New Delhi: On June 26, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba, in a firm but emotional statement, blasted the ‘Jehadis’ for killing innocent people in the state and that too, in the name of Islam and in the holy month of Ramzan.
Paying respect to the eight CRPF personnel who were martyred by Pakistan backed terrorists in Pampore, Mehbooba Mufti went to the extent of saying that the dastardly acts of the jehadis made her feel ashamed as a Muslim.
"I condemn the attack. I feel ashamed as a Muslim that such an incident happened during Ramzan that is observed for piety and penance. Allah has ordered that we should stay away from all bad and sinful acts during Ramzan. Such an act only defames Kashmir," Mehbooba Mufti said.
It was a landmark statement on part of Mehbboba Mufti as she, perhaps for the first time, made it unambiguously clear that the violence being perpetrated by the Jehadis was bringing a bad name to Islam and its followers.
Read Also: Why India failed to hear cries of Kashmiri Pandits for 26 long years?
Mehbooba’s bold and courageous statement infuriated both the opposition National Conference (NC) as well as the separatist Hurriyat Conference. Both NC and Hurriyat leaders condemned Mehbooba Mufti’s statement and accused her of pursuing the agenda of RSS and BJP.
Is beheading people while shouting ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ Islam?
However, Mehbooba refused to budge from her stand and on June 30, once again, launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan backed Jehadi elements for bringing disrepute to Islam.
"There are people who are beheading others while shouting Allah-o-Akbar(God is great); is that Islam? Should I say that is Islam?" an angry Mehbboba Mufti asked from the floor of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
“I am a Muslim and have unflinching faith in the religion of Islam, the religion of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, not the religion of those who slaughter human beings with chanting of Allah-o-Akbar. They are in fact defaming Islam. And it is all the more unacceptable as they do it in the holy month of Ramzan when there are riders even on legitimate things,” she asserted.
For political observers, these two statements signalled the arrival of a completely new Mehbboba Mufti on the political horizon of Jammu and Kashmir. For Kashmir watchers, it reflected the ‘ideological ‘metamorphosis that Mehbooba appears to have undergone after she took over the reins of power in the state on April 4 this year.
Read Also: Since Nawaz Sharif is a toothless PM, should India start engaging Pakistan Army?
Even on the contentious issues of rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, Mehbooba Mufti categorically defended the idea of inclusive ‘transit camps’ for Pandits saying she will not throw Kashmiri Pandits like "pigeons before the cat".
She also sounded very positive on Sainik Colonies (for ex-servicemen) although she has clarified that it will be for state subjects only. Nevertheless, the way she has defended the move and the arguments she has forwarded in its favour leaves no one in any doubt over her resolve and intentions.
She has clarified that such colony in the state was first built around 1964 in Samba. She further added that the society under which the colony is being proposed was inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1975 although land is yet to be allotted for this colony.
"The Sainik colony is meant for the ex-servicemen state subjects. The society under which the colony is being proposed was inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1975. The National Conference- Congress government held many meetings with the Governor between 2011 and 2014 for the establishment on Sainik Colony. Now the Governor has again called for land identification. But we have categorically told them that there is no land available at present," she said.
She has, however, made it very clear that, in principle, she is in favour of such colonies being set up in the state.
Read Also: What makes Chabahar port a ‘strategic asset’ for India against both China and Pakistan?
All these statements are laudable without any doubt. The way she has denounced jehadi elements for spreading violence in the name of Islam would go a long way in changing the narrative in the state.
Will Mehbboba Mufti now crush Pakistan-backed Jehadi elements in Kashmir?
The next logical question is – will she now take it to the logical conclusion of crushing the Pakistan backed jehadi network in Kashmir valley?
The whole world knows that it’s Pakistan that is behind the jehadi network in Kashmir valley. Pakistan has always used religion to foment trouble in Kashmir. And they have shamelessly misinterpreted ‘Islam’ to lure gullible youths for becoming suicide-bombers and ‘martyrs of faith’.
The training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir indoctrinate these youths saying ‘Islam is in danger in Jammu and Kashmir’ and then they are sent to this side of the border for launching ‘fidayeen’ attacks.
Media reports emanating from Kashmir do indicate that there is a section in the Kashmir valley that provides shelter and other logistics support to these Pakistan backed terrorists.
Read Also: Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton: Who will be a better US President for India?
Like the jehadis, this section has also been misguided by the Pakistani propaganda that instigates hatred against India in the name of Islam.
The objective of the Pakistani propaganda is to encourage radical Islam in Kashmir which abhors co-existence with other religions. Their only point is that since Kashmir valley is a Muslim dominated area, it can’t remain with a pre-dominantly Hindu India. They overlook the fact that there are many states in India where non-Hindus are in majority and they are living peacefully in the country.
Unfortunately, a section of Kashmiri people especially youth are falling prey to this Pakistani propaganda and this is where Mehbooba Mufti needs to turn her attention on.
Since Mehbooba Mufti got a majority of seats from Kashmir valley in last Assembly elections, she must use her organisational machinery and network in the region to spread the same message that she so strongly conveyed to the people of the state from the floor of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. She needs to take this battle to Kashmir valley and tell the common Kashmiri that killing innocent people in the name of Islam is in fact a grave injustice to their religion.
This is very much possible because Kashmir has a history of following ‘sufi’ tradition and there is no reason why they will not go back to their roots.
However, it needs to be a two-pronged strategy. First, Mehbooba needs to talk to common Kashmiris including the misguided section and remind them that Islam does not call for mindless killings and that it can definitely co-exist with other religions, peacefully and with full dignity.
At the same time, the state government and security forces should not lower the guard against the terrorists who have been trained in Pakistani camps. In fact, they need to be crushed ruthlessly with all the might at our hands. Once the local support dries down, their game would be over. Mehbooba must stand like a rock behind Indian Army to defeat the nefarious designs of these armed militants.
Mehbboba Mufi’s recent remarks of denouncing violence in the name of Islam reflect her new resolve to call a spade a spade. Now she needs to use her party’s machinery in Kashmir valley to convey the same message at the local level.
Undoubtedly, it’s a herculean task which is easier said than done. However, if she succeeds in her endeavour then this Kashmir problem would be over once and forever and Mehbooba Mufti will go down in history as someone who showed the courage to successfully confront those who challenged India’s unity and integrity by misinterpreting the tenets of Islam.
The question is – will she go that far?
