Is the media distorting the reality in Kashmir?
Encounters with militants result in casualties to security forces. Incidents of stone throwing, protests and anti-national comments by the Hurriyat dominate headlines at regular intervals. Local poster-boy militants, scared of challenging the army, secure in their hideouts or homes, issue statements on social media, asking people to support them, which are widely circulated.
Security forces' operations against them are hampered by stone throwing, videos of which are spread, conveying a message that the youth of the state are anti-India. The Line of Control (LoC) witnesses regular exchange of fire and encounters against infiltrating militants. The impression gathered is that Kashmir is on the boil. Post every incident in the Valley, debates and discussions on TV channels mostly end in shouting matches.
No logic flows, neither does truth emerge, nor is there any solution. For maximum viewership and TRPs, channels select staunch anti-national figures to represent hardliners from the Valley and nationalists who strongly oppose them on the other.
The anti-nationals are the same every time, toeing the same line, shouting, screaming and accusing India. The result is that the common Indian feels that the complete state is up in arms against India. Is this the reality? A recent press release, post the visit of the central home secretary to J&K revealed that only students of four colleges were involved in agitations, other institutions ran normally. The attendance in state board exams was almost hundred percent.
As per inputs by the ADGPI (the army's public information department), most events organised by the army in rural Kashmir and Srinagar have witnessed large-scale participation and been incident free. Events have included football tournaments between villages, youth festivals, skill training and medical camps amongst countless others.
Women football tournaments have been successfully conducted. Participation in recruitment rallies conducted by the J&K police and army have witnessed immense attendance despite calls for bandhs and boycott. In the last army recruitment rally in April, over 19,000 youth applied.
In any disturbed area, dominated by one religion, unemployed and religiously motivated youth would be readily available as cannon fodder for those opposing the state. Such youth would be handsomely paid to incite others to join the bandwagon and participate in anti-national activities. The agitating youth have never visited any other part of the nation, hence are unaware of opportunities available to those away from troubled spots.
A small gesture by the army of sending 20 stone throwers on a tour outside the state could change minds. By burning schools and closing colleges, youth, who should have been studying and seeking a better life are forced onto the streets to participate. Lack of employment opportunities increases frustration and enhances participation in such actions.
The nation is aware that almost all militants are from Pakistan. Locals don the mantle of militancy for the glamour it provides. Funds flow from Pakistan as it seeks to continue burning the flames of unrest to suit its own goals for the region. Social media is used by Pakistan to project fake atrocities and anti-religious behaviour by security forces to incite youth to take to the streets.
Hurriyat leaders have openly admitted to burning schools and receiving funds enabling paying for anti-national actions in a sting operation conducted recently, resulting in the NIA launching investigations. Sermons by Pak paid Imams and Hurriyat leaders from Minbars of Mosques are solely aimed at enraging and inciting youth.
Do those opposing the state represent the majority or are we stereotyping? Is the visual media resorting to dividing the nation by its selection of staunch anti-nationals on its discussion panels? These are issues we need to consider.
The population in the Kashmir valley as per details available online is approximately one and a half crores. The 2011 Indian census states that about 41 percent of the population is below the age of twenty. The figures of this forty-one percent in the Valley can easily be calculated. However, those involved in stone throwing, joining militancy and adopting anti-national actions are only a minuscule number of the population, maybe a couple of thousands. Hence, are we justified in stereotyping the entire Valley as being anti-national.
There are large numbers of youth desiring to study and make a successful future away from the troubled region, however, they are unable to leave either due to financial limitations or social obligations. There are possibly many more who seek peace and know that being a part of India is far better, yet are forced to remain silent, for fear of being singled out and targeted. Lieutenant Umar Fayaz, killed by militants for seeking a life as part of the Indian state was one such case as was the killing of Shabir Ahmed Dar, a policeman on leave, this week.
There would be many more, but prevented from doing so. The fact that educated youth flock in mass numbers for recruitment rallies and skill training indicates just a tip of this iceberg of numbers. These are ignored while those indulging in violence gain prominence.
Simultaneously, visual media houses conduct of discussions is solely aimed at TRPs, without any consideration of the stereotyping impact being spread across the nation. It affects Kashmiris studying in universities across the nation, who become easy targets. Most who complete studies outside the state, work away, rather than return to Kashmir.
No television channel selects moderates or those seeking a valley, sans violence, on its panels, for if it does so, the show would lose the impact they seek to create. I wonder what message such shows convey to moderates observing it in the Valley. Would it indicate Indian desire to amalgamate them into the mainstream or subjugate them?
We need to ask ourselves a few questions dispassionately. Are our assumptions that the Valley is boiling correct or is it that a few thousands are holding the balance to ransom. Are locals volunteering in stone throwing or are they being compelled to participate by local thugs of localities or paid agents of the Hurriyat?
Whenever there is a financial crunch with the Hurriyat, post demonetization and the crackdown on hawala actions by the NIA, stone throwing incidents reduce. We also know that in every crowded locality in each city, across the nation, we have thugs, who run their own fiefdoms and whom residents are scared to challenge, the Valley would be no different.
Hence, we need to question ourselves on whether the majority of Kashmiris seek peace or desire a life of living under the barrel of the gun, that of security forces or militants.
In case we wish to obtain a true picture, television channels should stop calling Kashmiris anti-nationals and include moderates or locals who are anti-militancy in their outlook. Secondly, activities which unite the population must be increased manifold.
The army has shown that sporting events bring everyone together, hence these must be increased across the state. Simultaneously opening avenues for employment, within and outside would open doors to those seeking a better life. Bad governance by every party in power has been the bane of Kashmir. Can it improve? Finally, the government must reach out to students to resolve their grievances.
It is only when we connect the dots, compare the existing population and those involved and assess the situation dispassionately that we realise, that a few thousands, led by a handful, have ruined the lives of almost one-and-a-half crore people. It is them who we need to deal with firmly, while safeguarding the majority.
This message has been aptly stated by the army chief, but ignored by many. It needs serious consideration.