BJP's K-visit: change in the party's mindset?

It is quite strange from a right wing political party, which has been harping on that “Kashmir is an integral part of India”. Now suddenly the top brass of BJP is willing to meet separatist’s leaders in Kashmir to know their point of view regarding the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir. In fact it was former PM Atal Bihari Vajapai from the same party, who went to an extra mile and assured the people of Kashmir that any solution of their grievances and aspirations is possible under the ambit of humanity. Today these historical lines of former Indian PM is taken the stepping stone of the composite dialogue between New Delhi and the people of Kashmir but unfortunately his party men are disassociating themselves from his bold statement. However after the three turbulent summers in the valley, there is now a sense of growing concern and urgency among all the Indian national political parties, civil society including BJP on Kashmir. Whether it is Arundhati Roy or now Rajnath Singh, a Kashmir centric political wind has been blowing in the streets of New Delhi after the successful summer people uprisings. The parliamentary study group of BJP headed by its former president Rajnath Singh has been given a task by the party to find main reasons behind the alienation and isolation of Kashmir’s should be seen in that context. Singh after reaching Jammu  reiterated BJP’s stand  on the state but to make their visit successful and effective opted a humanitarian posture by saying that  “the party is worried every time there is unrest in the state and would meet different sections of the people to know their views”. It is for the first time that the right wing political party constituted a study group to assess the ground situation in the valley. Although, this political initiative by the BJP on Kashmir has been welcomed by almost all the separatist groups including the mainstream political parties in the valley but the tag under the ambit of Indian constitution, ignoring the historical perspectives and without meeting the separatists Leaders will take them nowhere. During the unrest summers BJP and its top brass along with some Pandit groups have been putting enormous pressure on the Centre as well as on the state Govt not to revoke the disturbed area act and other draconian laws form the state, which gives immunity to the security forces to violate the basic human rights of the people. They have not even condemned the killing of innocent Kashmir’s in the recent public upsurges and have openly defended security establishment, who used brute force with impunity against the peaceful protesters. In this backdrop of anti Kashmir stance of BJP have suddenly formulated a fact finding study group to visit all the three regions of the state and interact with the civil society, socio political groups and bureaucrats and submit their final report to the party president. Afterwards first time in the history of BJP will prepare a visionary document on Kashmir, which will be debated and discussed inside the parliament as well as outside the parliament. But one doesn’t understand how this study groups will find the actual cause of problem by ignoring the historical political perspectives of the disputed territory?  If it is a serious and sincere attempt on the part of BJP to hear the grievances and sentiments of the people, then it is a welcome step but if it is just to buy the time and to make sure that this summer passes peacefully which has been the tactics of centre in the past then it is a futile exercise.

Indian Media and Cricket Diplomacy

Many political analysts in the sub continent believe that the cricket world cup semi final at Mohali had given another chance to both the countries to sit together and resolve their bilateral issues through a meaning full dialogue. However the way Indian electronic media launched a national level sledging against the Pakistan and its cricket team before the match was beyond the ethics of journalism. It also shows how TRP madness among the Indian News channels can hijack the objectivity. Suppose if Indian cricket team had lost the semi final against Pakistan, what would have been the response of Indian media in particular and the people of India in general? It is a fact that cricket in India is seen and adored as a religion but it doesn’t mean that you can cross all the lines of courtesy and sportsmanship. The way Indo-Pak cricket match was given nonstop media coverage and the title ‘mother of all battles’ by the Indian media changed the basic definition and objective of sports. They made people scared and crazy about the notion that if India loses the match the heaven is going to fall from the sky. After all it is a game it should be treated as a game and nothing else. On the day, whosoever will play better cricket and held his nerves and absorb pressure will emerge as a victor, which Indian team showed by playing professional cricket  on their home soil and home crowd beating Pakistan convincingly. The negative mindset of Indian media towards the Pakistan and its cricket team stigmatized the so called democratic posture of India in the region. More worryingly, even the liberal voices in India couldn’t dare to stop Indian media in spreading the Pakistani hysteria and remained silent behind the curtains of patriotism. The way ex cricketers like Ravi Shastri, Atul Wasan crossed the fundamentals of sportsmanship and air  derogatory remarks to the millions of viewers that an auto rickshaw cannot compete with a BMW car shows how far the Indian psyche can go, when it boils down to Pakistan. There are reasons for it because the socio economic pendulum of power is clearly drifting in India’s favor. Today India is considered the power house of cricket; the ICC is earning its 60 percent revenue from India and its arch rival Pakistan is nowhere because of the instability and anarchy prevailing there after they joined the so called war against Terrorism. As long as the situation remains volatile and fragile there, Pakistan can’t force India to come to the table and resolve all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir. It is better for Pakistan to put first their house in order and then think of the Kashmir solution and other bilateral disputes. But If the Pakistani PM thinks that the meeting with its counterpart at Mohali was fruitful and encouraging then it will be considered a miracle in the context of growing anti Pakistan public opinion fueled by Indian media after the Mumbai attack. It took Indian Govt, three years to break the jinx and invite Pakistani leadership to India on the eve of a cricket match. It is not the first time that cricket has played the role of bridge between the two countries but in the past too from Gen Zia ul Haq to Yousf Raza Gellani cricket diplomacy has brought both the countries together to remove the trust deficit. But today the Indian corporate media is opposing every peaceful move whether it is from India or Pakistan so that to keep the pot of hatred boiling in both the countries. It is a fact that the rise of India as a economical giant has also changed the mindset of every Indian whether he is a politician, sportsperson or businessman which is natural but at the same time they have to play a responsible role in the sub continent as far as the long standing issues with their neighbor are concerned but if they fall prey to jingoism ignited by strong communal forces, who have penetrated into the electronic media. Then it will have a dire consequence, which is not in the interest of both the countries.