerning the region that has been under severe communications blockade for nearly two months now.
“I asked Home Minister Amit Shah to lift this ban on mobile phones. I have also asked him to live up to his promises of granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir soon,” Junaid said.
During his Parliament address on 5 August while announcing the decision to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories, Shah had said Kashmir would be granted statehood again when the “time is right”.
Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort where he expressed support for anyone who wished to join politics in Kashmir, Junaid said he wants the PM to “stick to his words”.
“I, and many others like me, want to start a new economic, social and political movement in Jammu and Kashmir as we have only seen our past, present and future being wasted by the so called political class of Kashmir,” he said.
Junaid added that he has sought an appointment with the prime minister.
On the failure of Kashmiri leaders
Touseef Raina, another young activist from Kashmir who also wants to join the political mainstream, blamed the Abdullahs and Muftis for the turmoil in the region after the Modi government’s historic action.
“The removal of Article 370 and division of the state is the failure of the mainstream political parties of Kashmir. They were blackmailing the Centre till now and only the ruling families developed. Common Kashmiris did not gain anything. Mainstream parties were keeping the common Kashmiris away from Delhi,” Raina said.
Mehraj Malik, a young IT professional who left his job in Bengaluru and is now part of the group’s political ambitions, supported Raina’s argument. He said Kashmiris are happy that the “families which only benefited themselves” rather than Kashmir have been “destroyed”.
“For the last 70 years we have seen there is no peace. Where have these politicians taken us? Nobody bothers because their ecosystem survives. The youth of the state have to come forward and take their future into their own hands,” said Malik.
On the scrapping of Article 370
Asked if the situation in Kashmir is normal after the Modi government’s move, Malik shot back, “What is normal? A decision has been taken by the Centre. At least now involve Kashmiris in future decisions.”
He also said that the truth about the tension in the region lies somewhere in between the government-shot videos of busy streets and media reports of civil disobedience. “There are always two sides,” he said.
“No doubt that there are a lot of people who are angry and upset. They are not opening shops because of protest. But then there are many who are not doing it out of the fear psychosis that has been created by the militant groups who don’t want the shops open,” he said, adding that one shouldn’t ignore either of these two factors.
On need for rise in leadership
Junaid agreed too, saying the need of the hour was to remove the fear of the gun by involving people in decision-making.
“In the panchayat level polls (last year), we as a group fielded 2,774 candidates and 2,368 were elected. Of them, 712 women were elected. We wanted women to be part of the process. The new leadership will emerge from the grassroots,” he said.
He added that the Centre has to ensure the protection and preservation of Kashmir’s culture, identity, tradition and language.
“Kashmir has seen enough of bloodshed and rules by family. These politicians are cut off from the people at large. People have not got anything until now except empty promises. People want basic issues like electricity, connectivity, tourism, schools and colleges, jobs for their children,” Raina said.
While several people have spoken about picking up arms, there are many who question this.
Sajid Yousuf, a member of the group who lost his mother to terrorism, said, “Arms will not solve anything. It is important to join the mainstream and be part of the process that decides our future.
“Division of the state has been done and Jammu and Kashmir has been completely integrated with the rest of India. Pakistan is only making a fool of us and destroying our present and future,” said Yousuf.
Asked if they are not afraid of coming out in the open and wanting to be part of the political movement in Kashmir, another member, Suhail Yousuf Shah, said, “Someone has to come forward. If we all will be afraid, there is no future for us.”
However, the activists denied any allegiance to any national political party.
“No. we are not siding with any party. We will soon be announcing our own party. A party that will truly represent not just Kashmir but also Ladakh and Jammu. Enough of this division of ideas and territory,” said Nasir Ali Khan, a long-time road safety activist in Kashmir.
They should name their party KDP — Kashmiri Dalal Party.
What would be the credibility of these leaders in the eyes of ordinary Kashmiris. They would be seen, perhaps unfairly, as the new King’s party.