Challenging Pak’s authority as the Muslim spokesperson CENJOWS 17 Sep 19
https://cenjows.gov.in/article-detail?id=211
Challenging Pak’s authority as the Muslim spokesperson CENJOWS 17 Sep 19
The Kashmir valley had been the playground of few powerful local families, which ruled the state and exploited allocation of funds from the centre. They lived in palatial residences and owned multiple properties across the country, while the masses remain deprived. Farooq partied in Europe when Kashmir burned, and Kashmiri Pundits were hounded out. Never has he regretted his actions, nor been taken to task.
Such was their power that they shielded Yasin Malik, a known murderer of innocent air force personnel, for decades. They addressed locals with the intention to incite an anti-India atmosphere, while securing their own seats of power.
They, alongside the Hurriyat, which is backed by Pakistan and equally exploited the system, have restricted any government actions to convert the status of the region, claiming its Muslim majority demography would change. No kin of this elite group ever participate in violence, most being placed in secure appointments outside. None of their children studied in the state, while they closed educational institutes for locals and deprived them of proper education.
Further, since the commencement of terrorism in the valley, sponsored by Pakistan, the same set of people projected Kashmir as a disputed region, resolution of which needs the involvement of multiple parties, India, Pakistan and the Hurriyat (which appoints itself as representatives of the population). Thus, in their opinion, Kashmir is disputed, not POK. They have on numerous occasions challenged the government on changing the status of Kashmir, claiming it would lead to bloodshed as Kashmir would never accept any alternation of its demography. This group belongs to one region and one religion.
It has been the hardest hit by the recent decision and many of its members are presently under detention to prevent them from inciting violence. They survived all these years because India treated Kashmir with velvet gloves due to its Muslim population dynamics, ignoring the power of its national Muslim population.
As per records of 2010, India has the world’s second largest Muslim population, with only Indonesia ahead, yet has never projected itself as a major player within the international Muslim community. Its non-inclusion into the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) may possibly be the reason for India’s hesitation to exploit its Muslim population power.
It ignores the OIC, because it is neither genuine in its outlook towards Muslims nor defended them in trouble spots. Presently, worst crimes on the globe are being perpetuated by Muslims on their own, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan are examples.
India’s inhibitions permitted Pakistan to project itself as a spokesperson for Muslims, especially in the subcontinent, despite its own horrendous record of acting against its own Muslim population. Its treatment of Shias, Ahmadi’s, Baluchi’s, and Pashtun’s are worse than brutality, bordering on genocide. Yet, it shamelessly lectures secular India on Kashmir and Muslims. Pak is presently pushing this agenda further forward by linking the BJP to the RSS, claiming India possesses an anti-Muslim agenda, ignoring that India has a larger Muslim population than itself and those communities which it targets as disbelievers, live in peace and harmony in India.
With a vast Muslim population, repealing 370, if against religion ethnicity in even one region, could have led to protests or have been criticized across the country. The fact that there were no comments or protests anywhere conveys a different message. Last week, India’s leading Muslim body, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JuH) came out in support of the Centre’s decision abrogating Article 370, saying Kashmir is an “integral part” of the country and the welfare of people in the valley lies in their integration with India.
Their statement read, ‘It is our belief that the welfare of the people of Kashmir lies in getting integrated with India. The inimical forces and the neighbouring country are bent upon destroying Kashmir. The oppressed and beleaguered people of Kashmir are stuck between opposing forces.’ The first time India projected its Muslim power.
Within Kashmir, over the years, the state and centre closed their eyes to a steady cultural change. Kashmiri’s followed Sufiyat, which changed towards Wahhabism with the induction of Deobandi Imams in Kashmir’s Mosques. Traditional Kashmiri cuisine of the earlier days had no beef dish. Presently eating beef has become fashionable. Violence and an anti-India sentiment began being spread from Mosques, while governments stayed silent.
Pak’s attempts to create an uprising in 1965 or even in the initial stages of terrorism of the early nineties found few takers. The population only desired peace and development. Violence picked up post this radical change in Kashmiri culture. This is because governments tended to adopt a policy of keeping violence levels low rather than acting against instigating Imams.
The increase in numbers of youth joining terrorist groups is because of Jihadi sermons. Calls from Mosques have been supported by fake social media posts by Pakistan to incite the youth. Despite all claims, the numbers have never been alarming.
Post the abrogation of Article 370, Pakistan initially went on an overdrive challenging the changing of status of Muslim majority Kashmir. India’s never countered by insisting that if its large Muslim population, greater than Pak, has no objections, then Pak has no right to object.
Pak is predicting that India’s clampdown would be countered with intense violence as soon as it is lifted. It implies it understands Kashmir better than Indians.
Violence in Kashmir can occur despite any restrictions which governments impose and is unrelated to presence of security forces. Protests and violence following the elimination of Burhan Wani in 2016 and earlier in 2010 are cases in point. There were similar restrictions in place and an equally strong security force deployment, yet loss of lives and injuries were immense. Hence, those who expect similar levels of violence could be disappointed.
The reality remains that Kashmiri’s, like any other community, seek to move ahead with their lives. Majority abhor violence, desire development, growth and employment. There would always be some, either influenced or paid supporters of Pak, who would feel otherwise. However, prolonged restrictions and curbs on communication lead to spreading of rumours which can be harmful.
Pak continues to harp on Kashmir and Muslim issues, only because India never challenged its right to be the spokesperson for Muslims in the subcontinent, despite a larger Muslim population. It never exploited its Muslim power to criticise Pak for its treatment of its own minorities. Will the government rethink its policies and change the narrative and seek to exploit the power of its vast Muslim population or let the narrative be led by Pak?
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army