ABSURD

For a change i will not talk about the daily bloodshed and killings but lets focus on a very different issue today , I was meeting some young educated constituents in my garden when i received an sms on my cell phone , it said " Srinagar Airport to be shifted to a remote village ". The reason's are either known to the Indian Ministry of Defense or may be the Indian Air Force ?
Why i captioned it as "absurd" is for the reason that one can’t even imagine how much Kashmiri's have suffered both economically as well as socially in past 20 years of insurgency. Whatever little tourism that comes to Kashmir is in and around the months of April to August . Withstanding all travel advisories for kashmir from almost all the countries of the world some people come to see the serene beauty of Kashmir , and we shut the only link to Srinagar , by closing down the airport . It’s the poor cab drivers , shikara walaz , tourist guides who make some money during the season and you put a full stop to that as well.
You discontinued the only international flight allowed to fly to and from Dubai and now you close down the Srinagar Airport. This needs some serious thinking, don’t add to the already lakhs of unemployed youths wanting to earn their livelihood. I am told that the young CM has taken up the matter with the Indian Ministries , I just hope things work out for good .

DIVIDED WE STAND

* 20 Injured In Clashes, Youth Critical
* Protests Rock North, South Kashmir
* 4 killed in violence across Kashmir
* Cable operator shot dead
* Political activist of NC killed along with his son .

Amidst the news that Gen. Musharraf of Pakistan had almost unveiled an accord on kashmir in 2007 , Kashmir remains on Boil. Although for someone like me the above news should not come as a surprise as we know its a part of our lives today. It pains me when i see the youth of this part of the world wasted in the name of religion or emotive issues. The whole Kashmir once again observed a complete strike . This time against the death sentence to the two Kashmir guys alleged involved in delhi blast 13 years back while as many claim that they are innocent. I am told that many people got injured in the protests and one of them seriously. The whole Kashmir was shut, including shops, banks and educational institution.
In the process i was impressed by one separatist leader who challenged the calling for strikes in Kashmir , when it only destroys the economy and only adds to the misery of poor people who earn on the basis of daily wages. Master Nazir Ahmed a caretaker of an organization called Muslim Dini Mahaz described the strike call as “sheer political jugglery.” Today’s call for strike and protest was given by both the Hurriyat Conference factions. This is what he said “As a responsible constituent of the movement, the Mahaz wants to ask the callers of strike what steps they took to seek the release of the accused during 14 years. Did they ever provide them any legal aid? Did they ever visit the jail to see them? Did they ever visit their residences to see the condition of their families? What their so-called legal cells did for pro-freedom detainees,” he said in a statement.“When five years ago, this leadership was asked to provide Rs 1.5 lakh monthly for engaging lawyers permanently in Delhi to provide legal aid to detainees lodged in the outside state jails. This so-called leadership at that time categorically refused to do it. Now what is the fun of calling for strike?”, the statement added.
I see this as just the beginning of a war between all the factions and constituents of the separatist amalgam , while as the militancy is on rise and political workers are being killed I can only hope that things don’t go as bad as Palestine or Afghanistan , for now I can only pray. Till next time , Take care .