Debate raises hopes in Valley

Debate raises hopes in Valley
MUZAMIL JALEEL

SRINAGAR, JUNE 27: Though many Kashmiris are sceptical of any positiveoutcome from the passage of the autonomy resolution, the debate hasgenerated hope and excitement in the violence-ravaged state. The dominantfeeling is that at least things have started moving after years ofstagnation.

``I know it does not mean much without the blessings of Centre,'' said NazirAhmad Wani, a grocery merchant in downtown Srinagar. ``But at least aprocess has been initiated and things have started moving,'' he said.

Though people here don't admit it openly, they do see autonomy as adignified way out of the situation as they have lost hope of any sort of apermanent solution, even one arising out of a war with Pakistan.

However, the scepticism has two main reasons. First there are apprehensionsthat the resolution for restoration of autonomy passed by both the houses ofthe State Legislative Assembly will meet the fate of the re-settlement bill,which was sent to Delhi in similar circumstances and was never heard ofagain.

Another reason for their misgivings is the outright rejection of theautonomy proposal by separatist groups, who continue to press for the rightof self determination rather than a settlement within the framework of theIndian Union.

``I personally believe that Kashmiris do want a hiatus from this death anddestruction. They desperately want some break in the cycle of violence thathas turned their lives hell. This is exactly why, they are happy as for thefirst time somehow things seem moving,'' said a political science lecturer,who sought anonymity. ``Majority of them (Kashmiris) want change. They arefed up with fixed minds and rigid stands at the cost of their lives''.

Interestingly, the six-day-long debate and the adoption of a resolution bythe State Legislative Assembly and Council were the topic of discussionseverywhere, from a barber's shop to a jampacked matador city bus, from aGovernment office to a `yaribal' (ghat) on the bank of the river Jhelum,where housewives gather to wash clothes or fetch water.

`I don't know what eaxctly autonomy will fetch Kashmir but I feel it issomething good than we have today,'' said Mehmooda, a housewife in uptownSrinagar. ``I don't know what exactly will happen but for the first timeFarooq Abdullah seemed truthful and firm on the demand,'' she said. In fact,chief minister Farooq Abdullah and his party colleagues seem to havetailored their assembly speeches as per popular sentiment. Also, Doordarshanand Radio Kashmir's extensive coverage of the assembly proccedings showingruling NC leaders spitting fire against the Centre and even vowing to takethe ``fight for restoration of autonomy to its logical conclusion'' has beenappreciated.

A senior Kashmiri columnist, Tahir Mohideen, believes the debate hasgenerated a lot of interest among Kashmiris. ``Everybody is looking at thenext step now which will make or mar this entire process. Everybody iswaiting for how Delhi reacts,'' he said and added that there wereapprehensions that the issue will meet the fate of the resettlement bill,which had been passed by the State Legislative Assembly under similarcircumstances but did not see the light of the day.

He said the way National Conference had raked up the issue of autonomy makesit clear that no political section in Kashmir favours the prevailing statusquo. `Only the National Conference had been to a greater extent comfortabletill today but now things have changed. Delhi has to think over it with acool mind now,'' he said.

Even for the separatists, restoration of autonomy is a step ahead as theybelieve it takes them closer to their goal. ``The National Conference hasgot India here. They are responsible for the so-called accession. If theydemand autonomy, it proves things are going in our favour,'' a Hurriyatleader said. ``Until no group or leader from our fold is also involved init, we are in a win-win situation,'' he said.