By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Center for Policy Analysis, a Delhi-based alternative policy organization which has been working on bridging gaps between New Delhi and Srinagar for several years, has come up with a report titled “Kashmir: A lost paradise?” which gives a detailed insight into the current situation in the valley after the death of militant commander Burhan Wani.
A group of four senior journalists; Seema Mustafa, Sukumar Murlidharan, Anand Sahay and Prem Shankar Jha had visited the valley last month and met local activists, officials, politicians, academics, journalists, women’s and the youth.
The team after meeting the interlocutors has noted that if government doesn’t step forward to engage the people with the serious intent, the youth will not hesitate to pick up the gun.
“Some went to extent of saying that they hadn’t done so yet because the offer of guns hadn’t yet been made to them from any quarters,” reads the report.
The report also underlines the dissatisfaction of Kashmiri people with the current dispensation.
“Those with moderate, liberal and secular viewpoints were scathing in their condemnation of the Government of India, particularly the present dispensation, and its attitude of letting Kashmiris fester and showing the big sticks when matter threatened to get out of hand,” the report says.
The 36-page report takes a deep look into the factors responsible for the current spate of unrest.
The team shares the view that the dialogue between New Delhi and Srinagar is imperative and must include all the stakeholders including mainstream political parties, separatists, youths, civil society representative, business and trade, lawyers and other.