Kashmir: A month later, shopkeepers refuse to open, even as curbs are eased

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked special rights for Jammu and Kashmir on Aug 5, striking down the long-standing constitutional provisions for the Himalayan region.

A month after the government withdrew Article 370 and locked Kashmir down with thousands of additional troops and made mass arrests, residents are resisting attempts by authorities to show some signs of normalcy returning in the valley.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked special rights for Jammu and Kashmir on Aug 5, striking down the long-standing constitutional provisions for the Himalayan region.

To dampen the possibility of widespread protests, India flooded the state — already one of the world’s most militarised zones — with troops, imposed severe restrictions on movements, and cut all telephone, mobile phone and internet connections. Thousands of people were arrested.

The Centre has since eased some of the curbs, although no prominent detainees have been freed and mobile and internet connections remain suspended.

Officials in Srinagar say that 90 per cent of the Kashmir valley is free of restrictions on daytime movement, some landline phone connections have been restored and thousands of schools have re-opened. However, checkpoints remain in place and communication restrictions make reporting from the region difficult.

Despite the partial relaxation, many students are boycotting classes, shopkeepers are not opening up and public and private sector employees are not turning up for work, in informal action aimed at protesting against the government, according to interviews with seven government officials and dozens of residents of the valley.

“For us, our identity at stake and its safeguarding is our priority,” said Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper from the old quarter of Srinagar.

“Let them restore it and we will re-start our businesses.”

Business Standard

J&K Governor announces 50,000 govt jobs for Kashmiris in next 3 months

In his press conference, the J&K Governor sought to justify detention and imprisoning of mainstream politicians.

Business Standard : The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) administration will try filling 50,000 vacancies in government jobs in the next two-three months in the soon-to-be-created Union Territory, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Wednesday.

Malik, addressing his first press conference after Parliament revoked provisions of Article 370 in the first week of August, said the Centre would soon make a ‘big’ announcement on J&K.

In New Delhi, government sources denied reports that it has constituted a Group of Ministers, or GoM, to look into development, economic and social issues for J&K and Ladakh. While there was speculation of it, the government did not announce any special package for either Ladakh or J&K. The two union territories come into existence on October 31. The governor's promise on jobs echoes the commitment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made to the people of the region in his address to the nation earlier this month.

In his press conference, the J&K Governor sought to justify detention and imprisoning of mainstream politicians. He said times spent by politicians in jail would help them in their political careers. “Don't you want that people should become leaders. I have gone to jail 30 times. Those who will go to jail, will become leaders. Let them be there. The more they spend time in the jail, the more they will claim during elections...that I have spent six months behind bars...

Malik also said restrictions in J&K were necessary to prevent civilian causalities. The Internet is a handy tool for anti-national elements and the restoration of connections will be deferred for some more time, Malik said. He said pellet guns were used by security personnel during protests in the Kashmir Valley, but said forces took precaution to prevent injuries.

Government sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting Ladakh on Thursday. Senior officials of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry will visit J&K and Ladakh soon to explore the possibilities of expansion of educational facilities there Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said.

Speaking at an event to distribute awards for community radio in the national capital, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the "biggest punishment" for people is when they have no means of communication. He also extolled the benefits of scrapping of provisions of Article 370.

"This is the power and need of communication...when people store everything in their hearts and are unable to tell anyone about it, is the biggest punishment.

Explainer: Who are JeM and what is diplomatic wrangle about Masood Azhar?

A UN Security Council committee blacklisted the head of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Masood Azhar, on Wednesday.

A UN Security Council committee blacklisted the head of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Masood Azhar, on Wednesday after China dropped its objection to the move, ending a long diplomatic impasse.

Jaish-e-Mohammed had taken responsibility for the deadliest attack on security forces in Indian Kashmir in 30 years of insurgency, ratcheting up tension between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.

India has said the group and Azhar enjoy free rein in Pakistan, and demanded that Pakistan act to stop militant groups operating from its soil.

Pakistan had condemned bomb attack in February that killed 40 paramilitary policemen but denied any complicity.

India blamed Jaish for a series of attacks including a 2001 raid on its parliament in New Delhi that led to India mobilising its military on the border.

WHO ARE THE JAISH-e-MOHAMMED AND WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), or Army of Mohammed, has ties to other Sunni militant groups in Pakistan such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. It was banned in Pakistan in 2002 but U.S. authorities say it still operates there openly.

Founded in 2000 after the release of Azhar from an Indian prison in exchange for 155 hostages from a hijacked Indian Airlines plane, it has claimed responsibility for numerous suicide bombings in Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, which is also claimed by Pakistan.

The group, which aims to unite Kashmir with Pakistan, has repeatedly caused tension between India and Pakistan. Along with LeT, it was involved in attacks in 2001 on the Indian parliament and the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly building.

Pakistan rejects Indian accusations that it harbours and sustains the group. Pakistani authorities have linked JeM with two assassination attempts on former President Pervez Musharraf in 2003 as well as the kidnap and murder of U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.

Business Standard

India missed 'golden opportunity' to resolve Kashmir issue in 1971: Modi

Addressing another rally in Gujarat's Patan, Modi said he had warned Pakistan of consequences if it did not return Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India missed an “golden opportunity” to resolve the Kashmir dispute during the 1971 war when “under global pressure” it released hundreds of Pakistani troops, who were in the custody of Indian Army.

At an election rally in Barmer, Modi said then Congress government signed the Shimla agreement (in 1972) “under global pressure” and released over 90,000 prisoners of war (PoWs) instead of resolving the Kashmir dispute “in lieu of the PoWs.” “Pakistan troops were in our custody. A big area of Pakistan was also captured by the Indianforces in 1971 but the Congress government lost it on table in the Shimla agreement and they were released,” he said.

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“The government crumbled under global pressure and signed the Shimla agreement and the matter was closed. PoWs and the captured land were released. That was a golden opportunity to resolve the Kashmir dispute in lieu of the PoW,” he said.

Modi said India was not afraid of nuclear threats from Pakistan any more. “Otherwise, Pakistan used to give nuclear threats. What do we have? Have we kept it for ‘Diwali’ (Warna aay din nuclear button hai, ye kehte the. Hamare paas kya hai. Ye diwali ke liye rakha hai kya)”, Modi said.

Addressing another rally in Gujarat’s Patan, Modi said he had warned Pakistan of consequences if it did not return Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

He asserted his government’s commitment towards national security and said whether the prime minister's chair remains or not, he has decided that either he will be alive or the terrorists.

He also took a jibe at NCP leader Sharad Pawar, saying if he is unaware of his next move, then how can Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan gauge what he will do. Modi urged the people of Gujarat to help the BJP win all 26 Lok Sabha seats in his home state.

Following the air strike at Balakot terror camp in Pakistan, there was a dogfight between Indian and Pakistani fighter planes on February 27 in which the IAF wing commander was captured by the neighbouring country and released on the night of March 1.

He said after Abhinandan was caught, Opposition started seeking a reply from him. “We held a press conference and warned Pakistan that if anything happened to our pilot, you will keep telling the world what Modi did to you.”

“A senior American official said on the second day that Modi has kept 12 missiles ready and might attack and the situation will deteriorate. Pakistan announced return of the pilot, or else it was going to be a ‘qatal ki raat’,” he said.