By Abhishek
The year 2008 witnessed the people of Jammu & Kashmir defying the boycott calls and threats by separatist leaders and militants respectively to exhibit their influence in the Assembly elections. The huge turn out of voters surprised everyone, and the people realized their vote’s worth. With Omar Abdullah as the youngest Chief Minister at the helm of the affairs, the state seems to be ready for a change, and the reflection of the same zeal in the Lok Sabha polls would give a clear message to separatist forces once and for all.
However, there are several issues which haunted the Assembly polls and would also remain during General Elections. From the controversy over the land allotment to the Amarnath Trust to the Sopore killing, there are reasons galore to tilt the mind of the electorate while voting.
Sopore firing
On February 21, Army personnel shot dead two youths and injured one in Bomai at Sopore town of north Kashmir, mistaking them to be militants. However, it later turned out that the two were common citizens. The incident led to several violent protests with locals demanding that the Army camp be shifted out of their town. The anger of people was evident when an MLA escaped their fury as he reached a victim’s house to pay his condolences.
Initially, the Army denied the charges and claimed that the youths died in cross firing. Later, it seemed to be getting defensive and ordered an inquiry into the incident. Eventually, an Army court indicted three Armymen (junior commissioned officers) for lapses on their part in the incident.
The locals have always opposed the Army’s posting in the Valley and, with the PDP using it as their main poll plank, the issue is surely going to be a major draw. The emotions of people are also attached to it and keeping in mind the continuous tension at Indo-Pak border, the ruling NC-Congress government may not like to give in to the this demand.
Armed Forces Special Powers Act
The Sopore firing incident resulted in a hue and cry across media and political parties with the opposition calling for revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSA). Even the Chief Minister lent an ear to these demands and claimed to have started the process to divest the armed forces of the special powers they enjoy in the state.
The Army, in turn, has opposed the move of the state government. Expressing their displeasure to Union Defence Minister AK Antony, the Army has said that rescinding of the Act would make it impossible for them to check growing infiltration bids being made by the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) from Pakistan.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990 provides the Armed forces with legal immunity in the Valley if they use excessive power against a suspected person- even if it causes death- and destroy any arms dump or fortified positions seen as threat to the state. The act also enables Armed forces to arrest a person or search a house without a warrant and even break open locks; stop, search and seize any vehicle in the region.
The special powers mean no prosecution suit or other legal proceeding can be instituted, except with a previous sanction of the Central government, against any person who acted in good faith. The act has been widely criticized by human rights organizations including the United Nations.
While Omar Abdullah is seeking for revocation of the AFSPA which may favour his party in the Valley, it remains to be seen how he convinces the Defence Ministry for the same. On the other hand, the PDP and other Opposition parties are tringy to make the most of this issue in the Valley, citing Sopore firing and the hard ships which people have faced in the last two decades.
Tension at Indo-Pak border
Since early 90s, the Kashmir valley has been facing the problem of terrorism, instability and violence. The violence at the border has affected not only the lives of the people but also their economic interests.
After Mumbai terror attacks affected the peace dialogue between India and Pakistan, the violence at the border has increased with Pakistani troops violating the ceasefire every now and then.
With winter passing by and snow on the mountains melting away, the Army is keeping a check on the increasing infiltration bids on the border. The Pakistani Army have even fired at Indian forces to facilitate infiltration bids.
The Army claims to have busted a hideout of militants in J&K’s Mendher and a fierce gunbattle took place between both the sides for several days, but ultimately the terrorists managed to escape. Heavy quantity of arms and ammunition and the food that the militants had stocked was recovered from the site. It was also reported that the militants got help from some locals.
Army then completed a successful encounter in a mosque in J&K’s Kishtwar where four militants were holed up. The Army battled out militants again, within a week, this time in the forests of Kupwara where the militants were hiding. As many as 17 militants were gunned down and the Army lost eight of its men.
With almost two decades under the shadow of militancy, the people of the state are very much in the need of the reinstatement of peace and normalcy. This need is however sometimes in conflict with the integrity of the country- something that the divisive forces on both sides of the border try to use it to their own benefits.
Cross Border Trade
The economic interests of the people in the valley depend heavily on relations between India and Pakistan as a big market lies on the other side of the border.
Kashmiri traders have always called for opening up of trade routes between India and Pakistan for better trade ties with those across the border. This has resulted in the opening up of Chakan-da-Bagh (Poonch) and Wagah-Attari route for cross border trade.
The Chakan-da-Bagh route was opened last year after creating a proper trade mechanism for cross-border trade; however the trade was one-way. The items were sent from valley to Pak-occupied Kashmir but not even a single item came from the traders in PoK.
The Wagah-Attari trade route was also opened after PM Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari reached an agreement during their meeting at the UN General Assembly. The trade was, however, restricted to only 14 items.
Though the start of the trade across the border was small, it could be termed as positive and in line with the economic and emotional interests of the people. The issue would certainly be raised in Kashmir.
Amarnath land row
Leela Karan Sharma, SASS leader, who actively participated in the Amaranth land row protests, was given a ticket from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency from Bharatiya Janata Party. The issue that caused quite a stir last year may not die any soon in the state.
And with the Hindu pilgrimage season on the anvil, the issue may boil up further. The issue will be high on the agenda of the saffron brigade in the Jammu region and might pull in votes for them.
On the other hand, PDP would raise the issue in the Kashmir region. It would be a challenge for Omar Abdullah to resolve Amarnath issue which can heat up the emotions of not only political parties but also the people from Hindu and Muslim faith in the valley like it did last year.
Changing Face
While separatist leaders gave a call for boycotted of the Assembly polls, a separatist leader Sajjad Lone has announced his candidature for the Lok Sabha. The latter’s decision comes after he took note of the higher voter turn out in J&K. This move is a big set back for the separatists in the Valley and has the potential to change the divisive contors in the state.
Although Hurriyat Conference chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani is still urging people to boycott elections, CM Omar Abdullah has called Hurriyat leaders to hold talks with the government to bring them on the table along with the mainstream leadership.
Under the leadership of Abdullah, who since taking up CM’s responsibility, is taking all the issues of the valley head on; the faith of people seems to be slowly getting reinstated in democracy.
