J&K: Modi Government’s Deafening Silence a Cause for Worry

Jammu: As speculations are rife on the future of Kashmir, residents of Kashmir have queued up outside petrol pumps, grocery shops and medical stores to stock up the essentials. Local and non-local students are vacating colleges and leaving. Pilgrims are panicking and rushing to airports and bus stands. The forgotten ones - thousands of working-class people, including labourers from UP, Bihar and other states living in Kashmir, are leaving the state. Many of them have been forced to borrow money from their employers and other residents as their meagre income doesn’t allow them to leave abruptly. Roads are jammed with vehicles rushing to reach their homes. Everyone is helping everyone. Residents, non-residents - everyone- is running for safety. Speculations and misplaced rumours are in the air – something major is afoot. No one knows what has happened. No one knows what lies ahead. Jammu and Kashmir is enveloped in the military blanket. There is chaos.

Life has changed in last 48 hours. This is the current situation in Kashmir.

The flurry of developments have created an atmosphere of panic in Kashmir with regional political parties reaching out to the Governor but returning with obfuscated assurances. Governor Satya Pal Malik has been reiterating that people should not panic but every new development is triggering more anxieties. Not just Kashmir, but in Jammu region, air forces and paramilitary forces have been deployed in various parts including Kishtwar, Badherwah, Doda, Banihal and Ramban.

“The deployment of troops and suspension of the Amarnath yatra has added to the nervousness. BSF has been stationed in Baderwah and CRPF force and army in Doda. We can just pray for the best,” said Syed Farhan, a resident of Doda, Jammu.

Also read: J&K Troop Build-up: Preparing for Delimitation, Trifurcation or Scrapping Article 35A?

Another order has been passed today, after the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir, the annual Machail pilgrimage in Kishtwar’s Padar area has also been suspended citing security reasons. The Machail yatra commenced on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5. “We are being told there is an imminent terror threat and that’s why yatris are leaving. It’s the failure of the security that they can’t protect yatris even after sending 35,000 troops,” a resident of Kashmir, requesting anonymity, said.

Even though the tensed situation has led to the rise of several questions, there is no reply. “Even after the deadly attack in 2017, the Amarnath Yatra wasn’t called off. Why this time?,” another resident from Kashmir asks.

Prominent journalists have urged the government to clear the air. Barkha Dutt wrote, “I cannot remember a time (please correct me if I am wrong) in 25 years of reporting from Jammu and Kashmir that the Amarnath Yatra was called off. Even after the horrific terror attack on it two years ago in 2017, it continued unabated. There's more here than we know so far.”

While the anxiety has hit Muslim dominated pockets of Jammu region and Kashmir, sections of Dogras and Kashmiri Pandits still have their hopes pinned on the Modi government. The current situation has elicited varying responses from Jammu. “Jab takk Modi hai, humko kuch nahi hoga. (Till Modi is there, nothing will happen to us.) We already have faced discrimination for last 70 years. This Kashmir hegemony has to go and it might go this way,” said a resident from Jammu city, requesting anonymity.

Also read: What Is Going On in Kashmir?

There are also people who just want peace to prevail. “Many people around our society are very much aware of what's going on currently. They are just hoping for peace. And yes, we know that the situation of panic is getting worse. I want peace in the entire state and there are many others like me. Panic is not the solution,” said another resident of Jammu, Kunal Mishra.

Meanwhile, amid all this, Ladakh seems to have maintained silence.

In Baderwah, residents are withdrawing money and buying essential items. “There is a sense of fear. Mostly, Muslims are scared. It’s probably because of more paramilitary men than usual. People are withdrawing money from their bank accounts. Stacking up groceries and stuff,” said Akassim Khan a resident of Baderwah.