The Speech PM Modi Should Be Making To Angry Kashmiris

Even as the government mulls retaliatory action in the context of Pakistan-backed terror in India, it should not lose sight of its other front— the domestic front in the Kashmir Valley. While one can expect a slowdown in the intensity of violence out of sheer fatigue, that pause should be used to rebuild bridges with civil society in the Valley. It should begin with a Narendra Modi speech that carries a clear message without glossing over difficult areas like Article 370 and “azaadi”.

What we need is not another fantasy statement on “insaniyat” and “Kashmiriyat”, but some plain talk laced with compassion. Any flowery claim about India oozing love for the Kashmiris will be a false statement and, thus, not credible for that reason.

Here is the speech Prime Minister Modi should make when the Valley cools down.

My dear people of Jammu and Kashmir,

I come here at a time of sadness in this state, when so many lives have been lost for needless reasons. I ask myself, why this is so, when so many young children, teenagers, policemen and other security forces have lost their lives or been injured‎ for no gain to anybody? I have come here to listen to you and clear any misunderstandings you may have about our intentions in Jammu and Kashmir, not to speak of the people of Ladakh.

It is okay for you to be angry with us, for we consider you to be our family. You have every right to express your anger at our shortcomings, or that of the government we run in this state along with the PDP under Mehbooba Mufti. We will listen and address genuine grievances without standing on prestige. But this is not just about what we can do for you; it is also about what you can do to improve your lot. I doubt throwing stones at the police or forcing children to join the protests will solve any problems. Killing and hurting the policemen and security forces who are trying to maintain peace will provide no answer to your grievances. They will only become worse.

But before I start the process of listening to you, I would urge you to listen to what is going on in our neighbouring country— the same country whose flag some people are waving in some parts of this state. I also urge you to listen to and see what is happening in West Asia, where ISIS— whose death flag has also been waved here by some misguided youth— is busy butchering the Yazidis and other people, including Muslims who do not listen to them. Some people have said ISIS does not represent true Islam, but that is not the point: ask yourself if what they are doing is right by any yardstick. Is beheading foreigners and raping women and selling children into slavery justified anywhere?

Then, consider our neighbour Pakistan. The Pakistanis are good people, but their army and the ISI are spreading terrorism everywhere. Almost every act of terrorism anywhere in the world, and in India, can be traced to Pakistan. But is the Islamism of Pakistan leading them to “jannat”? When the Pakistanis encourage terrorists to blow up Shia mosques; when Ahmaddiyas and Bahais and Christians and Hindus, not to speak of Muslims themselves, are being killed in the name of Islam, I wonder what people waving the Pakistani flag here are telling us: do we want to do the same thing here in Jammu and Kashmir? Do we want to import such violent ideas to our state and country? The only result of Pakistan’s violent policies has been the alienation of its people. Bangladesh chose to break away, and now even the Balochs and Sindhis want to go away.

Now let me address the issue of azaadi. I am with you. Every Indian needs azaadi to develop to his full potential. The question is, what is azaadi? Is it the freedom to invest in your children so that they grow up strong and kind and get educated to give themselves a bright future? Or is it about asking them to throw stones? Is azaadi about mutual respect and an acceptance of different faiths and belief systems, or about rejecting the syncretism of our Kashmiri heritage?

Many of the young people throwing stones and targeting the police may not have seen a single Kashmiri Pandit in the Valley, for they were all driven out by the same ideology that is leading Pakistan to ruin and bloodshed. So is azaadi only for some people, or all people in Jammu and Kashmir? ‎ My heart tells me that azaadi has to be about peace, progress and inclusiveness— not about driving people out of their homes and getting children to throw stones. If the notes of azaan are not accompanied by the ringing of temple bells and Buddhist chants, where is Kashmiriyat? Azaadi that results in bloodshed and hatred or those who don’t share a religion or culture is nothing but bigotry. It shames all of us.

There is another dimension to the question of azaadi, too. Countries world over, in order to improve growth and prosperity, are bringing down national barriers and trading freely— allowing more people to live and work anywhere in the world. ‎In the European Union, countries voluntarily gave up national powers, opened up their borders and benefitted from mutual cooperation. They are giving up some of their political azaadi to benefit their people. When the world is integrating, and we already have a degree of economic integration in India, how much sense does it make to think that separation is the answer?‎

I can understand that Kashmiris want to protect their culture, and this is a global concern. Like Jammu and Kashmir, the people of Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu or Bengal‎ or Meghalaya are also proud of thier cultures and are keen to protect their heritage. India is the only country in the world that does not force a monoculture down the throats of its people. Our people are free to pursue their own cultures and preserve their heritage. Why does the Kashmir Valley think otherwise? Kashmiri culture cannot grow in isolation. It benefits by being open to other influences and yet staying rooted to its core culture. A culture that is isolated will die.

Now let me come to the violence of the past recent weeks. Let me assure you that injuring any Kashmiri using bullets or pellets is painful to the soul of India. We have asked our security forces to exercise even more restraint despite danger to their lives, and we will ensure that those injured will receive full treatment for their injuries— not only for their immediate needs, but their whole lives. An eye lost may be lost forever, but we will do everything, from transplants to complicated operations, to help. But you must also look within: are the policemen who have been injured or killed not humans, with the same aspirations for themselves and their families as those injured in the Valley? ‎Is drowning a policeman in the Jhelum the answer to your grievances here?

I also understand that Kashmiris are unhappy with AFSPA, and we certainly don’t want to keep it longer than necessary. But, in a violent situation, I have to give our security personnel some protection under the law as long as it is necessary. ‎AFSPA can go, in phases or in full, the minute peace returns and law and order can be handled by normal policemen. But how can this happen when some violent people burn police stations and kill or maim your own Kashmiri policemen and threaten their families? You must ponder on this question.

Lastly, I come to the political question. My party has, in the past, asked for the abolition of Article 370, which many of you are emotionally attached to. While the abolition of Article 370 is not part of the PDP-BJP governance agenda, I will go further and assure you that Article 370 will stay as long as the people of Jammu and Kashmir want it to. But I also want to tell you one thing: our national agenda is to devolve more and more power to the states, and the powers of your state will actually go up and not down in future. So think about that, too, when you consider your approach to Article 370. We will not change it just to upset you for we want all our states to have real azaadi to improve the conditions of their own people.

Lastly, I want to tell you a simple thing: Kashmir will always be a part of India, both in our hearts and as a jewel in India’s crown. We will also recover the parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, that are still not a part of us. ‎That will happen when Pakistan unravels and destroys itself by stoking terrorism. Those who try to set fire to other people’s house will usually end up burning their own. We will seek a peaceful addition of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, even if it takes one hundred years. We are an old civilisation, and will linger even after the flawed idea of Pakistan is buried, and Jammu and Kashmir will be a part of this heritage.

Regarding the government of India, I would not like to pretend that we have not made mistakes in the past. But we will correct them. In order to ensure that we don’t lose touch in the future, I am appointing a cabinet-level minister in Delhi to perpetually be in touch with your issues and concerns. ‎I believe we need direct contact with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, with no middlemen and interlocutors.

One last message: ‎your state is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is truly called a paradise on earth. But does it look like “jannat” now? Ultimately, it is the people of Jammu and Kashmir who will decide whether they prefer “jannat” or “jahannum”.

Jai Hind. Jai Jammu and Kashmir‎.