Embracing Death

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Farzana Mumtaz

Since past few weeks the graph of violence in Kashmir is once again going up with deadly clashes taking place regularly.  During last week alone in encounter incidents in the State  at least eight militants, six soldiers, including a Major, and two civilians have been killed in the space of just three days. About a dozen security personnel, including a CRPF commandant and a Major, have been injured.

Words like killings, deaths, attacks, encounters are back haunting the people of Kashmir .Post the 2008, 2010, 2016 agitations  a  new breed of militants is rising in Kashmir — young, educated, tech-savvy and mostly fearless . On the otherhand as soon as encounter erupts in Kashmir the local population since past few months have reached to almost every encounter site in support of militants and pelted stones on security forces

As a matter of fact, hundreds of mainly angry youth have converged in recent months on the scene of gunbattles that regularly erupt between security  forces and militants opposed to Indian rule.

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Post the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani which gave rise to 2016 civil uprising which resulted in death of about 100 civilians and thousands wounded we have witnessed boys aged as small as  ten  to 15 took over the streets and were unafraid of walking up to armed garrisons that dot the landscape of a Valley.

Security analysts have maintained that efforts of locals to help militants — by putting themselves in harm’s way — is a worrying recent development in the decades-long militancy .

 

To compound the matters further in Kashmir valley, tensions between nuclear rivals Pakistan and India have mounted in recent  months especially after URI attack thus making matters difficult for people.

Casualty and death word have continued to remain relevant in Kashmir especially since past three decades . According to Sumantra Bose in his book, Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace, around 40000 (Indian estimates) to 80000 (Hurriyat estimates) civilians, separatist guerilla fighters and Indian security personnel died from the time period of 1989 to 2002 in both Kashmir Valley and Jammu .

Army Chief Bipin Rawat  statement that People creating hurdles during anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir will be dealt as anti-nationals and will face “harsh” actions, has added fuel to fire. National Conference  expressed disappointment and dismay over the “belligerent” remarks of the Army Chief about dealing “mercilessly” with the isolated and alienated youth of Kashmir and said such posturing would compound the situation and increase the hostility in the Valley.

” The unsettled Kashmir Political Dispute has taken a huge toll on Kashmir and especially the younger generation has risen above fear to seek justice and solution and thus embracing death .It is high time that Indian state leaves harsh attitude and adopts a pragmatic path to settle Kashmir dispute Democratically so as to put an end to painful cycle of never ending violence in Kashmir, states Bilal Bashir Bhat, Journalist While taking to News Kashmir.

 

 

Highway of Death

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News Kashmir Desk

Jammu-Srinagar highway has become pragmatically a highway of death on account of frequent traffic accidents, and this coupled with frequent closures of this highway due to rains and snowfalls is adding to miseries of commuters plying on this road  .

 

Heart-rending accidents have become a norm on highway . On February 7, a vehicle on way to Jammu plunged into a 500ft gorge and landed at the banks of Bishlari nallah near Digdol – 12 kms from Ramban – resulting into on spot death of four commuters . To add to woes , few days back, highway  opened  after a four-day blockade caused by heavy snowfall

Pertinently, the highway is the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country and prices of essential commodities in Kashmir inflate once this road link gets closed. It is a known fact that the closure of the highway always results in scarcity of essentials for the landlocked Kashmir Valley.

Manzoor Ahmad, a driver stated – “The Jammu – Srinagar National Highway is since long demanding attention as it has wrecked havoc and is by all means a death trap. Steps should be taken to improve the status of this all important route so that frequent blockades do not occur and precious lives are saved. Alternatives should also be thought out and a mechanism devised to sort out this problem of frequent deadly traffic accidents and closures of highway.”

What had complicated matters further this year especially was that recently, when road was closed for several days the airfares skyrocketed. A  check of airfares of different airlines from Srinagar to Delhi suggested that the spot fare was hovering around Rs 16,000 to RS 1800 . Normal fare between the two destinations is around Rs 3500 to 5,000.

