The Kashmir Conundrum

Amidst the prevailing uncertainty, finding a peaceful resolution to the prolonged lockdown must take precedence in the government’s agenda of the day

Deleting Article 370 was the easy part. The state’s muscle power and the mobilization of parties outside the NDA which are eager to curry favor with the powerful ruling party at the Centre enabled the government to impose its writ on Kashmir valley with the people held incommunicado.

But the question is for how long can they be kept quiet? The Lt. Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Satyapal Malik, argues that lack of communication has saved lives, apparently by ensuring that the trouble-makers cannot contact each other and indulge in violence. But even he says that “bahaut jaldi sab wapas kar denge” (everything will soon return to what they were).

There is a realization, therefore, that a continuation of the clampdown beyond a reasonable period is not feasible and is bad publicity for the government. It’s an unwarranted step in a democracy.

But choosing the moment of lifting restrictions cannot be easy. Nor does it make things easier for authorities to loosen their grip in stages, for the purported mischief-mongers are bound to take advantage of even the slightest relaxation of control. If that happens, the government will have to crack down all over again, putting the situation back to square one.