Why are Indo-Pak making the bodies of Kashmiris as their battleground?
inam ul rehman
A couple of top army commanders that include Srinagar based 15 Corps, Lt Gen D P Pandey, and director-general of the Defence Intelligence Agency and deputy chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, Lt Gen. KJS Dhillon, chided Kashmiris for remaining silent on civilian killings that took place in the month of October. The latter used the words “selective dementia” and “silent majority” while referring to civilian killings in the Valley (https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/why-selective-dementia-happens-to-silent-majority-when-theres-terrorist-killing-in-kashmir-lt-gen-kanwal-jeet-singh20211021001143/).
Since the army does straight talk, I will say it point blank.
When the Sikh pogrom took place in 1984, it was expected that the silent majority would show its regret to what happened, instead the silent majority voted the Congress party back in power with a thumping majority. When the new millennium came everyone thought that the past riots, and pogroms would not be repeated and the Indian public will give a befitting reply to any political party orchestrating such heinous things. Instead, the Gujarat pogrom took place and we saw the silent majority voting Narendra Modi for the office of prime minister. Where was the silent majority when Babri Masjid was destroyed? Where was the silent majority when the Golden temple was trampled? Where is the silent majority of India when riots targeting Muslims, Christians, and Dalits happen? Does it mean that the silent majority is incapable of speaking? No, sirs. It is not the majority that speaks, it is the intellectual class that is the conscious voice of what you call “silent majority”. The ruling dispensation, then, and now, creates fear of speaking out, and the people who could have spoken remain quiet to speak at some other time.
The top brass of the army gave sermons on human rights but forgot that when political rights and social securities of the people are demolished the people speak through their silences. Despite the atmosphere not favourable to speak on political matters in Kashmir, many masjids still took a stand against these killings, a few were reported and many were not (https://thewire.in/security/two-srinagar-mosques-call-on-public-to-protect-pandits-restore-minorities-confidence).
Do the army commanders know that the government of Jammu and Kashmir forbids any government employee to express his political opinions? Do they know that even some journalists were arrested, or some summoned to police stations to explain their reportage? These two were the main people who would express their political opinions regardless of where their sympathies lay. Do the army commanders know that recently almost all two wheelers were seized in the Kashmir Valley ahead of the visit of home minister, Amit Shah (https://scroll.in/latest/1008346/police-seize-two-wheelers-in-srinagar-shut-down-internet-in-some-areas). It caused great discomfort and resentment to people, did Kashmiris said anything?
Now if the “silent majority” should raise questions as per your wishes, sirs, then they would also question the men murdered by the men in uniform? Would you, sirs, then come to their rescue once the state institutions summon them to police stations, slap sedition cases against them, or arrest them? Do you know, sirs, that a human rights activist cum political worker was arrested for raising questions on the suspicious killing of a civilian at the hands of the paramilitary forces? (https://thewire.in/rights/jk-activist-who-sought-justice-for-man-killed-by-crpf-booked-for-promoting-enmity). Do you, sirs, also forget that former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir were arrested? In this scenario how can common men express his political opinions when anything done, written, and said, can be brought under the ambit of ambiguous anti-national activities.
This conflict is not the creation of Kashmiri people. People had no say when this conflict was created in 1947. Then why are the bodies of Kashmiris becoming battleground for Indo-Pak? Why are Kashmiris blamed for everything? Why are Kashmiris provoked to lynch their own people (https://scroll.in/latest/1010388/reports-of-china-building-a-village-on-indian-territory-are-not-true-says-chief-of-defence-staff). Why are Kashmiris threatened that if they don’t speak, as per Lt Gen. KJS Dhillon, they may not get chance to speak at all (https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/why-selective-dementia-happens-to-silent-majority-when-theres-terrorist-killing-in-kashmir-lt-gen-kanwal-jeet-singh20211021001143/). Why are Kashmiri people treated as guinea pigs? Why are they expected to fight the guns, when you don’t want the state to remove the notorious armed forces special power act (AFSPA), disturbed area act (DAA)? (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/afspa-s-removal-to-impact-operations-peace-in-kashmir-because-of-it-army/story-4ZKVa7KfrzVRKZEvOZMdPO.html, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-army-opposes-revocation-of-afspa-in-jk/articleshow/51068633.cms?from=mdr). When as proud army men you have conviction that armed militants can be wiped out only through arms why implore civilians to fight your war? You, sirs, always reiterate that the Pakistani state stokes fire in Kashmir, agreed; but, then isn’t the killing of innocents by men in uniform providing them the fuel to stoke up the fire? You always say that militants kill innocents on the behest of Pakistan, agreed. Does it mean that your men are also working for Pakistan when they kill innocents?
If you, sirs, still need AFSPA, DAA, in Kashmir then how come you are here to protect the people? You are a disciplined, trained, and professional force, then, sirs, why do you need these anti-human acts to operate against a few hundred militants?
And, sirs, you are asking people to stand against the guns, may we ask you when men in uniform kill innocent people what do you do? Do you take any stand against the killing of innocent people by your men? Do you make sure that these men are handed over to the civilian law authority, and not protected? If you are not able to do anything other than fearing “morale loss to the forces” how do you, sirs, expect people to make militants accountable? All the uniformed men come under institutions and institutions have institutional memory to back up. But, sir, why are men in uniform not punished for smearing your institutions? In every conflict innocents get killed but the armed men who take people as their own never make it a habit (https://thewire.in/rights/after-outrage-jk-admin-returns-bodies-of-businessmen-killed-in-hyderpora-shootout).
We are always reminded that there is nothing which cannot be resolved through talks but why are talks discouraged? We are, sirs, helpless in front of the might of the state's institutions, your guns, and militants’ guns?
Let us, sirs, not go into the past. Let us come together to discuss, debate the today of our tomorrow. Let us not come with rigid or concluding minds, let us assemble for universal rights of human beings and work toward a world where man made borders do not define our identity.
And lastly, sirs, we need a cordial atmosphere to express our views, not “atmosfear”.
Pic courtesy: Wikipedia