On an optimistic note though, after seven years of work, the Chenani-Nashri tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu highway is finally heading towards its completion, with testing and other construction works likely to finish by the end of this month. This tunnel will not only cut the distance but reduces travel through risky portions. Although now voices are calling to revamp Banihal to Ramban road so that real headway is achieved.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government is trying to use the state-of-the-art 11 km-long railway tunnel between Banihal and Qazigund for vehicular traffic, in case the stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar highway between the two towns needs to be closed. This part of the highway is the most prone to landslides and shooting stones during bad weather.

Considering the prevalent ground realities Jammu- Srinagar Highway is still highway of death and this calls from brainstorming effective steps by concerned authorities in this regard.

 

Stormy Assembly Session

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News Kashmir Desk

The recently concluded Winter Assembly Session of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly at Winter capital Jammu witnessed much uproar and disruptions coupled with controversies and heated exchanges between members.

At the very start of session, With the Governor NN Vohra address to  the joint session of both the houses of state legislators  scenes of uproar and disruption were  witnessed inside the central hall of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly , all the legislators from opposition National Conference, Congress supported by others stood up and raised anti-government slogans. The opposition shouted slogans like , “PDP ka badlav kya , boli sai nahi goli sai”.

During the session, another controversy erupted when The Jammu and Kashmir assembly was adjourned amid opposition protests after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti blamed the National Conference for rigging elections and giving birth to militancy.”People who sowed seeds of secession by demanding plebiscite in the state also rigged elections in 1987 to give birth to militancy,” the Chief Minister told the house.NC reacted sharply. Pertinently, the National Conference members took strong exception to the remarks and started raising their voice.

In another related development that caught attention and  headlines , National Conference MLC Shauqat Hussain Ganai described in the Legislative Council the slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a “martyr”, triggering protests from the ruling PDP and BJP.

Although, in an optimistic development on the 27th anniversary of migration of Pandits on 19th January ,2017  the Jammu and Kashmir government today passed a resolution in the state assembly for the return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley.”A good conducive atmosphere should be created for their safe return to the valley, “J&K Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta, announced in the house, during the ongoing winter session.

The real drama was witnessed when on 31 January the Jammu and Kashmir  Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took a strong stand on article 370.The very next day the Assembly witnessed violent protests on the remarks on Article 370 by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, forcing Speaker Kavinder Gupta to surprisingly and unexpectedly adjourn Assembly sine die.

As a matter of fact,  BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia had  took strong exception to Mehbooba’s remarks in Assembly  in which she had called those opposing Article 370 as “anti-national”.

 

Ajaz  War, a Journalist states -“Assembly session was marred by controversies .This Assembly session was  one of the major acid tests for the coalition partners BJP and PDP as the state is once again witnessing heated polity in wake of politics surrounding 2016 killings, refugee , separate settlements for Pandits. But, overall what one could mostly see in this session was ugly politics, aggressive behavior and mudslinging on one another. With the session ending prematurely showed that this was quiet stormy one .”

Political analysts have termed the recently concluded session as one of the stormy assembly sessions in state legislature history.

 

Weather Vagaries

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News Kashmir Desk

 

Weather vagaries have become order of day in Kashmir over the past few decades. Few weeks back the valley of Kashmir was reeling under one of the prolonged dry spells and now from past two to three weeks the snowfall is happening nonstop giving rise to avalanches and frequent blockade of road and air links to the Valley of Kashmir.

Especially, the second spell of continuous heavy snowfall in Kashmir has brought the life in Valley to standstill and most of the mountainous areas remain cut off. Statistics say it all –  Gulmarg received 5.6 feet, Tangmarg 3 feet, Baba Reshi 4 feet, Kunzar 2 feet, Pattan 10 inches, Chandoosa 2.9 feet, Boniyar 2 feet, Baramulla 21inches, Macchil 3 feet, Z-Gali 3.6 feet, Keran 2.6 feet, Furkiyan 3.6 feet, Karah one feet, Sadna 3.6 feet, Kupwara 2 feet, Lalpora 2.6 feet, Sogam 2.6 feet, Kralpora2 feet, Handwara 1.6 feet, Zachaldara 2.6 feet, Wudar Bala 3 feet, Kalamabad 2 feet, Mawar 3.6 feet, Nowgam 4 feet, Bangus 10 feet,

