The over 60% polling in all seven phases of the Jammu and Kashmir elections has unnerved separatists.
NEW DELHI: The over 60% polling in all seven phases of the Jammu and Kashmir elections has unnerved separatists.
But does this mean curtains for them, or will they come up with a fresh strategy to whip up the sentiment?
For now, all “separate Kashmir” voices, including the pro-Pakistan Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah and Sajjad Gani Lone, are concurring they failed to read the public mood.
However, it would be naïve to think they would shut shop and join the national mainstream, a National Conference (NC) leader said.
The overwhelming public sentiment for elections and the developments in Pakistan post the Benazir Bhutto assassination rendered separatists irrelevant in Kashmir. The chaos in Pakistan made Kashmiris wary of their strategy that has done more damage than good to their society.
Perhaps that is why they thought it fit not to let the opportunity to become a partner in electing the new government go, Javed Jalib, a social scientist of Kashmir, said.
The influence of the separatists clearly seems to be on the wane. Their argument that people came out to vote owing to the house arrest of their leaders on poll-eve holds no water.
Even in old Srinagar city, considered a bastion of Mirwaiz’s Awami Action Committee (AAC), the polling percentage was 4 to 5 times higher than in 2002. Essentially, AAC is a religious outfit and over 20% polling in downtown Srinagar is giving Mirwaiz sleepless nights. Similar is the case with Sopore, the home turf of Geelani.
The onus to fulfil the people’s expectations is now on the new government. Even a small slip-up on its part and the separatists will be back in the reckoning, a senior home ministry official dealing with Kashmir cautioned.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}