Silence in Kashmir over the attack on CRPF troopers
Writter ; Shahnawaz shah
The mainstream political parties in Kashmir were seen so busy with their political affairs that they barely remembered to express condemnation over the terror attack on CRPF personnel in Kashmir which claimed the lives of two troopers leaving two others injured. Ironically only few political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir expressed their resentment through tweets and that too after waking up from the slumber on the next day of the incident. The said leaders in the past were seen bragging about terrorism, peace, and prosperity even though some of them visited the families of militants who were killed in forces action during the deadly encounters across the Valley. In December last year, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief, Mehbooba Mufti, was all set to visit a family of militant namely Ather Mushtaq killed during an encounter in Parimpora, Srinagar along with two other militant associates. Now one could understand the hypocrisy of such mainstream leaders who aspire to visit militant families but at the same time couldn’t mark their presence to bid the final adieu to the CRPF troopers who lost their lives while being on the forefront for bringing the peace and prosperity in the region.
The mainstream political leadership lobby in Jammu and Kashmir have been always making hue and cry over petty issues and when it comes to boost the morale of the forces there is always a delayed response whether it’s extending a condemnation or applauding the role of forces in the region. The secular silence of some mainstream political parties is sheer deplorable, as their silence over such terror attacks in Kashmir is just selective. What isn’t difficult to discern is however the hypocrisy of the political leadership lobby and a slew of self-professed secular opposition parties who are living such a low life that issuing a condemnation takes more than 24 hours. No words could ever sympathize the parents of the pain of losing their son, who was also a soldier and was killed while being on the line of duty and whosoever adopts silence over such acts are actually betraying their own conscience.
However, it’s also bizarre to witness the silence of civil societies including trade bodies, transport unions, and hoteliers over the condemnation of the attack on security forces who were performing their duties in order to bring the normalcy in the region. The dead soldiers were guarding the highway leading to the famous tourist spots of Kashmir as their presence was to ensure the smooth conduct of normal life activities. Isn’t this silence over the sacrifice of our soldiers dreadful for the peace and prosperity of Kashmir? Doesn’t this silence over such attacks cast a dark shadow on tourism prospectus of the Valley? One must ponder upon. The most unfortunate party in the recent attack on security forces was observing the fact that not even a single one of these so-called secular parties or entities of Jammu and Kashmir have mustered the courage to hold a candle-light vigil in public squares in Srinagar. All we’ve had, especially from the Gupkar Group, are bland expressions of regret as if the attacks are a mere law and order issue, and not an act of terrorism. Remembering the fallen CRPF personnel killed in the attack in Lawaypora, the entire Union territory stands united with the bereaved families at this moment of grief and sorrow.
