Jammu & Kashmir - Articles

Ghulam Nabi Azad’s address, Geelani’s continuing tiff with the Hurriyat and the strike of government employees in the Kashmir Valley dominated the Urdu media in the first fortnight of August.

• Congress rally

The Srinagar Times (12 August 2003) in its lead news reported the march by the Congress youth-wing dominated by the elderly party supporters belonging to different parts of the Valley. The public rally that finally assembled in the Sonawar Cricket stadium was addressed by the party President and parliament member, Ghulam Nabi Azad Speaking on the problem of unemployment in the state, he declared that, "5,000 people would be absorbed in consumer affairs, food supplies and distribution departments.” An announcement on the opening of fair price shops would be made soon after Independence Day. According to Azad, a further 12,000 would be absorbed in rural development works. The editorial continued "unemployed youths have become victims of frustration and thus have resorted to gun culture, but now, youths would be provided jobs every year. The tourism sector has also improved immensely and tourists are coming to Kashmir in huge numbers". The rally was also addressed by the deputy chief minister Mangat Ram Sharma who reminded everyone present that Azad would be the new chief minister after two years.

• Geelani vs. the APHC

In its lead news, the Srinagar Times (07 August 2003) published the statement of senior Hurriyat leader Geelani, who reiterated that he would not participate in meetings of the APHC until action was taken against People’s Conference for its indirect involvement in elections. "Abbas Ansari was elected as new chairman of the conglomerate but I did not take part in the executive meeting. The People’s Conference encouraged their activists to participate in the elections last year but the APHC has maintained silence over it." However, Abbas Ansari denies Geelani’s claim and the People’s Conference too refutes the charge levelled against it. In an interview with UNI, Geelani reiterated that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through UN resolutions or a broad-based trilateral dialogue.

• Fresh incidents of Violence

Fresh incidents of violence have dampened the people’s hopes commented the daily Aftab (09 August 2003) in its editorial. "Though people condemn violence in all its manifestations and are longing for peace, unfortunately the violence is picking up with every passing day. The people are at the receiving end of violence. They know that violence and bloodshed are never going to solve the Kashmir issue." It is pertinent to mention that that both India and Pakistan are putting in efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue. However, for a successful dialogue violence must be removed first. A conducive atmosphere must be created for talks between the two nations.

• Employees strike

In its editorial, the bilingual Alsafa (14 August 2003) commented on the valley-wide strike by the state employees to express their support for employees across the country on the issue of the right to strike work. "Though the employees rightly consider strike as a way to emphasize their demands and concerns it should not be made a tool to cause great inconvenience to people. Also, the government from time to time has been updating the facilities provided to the employees besides increasing their salaries". While referring to the Supreme Court’s verdict which termed strikes by government employees illegal and unjustified, various religious and political groups called the verdict of the Supreme Court as amounting to suppressing the voice of the employees. However, intellectuals in the valley and a few other sections of society have termed this strike as unlawful and unjustified. The people have always demanded that employees discharge their duties responsibly, summed up the editorial.

• Press Conference

The daily Aftab (01 August 2003) in its editorial analysed the press conference of the Minister for Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Muzaffar Hussein Beig, who expressed the hope that the Centre would be generous in helping improve the economy of the state. The editorial however stated that “support from Delhi would not be enough unless fairness is brought into the administration which otherwise is in a mess. Irregularities are going on in every department. Nobody is sincere in discharging his duties. The engineering department has become a hub of corruption and loot. Given this situation, even tens of crores of rupees cannot promote the economy of the state." It opined that, "stringent laws must be enforced to eliminate corruption and the dishonest officers removed. The work culture in government offices should be renewed and employees made to discharge their duties responsibly. Only then, will the economy of the state be improved." The government would face great resentment if it removed the subsidy on electricity, summed up the editorial.

• Social evils

Religious scholars, imams and political leaders have to play a vital role in saving culture and tradition which gradually but surely is dying in the Valley due to growing social evils. The daily Aftab (05 August 2003) in its editorial expressed concern over growing social evils and its implications "People over the years earned money through wrong means and have been spending the same for various social works like the construction of mosques, etc. They have grown dishonest and many social evils like dowry, extravagant marriages, and so on have become prevalent. At this point of time, it is the responsibility of religious patrons and the elite class to make people understand the hazards inherent in such practices so that they do not fritter away their money.