[Reader-list] Where is Kashmir's conscience?

[Pawan Durani]

*Where is Kashmir's conscience?*
Tushar Srivastava <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Free-Kick>
Times of India Sunday July 26, 2009

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Free-Kick/entry/where-is-kashmir-s-conscience2

Is Kashmir's conscience dead? The answer, most definitely, seems yes.
Recently, J&K CM Omar Abdullah hit the nail on its head when he lashed out
at the separatists for their silence on the killing of a three-year-old by
terrorists.

Why separatists alone, the whole of Kashmir should answer this question.
Really, where are the protests now? Where is the Valley's anger – so
visible, at the drop of a hat, all these years? Why, all of a sudden, has
Kashmir forgotten to take to the streets -- stones in hands and tears in
eyes? The same Kashmir, which burned with rage over the rape-cum-murder of
two women in Shopian, has its eyes closed when the perpetrators of the crime
are terrorists.

Don't get me wrong, no one is condoning the brutality in Shopian. Anyone who
outrages the modesty of women shouldn't go unpunished. But what about these
double standards? How about a little anger against the terrorists from
across the border who have killed anywhere between 65,000 to 1,00,000 people
since 1989? All in the name of freedom?

In an indirect attack on the separatists at a function in Srinagar, Omar
said: "They prominently organize marches and give ‘chalo calls' to highlight
violation of human rights...These elements resort to politics of hypocrisy."
Fairness, morality and respect for human rights demand these elements should
raise same voice whenever terrorists kill civilians, he said.

Bang on, Mr Abdullah. Or do human rights apply to terrorists alone? Maybe.
The Shopian incident has resulted in prolonged protests. At the same time,
the killings by terrorists have continued unabated. They, of course, go
unnoticed. Why this anger against security forces and cops only? Against
those same security men who, away from their families, are risking their
lives to protect Kashmir? Why no thought before damaging public authority,
before attacking the people who are there to protect them?

The suffering doesn't seem to end. Repeated terror attacks have happened in
Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.  No point mentioning which country these
attacks are coming from. And all in the name of Kashmir. It's time the same
Kashmir lends the country a hand. It's time the same Kashmir raises its
voice as loud and clear as it raises it against the security forces.

Quiet aptly, Omar's comments came on a day when SC questioned the Jammu &
Kashmir High Court's order to arrest police officers for their alleged
involvement in Shopian rape-cum-murder. The court also rapped the high court
for its direction that the bail plea of the accused cops be filed only
before it. The SC Bench said: “Anybody can be arrested. Anybody who has
nothing to do with this case can be arrested. What material was there for
arrest? Even now, they (state) have been unable to produce the material."

With power comes responsibility. If some jawans and policemen were involved
in a heinous crime, they shouldn't go unpunished. But in no civilized
society should action be guided by agitation and protests. And in the
meantime, it's time for Kashmir as well to show some responsibility. And for
our politicians to shed some hypocrisy.