Jammu & Kashmir - Articles

The Independence Day celebrations and the advent of mobile phones caught the headlines in the Urdu papers in the last fortnight of August

·         Independence Day drama

The bilingual Alsafa (18 August 2003) in its editorial gave a critical account of the Independence Day celebrations at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.  "The government claimed that the massive gathering attending the Independence Day celebrations was an indication of the return of peace to the Valley. But the gathering this was dominated by Congress and PDP supporters/workers who were paid handsomely." Referring to college girls who sang and danced to add colour to the function, the editorial said, "Kashmir being a Muslim dominated state and popularly known as ‘pirvir’ (the Valley of saints and sufis), people expressed anguish over the participation of the girls at the behest of the state administration". It asked what the government wanted to achieve by allowing college girls to dance and sing on the occasion. Kashmiris care for their culture and tradition and will not tolerate any attempt to harm their identity. The need of the hour is to make efforts to restore peace in the Valley without playing with its culture and traditions, summed up the editorial.

·         Jamat-i-islami vs. Geelani

In its lead news, the daily Aftab (16 August 2003) reported that Ashraf Sahari had only half-heartedly accepted the post of caretaker president of the political wing of the Jamat-i-Islami. Sahari does not openly support Syed Ali Shah Geelani. After his release, Sahari has not taken part in any political activity. Senior leaders of the Jamat-i-Islami have upheld a uniform stand not to support Geelani. People do not want to see the Hurriyat splitting, and want to see it remain firm on its stand on the Kashmir issue.

·         Mobile Services in the Valley

The daily Srinagar Times reported on Jammu and Kashmir finally getting mobile telephone service. Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed inaugurated the service by calling Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “Vajpayee looked serious and Mufti smiling," said the editorial. Mufti thanked Vajpayee for fulfilling a long desire of Kashmiris on the eve of Janamashtami. Both appreciated BSNL’s efforts to make the facility available in the state.

·         APHC

The recent statement by the Hurriyat Conference in which the organization expressed its willingness to have a meaningful dialogue with Delhi, is being appreciated by the people at large, commented the Aftab in its editorial (26 August 2003). "People want Hurriyat to come forward with constructive statements and open mind rather than remain silent. Dialogue is the only possible solution to the lingering problem". It continued, "Hurriyat’s statement could also be termed positive on the ground that finally it is India that has to resolve the Kashmir issue and not the US or any other country. The United Nations too had failed to resolve the Kashmir issue though this international organization has been emphasizing that issues must be resolved through dialogue between the two countries." It is imperative that the Hurriyat maintains unity at this stage and explores every possibility to have a purposeful dialogue for resolving the Kashmir issue. In the last 55 years we have not had a solution. It seems that the Hurriyat has made this statement after a great deal of contemplation and it is hoped that the Government of India too would reciprocate in a positive manner, summed up the editorial.

·         Tourism

The government continued to term Biharis and beggars who continue to pour into the Valley as tourists argued Alsafa (30 August 2003) in its editorial. "The economy of the state is very much dependent on tourism sector, though Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed during his visits outside the Valley is persuading outsiders especially people from the film industry to come and work here, a lot more needs to be done to bring life to a tourism industry in the doldrums." Outsiders who stay in hotels and house boats at the boulevard are not all tourists but a majority are dignitaries and the government fritters away a lot of money on them. "Te recently concluded inter-state council meet cost the sate a huge amount of Rs.1,500,000. This is not unreasonable, but still has a bearing on the common people. People are asked to pay extra electricity fee besides other taxes". It appears that the government is trying to make up for the huge expenditure incurred on the luminaries through such unjustified increases in the fee which cause great inconvenience to the people, concluded the editorial.

·         Violence

The Aftab (31 August 2003) in its lead news reported the encounter between security forces and militants in Safa-Kadal, Srinagar, in which five militants and two BSF jawans were killed. "On receiving specific information, the BSF cordoned a house and the militants told to lay down their arms. But the latter opened indiscriminate fire. The gun battle lasted for more than ten hours. Finally, the house was blasted, five militants including the most wanted Ghazi Baba, the mastermind behind the Parliament attack last year got killed, two security forces personnel also died in the encounter.