Well, that is not new, because the Pakistan factor has always been there when we talk about Kashmir, and blaming it at the end of the high-level meeting convened following a series of targeted civilian killings, is nothing but a mere spoof. While there were just skeletal details about what was discussed in the meeting, what has come to the fore is that the Kashmiri Pandits will be moved to safer locations within Kashmir—and that the Amarnath Yatra will go as planned. Fair enough, what else?
The point is that it has all now trickled down to once again blaming Pakistan while the Government’s claim of having a “decisive control over terrorism” remains deflated. Because if the Government is again continuing with the rhetoric—which has been there for decades—then the Government does not seem to be in a position to claim that it has achieved a lot vis-à-vis Kashmir, rather everything is hunky-dory.
Those in power can go around beating the bush of having brought about a “revolution” in Kashmir and saving the people of Kashmir from “destruction,” but the ground reality is showing a crystal clear picture from the ground zero.
There was a famous speech which the Home Minister made on the floor of the Parliament on August 6, 2019, in which he said that he will give his life for Kashmir, and then in April this year, he said that he gets angry only when it comes to Kashmir, however, so much water has flown down the river in the last few weeks, but there has been complete public silence from Shah over the killings which has pushed Kashmir back to 90s. Strange!
The silence is being talked about—though in hushed tones—in various circles; people are clever and might be deducting a lot from the silence which has been maintained all of a sudden: unbecoming, uneven, and in total contrast to the posturing of the BJP-led central Government concerning Kashmir, particularly after August 5, 2019. It doesn’t seem assuring…at all.