Kashmir politicians are whipping people up into a frenzy, instilling fear and anti-India sentiments in the valley

Over the past few days, several reports of Indian security forces buildup in Jammu and Kashmir region have been hitting the tickers. After an additional 10,000 troops were deployed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, another 28,000 have been deployed within days while several other developments indicate a massive upcoming move by the Modi government with regards to terrorism and separatism Kashmir. In such an environment ripe with speculations ranging from the removal of Article 35A to the trifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the politicians in the valley have decided to fuel panic and an anti-India sentiment in the Kashmir Valley. High level political drama has ensued in Kashmir, courtesy the clueless double-dealing Kashmiri leaders like Mehbooba Mufti, the Abdullahs, Shah Faesal, Sajad Lone and others.

According to reports; The Union Home ministry had ordered deployment of 100 additional companies of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir, late night on last Friday. This large scale mobilization of security forces had sparked a lot of speculations and concerns over conditions in the terror affected state. On Friday Indian Army and the State police in a press conference had briefed media on the situation in Kashmir and pointed towards credible Intel reports of Pakistani terrorists planning to target the annual Amaranth Yatra pilgrimage.

Lt General KJS Dhillon and J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh addressing a joint press conference has indicated towards the security threat and reiterated that no one will be allowed to disrupt peace in the state. In the press conference the army also displayed weapons found along the Amaranth Yatra route with conclusive Pakistani markings on them, providing a proof of involvement of the rogue state of Pakistan. The administration, prioritizing the safety of pilgrims amid threat of a terror attack, has called off the Yatra and has asked the pilgrims to leave the state as soon as possible.

Nonetheless, while security forces of India burn the midnight oil to thwart any radical terror attack, local and regional politicians are yet to join in the conductive efforts and instead have been continuously indulging in blatant fear mongering and spreading misinformation.

The main culprits are the leaders of the two major regional political parties the National Conference (NC) and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who over the past few days have been using the security force deployment in the state to peddle ‘artificial’ fear in the valley in a bid to forward their political agenda.

JKNC leader and former Chief minister of JnK , Omar Abdullah had tweeted “What “on going situation” in Kashmir would require the army AND the Air Force to be put on alert? This isn’t about 35A or delimitation. This sort of alert, if actually issued, would be about something very different.”

Even after clarification on the issue form the administration, PDP leader and former CM of JnK Mehbooba Mufti is still trying to instill fear In Kashmiri society by provocative comments and tweets, She tweeted “What about Kashmiris? Who will protect their lives? Are they cannon fodder?”

Even after repeated clarifications these politicians have been indulging in fear mongering tactics and trying to mislead the nation with late night ‘emergency’ meetings, press conferences, pushing  baseless rumors like imposition of curfew, and  house arrest of other leaders like Mehbooba Mufti along with making various provocative calls has been the cowardly line of action that they have decided to take.

Along with regional parties Congress has also jumped in and forwarded the same fear mongering tactics while Security forces strive to normalize the situation in the terror affected state. A tweet from Congress account read:

“The J&K Policy Planning Group of the Congress Party met today and expressed concern about the actions and reports emanating from the Govt which are causing a panic in the general populace.”

Instead of trying to defuse the situation in Kashmir, Congress’s post read “the massive build up of Security Forces..are all creating an atmosphere of heightened insecurity and fear” ; under signed by Kashmiri Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad.

While the nation moves ahead to amalgamate the Kashmiri Society with the mainstream Indian Society, leaders like the Abdullahs and Mehbooba Mufti are irresponsibly inciting anger and instilling fear and panic in the valley so as to retain their political choke-hold on the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In a similar way, India’s left liberal establishment, irked by the tight-lipped Modi government which does not risk national security related crucial intelligence, has also taken to strike fear and distrust in the hearts of people. Nonetheless, the perpetual neglect of Kashmiri people by these same leaders who have not only used discriminatory constitutional provisions like Article 35A and Article 370 to drive a wedge between Kashmir and the rest of India but also virtually provided cover fire to terrorists like Burhan Wani and stone pelters surely calls for abrogation of these discriminatory and divisive provisions and also of firm and conclusive action on terrorists and their sympathizers in the state. The desperate movements of leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah show the true colours of the leaders and their struggle to remain politically relevant has caused panic in the valley among the common people who are stockpiling food supplies and queuing up outside ATMs to prepare for something that the government has issued no advisory against, and the threat of which is only being fabricated and peddled by Kashmir’s double-dealing terror sympathizing leaders.