Whither internet gag in Jammu and Kashmir
in India — by Abid Ahmad Shah — 10/03/2020
Communication is the essence of human life without which life is dull and devoid of order, particularly in the current hyper globalised world. The world of today is altogether in contradiction to the times of the previous ages. Technology has taken the global order by a major revolutionary storm and made the world a knowledge driven global network.
Internet forms the mainstay of the current times and is in fact a boon companion of man in the modern times. Internet is the constitutive element of the current times, sans which life seems to be a dead wood and bereft of technological assimilation.
Over the world, there are today a multitude of problems and a plethora of issues which really pose a serious and a grave challenge to the peace and order of the societal organisations. Kashmir is not a different case. It is in fact a looming imbroglio amuck with political crisis prior to the partition of the sub-continent, thence after and as of now with a renewed impetus and inroads of chaos and uncertainty. Every other day, the situations take a u-turn of additions and alterations with the passage of time and pose a serious challenge for the system to contain the problems at hand.
Since, the eruption of Amarnath land transfer controversy, through the tumultuous phases of 2010 and 2016 to abrogation of special constitutional position of J&K till date, the situations have achieved great uncertain proportions and reflect the growing tendencies of political waywardness in Kashmir. Whether we call it destiny, manoeuvring or inroads of tragic phases of political uncertainty, the situations are of enormous gravity as of now.
Internet is the major requirement of the masses all over the world, particularly for the students and business fraternity in the contemporary times. Next day, a cordon and search operation (CASO) is undertaken in the valley by the security agencies during anti-militancy operations, the major thrust of the government is driven towards the choking and muzzling of internet space in Kashmir. In a place dogged with an overridden unhealthy political atmosphere with a restive nature, one cannot expect a peaceful scenario on the day-to-day basis.
People in Kashmir voice their dissent over the social media once an unfortunate and gory episode recurs in Vale. The gagging and censuring of media and net in Kashmir has become a new normal in Kashmir. By denying the people, particularly students, the access to information regarding the day-today happenings and latest information about the world situations and information influx, the government is in fact committing a major wrong in Kashmir.
The policy of net gagging in Kashmir might serve as a deterrent in the short term to keep the situation at control in tensive Kashmir, but the aftershocks of the situations cannot be negated. This is an illogical and irrational step in the far-sighted strategy. Since, 2008, Kashmir has been witness to internet blockades, e-curfews and blocking of Pakistani channels at the behest of the government.
Situations have arisen and gone, but the scars of the tragic episodes are there and every day the social media is abuzz with the narratives of the gory tales of the masses which the people have undergone in the long run.
It is a bizarre fact that a coin has two sides. Likewise, Net usage has rights and wrongs associated with it. Internet is the major requirement of people as of now. By choking the net space in Kashmir day-in and out, the government is doing wrong and it may resurface as backlash in the long run.
Instead of taking recourse to banning channels and choking net space in Kashmir, the major thrust of the government should be to take route towards betterment of good governance in J&K and dialogue with all the stakeholders which will serve as a better trigger to better the fragile situation in Kashmir which has unfortunately manifested into a dynamic malignancy and snatched the peace and order of the people's lives, with an ensuing disorder and chaos looming large over the Asian sub-continent.
Since abrogation of Article 35-A and Article 370 last year, all is not well in Kashmir and the situations are turning from bad to worse with the passage of time. Today, the alienation among the masses is much more as was in the previous years and trust deficit has surged towards extreme heights.
Kashmir of today is altogether different from the pre-1990 period of time. Internet muzzling with speed of internet reduced to 2G or 3G is a new normal of Kashmir. This is not really a good governance gesture of the state vis-a-vis the people. If the native of my town Seer Hamdan, Basharat Peer, New York Times opinion Editor talked about Curfewed nights in previous time, the Kashmir of today is virtually Curfewed day-in and day-out, every other day.
What is therefore the required broad strategy of the government in the current times is to create a consensus and environment for dialogue on the Kashmir issue and restore the faith of people in the political order for the sake of peace which Kashmir is yearning for. There cannot be something divine intervention so far as issue at stake is in consideration; rather a strong political will to better the situation in Kashmir is the vital need of the hour.
Being in New Delhi for over four years as a student from 2011 to 2014, never have i observed the media gag and net muzzling in mainland India..Why only in Kashmir? This question haunts my mind and is a great disgusting factor.
By resorting to media gagging and net muzzling, the government is committing a wrong step in contravention to the good governance principles which only dents the compassionate mainstreaming of the masses and creates a gory tale of otherness within the psyche of the people as a countermeasure in the long run. The government of India ought to understand the gravity of current political instability. Today's media gag and tomorrow's liberation will never serve the purpose. After all it is the question of collective pain and unified political approach within the purview of logical approach of political dealing.
Today Kashmir is in search of a dialogue and that is the sine-qua-non condition to rectify the errors and solidify the peace in the hinterland of idyllic setting in the world. Kashmir through the decades-old political alienation has ultimately pushed the masses to the wall.
The emphatic dealing after understanding the macroscopic dimensions of the Kashmir problem, people's suffering, oppressive tactics and substitution with an ethic of care and concern within the purview of humane approach and entangled through the ropes of good governance can act as a best remedy to the political ailment and its remedy thereof.
(The writer is alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru Universities and can be mailed at abidjmi121@gmail.com).
Author: Abid Ahmad Shah