Hope Turns Valley Aglow

Suddenly, there is elation and expectation in Kashmir바카라�s ruling circles. First came a message from the Centre that it won바카라�t do anything that goes against the general sentiments in the restive Valley. Then, an exhortation from Pakistan바카라�s army for political and diplomatic means to resolve the Kashmir issue.

India has not responded to Pakistan바카라�s General Qamar Javed Bajwa, but militant outfits in the Valley are apprehensive about a secret track II between the two countries. Lashker-e-Toiba said on September 13바카라�a day after Union home minister Raj­nath Singh ended his four-day Jammu and Kashmir visit바카라�that India must evacuate from Kashmir 바카라�be it track-2 or track-3바카라�.

General Bajwa바카라�s statement is 바카라�very important바카라�, according to moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. 바카라�We need to see what policy the government of India adopts now바카라�whether the approach is military or political,바카라� he tells Outlook. Previously, when the Hurriyat Conference was talking with the Atal Behari Vajpayee regime, there was also dialogue on between New Delhi and Islamabad, he recalls. 바카라�We had reached no solution level but a process was going on. That is missing this time.바카라�

In contrast to Mirwaiz, who didn바카라�t find any significance in the home minister바카라�s visit, the pro-India political parties see the visit as new beginning and New Delhi바카라�s approach towards Kashmir. PDP president and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is happy about the reassurance from Rajnath. She believes his promise will be a balm for the people who were apprehending that the Narendra Modi regime will do away with the special status Jammu and Kashmir has been enjoying since 1952.

Till the other day, pro-India political parties in Kashmir were fearing that reported insistence by BJP hardliners along with the RSS could prompt the Centre to abrogate the vexed Article 370 of the Constitution that grants J&K a special autonomous status. Equally, there were talks about possible invalidation of Article 35A that gives the J&K administration the power to define the state바카라�s 바카라�permanent residents바카라� and provide them exc­lusive rights. It was in the midst of unease over such speculations that Rajnath arrived in Srinagar on September 9. Two days later, it was with a note of cheer for the people that he left the Valley for Jammu to have discussion with political parties and local civil society groups.

An Agenda of Agreement (AoA) between the ruling PDP and the BJP took two months to draft, and features tricky iss­ues like, say, the AFSPA, where the two parties have historica­lly held a different view. Even today, they aren바카라�t of the same opinion on the need for armed forces to enjoy special power in 바카라�disturbed areas바카라�. The PDP had hoped that the BJP would fac­ilitate the removal of any area in Kashmir or Jammu from the 바카라�disturbed area바카라� notice, making the law toothless. But now the discourse over the Articles 35(A) and 370 has so much dominated pro-Indian regional parties that the AFSPA was dropped from the agenda during their meetings with the home minister. 바카라�No one talked to me about the AFSPA removal this time,바카라� an amused Rajnath says in response to a question by Outlook.

The CM, on her part, has made a turnaround in the administration바카라�s views about the Centre. Today, Mehbooba says she has all along maintained that a lasting peace and prosperity for J&K lay in a positive outreach with all shades of opinion in the state, coupled with compassion, confidence-building and a spirit of coexistence. This is in contrast to her approach ahead of a one-on-one with Rajnath on September 9.

The CM emphasised the need to reach out to all sections of society, thus asking him to open dialogue with the separatists. 바카라�The AoA recognises the needs of the people of the state. Its implementation needs to be fast-paced,바카라� she told Rajnath and sought timely implementation of the AoA that provides a 바카라�definite roadmap바카라� to resolve the problems confronting the state. The AoA, which came after early 2015 talks between BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and senior PDP leader Haseeb Drabu, now the finance minister, mentions that Article 370 will be put in 바카라�deep freeze바카라� during six years of the PDP-BJP rule.

The AoA has both parties agreeing that 바카라�the present position will be maintained on all the constitutional provisions pertaining to J&K, including the special status in the Constitution of India.바카라� The PDP and BJP have also approved to follow Vaj­payee바카라�s 바카라�Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat aur Jamhooriyat바카라� approach towards Kashmir. It further says the government would facilitate and help initiate a 바카라�meaningful dialogue with all internal stakeholders, which would include all political groups바카라�.

As for the AFSPA, the AoA also says the coalition government will examine the need for de-notifying the 바카라�disturbed areas, which would enable the Centre to take a final view on the continuation of Act in J&K. The AFSPA becomes applicable in any area only after it is declared disturbed under Section 3 of the Act, made applicable to J&K in 1990.

However, in spite of what the PDP perceives as no movement on the AoA, the ruling party is euphoric about Rajnath바카라�s assurances on the crucial Articles 35(A) and 370, his praise for the J&K Police and enhancing the prime minister바카라�s package from Rs 80,000 crore in 2008 to Rs 1 lakh-crore in 2017. The party is also thrilled over the home minister바카라�s willingness to talk to the separatists.

