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Page6-7-Editorial.Qxd (Page 2) FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Established 1965 Will elections change Kashmir? Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Harsha Kakar governance. tatives, BJP workers and securi- state receiving maximum central would be implications. Develop- make these groups powerful To ally misgivings within the ty personnelon leave hoping to funding.Political leaders, Pak- mental projects would never enough to counter the anti- rom the ramparts of the population he added, 'I think we enhance fear within the valley. istan's disinformation campaign change existing beliefs and anti- national voice. LG takes stock of Red Fort on 15th August, need patience. We have got the Overall, the valley is witness- and Imams have been warning India narrative would continue to The media in the valley, FPM Modi announced that institutional architecture in place ing a positive change. the public that the government flow. unlike the rest of the country, elections would be held in Kash- and we are moving ahead step by Security concerns have seeks to bring about demograph- If this narrative must change, apart from being homogeneous, mir once delimitation is com- H&ME sector step.' Subrahmanyam also said always dominated Kashmir pol- ic change, pushing its current then there are actions which must has for decades faced the wrath plete. Would elections integrate that 2,273 infrastructure projects icy. Hence, security forces, led population into minority. These be undertaken. Most important of terrorism and learnt to sur- ealth and Medical Education Department has its Kashmir deeper into the main- worth Rs 5,979 crores, which had by the army remain the most vis- fake inputs need to be countered amongst these is to create pro- vive. They remain under the stream? The reality remains that own special importance all the time and under all been pending for the last 5-10 ible element in the region. They When questioned on devel- India groups within the region, influence of politicians, who,for circumstances which hardly needs to be speci- unless the Government targets years were sanctioned and 506 act as the interface between the opments post abrogation of arti- which should rise as a challenge H the centre of gravity in the val- generations, have ruled the state fied. While we avail of the various facilities from avail- completed. He also described public and administration, which cle 370, residents would state to anti-national groups. The sec- like fiefdoms. Hence, their pro- ley, mindsets will not change, efforts to bring good governance on account of terrorism, rarely that nothing has changed on the ond is to influence local media to able Government hospitals, we as ordinary citizens, find and complete integration is not jection is biased. There are means that services and facilities provided were inadequate and development to the region as moves beyond their comfort ground.On the contrary, they project reality on ongoing devel- available to change media out- possible. 'work in progress.' The govern- region. This permits terrorists, would claim they are being dif- opmental projects and benefits and at times quite poor. The fault , however, lies some- Post the revocation of article look, within the gambit of ment announced creation of over ground sympathizers and ferentiated by the centre, the state accruing from amalgamating the democracy, and should be con- where else besides to some extent in individual hospital 370, Amit Shah stated at a rally, 10,000 jobs, recruitment for venom spitting Wahabi preach- been downgraded to a Union Ter- region with the union. The third 'To eradicate terrorism from J&K sidered. managements. We feel the biggest problem encoun- which has yet to commence, as ers, larger space. This needs to ritory and denied 4G network is to ensure governance at grass- Panchayats which were elect- tered by these hospitals is the inadequate staff strength and protect Kashmir, the Prime also opening 50 colleges. change. connectivity. root levels reclaims its space and Minister has taken a huge step by ed two years ago, need to be sup- commensurate with the rush of the OPD patients and The government has initiat- visibility within the local popu- ported. The fact that they are revoking Article 370.' He added, ed democracy at grassroots level lace, pushing terrorist sympa- those who were admitted for treatment of various ail- 'I would like to assure you the being targeted by terrorists by conducting panchayat elec- Panchayats which were elected two years ago, thizers, political party opera- implies that success at grassroot ments. Is there a mechanism in place to keep reviewing removal of (Articles) 370 and 35 tions and hopes to complete the tives, all of whom dominated the level democracy is irking terror- the scenario of problems faced by these hospitals so (A) has paved the way for Kash- need to be supported. The fact that they are process for the balance 12,600 vacuum and influenced local ist masterminds. Local gover- that remedial action could be taken in time? Are these mir's development.' It appeared vacant posts, once the COVID being targeted by terrorists implies that success minds, into the background. nance had been almost invisible hospitals, especially at district levels, having specialist the twin reasons for changing the situation improves. The invest- Pro-India groups can be cre- in the state throughout high lev- Doctors to attend to serious cases of surgeries and status of Kashmir were improv- ment summit has been pushed to at grassroot level democracy is irking terrorist ated by involving the mass of els of terrorism. This needs to ing the security environment and next financial year. The Power army, police and CAPF veterans change. The more visible the treatment? This assumes more importance looking to ushering in development. masterminds. Local governance had been the all-round disturbances created by the COVID-19 Ministry announced that 33 sub- spread across the valley. They governance, the lesser is the Speaking to the media last stations and 745 new distribution almost invisible in the state throughout high have witnessed the anguish of space available to terrorist sym- pandemic, in tackling which undoubtedly the medical week, J and K Chief Secretary, terminals have been built in the terrorism, seen development pathizers who influence local staff at all levels, has contributed a lot even at person- BVR Subrahmanyam criticising past year. More projects are in levels of terrorism. This needs to change. The across the country and under- narratives. al risks. Are inoperative and defective machines, equip- earlier governments', mentioned progress. more visible the governance, the lesser is the stand the importance of national Close interaction between ment and other accessories being repaired or replaced that J&K was a 'broken state' The security situation has unity and integration. Member- local administration, positive without any 'proper system' in time so that the patients did not suffer. What arrange- improved in every respect. Ter- space available to terrorist sympathizers who ship should be voluntary, sup- media and pro-India groups where frauds were committed by rorism is down, infiltration has ported by the state and these would together target the centre ment was there in vogue to take stock of, replenish, leaders of mainstream parties influence local narratives. of gravity of the region, public improve and add to the existing infrastructure in these reduced, stone pelting, a sign of organized based on regions. and separatist organisations. He public anger against the centre, Others who have understood opinion, change mindset and hospitals? Last but not the least, is a grievances added that 'not a single soul had has witnessed a drop, local The public hasover time, The reality why the Kash- Pakistani and anti-national agen- enhance integration. It would redressing system , at least in city and district hospitals, cried' over the detention of polit- recruitment is low, and informa- been convinced that the region is miri's remains dissatisfied is cies game to keep the valley project the right belief that the nation desires Kashmir's devel- available and operating and who conducted the period- ical and separatist leaders and tion of terrorist presence is flow- disputed,and they are entitled to because the Government has under terrorism and deny devel- opment,is working towards it ic audit of complaints received and disposed of the that the 'common man is not ing, leading to clean operations an independent state, an issue effectively not addressed the opment, should join. These bothered about article 370, what and can only succeed with coop- same in a time bound manner. with little collateral damage. which no one has bothered to centre of gravity in Kashmir, should be empowered to be the eration from the local public.This they expect is jobs, growth and Success of security forces has contest. Rumours are abounding which is 'public opinion.' Nor has voice of the public in interacting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took an initiative development.' Local political will change Kashmir not elec- within a few days of his taking over in arranging a pushed terrorists onto the defen- that on account of religious eth- it aimed to create a counter to with local governance and secu- tions nor completion of develop- parties denounced his statement sive. They are compelled to nicity the region has never been those ranting an anti-India narra- rity agencies. The army, which is review of the department in a meeting which was however, none contested his ment projects. change tactics and seek soft tar- accorded priority in develop- tive in the region. Unless it the current face, should recede The author is Major General (Retd) attended by the concerned authorities. Perhaps, having claims on corruption and mis- gets, including elected represen- ment by Delhi.
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