Altaf Hussain Wani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Srinagar, culminating in a big rally at the Bakshi Stadium, demands scrutiny beyond the extravagance of the occasion. Does Modi’s visit herald a shift in New Delhi’s Kashmir policy, or is it mere political theatre? Modi unveiled numerous initiatives under the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu and Kashmir’ programme, extolled by his Bhartiya Janata Party as a landmark development. Yet, one must question if these schemes, amounting to only a fraction of the economic devastation wrought by Modi’s governance since August 2019, truly signify progress.
Modi’s rhetoric of ‘peace, progress, and winning hearts and minds’ also rings hollow against the cacophony of his government’s actions. While the government continues to wield a sledgehammer to crush political dissent, talking about peace, prosperity, and winning the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri people is anything but rhetoric.
The suppression of dissent in Kashmir only exacerbates the trust deficit with New Delhi. Modi’s chest-thumping over the repeal of Article 370, which he lauds as integrationist, belies the pervasive unease this has sparked amongst the Kashmiri majority, coerced into silence.
Indian prime minister’s definition of development and normalcy, post the abrogation of nationhood status, property, and political rights, alongside the demotion of the state to a union territory, seems delusional. The fantasy of this ‘progress’ belies the harsh reality of a policy predicated on disempowerment.
Contrary to Modi’s assertions, the revocation of Article 370 has not ushered in an era of betterment. Since the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and its reduction to union territory status, there has been a conspicuous absence of development. Kashmiris, who once enjoyed autonomy with their constitution, flag, and legislative assembly, are now bereft of statehood and constitutional safeguards for their tribal and indigenous communities.
The Indian government’s inability to engage constructively with Kashmir’s political ambitions is apparent. Resource exploitation and severe militarisation betray an unwillingness to resolve the deep-seated issues. The current regime’s heavy-handed approach has cornered Kashmiris, making it clear that economic plans cannot compensate for the grievous losses incurred or the wounds inflicted by the abrupt erasure of statehood. Grand rallies, no matter how spectacular, funded by the Kashmiri exchequer, may bolster Modi’s image and signal electoral success, but they fall short of addressing Kashmir’s fundamental challenges.
It was expected that Modi may announce some confidence-building measures to bridge the trust to bring some healing touch to Kashmiris and foster a tranquil South Asia. Instead, the Prime Minister regurgitated well-worn platitudes, disregarding the enduring turmoil, political detachment, and oppression that afflict the region.
It is an insult to their intelligence when a person, no less an authority than the prime minister of India, tries to create a notion that his party’s decision to strip the region of its autonomy was some sort of a favour to the Kashmiri people. The greatest favour he can do the people is to shun the policy of obduracy, heed the voices of the people of Jammu, Ladakh, and Kashmir, and abide by the commitments his predecessors have made with them.
BIG DISAPPOINTMENT
Amidst this bleak landscape, government proclamations of normalcy and the dangling of developmental promises are patently inadequate. Such assurances only serve the interests of those in power, perpetuating a political status quo.
In conclusion, for any meaningful transformation, a candid re-evaluation of authoritarian policies is imperative. The political resolution remains the sole pathway forward, requiring resumed dialogue with all stakeholders, including Pakistan and the Kashmiri populace. While confidence-building measures are vital for bridging the trust divide, they must not detract from the ultimate goal of resolving issues.
*Altaf Hussain Wani is the chair of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), an Islamabad-based think tank. He can be contacted at: Saleeemwani@hotmail.com