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A. Kashmir is not a single
medicine prescription.
It has to be dealt with at
many levels. You have to
have Pakistan around.
You have to have local
leadership around. So
many things. What Modi
did was that he cheated
Kashmiris like he did rest
of the country. But in case
of rest of India cheat-
ing was different. It was
promise about Rs 15 lakh
in their accounts. It was
jobs. It was other prom-
ises. In case of Kashmir,
cheating was kind of a
life and death issue. We
thought he will open up
more roads, he ended up
closing even the roads
we had been able to open
after a painstaking pro-
cess. He promised us to
return the power projects
he took away more from
the state. Similarly he said
he will review AFSPA, he didn’t do that something should be done to resolve
but in fact unleashed more weapons the issue in Kashmir. On the contrary
of repression like the NIA. Now Kash- such killings only harden the govern-
miris have nearest police station in ment against any political engagement
Delhi. which is unlike how countries in West
deal with a similar situation.
Now the BJP is talking about I think J&K’s special status is going
withdrawing the already battered to be the BJP’s next Babri Masjid. Ram
autonomy of J&K. Mandir they could not built and it has
Ironically the party had pledged the lost its resonance among people. Now
status quo on the autonomy. It is the you will see J&K’s special status becom-
second clause in our agenda of alliance ing an issue in coming elections: the BJP
whereby the BJP promised it will up- will keep repeating that they are with-
hold the special status of J&K. ‘The Government of drawing it or that they have already
withdrawn it.
How would you describe the BJP’s India has decided There was a process of reconciliation
Kashmir policy? that there is going and resolution which had started roll-
Under the BJP rule, Kashmir has be- ing out under Prime minister Vajpayee
come the in-house Afghanistan of India, to be no politics in 1999 but we are witnessing a com-
so that they can defeat it everyday and in Kashmir. And it plete reversal of that process. It is kind
show it to their audience in Delhi that of a hopelessness now. It is a dead-end
they killed so many people in Kashmir, has become now for Kashmir politics as far as I under-
that they arrested so many people. It is so obvious by their stand it. That is, unless something big-
a safe and soft enemy. Dead bodies in ger than Vajpayee process comes along
Kashmir don’t matter. decision not to hold in future.
Also, killings of soldiers in Kash- Assembly election’
mir don’t generate introspection that letters@tehelka.com

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