India, the country of the historical River Indus has ceased to exist. We have now the Hindu part of the former India called Bharat. Even though India (Bharat) is a Hindu majority country which resulted from the partition of the sub-continent, yet its leaders claim it to be a secular state. After having accepted the partition of the sub-continent and the creation of the Muslim majority state of Pakistan on the basis of religion, claiming India to be a secular country seems hypocritical. Even the Constitution which the people of Bharat gave to themselves has a streak of Hindutva. The article 25 which guarantees freedom of religion has clause 2(b) which empowers the state to throw open religious institutions of a Hindu character. How were the framers of the constitution sure that the state would be of a Hindu character only that it empowered itself in that behalf? Nevertheless, various governments in office have proclaimed secularism as a state policy. However, it has been practically observed that in the event of minorities facing some problems at the hands of the majority community, it is the interest of the majority community which has received more attention. No doubt there have been and there are many people who are truly secular in nature but unfortunately, the majority of people continue to harbour Hindutva feelings and ideals. During the long tenure of BJP, the Hindutva feelings have penetrated deep in every sphere of administration and security apparatus. This has been amply demonstrated by the arrest of some extremist Hindu or Saffron terrorists involved in a number of violent incidents earlier wrongly attributed to Muslim youth from within the country or even abroad. The incidents of the demolition of the Babri Masjid and its aftermath including the court judgement and the pogrom of Gujarat are vivid examples of the power of sway the Hindutva brigade has over the state and its various apparatuses.

Kashmiris have already experienced this bias during last two decades at the hands of the security forces. The scenes of hordes of Hindutva supporters racing towards Kashmir from all over the country televised by various channels were quite scary. The only silver lining was the extra-ordinary decision taken by both the state and the central government to stop these zealots en route and prevent their assault on Lal Chowk! It was probably for the first time that the government had taken the Hindutva brigade head on? Earlier government had failed to act while the Hindutva brigade demolished the centuries old Babri Masjid virtually brick by brick watched through live telecast all over the world! They did not also act when Narindra Modi executed his infamous pogrom against the Muslims of Gujarat. On the contrary he is being projected by some corporate leaders as the future Prime Minister of India. There is no doubt that India is Hindu at heart notwithstanding the forceful pronouncements of secularism by some of its political leaders. For thousands of years Hinduism has been the main religion of the bulk of population of the erstwhile India. Religion is ingrained in the psyche of the majority of the population mostly living in rural India. No doubt there are progressive and secular thinking people in large numbers but they do not seem to command the authority to shape India’s future. They too have to quite often take recourse to religion even though in a veiled fashion, to get peoples’ support especially during elections. May be the Indian thought would have become totally secular had there been no partition of the country on religious basis. Pakistan is a continuous reminder to the Hindus of India about the Muslim conquests of the past and their 800 year long rule.

Kashmiris had been enamoured of Pakistan as an Islamic country. They had thought that by joining that country they will get total salvation. Unfortunately, Pakistan, the dream of Allama Iqbal, the poet of the East, is itself disintegrating. Most of the Kashmiris dreaming of salvation would never think of joining a disintegrating country. They appear to be fed up from that side. However, some on this side continue to harbour the hope of some sort of salvation in the “secular” India. This too seems to have been shattered by the actions of BJP. The Hindutva parties are openly demonstrating that India is a Hindu country and all other minorities are second class citizens. Their overzealous efforts in virtually conquering Kashmir for the Hindu India must have opened the eyes of Kashmiris to the reality that India is! Kashmiris have a lurking fear that the Hindu India will eat them up. This fear got manifested during the Amarnath land transfer agitation. There was a feeling that this transfer of land to a Hindu shrine is the beginning of a process to usurp the land of Kashmiris which they had recovered from the landed aristocracy after great sacrifices. Now the chauvinistic attitude of the BJP stalwarts in trying to own Kashmir regardless of Kashmiris is bound to shake faith of all those Kashmiris who had been motivated by the civil society to opt for autonomous status within India.
The BJP’s unsuccessful attempt to brow beat Kashmiris may have somewhat scared the local population about the possibility of a Hindu onslaught. If only 1% Indians which is over a crore of people decide to march to Kashmir valley, the locals would be outnumbered! Though the march has been scuttled by the government for the time being yet the fear remains.

The BJP’s intransigent attitude will keep Kashmiris apprehensive about the future! However, the extra-ordinary steps taken by the central and the state governments in scuttling the march show that these governments have the capability to enforce the law if they so desire. One fails to understand why they cannot show the same urgency and decisive intention while implementing various CBMs necessary to end the alienation of the population of the valley and other disturbed regions? These include the de-militarization of civilian areas, revocation of AFSPA and PSA, and the release of political prisoners. There cannot be a better opportunity for Delhi to gain confidence of Kashmiris and to show them it is still possible to uphold the much proclaimed secular and democratic credentials of the country. If they are not scared about the reaction of the largest opposition party why should they be held back by pronouncements of some sections of the security and administrative establishments over which the political set up is supposed to have overriding powers? Time is running out. Decisive steps have to be taken now if another summer of discontent is to be avoided.