Srinagar, : Even as the Anna wave is sweeping entire India, including the Jammu city of the state, the valley of Kashmir seems to be unfazed. While the winter capital has witnessed some noisy demonstrations in support of the anti-graft crusader, the valley, by and large, has remained aloof, although a section of its society has, just out of curiosity, been watching the emerging scenario with a degree of vicarious interest.No doubt, the state Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, had hurled a taunt on his tormentor-in-trade, Peoples Democratic Party patron and former Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, asking him to emulate Anna Hazare. But, the latter preferred to ignore the poser. Both the incumbent Chief Minister and his PDP predecessor can’t be so naïve as not to know the level of corruption in the state.
There can be no denying that during the PDP-Congress rule, Jammu and Kashmir gained the dubious distinction of being the second most corrupt state, next only to Bihar. During the present innings of NC-Congress coalition, the state may well have over-thrown Bihar.In spite of a plethora of laws and much-trumpeted enforcement measures, corruption has been one of the major areas of concern in the state. The canker has afflicted every sphere of social, political and economic life.
Several factors could be at work why the valley has chosen to distance itself from Anna.
Former Head and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kashmir, Prof Nisar Ali, who has been a member of the State Finance Commission, and is on the Board of Directors of Jammu and Kashmir Bank and State Financial Corporation at present, says that traditionally the valley has remained “non-committal and silent” on the happenings across India primarily because “it is passing through a different crisis where corruption has a lower priority.”
“People of various Indian states have never uttered a word of condemnation of human rights violations in Kashmir. Even when around 120 people were killed by paramilitary troopers and police in various parts of the valley during 2010 protests, no organization from other states voiced any concern, not to speak of condemning the incidents,” Prof Nisar told Kashmir Observer, adding that “although there has been a mild reaction in Jammu, the valley remained quiet.”
However, in his personal opinion, Prof Nisar feels the civil society in Kashmir should have shown a pro-Anna stand against corruption. “Corruption is terrible, a cancer that afflicts every one of our society. But, we are not fully organized against various social evils, including corruption, may be because Kashmir is dominated by other crisis,” he added.
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, does not see any impact of the Anna Hazare crusade in Kashmir. “At a place where human life and honour are not safe, corruption assumes less importance. India’s claim of rule of law is just a farce and its democratic protestations are meaningless,” he told Kashmir Observer.
Geelani said the biggest problem in Jammu and Kashmir was the denial of basic human rights to 125 million of its people. “India has usurped our rights by force and is looting our forests, our water and other resources. It has been pursuing a policy of oppression since 1947 which was in evidence during last year’s unrest when around 120 persons, mostly youth and children, were killed by the police and paramilitary,” he said, adding that even when Anna Hazare’s hunger strike had entered its ninth day, the government was unconcerned showing no inclination to accept his demands.
Social activist and chairman of Right to Information Forum, Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, said people of Kashmir needed a totally indigenous movement against corruption which is rampant in almost every outfit of the state administration. “Jammu and Kashmir has its own Accountability Commission to deal with corruption at every level, including the politicians and administration and police officials. Even the chief minister is within its ambit,” he told Kashmir Observer.
by:Qaisar Ahmad