Pertinently, the summer 2014 saw Kashmir witnessing one of the horrible floods in its history. As a matter of fact, In September 2014, the Kashmir region suffered disastrous floods across many of its districts caused by torrential rainfall. The Jammu and Kashmir state and adjoining areas received heavy rainfall from 2 September 2014 onwards, during last stage of monsoon in India. This triggered flooding and landslides in India and the adjoining areas of Pakistan. On 5 September, the Jhelum River in Srinagar was reported to be flowing at 22.40 feet (6.83 m) which was 4.40 feet (1.34 m) above the danger mark and at 33 feet (10 m) at Sangam in Anantnag district above the danger mark. The discharge rate in the river was recorded as 70000 m3/s against the normal discharge of 25000 m3/s.

On the otherhand, the grave scenario with reference of climate has hit us hard at a time when in Kashmir the overall paradigms are quiet terrible with reference to ecological balance as we have lost several valuable environmental resources especially waterbodies and forest cover.

Over the past few decades, we have lost a bulk of wetlands and lakes. The phenomenon of deforestation has increased. Many are opining that as we have lent a great blow to our natural resources and thus the abnormal climate patterns like increased rainfall, flooding, high temperatures have augmented.

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a Journalist while talking to News Kashmir on the topic of weather vagaries and Kashmir states – “ Over the past few decades we have seen Kashmir losing forest cover at alarming pace due to multiple reasons; water bodies have dwindled and constructions have boomed in fragile environmental zones . I believe we are losing our ecological balance and that finally results into weather vagaries . Noted reports are already pointing towards looming dangers. There is also global warming on global level that impacts every region. We need to increase our forest cover coupled with conserving water bodies and other natural resources to avoid fury of nature in form  of weather vagaries and other disasters. “

 

Undoubtedly, weather vagaries are becoming a frequent occurrence in ecologically fragile beautiful valley of Kashmir.

Inefficient WAKF

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Farzana Mumtaz

Kashmir is the known globally as being land of great Saints, Sufis. It is bestowed with great religious wealth in the form of abundant shrines and places of worship enjoying reverence and allegiance from people professing different faiths.

 

It is a known fact that the beautiful valley of Kashmir with the inception of Islam did undergo reformative changes at all levels and strata of society. The imprints which Islam left on Kashmiris have been aptly put  by the noted historian Prem Nath Bazaz “Politics had dehumanized the Kashmiris; Islam made them men again. Just as the Muslim rule was established in Kashmir without much bloodshed, so was Islam spread throughout the length and breadth of the valley by peaceful preaching and lucid persuasions of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani(RA) and hundreds of the Sayyid Missionaries who came from Hamadan and other parts of Persia.

In this regard, Muslim Wakf Board, which has the unique distinction of being second largest asset rich body in Jammu and Kashmir after the State government is the custodian of these 47 holy shrines in the Kashmir Valley.

But, over the decades WAKF has failed to perform effectively and has been in news for all the wrong reasons. Recently, scores  of shopkeepers and traders under the banner of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) staged protest against what they termed as “arbitrary and unjustified” hike of rentals of shops leased out by Wakf Board.

On their part,  traders have alleged  Wakf Board has “cheated” them by engaging them into negotiations and on the other side sending officials for recovery of rents at hiked rates.

KCCI President Mushtaq Ahmad Wani and Secretary General KTMF Bashir Ahmad Kongposh, who were leading the demonstration, said, “the token protest was held to remind the concerned authorities that the traders’ fraternity has not forgotten the ultimatum given to the government.”

“We will resist such sinister moves of the government tooth and nail,” said KTMF President Haji Muhammed Yasin Khan.

“State government and the Wakf board authorities are dancing to the tunes of rightwing fanatics. The Wakf board authorities are behaving like RSS bhakts and it seems they have been guided to do so. We will give a befitting a reply soon which will surely shake the corridors of power,” Khan said.

On the other hand of the spectrum, despite generating tremendous income one fails to witness any impressive work done by the WAKF Board. Even many of the shrines lack proper facilities, management. A visit to many shrines under its management reveals this negative  veracity. At many points, even the staircases leading to this famous Shrines are in shambles and the bathrooms, rooms constructed for devotees are also highly unhygienic. This is despite of the fact that shrines  gets huge donations from devotees.

