RAMAN SHARMA
Citing figures and data's the political class in the state of Jammu and Kashmir are always so active to debate the issue of Armed forces special power act imposed in the state. In Kashmir, the leaders of political parties including that of ruling party and opposition both always orchestrate to remove the Armed Forces Special Power Act, their argument is that from 1990 to till date lot of improvement been witnessed in the state and now there is no reason for keeping the army here in the state and the special powers of the armed forces must be stripped of.
Obviously there appears some justification in their argument because the number of terror related incidents have gone very low. Whereas in year 1990 there were around 4100 terror related incidents and more than 1000 killings of terrorists, civilians and armed forces. And if we compare the figures of year 1990, 1991 with regard to killings/Injuries and terror related incidents across the state with the year 2012 then of course this years has been proved as one of the most peaceful year in the entire history of armed struggle in the State.
But the real question here arises that who should enjoy this violence free atmosphere, only Foreign delegates and other national dignitaries or Big Wigs of Bollywood, why the people of state not permitted to rejoice the peace, why they are not allowed to feel the secured atmosphere if there is any. Why only lip service that the situation has improved in the state but no permission to celebrate the rejoice of peace. The innocent people of the state have scarified their dear ones for this peace. The politicians and the government must allow the common people to rejoice the peace. Even today in the state of Jammu and Kashmir the innocent citizens are not allowed to celebrate the so called improved situation (if any) in the state. Even today the communication system of the state is micro-managed by the Home Ministry. Why ? if there is peace then why not the people of Jammu and Kashmir can enjoy the means of communications as other people of the country enjoying elsewhere in Delhi or Mumbai. If the situation is so improved that politicians of the highest repute and positions are orchestrating for revocation of AFSPA then why even today a young student in J & K cannot easily get a mobile connection in his name. Why Pre-Paid cell phones from the other parts of the country goes off just after crossing the river Raavi (Lakhanpur). Why innocent people of the state are even deprived from using SMS service from their pre-paid mobiles. There is no harm to debate revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act from the state of Jammu and Kashmir but before that these political leaders must make the people of the feel that the situation has improved for everyone especially for the ordinary people. The citizens here cannot be compelled to agree with the graphs and figures of lowering militancy tally in the state of Jammu and Kashmir because they want tangible change where they can celebrate this era of peace. Firstly let them feel and enjoy the so called peaceful situation. No agency other then the People of the state can judge and tell whether the situation has improved factually or it's just political gimmick. Raman Sharma is an RTI activist and can be reached [a] jkrtiact@gmail.com, mob: 9796811012. published in JKNEWSPOINT