Modi’s Mission Kashmir – The Quest To Correct The Historical Wrongs.
- In Politics
- 04:28 AM, Sep 20, 2019
- Godwin Joseph
INTRODUCTION
Over a month has gone since the Narendra Modi Government’s historical decision to scrap the special status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the so-called left liberal, secular voices in the country are slowly coming out from the state of shock. The decision to make the Article 370 and Article 35A of Constitution inoperative was executed with clear cut strategy and planning down to the last detail. The fact that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had done their homework well can be clearly inferred from the voices emanating out of Kashmir Valley now, i.e., one month after the monumental act not just to scrap the special status, but also the passing of Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, proposing the divide the erstwhile state into two separate Union Territories.
If one was to look back, it was two elections in 2014, to Lok Sabha (April-May’14) and Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (Dec’14) which set the ball moving for PM Modi’s Mission Kashmir. The tremendous victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party both in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly, by sweeping the polls in the Jammu region had clearly established the party as the most important stakeholder in affairs of the state. Another point to be noted was that even in the Muslim majority Kashmir Valley where the BJP was even struggling to be a marginal player, it was able to contest in almost all seats with prominent Muslim women and nationalists in the community as the faces for the party.[1]
- PHASE I: COALITION GOVT WITH THE P.D.P. – Testing the Waters.
The coalition government with the Mufti led Peoples Democratic Party, which was known to clearly have separatist leanings was widely criticized, but was clearly a learning phase for the Central Government and the Sangh Parivar. The partnership in power gave BJP leadership the clear insights on the persons and stakeholders, having real clout in the state, the thinking and mindset of the people and finally the sources of the funding for terrorists and other separatist elements. Further, the BJP karyakartas though on a smaller scale, was able to work in the mission of spreading nationalism even in the most dangerous, militancy affected areas like South Kashmir.[2] The valuable experience learnt during this phase seems to have helped the Prime Minister in modifying his plan and executing it with least opposition.
During this difficult phase, the Central Government had weathered various storms, not to mention the violent phase of insurgency initiated by the pro-Pak forces in the Valley following the elimination of terrorist leader Burhan Wani in 2016 July.[3] This period was marked by serious instances of stone pelting and terror attacks instigated by the separatists. This was also the period when the presence of ISIS flags seems to have become more common in Kashmir, pointing to the change in the nature of the jihadist insurgency from a Pak-centred one to Pan-Islamism.[4]
But by the end of 2017, the Security forces energized by both efficient and supportive leadership at both military and political levels had been successful in the war against terror, by systematically neutralizing the terrorist commanders of various outfits operating in the Valley, not to mention the success in drying up the major sources of terror funding, courtesy Demonetization and crackdown on NGOs receiving foreign money through calibrated moves.
Although the Security Forces were working hard, the BJP seemed to have been worried by the changing nature of insurgency as well as a failed episode of ceasefire” during Eid of 2018, decided to pull the plug. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell, bringing the State first under Governor’s Rule and then under the President’s Rule providing room for the Central Government to directly deal with the terror with an iron fist.
- Elimination of Terrorists in the Valley and Putting Pakistan in its Place.
Another major area of operations was cleaning up of terrorists in the Valley. The success of Operation All-Out by the Indian Army can clearly be understood from the fact that each of the terrorist commanders consisting of the Burhan Wani Gang was gunned down in encounters across the Valley. Pakistan was put it in its place by the Balakot Strikes sending across a clear message that the terrorists would not be safe wherever they are. Series of diplomatic efforts too paid off as India was able to ensure international support except from China, all-weather ally of Pakistan, a bond cemented by anti-India foreign policy. Steps were also taken to ban most of the separatist groups including Jamat-e-Islami[5] as well as high profile investigation into nexus between Kashmir’s top politicians and bankers.[6]
When the endgame came in Kashmir, nobody except only a handful of top leaders in the Modi government and intelligence chiefs knew about the game plan.
- Modi Wave 2.0. – The End Game.
The final stage of Mission Kashmir started with the gigantic victory of the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The magnitude of the triumph which clearly was a vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his nationalistic agenda strengthened BJP’s position in both houses of the Parliament. Further, it became clear that all the above “unconnected steps” had created a conducive atmosphere for the scrapping of Article 370 and its derivative, Article 35A.
The Modi government knew that the abrogation of the two constitutional provisions or even a step in that direction may result in civil unrest and security challenges in the Valley. Their calculation was that if the influence of the power brokers was restricted and enough contingency measures were taken to ensure the maintenance of law and order, then one of India’s greatest political myths can be successfully busted.
Accordingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah took the final steps leading to the announcement. Massive amount of troops were deployed, Amarnath Yatris and other pilgrims were asked to return (to ensure that they are not used as hostages by terrorists), tourists and students from other states were asked to leave, Section 144 was imposed in Srinagar district, prominent political leaders including Omar and Mehbooba were put under house arrest, internet services snapped. [7] The Valley was put under lockdown and all forms of rallies and public gatherings were banned when the monumental announcement was made, which completed the integration of India, a dream cherished by all patriots since 1953.
- Seeing the Future
The Story of Modi’s Mission Kashmir 2019 has been a success till now. The whole of Kashmir had been peaceful as a whole although some sections of the media and separatists are tirelessly trying to stir up the communal pot. The true master-stroke had been the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories would help the Centre to initiate its process of de-radicalization and also end the separatist stronghold on Kashmir. It is also expected that the fulfilling of long-pending demand of Ladakhis for UT status will help in the development of the region.
With the hope of the Kashmiri Hindus for resettlement in the Valley looming large, the Government and the Indian public need to make sure that the demographic change in Kashmir is effected as to ensure the security and integrity of the nation. Let us for the time-being dedicate this victory to the patriotic people of Jammu and Ladakh and also thousands of soldiers who laid down their lives battling terror in the Valley.
CONCLUSION
One Nation, One Law, One Flag….
This New India will Never Give Up or Give Up. Kashmir is Ours. And let us make it the land of Sage Kashyap Once Again…
Vande Mataram!!!
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30173138 (accessed at 5:03 pm, 8-9-2019)
[2] https://www.news18.com/news/politics/bjp-rising-in-kashmir-meet-the-super-six-who-are-nurturing-saffron-lotus-in-the-valley-1864487.html
[3] https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20160725-burhan-wani-killed-jammu-and-kashmir-protests-829235-2016-07-13 (accessed at 4:30 pm, 8-9-2019)
[4] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ISIS-flag-in-Kashmir-valley-worries-Army/articleshow/44831687.cms (accessed at 4:20 pm, 8-9-2019)
[5] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/govt-bans-jamaat-e-islami-jammu-and-kashmir-for-5-years-1467656-2019-02-28 (accessed at 6:05 pm, 8-9-2019)
[6] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/acb-registers-case-against-former-j-k-bank-chairman-1572712-2019-07-23 (accessed at 5:40 pm, 8-9-2019)
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