J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah quietly created history last week when he became the state’s first elected leader since Independence to ask the Centre for the Army’s symbolic or “deterrent” presence in Srinagar.
The law and order set-up had failed to check a cycle of violence established by extremists. Calling in the Army would be normal in any state. But the Centre was cautious. In the Valley there might be special sensitivities, it was felt.
Twenty years ago, the Army had put down a Pakistan-backed armed insurgency. Separatists and Pakistan sympathisers still speak of “an army of occupation”. The fear was that the return of the Army could send the wrong signals at the popular level, especially when the so-called moderate separatists are demanding “de-militarisation”. Fortunately, apprehensions were misplaced.
The Indian Army was first requested for by Maharaja Hari Singh to beat back Pakistani raiders. Then it was deployed on the streets by New Delhi to fight the Pakistan-fed insurgency. And now the chief minister has asked for it to deter pro-Pakistan elements. Pakistan is the common thread in all three situations.
Many will recall that the National Conference (NC), created and led by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, the chief minister’s legendary grandfather, had created people’s militias to challenge the Pakistani raiders before the Indian Army arrived in the Valley in October 1947. The maharaja’s state forces were not strong enough.
But why did Mr Omar Abdullah decide on the symbolic use of the Army? Why were the state police, and the CRPF assisting them, not found adequate? Most think this is on account of the listlessness of the J&K administration.
It is widely held in the Valley that Mr Omar Abdullah’s communication with his own party, the NC, is limited on account of his inexperience and cultural distance from the traditional milieu. This disconnects him with the people in daily matters. The administration and the police take their cue from this, or are used to discomfit the chief minister by his detractors within the NC, some of whom are senior ministers and top party functionaries.
Nevertheless, the CM is fondly thought of in Kashmir as a leader who is transparent, and not corrupt. If the symbolic return of the Army to Srinagar streets is not to become frequent, the chief minister needs to build synergies with the populace.