Myths,Kashmir and its costs!

The Kashmir question has captured the imagination of successive generations of Indians. In a bid to throw new light on this quagmire that has gripped both national and international interest; lets present an investigative Account of the issue’s underbelly.

Renaming Pandora’s Box

Sustaining Kashmir is not just a national pastime but also a huge drain on the nation's resources. Arguments from the other side of the board cry fowl at the use of statistics to enunciate the worth of every rupee spent. To such detractors, this exercise is akin to equating what is essentially seen as a problem of humanity, with one of materialism.
As reductionist as this correlation may seem to some, its a fact that should stir up an equal amount of chagrin as the thought of the crores of private investment that lie plugged in the wake of SEZ oppositions or even developmental costs in a country where the same amount of resources if diverted, could have restored peace and calm in states where resorting to arms is seen as a direct consequence of economic frustration.
In 2002 alone a, Kashmiri got eight times more money from the Centre than citizens from other states. While per capita Central assistance to other states increased from Rs 576.24 in 1992-93 to Rs 1,137 in 2000-1, that of the Kashmiri rocketed from Rs 3,197 to Rs 8,092. To get a perspective, translate the numbers: if this cash, managed by the state Government, were to be despatched by money order, each Kashmiri family (with five members on an average) would get Rs 40,460 every year.

For all that brouhaha over autonomy or azadi, the fact is that Jammu and Kashmir cannot sustain itself without the Centre's support. In 2001-2, the state spent Rs 7,516.6 crore of which Rs 4,577 crore-or 60 paise of every rupee spent-came from the Centre. Forget development, even the state's non-development expenditure was Rs 2,829 crore including a salary bill of Rs 1,193 crore while its own revenues were barely Rs 1,095 crore. Paying wages to its employees thus, would have been a daunting task for J&K if the Centre were not to intervene (financially).

Some in Jammu and Kashmir could argue that it’s the strife and terror that has affected the state’s finances which would have otherwise proved sufficient given its high-value addition exports of handicrafts, fruits & flowers and its tourism value. But could Srinagar have managed an expenditure budget of over Rs 7,500 crore on its own steam? Unlikely. In any case, in a perverse way, the conflict has contributed to the state's GDP. The 5.5 lakh security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir are willing buyers who add to its consumer base both for local and manufactured produce. Interestingly per capita consumption expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir has shot up from Rs 134 per month in the 1980s to Rs 746 in 2000 itself.

Why should we then dismiss economy from this debate? If theology was that reasonable, would it have given birth to a fickle mob that places speeches of some above the actions of the state on the credibility meter?

There are so many myths to Kashmir that it’s hard to put them all under the same category. Sadly, the final sufferers of these myths are the people who fall prey to them while leaders and misleaders escape the hazards of the aftermath. Take the recent statements of certain politicians for instance:

Myth: PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti asks "Which government transfers thousands of kanals of forest land to a shrine anywhere?"
Correction: No where does it say in the order that the land stands transferred.

Myth: Syed Ali Shah, the Voice of Pakistan in the Valley and Hurriyat leader says India is trying to change the demographic status of Kashmir and is taking away land from Kashmiris.
Correction: The land allowed to be used is only for pilgrims and only for the period of the yatra. Tourists cannot change demographics.

Myth: Omar Abdullah said in Parliament, "it is the issue of our land, and for our land we will fight till our last drop of blood, till we die."
Correction: Neither has the land been given to anyone,nor can it belong to someone. Besides, this opposition doesn’t justify Omar’s voting in favour of the UPA in the trust vote. Conviction cannot be a convenience. Also, saying “our land” is a lot like justifying Brigadier (retd) Suchet Singh’s remark as a leading member of the AYSS that "Jammu has always received the short end of the stick in the past 60 years, and the Amarnath land issue has given a vent to its pent-up regional aspirations,"

Myth: Mirwaiz Umer Farooq says there has been an economic blockade of goods from the Valley. Urges people to head for Muzaffarabad.
Correction: More than 35,000 trucks carrying supplies reached the Kashmir Valley since July 1, according to the data recorded at the Lakhanpur post—the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir. Also, J&K’s tax revenue totalled Rs 9914 cr for 2005-08 while the grant it received from the Centre for this period added another Rs 24767 cr. Compare that to the prosperity levels in PoK & Muzaffarabad might stop seeming a welcome idea.

Myth: The conference between Sonia Gandhi & Rajnath Singh was an acknowledgement that this issue is a national one.
Correction: With most Hindu majority north Indian states slated for polls soon, this dialogue was more about holding on to one’s votebank . The BJP has lost no time in milking gains out of this emotive issue for its Lok Sabha campaign.( Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, a loose conglomerate of Jammu-based organisations, is backed by the RSS- a parent organisation).

