In the barely 24 hours they had at their disposal during their recent visit to the Kashmir Valley, the all-party delegation of MPs drawn from across the board acquitted themselves with credit. They gave evidence of listening carefully to voices on the ground, and tried to cover as much ground as was feasible. There can be only two procedural grounds for regret — that the political delegation from the Centre should have gone earlier, and that they should have stayed longer. For many, this might have been their first visit to the Valley. It is also likely that many would not have been acquainted with the complex history of the place and its embattled present, especially in the context of the Pakistan factor and the steady rise of jihadist sentiment which has gone on under the radar. A pre-departure briefing for the MPs by experts drawn from the government and elsewhere might also have served a useful purpose. It is a pity such a familiarisation session was not arranged. Such a meeting might have helped our senior politicians rise over the newness factor to some extent, and permitted them the chance to establish a degree of historical perspective for themselves. The language of protest in the Valley acquires tones that change from season to season — a good example being the common term azadi, which in Kashmir lends itself to a host of meanings and interpretations, depending on who you speak to and when. The emotion most common in a situation such as Kashmir is one of being overwhelmed, and this plays spoilsport with cool analysis. A comprehensive briefing may have helped our political leaders cope better with such a factor.
Kashmir’s main Opposition leader Mehbooba Mufti, chief of the PDP, may have a point when she says that curfew should have been lifted when the MPs were in Kashmir. The security concerns this might have raised would have been compensated by the greater opportunities for live interactions with local residents. Some MPs did well to knock on the doors of separatist leaders of different hues since the latter had turned down the invitation to meet the delegation officially. It will soon be time for them to read the tea leaves, and here they might do with some help. MPs as a group representing different shades of opinion have visited the Valley twice before, but this was the first opportunity when they had a chance to mingle with ordinary folk, although the brevity of time limited the scope for such interaction, away from the confines of a hotel or conference venue. More and frequent visits can only deepen the understanding of our political class of complex situations such as the one that prevails in Kashmir or in our northeastern states. In a large country, hot spots on the periphery tend to get overlooked otherwise as there are so many hot spots that are more proximate.
It is indeed a pity that many in Jammu almost boycotted the all-party delegation, citing grounds that appear specious. The team had gone as fact-finders and did not harbour any bias against Jammu, as has been implied. The displaced Kashmiri pandits, who should be restored to their homes in the Valley with dignity and in an environment of security, were clearly misled in not meeting the high-level visitors. They cannot have improved their case by doing so. It is to be hoped that their organisations adopt a more balanced stance in the future. Being astute, our political leaders will know they do not have a magic formula to settle long-festering problems. But the more they engage with pressing concerns, the more finetuned the understanding that they can bring to bear on policymaking.