Their Celebrations, Our Sufferings

By: Bilal Bashir Bhat
Whether 15th August or 26th January these are the two particular days when the people of India observe the celebrations of Independence and the republic day respectively, but on the other hand the people of this land called Kashmir on these days mandatorily have to face the undue difficulties in terms of unnecessarily frisking, barring of cellular services, imposition of restrictions to every movement, interruption on every of the activity. On these particular days these repressive measures by the Government or by the Police never depends on the prevailing situation but can be seen as the fear factor of viewing the common people as enemies.
It is a bitter truth that on the every such occasion it is the common people, who have to suffer by observing either shutdown called by the dozens of pro-freedom leaders or have to live under the shade of curfew or restrictions.
During the recently concluded 15th August Celebrations, it was yet another mountain of sorrow, grief and suffering to the people of Kashmir. As state’s Chief Minister was enjoying the tradition folk dance at Bakhshi Stadium on the other hand the residents of old-city were virtually confined in their homes due to the undeclared Curfew and restrictions. The Cellular and the Internet services were unnecessarily blocked.
The concertina wires, the deserted look of the main roads, men in uniform after ever five steps in Kashmir gives a sound proof that India is observing some celebrations. It is not the first time since from 2008-10 but ever since from the Militancy erupted in Valley. However Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that militancy related incidents in the state had come down by 80 per cent in the last five and a half years of his tenure. But this statement seems far from truth as whole of Kashmir is being treated as suspicious.
As per a News report the National Holiday in India makes it Eid for the Indian Muslims. Observing a holiday in Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia’s Masjid thousands of people were witnessed reaching early for Friday prayers. But in Kashmir no Friday congregation prayers were allowed at Srinagar’s grand mosque due to the strict restrictions.
However this fact can’t be distinct that on these occasions the common people of Kashmir have ever witnessed the militant attacks. This perhaps gives a justification to the enforcers to implement more and more restrictions to the normal activities of the people. The hue and cry of the government even before a month regarding the arrangements in respect to the security of these celebrations triggers a note of concern among the common masses.
The Indian Media which claims the freedom of expression, once again shows the double standard instead of reporting the ground situation on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations in Kashmir were busy to flash the News that the Indian Flag was hoisted upside down at BJP’s Kashmir office thus avoiding the sufferings of common people.
Delivering fiery speech, that only 10 people are in jails is never a big deal, the grave concern is how many people are confined in homes during the same speech. How many of the separatist leaders were caged either in their houses or different Police stations. How many people feared to step out due to undue difficulties? These are the questions a Chief Minister whosoever voted to power in the forthcoming elections should answer in the next Independence Day speech.
(The writer hails from Srinagar, can be reached at bilalbashirbhat@gmail.com)