 

WAKF has also failed to lend any notable contribution to health and education sector. Parents spend several hours of their precious time in quest to just owe a single admission form of the reputed Christian missionary schools whileas no such things are witnessed in case of schools owned by the  WAKF Board.

While talking to News Kashmir, Advocate Iftikhar Ahmad states – “WAKF Board has more or less been a failure as it has not lend any notable contributions to the society. WAKF Board has also not made any mark in the all important education and health sector as it has failed to construct hospitals for the poor masses of Kashmir which otherwise should have been done by the WAKF Board years back  considering its impressive economic strength. Overall, WAKF has disappointed the people of Kashmiris via its inefficiency .”

In nutshell, WAKF performance is quiet dismal according to voices on ground.

Steep Airfare Hikes Worries Kashmir

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Rameez Makhdoomi

Whether you travel for enjoyment or for business, buying a plane ticket can be a taxing travel expense. But, over the years we have found that airfares have become more affordable than they were say a few decades back. Airfares and Kashmir have a very close connection due to Kashmir being global tourist destination and fragile road, incomplete rail  connectivity of Kashmir .

Recently, when road was closed for several days the airfares skyrocketed. A  check of airfares of different airlines from Srinagar to Delhi suggested that the spot fare was hovering around Rs 16,000 to RS 1800 . Normal fare between the two destinations is around Rs 3500 to 5,000.

At one point the airfare one way was  as high as RS 34000, while as DELHI COOLMBO OR DELHI DUBAI round fare  is often much less than this

Debate and concern over this huge increase in airfares was stoked by former J-K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who  tweeted, “The airlines should be forced to honour previous bookings when flights resume instead they get away with refunding the original amount (sic).”

“Tickets between Srinagar & Delhi are being offered by ‘low cost airlines’ at between Rs 25,000 & Rs 30,000 while the highway remains closed.”

“Thus forcing people who had originally spent Rs 5-6000 on a ticket to spend Rs 25-30,000. This is nothing but day light robbery,” he said in a series of tweets.

Even during Summer peak tourism season Kashmir witnesses spike in airfares and this adversely impacts prospects of tourism in Kashmir. This abnormal spike in airfares , apart from unfavorably affecting the tourism sector, also makes traveling by air prohibitive for the general public.

 

On the otherhand, few months back Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries  while intervening in the issue  met the authorities and was of the opinion that this intervention was necessitated in view of reports that a particular section of high-end tour operators and agents pool resources and block tickets en masse. During the season, these tickets are sold at very expensive prices resulting in a financial bonanza.

In this regard, the Chamber had suggested that the Government itself should block a particular number of seats so that the same could be released during the season. The chamber was of view  intervention would go a long way in ensuring that the airfares are kept under control.

Mushtaq ul Haq Sikander, a frequent air traveler states- “ The abnormal surge in airfare in Kashmir during road blockade and summer peak tourism season is taxing for both tourists and commoners. At one point, the airtravel to Kashmir had become much affordable  to commoners and travelers wishing to visit our beautiful valley of Kashmir. But, as the airfare skyrockets especially during tourist season and when   the national highway closes due to weather vagaries   woes of travelers are multiplied.”

Ground pulse urges that the need of the hour is to regulate the airfare to Kashmir in a feasible manner. As air mode of transport to Kashmir will always hold the significance owing to the tough geographical terrain and location of Kashmir so the demand is that it  should be better managed and regulated.

 

 

Public Sector of Jammu& Kashmir presents unhealthy picture

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Farzana Mumtaz

 

Public sector plays a pivotal role in the economic growth of the country .The public sector is concerned critical engine in the growth engine of economy of any nation. Pertinently, the public sector has come to occupy a  significant place in the economy of every state as solely  on its effectual performance depends largely the achievement of the state’s  economic and social goals.

Unfortunately , the public sector of Jammu & Kashmir state presents a unwelcoming outlook due to poor condition .

A number of factors over the decades have combined to weaken the public sector of Jammu and Kashmir Financial mismanagement, lack of vision, less innovation, ill planning, non-implementation of projects , faulty recruitment policy and other lacunas have ensured that Public sector in the state remains in a disarray .

