Kashmir looks for outreach by Modi, Shah

Arun Joshi

A flurry of activity was witnessed all across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir last week when 36 Union Ministers arrived in cities and villages. This was billed as an “outreach” programme by Delhi.

At the conclusion of this high-sounding exercise, it can be safely said it was neither an astounding success, nor a dismal failure. There was an array of optics and repetition of the sound bytes that J&K has been listening to for long.

The scenes like Union Minister Mukhtiar Abbas Naqvi visiting the historical Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the place that defines the politics of the Valley, were part of the unmistakable optics. This was a political statement that stood nowhere closer to soldierly act of former Governor Gen KV Krishna Rao, who visited Lal Chowk amidst smouldering building of Palladium cinema in April 1993. The building continues to remind what Kashmir has endured all these years.

A few other ministers laid foundation of some bridges. A few others repeated these ceremonies, as is in vogue nowadays. This is what happens when the optics are given preference over the real-time outreach. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who were waiting to hear from these ministers about the latest in the Valley, would do better if they visit the Valley themselves to see how the things are.

It is not a rocket science to understand why did Delhi take such an extraordinary drive to send 36 ministers to the UT of J&K, the Central government wanted to convey it very strongly that it is in touch with the people, and is going to the doorsteps of the people to address the issues confronting them. This, by all calculations, can be summed up as a sincere intention of Delhi that now controls J&K in full measure.

And, it was also what some might see as a chosen sequel to the visit of the 15 Delhi-based Ambassadors to J&K early this month to showcase that Delhi cares and cares most about the people of the Union Territory. It has endless plans to develop the UT as the best place on the earth fitting its status as jewel in crown of India.

This kind of massive air-shuttling has not been done by such a large number of ministers to any state or UT since Independence. It only underscored that either the problem in Kashmir still persists. The cut-off year could be 1947, when J&K acceded to India, or 1990, the calendar year of eruption of armed militancy, or August 5, 2019, when the Centre, as per its claim undid all the historical wrongs of the past or stands resolved. The ministers’ visit, seen in this context, only underlined that their footprints were rich with the message of compassion of Delhi for J&K, though there were more ministers in the Jammu region than the Valley. The origin of the scale used to measure the need for such footprints in the two regions is not known till date.

Kashmir’s coolness in weather and behaviour was palpable. Here is a comment that seasoned people in Jammu made, “We did not know who all came and for what?” They were not sceptics like Opposition that has developed a habit of seeing everything wrong with each and every move that the Modi government makes vis-à-vis Kashmir. The Opposition’s criticism was pointless, as it is too early to deliver a judgment on the visit. Optics don’t spell the outcome.

In all fairness, it should be recognised that Kashmiris, who live in the Valley and whose stakes are highest in their land and its environment, are yet to reconcile to the August 5 decisions. The things have happened in slow motion to take them out of the claustrophobia that has seized their minds. Lt-Governor GC Murmu and his administration are trying to do their best, but he has been here for less than three months and the search for big ways takes time.

The presence of ministers for one week in Kashmir by no means was a substitute to the political process that J&K is looking forward to. Among all other groups, the BJP in J&K is also on the same page with other parties, including its severe political rivals.

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