Myth:Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, said amidst chants of "har har Mahadev" that “Denial of land to Shri Amarnath shrine is an affront to the Hindu sentiments and another example of flawed secularism,"
Correction: The context of his statement assumes significance. As a part of its carefully-crafted strategy to keep the Hindutva motif alive, the BJP top brass showed up at the Aradhana Divas on August 11 in Delhi, depicting an ice shivlingam a la the idol of Shri Amarnath cave where Mr. Advani vocalised his grievances. Whatever happened to his throat during the ethnic cleansing of 250,000 Hindus out of Kashmir in the 90s.The current state of the survivors who continue to live like refugees in Delhi is telling enough about concerns for Hindu sentiments.

It takes just one look at the original order to know how craftily it underwent manipulation raising doubts as to whether the PDP,National Conference & Hurriyat bothered to read it :
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Government Order No 104 - FST of 2008
DATED 26-05-2008

Sanction is accorded to the diversion of forest land measuring 39.88 hectares falling under the compartment No 63a/Singh in Block Kullan, Range Sindh, Sindh Forest Division for raising pre-fabricated structures only for camping purposes of pilgrims, without going in for construction of permanent structures, at Baltal and Donnail by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board on the following terms and conditions.

1: The proprietary status of forest land shall remain unchanged.
2: The forest land so diverted shall be utilised only for the purpose for which it has been diverted. It shall not be transferred to any other agency without approval of the Forest Department.
3: The forest land so diverted shall not be mortgaged, reassigned or sub-leased by user agency in any manner whatsoever to any other agency.
4: The User Agency shall pay net present value of the forest land to the tune of Rs 2,31,30,400/- (Rs Two crore thirty one lakh thirty thousand four hundred only) as calculated by the concerned DFO as per Hon'ble Supreme Court Order dated 30.10.2002 in IA No 566 in Writ Petition (Civil) No 202 of 1995 T N Godavarman Thirumalpad V/S Union of India.
5: The User Agency shall pay Rs 19,94,000/- (Rs Nineteen lakh ninety four thousand only) on account of Compensatory Afforestation to be carried over 79.76 hectares.
6: The User Agency shall take foolproof measures on modern scientific lines to ensure that water of nearby Sindh Nallah does not get polluted.
7: Any damage done to the forest by the user agency or its employees and contractors of people employed by them shall be charged from the user agency at the rate of ten times the standard rate of 1992.
8: The forest land so diverted shall return to the Forest Department free of any encumbrances when it is no longer required by the User Agency.
9: The User Agency shall construct complete retaining/breast walls on the both sides of the road/railway line/earth work/tunnelling etc. and take other necessary steps so as to minimise soil erosion/land slips. In this regard, the user agency shall seek technical guidance from Director, Soil Conservation Department of J&K.
10: The User Agency shall also pay any other amount which will become payable as per the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court or Government/Forest Department, J&K.
11: The User Agency shall be responsible to get requisite clearance under any other relevant law in vogue.
12: The User Agency shall submit an undertaking that in case of any upward revision of rates of Net Present Value the User Agency will pay the amount of differential Net Present Value.
13: Possession of Forest land diverted for non-forestry purpose under the orders of the competent authority should be handed over to the User Agency till all payments due against Compensation of trees, NPV/Compensation forest land, Compensatory Afforestation costs etc. are not deposited with Chief Accounts Officer in the office of the PCCF. Before handling over the possession of the Forest land, it should be further ensured that there are no outstanding dues with the said User Agency in respect of the cases sanctioned in the past.
14: The User Agency shall take all possible environmental safeguards in consultation with the State Pollution Control Board prior to erection of the pre-fabricated structures and their use by the pilgrims to ensure that no damage is caused to the ecology of the area.

The proposal stands cleared/approved by the Advisory Committee in its 39th meeting held under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary on 12th July, 2007.
By order of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sd/-
Principal Secretary to Government
Forest Department
NO- FST/Land/41/2007 Dated: 26-05-2008

Since political leverage is easier to gain by maintaining ambiguity and rallying around the UN office with demands of azadi than finding facts, parties like Tehreek – Hurriyat and other separatist hardliners are having a field day matching shoulders with the Abdullah & Mufti. What is threatening about this myopia is that all this separatist propaganda could boomerang into washing all progress made in terms of ceasefires and electoral faith down the drain and parties that seek to make gains through the so called revolution might end up being deserted.

As for the people, they deserve the leadership they promote. One thing is sure azaadi will surely mean the end of good times [no excise, no service tax, grants in thousands of crores and freebies.] If that is what they want, that is what they will get. As Confucius said "beware of what you wish for, your wishes may come true".