AR Bhat
Radicalisation is a process in which an individual or a group comes to adopt increasingly rapid views in opposition to a political, social or religious status quo. Anti-national elements have been using this technique to target vulnerable individuals through various social media platforms. In India, the primary target of these anti national elements is the Muslim population, mostly from remote and backward regions. These anti-national elements manipulate vulnerable individuals on the name of Islam, Jihad and alleged atrocities which they have been suffering for centuries. The Inter-Services Intelligence sponsored propaganda and psychological operations based on religious narratives have been gradually sowing the seeds of Jihadist culture in the minds of people of Kashmir. Pakistan has effectively employed the cyberspace, sections of media and its proxies in the state for this purpose. The Friday prayers are being used to fuel extremism and young minds at the madrassas are being subjected to Jihadist ideology. Communal disputes in some other parts of the country are also being used by Pakistan to create insecurities in the state. Anciently, various religious beliefs peacefully co-existed and flourished in Kashmir for centuries. However, Valley’s history has witnessed some periods, when all the major religions have competed for political and social supremacy. It was during the ‘Dogra Rule’ that a complex and chaotic polity of the state took birth as a Hindu Maharaja ruled the Muslim majority state. After independence, the state was ceded to Dominion of India. Pakistan wanted to take control of the state based on its ‘Two Nation Theory’ and ‘religious affinity’ but that did not happen. This further fuelled religious radicalisation and the issue continues to breed radicalism in the State. The erstwhile state of J&K consisted of three regions – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Kashmir had Muslim majority, Jammu was Hindu dominated and Ladakh had Buddhist majority. These three regions had regional and religious divides for centuries and had feelings of neglect and discrimination towards each other. People of these three regions, always felt that the other region is being unevenly favoured for jobs and recruitment in the Government offices. This was the reason that the Government departments and agencies have been bifurcated or trifurcated and state level posts were replaced by division and province level posts. The reservation for socially backward classes and ethnic groups created further social and political divisions. This has enhanced the radicalisation in Kashmir. Some political parties and a large section of population of Jammu region have argued for a long time that Jammu region is under-represented in the state assembly. Kashmir region has 46 state assembly constituencies and Jammu has37. The population of Kashmir province is 54.76 Lakhs and that of Jammu is 44.3 Lakhs. With abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, delimitation of the Union Territory is now being planned and people of Kashmir feel that despite having 1.3 million more people in the province, the Jammu region will be given more constituencies, which would mean larger control of the Jammu region in the Union Territory. The religious radicalisation reached its peak when Kashmiri Pandits were attacked by the Muslims in the Valley and were forced to move out of the Valley. They have been forced to stay in refugee camps of Jammu region since then. Now, voices from this community are being raised for creation of an isolated and separate homeland for them within the Kashmir Valley. This agenda has the potential of stirring reactionary drastic responses from the Islamist groups in Kashmir. Kashmir has seen numerous lockdowns in its recent history. Imposition of Section 144, which forbids the right to assembly, has become a part of Kashmir’s life. Long curfews are a routine now. Use of public safety Act (PSA) and the Disturbed Areas Act in the State, stoppage of internet facilities and then restrictions on speed of internet, house arrest of political leaders have further fuelled the process of radicalisation in the region. Kashmiri Pandits have been staying in Jammu, away from their parental lands in valley, since early 90s and now the demand for a separate land within valley have started rising. Creation of a separate place for the Kashmiri Pandits may further fuel the sentiments of the radical portions of Muslim community of the Valley. Pakistan would definitely try and play the Islamic card to benefit from such a situation. Well planned and honourable return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley may avoid the situation from worsening. Only with harmony and peace, can the state move forward on the path of success.
Empowerment of youth in constructive tasks is yet another step to reduce the religious radicalism. Youth of Kashmir wants to participate in nation building activities, but the restrictions on use of internet, lack of opportunities and modern facilities, frequent curfews have resulted in fuelling the religious radicalism. With the advent of investments from other states and countries, the empowerment of Kashmir will improve and people will have jobs to do, thereby reducing the radicalisation of youth. Development of infrastructure which includes construction of roads, building of schools, colleges and hospitals will build trust of the locals in the govt. Government is working on this and huge push has been noticed in the development activities in the state. Areas which were without electricity are being electrified. This has imbibed a hope in the local population. Corruption in the state departments is also on the decline which has developed a relation of trust between the population and the government machinery. The religious radicalisation of Kashmir has local, regional International political dimensions. There has been a substantive decline in the systematic and organised radicalisation over the last two decades. Development and empowerment of youth Can further reduce this process. This problem of radicalisation has no immediate fixes. It requires an enduring strategy, that focuses not just on targeting external and internal actors but, also attends to the process of de-radicalisation. It will require a coordinated deployment of our political, diplomatic, economic, social elements and perception management efforts. Improvements in governance are necessary, where by political leaders at all levels and the administration remain committed to the aspiration of the people. Then only the religious radicalism of Kashmir may be countered and Kashmir region can have peace and prosperity, which it truly deserves.
