PUNE: It is the loss of statehood that has hurt people deeply. This is being seen as the biggest betrayal in the last 70 years, said bureaucrat-turned-politician from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Shah Faesal.
Faesal, in a heartfelt statement, has penned one of the earliest accounts about the ground reality in Kashmir.
“Kashmir is experiencing an unprecedented lockdown. From the Zero Bridge to the Srinagar airport, some movement of vehicles is visible. Other places are completely out of bounds, except for patients or those with a curfew pass,” he wrote.
While he mentioned that till now, there is no shortage of essentials, however, most people in Kashmir only have a bleak idea of what has happened.
Asserting that no violence has been reported so far, Faesal said, “Random incidents of stone throwing were reported. But no news of any killings. People are in shock. Everyone is mourning what we lost.”
However, he has also expressed worries about the huge presence of forces across the state. “My appeal has also been that let’s stay alive, then we will fight back. The body language of forces personnel manning the nakas is extremely harsh. One guy told an acquaintance of mine that now we are going to show your place to you. But it’s extremely heartening that Kashmiris are staying calm.”
Expressing his will to challenge the decision in court, Faesal added that he told crowds of heartbroken youths, “We shall go to the Supreme Court together and ask for reversing this injustice. All political parties are together on challenging these unconstitutional laws that have deprived us of our history and identity.”
Pointing out that the international community too has shut its eyes this time, he sighed, “The sad fact of life is that only Narendra Modi and Amit Shah can one day give back to us the wealth that has been stolen from us. But then, what’s lost has been lost. Or perhaps everything has been lost, except our resolve to fight back. And we will.”
