Kashmir under the gun

With tourism and trade feeling the heat, locals see the economic blockade as an act of war and wishes the government would take a tough stand

 Mohammad Azim Tuman, 72, drives to the airport almost daily to bring guests to his palatial houseboat at Nigeen Lake but returns with no one. The tourists and Amarnath yatris have fled as Kashmir’s economy bears the brunt of the month-long turmoil. Tuman, a fourth-generation houseboat owner is worried. “We had no tourism since 1990 but survived as our boys went to different states and convinced people to visit state. There is a deliberate attempt to scare away tourists. The burning of tourist bus at Samba is one such example,” says Tuman.

In Kashmir, it’s déjà vu 1990 when Kashmir erupted against New Delhi setting off a new wave of violence. At nights, loudspeakers at mosques broadcast pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. People come onto the street at night raising slogans and caring little for the lurking security forces. The only difference between 1990 and 2008 is that the political leaders from the mainstream parties have taken to streets to join the protests too.  “It is like revisiting 1990,” says Zareef Ahmad Zareef, a renowned poet of Kashmir.

“It is the result of the Centre’s appeasement policy. They (Kashmiri separatists) unfurl Pakistani flag, chant anti-India mantra but they are still given money, packages and other sops. The people of Jammu are being discriminated against,” says Professor Narendra Singh, spokesman, Shri Amarnath Sangrash Simiti (SASS) that is spearheading the campaign for land restoration to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

As the agitators prevent goods trucks to cross or leave Jammu to Kashmir to put pressure on the government to rescind the Amarnath land revocation order, traders have suffered..

“Each truckload of pears costs Rs2.5 lakh to Rs3 lakh. But these days the fruit decays
and cannot be sold anymore,” says Haji Bashir Ahmad, president Fruit growers Association Sopore.

“It is now a struggle for our right to self determination,” says Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of hard-line faction of Hurriyat.

In Jammu, people have suffered Rs6,730 crore in the 40 days of agitation and in Kashmir the loss is more than Rs1,000 crore.

“Had the government not issued orders and continued with the status quo, it would not have hurt us. But after passing the order and revoking it later has definitely hurt us,” says Ram Sahai, president Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In Kashmir, the economic blockade is being viewed as an act of war. “There are two types of war one which is fought between the armies and another to starve people to death. When you want to starve us, what should we do?” asks Jan Mohammad Koul, chairman Kashmir Traders Federation.

“The peace process needs to be more tangible and people should feel the results on ground,” says Professor Noor Mohammad Baba, dean, faculty of social sciences, University of Kashmir. “We need to be more reasonable. Calls are being made for the outsiders to leave Kashmir which is fraught with danger,” says Shahid Majid, an IT professional.
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