On the otherside, masses of Jammu and Kashmir are expressing disappointment over the fact that all  important public health and education sector present are in dire straits  in our state . Sane voices states it is a matter of grave concern and calls for remedial measures to revamp it . The rot and inefficiency according to ground pulse  is eating the vitals of our public sector.

The statistics are really gory. Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report, which was by default presented in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council at the end of the Budget session on April 5 in 2013 , had pointed out a cumulative red balance of Rs. 1,450.46 crore with the 16 PSU. J&K Power Development Corporation tops the list with the cumulative borrowing of Rs. 816.03 crore, followed by the J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) and J&K State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd who owe the State government Rs. 129.70 crore and Rs. 100.44 crore respectively.

At that time, Among the government companies, the near-defunct J&K Minerals has a liability of Rs. 74.86 crore, followed by J&K Industries Ltd (Rs. 66.62 crore), J&K State Handloom Development Corporation (Rs. 36.56 crore), J&K Handicrafts (Sales & Export) Corporation (Rs. 25.56 crore) and J&K State Women’s Development Corporation (Rs. 22.19 crore).

 

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While on the otherhand of the spectrum, One of the  leading reasons behind soaring unemployment rate in the state of Jammu& Kashmir is the poor performance of public sector in our part of the world. Currently, the public sector of the state is in quiet   unhealthy shape.

 

Bashir Ahmad, a commoner states – “ The Public sector of Jammu and Kashmir continues to present a grim picture .Not very long ago, out of the leading seventeen state corporations in Jammu and Kashmir, ten were running on huge losses , while seven were showing profit, according to the latest official figures.  Unfortunately, the PSUs of the Jammu & Kashmir state have properties worth billions of rupees at prime locations but still they are penniless and are not able to harness their rich potential so as to provide employment opportunities to youth.”

Undoubtedly, Public Sector Presents a grim picture in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 Hopes

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Farzana Mumtaz

2017 (MMXVII) will be a common year starting on Sunday (dominical letter A) of the Gregorian calendar, the 2017th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 17th year of the 3rd millennium, the 17th year of the 21st century, and the 8th year of the 2010s decade.2017 has been designated as: International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations.

As the New Year has started the people in pain hit valley of Kashmir  are hoping that year 2017 would usher an era of Justice, Peace, Prosperity, Hope to the suffering hit environs of Kashmir . Pertinently year 2016 was quiet rough for Kashmir as death and destruction made life of many families a lifelong hell.

One cannot deny the fact that there is something remarkable about the New Year that people find brings forth new lease of hope.  Pertinently, the end of one year can mark an ultimate point, a place at which past events can be gently put to one side – gone but not elapsed – and eyes can look to the future.

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a young journalist while talking to News Kashmir on the topic states  – “ As the new year has dawned we need to remember that on the front of challenges, we are bestowed with many. We have faced tough times since several decades now on account of unresolved political conflict of Kashmir. We have been facing much bleak outlook.  It is also true that unsolved Kashmir issue and turmoil like situation is among the one of the main reasons behind these bleak situations.

We are very well aware that the year 2016 scripted numerous heart rendering, painful and distressful stories in Kashmir.  2016 civil uprising in Kashmir which erupted aftermath the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani attracted many countries and international organizations to speak up of against the sufferings and victimization on the people of  Kashmir. Hope 2017 brings end to our sufferings.”

On the otherhand, on new year eve  renewed positivity can be enjoyed and many people see it as a time when they can reassess their life targets.  What was impossible to grasp in December can, in January, be reachable again.

Manzoor Ahmad, a student stated – “ We are hopeful that year 2017 brings some good news to Kashmir and it brings smile back on the faces of Kashmiris as we have faced lot of tough times . One can only keep hope alive that 2017 would be better as a year for Kashmir.”

As 2017 has been declared the year of sustainable tourism it would be interesting to note how authorities develop picturesque Kashmir into a destination of sustainable tourism destination for entire world.

For the moment, 2017 is filling Kashmir with an aura of what can be dubbed as cautious optimism.

Wounded Kashmir

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Farzana Mumtaz

2016 was a very rough year of Kashmir owing to about 100 deaths, hundreds blinded in 2016 agitation post militant commander Burhan Wani killing.

When Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti, who has stepped into the shoes of her late father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, was sworn-in as the first woman chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir , heading the coalition government with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April  5, 2016 it gave rise to lot of optimism and hope.

But, the series of protests and unprecedented agitation  started with the killing of Burhan Wani, a militant commander of the Kashmir-based Hizbul Mujahideen, by  security forces on 8 July 2016 at South Kashmir’s picturesque resort of Kokernag. After his killing, anti-state  protests started in all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley. Protesters defied curfew with many causalities and injuries.

 

Curfew was imposed in all 10 districts of the valley on 15 July and mobile services were suspended by the government. Mobile and internet services remained suspended for many weeks this year.Kashmir valley remained under 53 days of consecutive curfew which was lifted from all areas on 31 August, however was reimposed in some areas the next day.

Some also dubbed the year 2016 as the year of dead eyes in Kashmir. A story by Newyork times described the pain in these words –

“Since mid-July, when the current wave of protests against the Indian military presence started, more than 570 patients have reported to Srinagar’s main government hospital with eyes ruptured by lead pellets, sometimes known as birdshot, fired by security forces armed with pump-action shotguns to disperse crowds.

The patients have mutilated retinas, severed optic nerves, irises seeping out like puddles of ink. “Dead eyes,” the ophthalmology department’s chief calls them.”

Mir Imran, human rights activist states – “Year 2016 wrote its own story of suffering and pain for the browbeaten Kashmiris. The state forces violated human rights with brazen impunity. Thousands injured, hundreds blinded, thousands in jails , about hundred civilian deaths clearly suggest that all what is wrong with the human rights situation in Kashmir. Undoubtedly, the year 2016 memories would be one of pain and suffocation for the masses of Kashmir. 2016 happenings urge us to settle the political issue of Kashmir for larger good of humanity.”

In nutshell, the year 2016 made Kashmir a synonym of suffering and wounds.

 

What Next? (Hurriyat restricts shutdown to two days)

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Farzana Mumtaz

Recently, the joint resistance leadership   issued a new protest calendar in which there would be full-day relaxation on five days.

Pertinently, Kashmir has seen almost continuous shutdowns since July 8, 2016, when Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan wani was killed in an encounter.  First four months of agitation had almost seen nonstop shutdowns, as about 100 civilians were killed and more than fourteen thousand injured and hundreds blinded by infamous pellet guns .

As a  matter of fact, the move to restrict shutdown to few days comes after much pressure was mounting since sometime on the Hurriyat to relax the existing calendar which had brought the usual chorus of  life to a grinding halt. “The leadership feels that a sustainable long-term strategy based on proactive initiatives, programmes and sustainable modes of protest is the way forward. We want maximum public participation and implementation, and minimum costs for the people,” a statement issued by the joint Hurriyat leadership said.

 

On the otherhand, the online world is abuzz with debate on the relaxation in protest calendar  with some praising the move and some criticizing the same  .

 

Nasir Khuehami, a young journalist wrote – “#Hurriyat taken off 5 month long shutdown calendar, Now announced winter vacation For kashmiri protesters from tomorrow till July 8, 2017. #Happy#winter #vacation for all protesters and #Hurriyat leaders.”

The curiosity on ground zero is as to what could be the new options of resistance or protest in hand for pro freedom leadership with new year 2017 about to come . In wake of  mammoth economic losses due to months of unprecedented shutdown looks like Hartal calls might be limited as we move forward .

Importantly, many are seeing a radical shift in the protest calendar as a part of adopting to long term strategy and also recognizing the fatigue of people.

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a Journalist, while talking to News Kashmir stated -” The new protest strategy seems to be formulated after seeing the ground reality as shutdown was losing its impact and especially continuous shutdowns were proving excessive for masses. Looks like we will see a long term strategy from pro freedom leadership wherein the duration of shutdowns would be limited but calendars would be issued continuously and made  reflect the public mood .Also, the coming times would offer much curiously and surprise as to what will happen next. 2016 has been definitely a very tough and painful year for Kashmir.”

With reduction in protest calendar, onset of winters, new year about to come , memories of civilian killings the question as to “What Next “ remains in minds.