The Valley continues to simmer and Jammu burns with rage. And what we have as a solution to the Amarnath Shrine land impasse is a stoic silence from a laggard government whose only intent and wish, it seems, is to let this volatile phase peter off somehow. But sadly for the UPA government at the Centre, this is turning out to be a predicament difficult to bury or bypass. Ahead of crucial elections in the state and elsewhere in the country, this could turn out to be a bad omen for the government if not dealt with alacrity and compassion.
This also displays in no uncertain terms that Indian government, irrespective of which party is in power, continues to lack will when it comes to resolving tricky issues.
India’s northernmost state of Jammu & Kashmir comprising three regions – plain Jammu, hilly Kashmir, and Ladakh – has been in the throes of revolt for over a month now over allocation of a tract of land by the Governor to the Amarnath Shrine Board, in charge of Hindu’s holy shrine of Amarnath which is thronged by lakhs every year.
The Muslim dominated Valley has been protesting this terming the allocation as encroachment on their “own” land. Hindus in the Jammu region, who have felt discriminated against for decades, seem to be saying enough is enough. They feel given the socio-political and cultural compulsions successive governments have adopted partisan stance against them which has led to such “high-handed” attitude of the people of the valley.
Being religious, the issue has struck an emotional chord with people of all strata and this has led to continued rebellion including blockade of the Valley – Jammu is the vital nerve that connects economically significant Kashmir valley to the rest of the country and vice versa. Among others, the whole country savours the juicy apple and oranges from the Valley. Other than affecting traders, this blockade has also led to squeeze on essential supplies to the Valley and people are turning volatile.
On Tuesday alone 16 innocent lives were lost in Police firing in Kashmir Valley and 85 were injured. One example of how the government has let this tricky issue blow beyond its sleeves is the fact that after 13 years curfew had to be imposed in all the 10 districts of the valley. In Jammu too the situation remains tense and people are just not letting the steam subside.
The second-all party meeting to discuss the issue on Tuesday had bore no fruits either and a hapless government continues to duck and dawdle. Being religious, the issue also has national appeal and with media beaming images of a restless and volatile people, their brethren Valley and Jammu, people are sitting back and taking note.
It’s a rather simple issue turned vexed by sheer lack of imagination. Time government acted and resolved it.
The beautiful state and its people, not to forget their rich cultural and religious heritage, deserve a better attention than hemming and hawing.
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