I/II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Time-to-act/articleshow/6554367.cms
*[Editorial] COMMENT* <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Time-to-act/articleshow/6554367.cms>Time to actSep 15, 2010, 12.00am IST The high-profile Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs (CCS) failed to suggest any concrete steps to address the alarming situation in Jammu & Kashmir. There was talk that the Centre may announce a political package close to Eid <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/search?q=Eid>, but nothing happened. There's been no decision on the sensible proposal from a section of the government to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from parts of J&K. As the Centre vacillates, the state is burning. The death count since June has climbed to 85, with 15 people killed in violence on Monday. There's an urgent need for the government to step in with concrete proposals to cool down tempers in the Valley. The CCS blamed a trust and governance deficit for the tragic situation in the Valley. The analysis is spot on. But what has the government done to bridge the deficit? The CCS blamed the Omar Abdullah government for failing to reach out to people. Sure, Omar and his team ought to have done more. So could have the PDP, the main opposition party in the state. The lack of imagination of the political mainstream, both in Srinagar and New Delhi, has allowed the separatists to exploit an inchoate rebellion of Kashmiri youth. The Centre has only strengthened their hands by refusing to act fast and decisively. State forces have been tactless in dealing with mob violence and the Omar administration has been shockingly insensitive to the deaths in police firing. Mere offer of talks or the promise of an economic package from New Delhi<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/New-Delhi> may not be sufficient to influence the situation. Political and administrative gestures aimed at reducing security presence may be necessary. These needn't wait for a political consensus, as the government seems to be wanting. Neither should the Centre wait for the violence to subside before announcing a political package. Delay in reaching out to the aggrieved people in the Valley will be construed as a lack of sensitivity to the situation in the state. An all-party delegation from New Delhi could travel to Srinagar for a dialogue with various sections of the Kashmiri civil society and to get a sense of the public mood. Governance deficit in J&K is directly linked to the absence of political institutions at the grassroots, which has led to a concentration of state power in Srinagar and New Delhi. Strengthening of local bodies could empower people at the grassroots and enable better use of public funds. A government far removed from the people won't be perceived as able to understand or address the latter's concerns. II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/articlelist/articleshow/6555674.cms <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/articlelist/articleshow/6555674.cms> *Q&A* 'New Delhi has discredited the institution of dialogue'Jyoti Punwani, Sep 15, 2010, 12.00am IST Founder editor of English daily Kashmir Images, Bashir Manzar talks to Jyoti Punwani on the current unrest<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/search?q=unrest> in the Valley: Why is Kashmir back on the boil? The present unrest started with the army killing three so-called militants in an 'encounter'. The state police found they were innocents. The army could do this only because of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). It's been our long-standing demand that this Act be revoked. You don't need it to fight the 200-300 militants that officials say are left in Kashmir. The PM said we must have a zero tolerance policy towards human rights violations by security forces. Kashmiris find that among the security forces, there's a zero tolerance policy towards human rights! This movement is different from the 1990s' armed revolt against India. That was taken over by foreign militants with an alien ideology, and Kashmiris distanced themselves from it. But the issues raised then remain unresolved. Between 2002 and 2005, there was a lull. Everyone thought New Delhi<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/New-Delhi> would reach out. But it didn't and the youth are angry that these issues have not been addressed. Since there's no space in the Valley for any democratic protest, they have no alternative but to take to the streets. This is the generation that has grown up amid army raids; they've seen only torture and death. So they aren't afraid to confront the forces. But they don't believe in guns. None of those killed, all aged between nine and 17, were armed, except with stones. There are no militants involved today. In fact, for the first time, the effigy of Syed Salahuddin, chief of the United Jehad Council, was burnt when he ridiculed the stone-pelters. But the hawk S A S Geelani is still respected. The disturbing thing is that the leaders are those who have always talked more about religion than politics. In 1997, Geelani had said the Kashmir issue is about religion; we have a problem with Hindu India. He's always been unambiguous about his preference forPakistan<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pakistan>. But my paper interviewed 15,000 Kashmiris, and 80 per cent said that Kashmir is a political issue, with its own history. When i came to Mumbai in 1994, i was shocked to see the number of burqas on the street, much more than back home! Now, the woman who has imposed the burqa in Kashmir is one of those running the show, Asiya Andrabi. I see a gradual shift towards religious radicalisation. The young boys in the forefront of the movement all look very modern, but their conversation on social networking sites is only about religion. They identify with a broader Muslim identity. That's because we didn't reach out when the movement was about democracy and secularism. If we don't reach out now and try to find out what they want, we will soon have our own Taliban<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Taliban> in Kashmir. New Delhi must initiate the peace process. How? India <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/India> has always been arrogant. The PM asked leaders to come with suggestions. Sajjad Lone did so. Was he invited again? No. The same has happened with other leaders. The institution of dialogue has been discredited by New Delhi so much that the word has come to mean sell out. New Delhi must change its mindset. It is no longer fighting militants. Create an atmosphere conducive for talks. Revoke the AFSPA. Seven hundred boys have been arrested under the Public Safety Act in the last three months. When they come out after two years, what would they have turned into? You have to release them. Finally, dialogue should be aimed at delivery. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
