Rajendra Bajpai
SRINAGAR, Jan 30 (1990): India faces a major battle against Moslem militancy in Kashmir and only just managed to thwart plans for a unilateral declaration of the state’s independence last week, a leading official said on Tuesday.
The official, a senior figure in Delhi’s new Kashmir administration, briefed reporters days after India launched a diplomatic drive to fend off protest from Islamic countries over its clampdown on what appeared to be a popular revolt.
“The gravity of the situation hasn’t dawned on the country — whether to say we can save Kashmir or not,” said the official, who declined to be named.
He said Indian intelligence agencies believed the militants planned to cap a week of protest in the summer capital, Srinagar, by declaring UDI from the city’s main mosque last Friday, when India celebrated 40 years as a republic.
India, pouring thousands of security forces into its only Moslem-majority state, finally succeded in imposing a curfew on Srinagar that day.
“The situation is very grim. We managed to control it on January 26. Peace has returned but…the pressure is on,” the official said.
More than 60 people were shot dead last week — all but four of them by security forces — in Kashmir’s Himalayan valley.
Diplomatic analysts said on Monday that neighbouring Pakistan, which has twice fought India for control of Kashmir, was currently ahead in the battle for international opinion.
Islamabad, denying Delhi’s allegations that it arms the militants, is pushing for a referendum on Kashmir’s future. Pakistan already controls a third of the territory.
The official blamed popular backing for the militants on lavish spending by the previous state administration on prestige projects in the impoverished valley.
“There has been a lot of carelessness, spending 100 million rupees (six million dollars) on a championship golf course but providing no proper toilets in the houses of (state) policemen,” he said.
The state police went on strike in the middle of the revolt, protesting over pay and conditions and complaining they were being humiliated by Indian security forces.
India has ruled out conceding Kashmir, wedged strategically between Pakistan and China, to the militants.
New state governor Jagmohan aims to stamp out demonstrations while pledging clean government and more year-round jobs. The state’s heavy dependence on seasonal tourism is widely blamed for this winter’s revolt.
On Tuesday snow kept many Srinagar residents indoors, despite a nine-hour curfew relaxation.
The preoccupation for many was how to get cash. Banks have been closed since curfew was first declared 10 days ago.
