With malaise to one and all

 

India emphatically conveyed world; the value of a pinch of Sindoor by conducting operation Sindoor, gave a befitting reply to terror organizations by annihilating their base and the whole country rejoicedIndia's war against terrorist organizations and their masters. In this melee it brought Pakistan on knees for providing support to terrorists, had to beg for cease fire on the one hand and it may sound strange but stands true to its core, that on the other, no government has moved even an inch for restoration of confidence in Kashmiri pandit women whose Sindoor was omitted by terrorists in 1990.This double standard with the people of country has given birth to a plethora of questions like; Was the Sindoor of Kashmiri Pandit women who turned widow in 1990 less meaningful? Were they not citizens of India? What was their fault is a big question that haunts me? Why their killers were not caught and put in the jail? Why no one talks about the killers of 750 Kashmiri pandits? Punishing their perpetrators is a distant dream even cases were not registered against such people on this issue, despite the open admission of their killings on TV channels? Is the government interested only in the majority of the state? Is vote more important than the life of citizens? What hinders the government from investigating the causes for our turmoil? who was responsible and why those responsible should not be punished? Why in the largest democracy of the world, no commission of enquiry has been established till date to investigate the reasons for the killings in 1990? Was it not a fit case of Suo-motto for courts or are courts biased in selecting Suo motto cases? Is it not shameful that seven lakh people were thrown out of their places and the governments have been mute spectator from last thirty-six years? It took govt. 36 years to notify for registering cases killed by terrorists and when justice will be delivered most of those waiting for justice may have died. As it is rightly said Justice delayed is justice denied. If the Govt. can't do justice to its people they must openly confess that Kashmiri Pandits carry no meaning for them, and stop using crocodile tears for them in election manifestoes. The irony is that despite knowing clearly their sentiment for Kashmir, tricks were played with the community by subsequent governments to wash their hands from responsibilities. Instead of making the environment congenial for their return different tricks are played to appease the majority and to confuse the already beleaguered community. Kashmiri pandits ever since their departure from Kashmir due to terrorism yearned to go back to their home but unluckily got themselves trapped in one or the other trick and political parties encashed their sentiment and threw them on the roads like used tissue paper. How painful it is to leave home for unknown destinations is clear from the pangs of Kashmiri pandits when they try to go back to their homes? They stood in elections when people boycotted, voted for candidates they hardly knew to keep democracy alive, repeatedly attempted to go back and got killed etc It is worth to point out here that the exile of Kashmiri Pandits in their own country may be the first example of its type in any democracy of the world. India has a constitution, is the biggest democracy in the world, contains highly sophisticated arms and retaliated when 26 tourists were killed (tourism is the lifeline of majority in Kashmir) but acted as mute spectator in 1990. Mahatma Gandhi had seen a ray of hope in Kashmir when whole of India was on fire in 1947.The local folklore also conveys many incidents where a Muslim tried to protect his Hindu neighbour in 1948.what happened inlast seventy-seven years that made Kashmir civil society immune to human suffering despite improvement in their economic and social status. Firstly, Kashmir civil society totally failed to be humane in its approach in 1990. Those who talk of Kashmiryat today where were they hiding? There was not a single voice against those who were on job to kill Kashmiri Pandits. The secular chief minister left the people to enjoy his vacations in London. Does it look nice to listen lectures on secularism from a person who failed to deliver his duty as a chief minister to protect his people and as a Kashmiri to speak for fellow Kashmiris? He has no right to talk about Kashmir at or secularism. The irony is that Kashmir civil society did not even utter a single word against those who were terrorising Kashmiri pandits. Had majority objected to their gruesome killings perhaps the situation would have been different. It is beyond one's imagination to think how a minuscule population of just 7 lakh people could have obstructed any plan of the brute majority. It was preached as a war against infidels so people remained silent to give a free hand to the killers. The second is the failure of governments be it state or central. Both failed to protect/ rehabilitate Kashmiri pandits mainly because they are not a vote bank. It is no doubt that they were put in the election manifestoes by almost every political party to galvanise public sentiment in their own favour or to paint themselves as secularists. It is also true that their problem was put under the carpet by some and others totally neglected them, however, a lip service without any clear roadmap or anything practical was made visible on the ground. BJP is going to win the hearts of majority and congress ignored their problem for fear of being labelled as anti- Muslim. The third and important constituent of this melodrama has been Pakistan which has been successful in misleading the majority and has been on the front foot to take revenge of 1971 war. It knows that it can't win from India in any combat so keeping the wound bleeding has been part of its strategy and it is in the interest of China too to keep India busy with its own problems. Pakistan openly plays with the religious sentiments of Kashmiris and exploits them for its own interests. Blaming Pakistan is futile because such things are expected from an enemy country. The last in this chain are Kashmiri pandits themselves, today God has blessed the community with innumerable leaders. Every one of them wants to be accepted as a big leader without doing anything in practical. Certain organisations are confined to social media groups only and those who had a bit support remained confined to their interests. Every group criticises the other or the community for not supporting his idea. The latest addition is in the form of Sandi Mawa's" Alav". He is making bridges without questioning why earlier bridges were burnt and what is the assurance for the safety of such bridges in future? 36 years have passed and the hopes to return are getting dim day by day and the song of safe return with dignity, without any roadmap is being played to bluff the people. It is true that no part of Kashmir is complete without Kashmiri Pandits. Planting an alien culture may look nice for some time but in the long run will bear acrimonious fruits for the coming generations. The only hope that life gives is that nothing is permanent. If aboriginals were made to flee their home and hearth, the occupants will face the music today or tomorrow, it is the law of universe. The people within will one day question those who killed innocents in the name of religion. If there was Sikander Butt Shikan there was Zain- ul- Abideen too from the same dynasty. when things cross limits Krishana comes on earth in one or the other form. Today He is the ultimate hope with the community.

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Courtesy: M K Bhat  and Koshur Samachar- 2025, August