The roads of Srinagar wore a deserted look as the city experienced yet another day of simmering tension under curfew. But for Omar Abdullah, the youngest chief minister of the state, his highway of governance in this sensitive region is getting jammed.
Although there was no new report of civilian deaths, added areas in Kashmir were brought under curfew and the CRPF had to fire in the air in at least six places. Indefinite curfew was imposed in Anantnag and its neighboring Kulgam and Pulwama districts, fearing mob backlash.
Baramulla district of north Kashmir continued to be under curfew for the fourth consecutive day. Amir Ali, officer on special duty with divisional commissioner’s office said, “Curfew has been imposed in Sopore and a few other areas of Anantnag district.”
Barely seven months into his first stint as the chief minister, Abdullah is facing a tough political challenge as the rising tensions between protestors and the CRPF refuses to show any sign of truce.
He is also worried that the protests are taking place mostly in areas from where his party had tasted sweeping victories in the last assembly elections.
In Srinagar district, the National Conference (NC) had won all the eight seats. And today, most of it is under curfew. Sopore, where two people were allegedly killed by security forces, is also represented by the NC. In Anantnag, Sopian and other parts of Kashmir, the rival PDP has already cornered Abdullah’s party.
Many in the Congress – that is providing support to the NC in the J&K assembly –privately admits that Omar Abdullah’s style of governance is taking a toll.
But Abdullah, till date enjoys a strong backing from none other than Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi and there is little possibility of revolt against him from within his ranks. “The NC-Congress regime is facing expressions of no-confidence from its voters”, is how a senior Kashmiri Congressman described the situation.
Even taxi driver Md Shafi is convinced that the government has lost its grip over the CRPF who, as per the allegations, are resorting to shooting people.
“Why should security personnel use bullets against people who are throwing stones? Is firing bullets the only answer to stone-pelting?” he questions, before adding, “Our business is suffering because of these curfews. But I don’t care. We will not tolerate injustice.”
A professor of Kashmir University describes the current violence as an outburst of the exasperated youth of the Valley who don’t see the present government as the real representative of their “Kashmiri cause”. “They voted for basic amenities during the last elections.
But the government has failed to give them a sense of security even when militancy armed conflicts headed southward and finally peace could be smelled in the Kashmir valley.”
In the roads of Srinagar, most shops – except for a few medicine outlets in front of Sher-e-Kashmir Hospital – were closed. The waiter at roadside hotel warns while serving a plate of Rogan Josh, “Don’t know how long we will be able to serve you food.”
Along the stretch from Indira Gandhi Road to Md Yusuf Rather Avenue, there are more men in khaki flaunting their automatic rifles than pedestrians. The receptionist at the hotel asked me to return to the room before sunset.
The top Hurriyat leaders are either behind bars or under house arrest. But even without their instigation, the youth is turning more violent by the day. As the summer capital simmers, time seems to be running out for Omar Abdullah.
