Entire nation is looking towards All Party Delegation (APD) that just concluded its visit to Srinagar and Jammu (barring Ladakh) for its report on their assessment of the ongoing situation in Kashmir valley and the sentiments expressed by those who met it in Srinagar and Jammu. The APD was constituted on the behest of Congress and other opposition parties for taking serious initiatives for restoring peace in the Kashmir valley that has been burning for the last nearly two months. It was good that centre responded well and decided to send an APD comprising of 26 members from 20 political parties across the country and assigned them a much needed task of calming down the anger and preparing ground for serious talks with all the stakeholders in Kashmir and Jammu.
Surprisingly, the refusal of the separatists led by Ali Shah Geelani to meet the members of delegation, who acted out of their brief, has given wrong message and shown arrogance of highest order in the civilized politics.
According to the leader of the delegation and Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, the behavior shown by the Hurriyat leaders was against the civility and earlier known Kashmiri ethos. While the general perception about the outcome of the APD visit is not good, the actual findings of the APD will only come to know after the APD submit its report to the government and Prime Minister.
On the other hand the general reflections that APD had given to the people of the country particularly of Jammu and Ladakh was that aspirations of peaceful Jammu and Ladhakh regions are being taken lightly by the Indian political leadership and the Government of India. Wooing separatists and those questioning Kashmir's Status by going out of way and granting meager time to the groups in Jammu endorsed the general perception giving importance to Kashmir valley over Jammu and Ladakh.
The separatists' move not to indulge in dialogue clearly indicates that they are acting on the orders received from Pakistan.
Observers accused the Hurriyat of indulging in politics as they are least concerned about the ongoing violence in the valley due to which several innocent people are losing their lives.
Hurriyat feels that the situation on ground where there is total breakdown of the state machinery and law and order amid complete chaos means that the situation favors them and they shouldn't talk.
There are strict instructions from Pakistan. Pakistan feels that through Hurriyat they will be able to bend India's will and resolve.
The people of state are critical of the all-party delegation while emphasizing that they did not allot the same time to all stakeholders in Jammu during the dialogue process.
But what reflects the whole exercise is that the decision of the all-party delegation to visit Jammu was taken in haste as an afterthought. It was not a pre-decided move. The delegation stayed there (in Jammu) only for three hours and the Kashmiri Pandits were given just eight minutes to put forth their views which was just a mockery of such a serious political business. Elected MLA from Udhampur, Mr. Pawan Gupta, who too was earlier denied audience but later accommodated at last moment by granting him just six minutes, spoke well on the subject. He was successful in providing the APD an insight on Kashmir issue and aspirations of Jammu region.
Separatists being in denial clearly indicate a mindset which is least concerned about issues and if they continue in the same manner it will be a great loss for the nation.
According to the Home Minister, APD had very good interaction with individuals and groups and that it would meet in Delhi and discuss the future action plan.
However, concluding at the right note, before winding up the visit, the Home Minister also sent out a clear message to separatists, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir will always remain an integral part of India.
