The attacks on the secretariat and the headquarters of the Army, the Border Security Force and the Special Operations Group of the J&K police ... indicate that militancy is assuming a more aggressive and daredevil form - and that too in the winter months, when it normally subsides. The security forces suffered their worst losses in 1999 when 360 personnel were killed, as against 180 in 1997. The intensification of militancy cannot entirely be explained in terms of either the motives and compulsions of Pakistan or the effectiveness and lapses of the security forces. Militancy can nowhere be sustained without some degree of local support, and according to official sources, the extent of local support for militancy has increased in Kashmir. The process of exfiltration of Kashmiri youth to receive training and arms from across the Line of Control and join the ranks of the militants has restarted after several years ... Militancy and the sense of alienation among the people, which were at their lowest ebb in 1996 .. have been on the ascendant ever since ..
One significant indicator of the increasing alienation is the decreasing participation of voters in the elections in the last three years. A comparison of the percentage of votes polled in the three parliamentary constituencies in the Kashmir Valley - Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla in the general elections in 1996 and 1999 is illustrative. The polling percentage, which was 35 in Srinagar, 50 in Anantnag and 41 in Baramulla in 1996, dropped to 12, 14 and 28 respectively in the elections of September- October 1999. Among the Muslim-majority Assembly segments in the Jammu region, the polling during the recent elections was 7 in Banihal, 21 in Surankot, 23 in Inderwal, 24 in Kishtwar and 26 in Mendhar (as against) were 52, 74, 63, 69 and 67 respectively in 1996.
The election boycott campaign by the militants this time was more aggressive and violent than in recent elections. But simultaneously the role of the security forces in coercing people to vote was also more brazen and partisan ... The Election Commission's official observers were reported to have corroborated (that out of) 8 per cent votes were polled in Pulwama district, 7 per cent were due to the security forces ...
What are the reasons for the disenchantment with the N.C. by the people of all communities ... except Muslims in Ladakh ... Economic stagnation could be one of the causes. There are not many employment opportunities for the youth, particularly the educated, except in government service ... The arbitrary method of recruitments to government service, which is done almost entirely to accommodate those close to National Conference Ministers and workers, has led to resentment among youth. The arbitrary use (or misuse) of state funds without proper accountability also breeds discontent ..
Such an arbitrary and unauthorised manner of spending from the public exchequer, with the connivance of the Centre, may be motivated to strengthen the grip of a one-party state - headed by a party that is supposed to be the most patriotic and loyal. But it also creates room for corruption, nepotism and scandals that are widely known to the local people ...
The NC's overenthusiastic support to the Bharatiya Janata Party and its securing a berth in the BJP-led Ministry at the Centre could not have endeared it to Muslims in the State. For despite Vajpayee's liberal face, his party has not been able to win the support of the Muslim community anywhere in India.
Meanwhile, the increased cordon-and-search operations and crackdowns on civilian populations by the security forces following a spurt in militancy have proved unpopular, particularly when lapses and excesses cannot be ruled out. This in turn has initiate d a new vicious circle in Kashmir. There is another predicament that the people of the State face ... their discontent, which has accumulated from diverse sources, is denied a political and democratic outlet ... Who fills the vacuum in Jammu may not be of immediate national concern. For even more extremist Hindus are supposed to remaia patriots ...
Muslims, however, face a more serious dilemma. Their electoral behaviour is not merely a protest against the ruling parties at the State and the Centre but against the Indian polity, which has left no room for their self-expression. They are being forced to choose between a non-performing and non-accountable Chief Minister who has become the most servile ally of the BJP, on the one hand, and extremist pro-Pakistan militants, on the other ...
The policy of adopting military measures against militants and diplomatic measures against Pakistan will remain inadequate as long as discontent within the State continues and the system continues to block all electoral and political outlets to it. (Source: The Frontline, 4 Feb., 2000)
J&K Autonomy for National Integration
J&K: CM Farooq Abdullah's Views
.. The biggest problem the Home Ministry has is that I am asking for autonomy to the state. So dismantle Farooq Abdullah. If he goes, the autonomy issue will disappear. But it will never disappear. They have to realise this if they want to win the people's hearts. If Jammu & Kashmir has to remain a part of India, autonomy has to be given ..
.. Maybe the next war will see India taking Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and then there will be no Kashmir problem. (Source: The India Today, 7 February, 2000)