Rajnath has ruled out the need for apprehensions about the two Articles. 바카라�A non-issue (Articles 35A and 370) is being made an issue. The central government has not initiating anything about the issue. It has not gone to court,바카라� he told reporters in Srinagar on September 11. 바카라�Our government will not do anything against sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We will respect it.바카라� He went on to dismiss differences between what other BJP leaders say about the Article 35A. 바카라�My view should be treated as 바카라�correct. I speak as the home minister of India.바카라� That earned Rajnath praise from both the CM and Omar Abdullah of the Opposition National Conference.

Article 35A provides special rights to the state바카라�s subjects in terms of acquiring land within its territory, employment and scholarship. A 2014 petition by 바카라�We The Citizens바카라� had the non-governmental organisation (widely believed to be affiliated with the RSS) arguing that the law is unconstitutional because it was added by a Presidential order, without Parliament바카라�s approval. As the Supreme Court is hearing the case after Diwali, the PDP, with assurance from the home minister, is hopeful that the attorney general will side with the state on this crucial issue. Mehbooba had, in August, met PM Modi and conveyed her concern, as the attorney general has not filed the counter to the petitions filed against Article 35A.

Today, Rajnath바카라�s visit has enthused the party to take a fresh view at many more things. 바카라�We see it in the context of the PM바카라�s Independence Day declaration,바카라� PDP senior leader Naeem Akhtar, also the government바카라�s spokesperson, tells Outlook. 바카라�Earlier, Vajpayee had made a similar commitment from the same Red Fort (in Delhi). It resulted in a complete change in the political climate in South Asia, as the peace process was scripted from Srinagar when Vajpayee visited the Valley.바카라�

Aktar now senses a déjà vu. 바카라�Rajnathji has used very appropriate words and phrases to address the sentiment of the state. This has laid the foundation of building of trust, in the absence of which no other measures can work to build a really an emotional bond between Kashmir and mainland,바카라� he says, hoping the home minister바카라�s emphasis on consistency would but bring changes on the ground as well.

However, Rajnath, who visited the Valley five times after July 8 last year, says he will come 바카라�50 times for peace and prosperity of the state바카라�, yet has failed break any ice with the separatists. He has now thrown ball in the court of separatists, saying they should come forward to talk and a message should go that the government wants to talk to everyone.

The separatists are not ready to take the bait. Mirwaiz tells Outlook that the 바카라�Government of India only talks about talks, but doesn바카라�t walk the talk바카라�. Rajnath바카라�s focus, he says, was law and order and internal security. 바카라�The Kashmir issue is not about law and order; it바카라�s political.바카라� Now, Bajwa바카라�s statement should lead Delhi should also change its tact, he adds. 바카라�On the contr­ary, New Delhi seems to believe that Pakistan was issuing such statement under pressure. One thing is sure: at the international level, the focus is that India and Pakistan need to take a call on their issues themselves.바카라� Another separatist leader says the home minister 바카라�had nothing to offer us바카라�.

All  the same, Rajnath says his permanent solution to Kashmir issue is based on five Cs: compassion, communication, coexistence, confidence building and consistency. 바카라�Our effort is that Kashmiris, along with peace, get honour and dignity. We will make all efforts in this direction.바카라�

Ex-CM Omar, who launched a campaign as NC president across J&K to reiterate the benefits of the special status to the people of all three regions, describes the home minister바카라�s statement as 바카라�very important바카라�. 바카라�His assurance will go a long way towards silencing the noises against 35-A,바카라� says Omar, who had led his party delegation on September 10 to meet Rajnath. 바카라�The Union government must now file a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court to defend 35-A.바카라� On September 12, NC바카라�s Jammu region president Davinder Singh Rana told Rajnath that the atto­rney general must be asked to submit a forceful counter in the apex court to safeguard Article 35A which is an endorsement of the law enacted by Kashmir바카라�s Maharaja Hari Singh 90 years ago.

Congress leader Tariq Hamid Karra, an ex-MP, says the home minister바카라�s sudden visit and his assurance on special status have come after the Congress바카라�s pressure and visit of the party바카라�s pol­icy group to the state. After what  the NC바카라�s Rana says, 바카라�scotching every apprehension바카라� of pro-India regional parties and Congress, the home minister didn바카라�t lose sight of Jammu and Kashmir police during the visit. He went to Anantnag a day after a policeman was killed and one was wounded in militant action. He praised the police force, which this year saw highest number of killings of its personnel by militants. Rajnath directed not to treat children below 18 years of age like criminals when caught during stone throwing. They must be sent to juvenile houses. He wants the CM to review cases of teenagers in jails.

The J&K Police was quick to respond. Inspector General of Police Muneer Ahmad Khan said incentive would be given to police and other security officials, who would ensure surrender of militants. Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh tells Outlook that the Centre is in coordination with the state to enhance ex gratia in favour of next of kin policemen who get killed in J&K. 바카라�I think it should on par with the paramilitary forces. It should be Rs 1 crore,바카라� he says.

By Naseer Ganai in Srinagar