26th January, 2022 had a similar feeling in the air for Kashmiris in the valley. Mobile internet was suspended, movement of vehicles sporadic and a wait for the day to pass away without any hiccups.
While at it, there was a slight murmur of a news being reported from Lal Chowk, Srinagar. The news filtered in that for the first time in 30 years the Indian national flag was being hoisted atop the iconic Ghanta Ghar in the heart of the city.
However, in less than two hours the flag had disappeared from the Ghanta Ghar with many including politicians questioning the significance of this ‘stunt’
It may not come as a surprise to many living in Kashmir. Ever since the events of 5 August, 2019, there have been subtle changes on ground in Kashmir with the appointment of Lieutenant Governor, allowing the Centre to have direct control in matters.
There have been visible changes on ground since that day, with normalcy being the order of the day and the administration making efforts to make people feel that way.
There has been a clear attempt to integrate Kashmir to the fabric of India, with efforts and money being directed in this direction and the objective being achieved in some quarters, but this latest exercise can only be termed as a hollow attempt.
This was an attempt merely to appease the on lookers from rest of India that Kashmir has on ground integrated with India with the approval of masses.
Although the people who carried out the act were Kashmiri, this hardly meant any mandate or approval of the general Kashmiri population, majority of which spend the day inside their home, in no rush to go out on a day that is usually marred by strict security measures imposed on locals.
What this meant was the political sneakiness, a photo-op and as usual a headline in the media to grab attention.
This would have been significant if the city hustling and bustling on 26th January and instead of a high security patrolling the area and those who hoisted the flag, people would have on full tri color in celebrations as is the case in most parts of India.
All this activity did was avoid some tough questions. How much work as been done on ground for the benefit of the common man since the abrogation of Article 370? How many promises have been fulfilled that were thought to be hindered by those articles since 2019?
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Poll Pressure?
One cannot help but look at this through the lens of upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls as well, with the BJP fast losing its goodwill in the state.
The recent defections and political downturn means this was a political stunt carried out to bring around alienated voters and make them see that the Centre is still making significant inroads elsewhere.
Can these be a mere photo op to give those who favour BJP a reassurance that their party is on the right track? If so this was still awkward way to do it.
Why take all the security measures and a strict vigilance while hoisting the flag, only to take it down after an hour?
A real statement would have been to keep the flag there and then gauge the public mood and perception.
Was the administration afraid of any backlash it may face for few minutes of fame? Also what about those activists who took part in the activity, they risked community backlash and their lives just to have the flag removed in no time.
This was also seen as a mark of disrespect to the Indian flag with some sections claiming that the BJP was once again using nationalism as a political tool and nothing more.
Ground Reality
The attempt to make this event as a part of normalcy rings hollow with the killings of non locals on the rise in the past year in the valley, a dread which hasn’t been witnessed since the 90’s. For all the fallacies of previous governments this was something they had managed to curb by a great deal.
Even this year the first month saw frequent encounters in the first ten days alone, with almost one encounter taking place per day.
Not to mention a grenade attack in Hari Singh High Street, Lal Chowk, a day before 26th January walking distance from Ghanta Ghar, injuring four civilians and a policeman further depicts the state of affairs in Kashmir.
It was clear that what the objective was. For the current regime it is all about making the right noises and grabbing the headlines, to be in news, to claim to ‘create’ history with every step.
Although it is to be noted that this claim of hoisting the flag for first time in 30 years in Lal Chowk is not the right and has been disputed.
Still hoisting the flag at Lal Chowk removing it after only an hour was another step in this direction but they took a big stumble with this one.
As such putting up a flag atop Ghanta Ghar holds little importance for those who live in Kashmir. The problems we face daily have not been addressed, there are issues pertaining to closure of schools, businesses, worship places in the aftermath of COVID which haven’t been talked about and continue to harm us as a community and society
As long as the common man suffers in Kashmir, it hardly matters whose flag rests atop a concrete structure.
(Image Source Twitter)