Coming of a VIP is always a nightmare for Srinagar residents especially those living in Dalgate-Nishat area. This area is the most strategic and vulnerable as it houses the State Guest House in Chashmashai and the Convention Centre which is the “safe” hub to hold various meets, conventions, and convocations. It is probably in Kashmir only that the convocations of some institutions are held outside the institution for the safety of the Chief Guest! The siege of Srinagar described in detail by almost all local dailies is a mockery of the so called “popularity” of a national leader as well as a blot on the “democratic” set up. In no other democratic country is almost the entire population of a capital city virtually imprisoned for the safety of a “popular” leader. It represents the extreme phobia of the security establishment. It is this excessive obsession with the security which alienates common people from Delhi. Dr. Manmohan Singh has the reputation of being an honest and a very gentle person. However, the extreme security bandobast showing the ugly and brutal face of the state unintentionally attaches these attributes to his person. He may not be in know of all the security details at the ground level but his going along with these makes him look like a meek prisoner of the security set up. Apart from the hardships faced by the local people to which they are now fully accustomed, the visit resulted in untold hassles and goof ups for the tourists who had come to enjoy the “Paradise on Earth”! They too had to be confined to their hotels and had to forego their scheduled visits to famous Mughal Gardens falling in the high security zone. Some of the tourists thought that emergency had been imposed in Kashmir. Some said that they had witnessed such scenes on TV showing the Afghan war! Not to talk of local security hassles in Srinagar, the Prime Minister’s take off from Delhi for Srinagar caused disruption in flights at the Delhi airport due to closure of the air space. A number of domestic flights were cancelled and some including an international flight were diverted. Security measures instead of decreasing in intensity seem to be getting stricter and extensive with the passage of time. Ultimately, it may be advisable for our “popular” VIP leaders not to venture out of their houses and address the masses through electronic media with satellites beaming it all over the world!

Moving beyond security hassles, the Prime Minister’s visit according to print and electronic media, was supposed to have considerably raised the hopes of local people. Many announcements were expected to heal the sufferings of the Kashmiris. In fact, there was talk of restarting a dialogue with the pro-independence camp. Almost every mainstream leader had been expecting some dramatic declaration to move the peace process ahead. In view of the recent severe violations of human rights there was every possibility of the draconian central legislation Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) being at least promised to be reviewed or revoked. It was also expected that the demilitarisation of the civilian areas would be reviewed. However, nothing of the sort happened. By insisting on shunning of violence before the dialogue, the doors for restarting the suspended dialogue between Delhi and militant leaders seems to have been fully shut! For a change, the Prime Minister did not repeat his zero tolerance declaration. He was very cool and cautious in his comments on the situation in Kashmir. He seems to have been convinced by the concerned authorities that there is a terrorist behind every bush in Kashmir and zero tolerance is not possible! He only extended assurances to the people to ensure respect for Human Rights. He appeared like a “humbled” person not interested in taking cudgels with the all pervading powerful security establishment. They had the last laugh! Unfortunately these people are doing more harm than good to the overall national interest. One fails to understand why they do not visualise the adverse impact of these excessive measures. With the increasing popular demand for revocation of draconian legislations like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Areas Act, the attitude of the authorities responsible for these seems to harden more and more. They find one or the other excuse to ensure continuation of these undemocratic and anti-people laws. Even the Human Rights Watch has now demanded the revocation of the notorious central legislation AFSPA. Same is the case with the excessive militarization of the civilian areas. An impression is being created that Kashmir can stay with India only through the use of unaccountable massive force. This vicious cycle of revoke AFSPA, do not revoke AFSPA; demilitarise civilian areas, no do not demilitarise civilian areas is creating a dangerous situation and pushing the youth against the wall. The simmering anger and hatred sometimes bursts out on any excuse they can get hold of as happened other day on the alleged picture of a holy place on underwear. There was confusion and before it could be clarified, the youth were up in arms and shouting and stoning. The peace is quite deceptive and a small spark blows it up. According to these more loyal than the king experts, if AFSPA is revoked and civilian areas are demilitarised, it will be difficult to hold Kashmir. No power in history has been able to hold people against their will for long! This attitude needs to be changed. Given genuine relief from day to day security related hassles and harassment, the people are going to appreciate the move and not rebel against it. But taking such momentous decisions needs political will which unfortunately is lacking among the present generation of leaders. Or is it something in the air of Kashmir which makes roaring lions and ferocious tigers turn into meek lambs? May be the new generation without any baggage of partition is more strong willed and can take such decisions but one has to wait a long time before that generation is fully empowered. They too are at present suffering from a tremendous handicap which is the prejudiced and biased old guard hanging round their necks like the mill stones. It seems till we are able to get a strong willed leader prepared to take some revolutionary steps in the interests of peace, the Kashmiris are destined to suffer!