No CBM without amnesty to the prisoners will last long; Delhi should engage separatists
Government of India cannot afford further delay in announcing the required measures to rebuild the lost confidence among the people of Kashmir. It can also not afford any mishandling while reaching out to the bruised and critically alienated people.
Not only should the question of what to give be unequivocally answered but clear response has to be found out to the more crucial question of how to give. As for WHAT, AFSPA should not be the whole story. Even if the AFSPA is removed thousands of boys booked under various state laws will remain “tainted” forever. The state government should be asked to take appropriate measures to win back the confidence of the people. This is possible only through amnesty. A cautious estimate puts the number of youth with cases in different police stations at around thirty thousand. There is also a huge chunk of former militants who are still suspects in the eyes of administration. There is already a rehabilitation scheme but that too has assumed lot of haze. These youth feel alienated both socially and politically. The AFSPA removal might provide a semblance of victory to a section of politicians but it will not fetch quick results on ground. For that to happen, general amnesty should be announced. The cases against thousands of youth including former militants should be withdrawn at once. A political plan should back up this move and the youth should be truly involved in the political process of J&K. The state government can take lead by not just abrogating the Disturbed Areas Act; this much is possible within state authority. The local government can also withdraw cases against boys. These cases have been filed under the very local Ranbir Penal Code. This effort will set the tone for bigger CBMs like the removal of AFSPA, fully or in part. The next crucial question is how to give? Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has long been the strong votary of reducing the military footprints on Kashmir politics. But his close to three-year term as head of the J&K government has clouded his pro-Kashmir posturing to irreparable limits. Pertinent answer to this question can be found out when Omar and New Delhi think in unison. While Omar must concede the right to demand and the right to get credit to the separatists, New Delhi on her part should not shy away from engaging separatists over the package it wants to offer. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is an ace economist. He must know that investments are safe only when delivered through right channels. Right now mainstream is not the right channel. New Delhi needs to calm down Valley as much as it needs to forge a social consensus in Kashmir around the negotiated settlement. NC or PDP could at best be a facilitator but not the negotiator. So, if the fresh package holds any promise let that not be spoiled due to wrong address.
