Kashmiris doubt normalcy restoration in region
Shahana Butt
Press TV, Indian-Administered Kashmir
Despite India's efforts to bring normalcy in Indian-controlled Kashmir, life continues to be disturbed weeks after New Delhi scrapped the region's autonomous status.
As India says it is easing restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir, it seems the reality on the ground is different. Amid shortage of essentials like medicines, food and groceries, with schools and colleges closed, businesses shut, no public transportation plying and a total communication blackout, people of Kashmir maintain that, unlike what Indian authorities say, normalcy has not yet resumed in Kashmir valley.
Since New Delhi revoked Kashmir’s autonomous status on August 5, life in the region has come to a standstill. Despite efforts like opening schools and making government offices functional, people of the region are reluctant to resume normalcy.
In the year 2008, Kashmir closed almost for around 2 months in protest over the transfer of land to a Hindu shrine board, then in 2010, for some 5 months, over the killing of civilians in street protests, in 2013 for almost a month following the execution of Afzal Guru who was charged of masterminding Parliament Attacks in India, in 2016 for 6 months after the killing of Burhan wani, who is considered the new face of Kashmir’s resistance movement, and now in 2019 again due to the decision of removing the special status of the region.
While city centers and highways are witnessing some traffic movement, there are sensitive parts in region that continue to remain under restrictions and continued security vigil, in some pockets there are protests but are inaccessible due to communication blackout.Tension can be easily seen on the faces of the people, since they have no idea as to what is going to happen next.
Many call it an open air prison these days, while others see it as Palestine in the making. Amid growing criticism by Rights groups against depriving Kashmiris of fundamental rights New Delhi says such moves are to maintain law and order in the highly volatile region.
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