Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 5

History took a new turn this morning when the Centre scrapped provisions of the Article 370 of the Constitution that granted a special status to the state and also bifurcated the state into two UTs in a move that is rife with consequences that come with J&K losing the statehood in one stroke.

The consequences are not in sight immediately, but these will be there in the days and weeks to come for both sides, those who are delirious over the end of special status of the state and its bifurcation, and also those who have been confined to their homes with unprecedented turnout of forces on streets and biggest-ever clampdown on information-dissemination network.

As of now, there can be a euphoria in certain quarters because the move is seen as a massive push for the national integration, and it may be so, but the other side’s reaction is not known, and even if there is any, there is such a clampdown that it may not be known until the things sink in their minds.

Today’s changes have three parts—(a) the saffron party has delivered on its pledge to end the special status of the state and the special rights and privileges of permanent residents of the state, and thus integrated it with the rest of the country overriding all legal and the constitutional hurdles with a presidential order under clause 1 of Article 370, and secondly merging the bifurcated state—now two UTs of J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (sans legislature).

It is seen as a “historical wrong undone”. The state has merged with the country as UTs though, thus depriving the Kashmir-centric parties of their perennial narrative that the state’s accession to India was “conditional” as J&K had not merged with India.

The second part is the creation of the UTs — a high moment for Ladakh Buddhists who had been agitating for it for the past over three decades, but whether Kargil Muslims have the same enthusiasm for it is something that is not known at the moment.

Jammu, which was hoping to be a separate state, is now part of Jammu and Kashmir UT. This region has mixed population and some areas in the Chenab region and border districts of Rajouri and Poonch are communally sensitive.

Thirdly, it would help subdue secessionist forces and tame Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the Valley. That means the Centre’s direct rule in the new administrative unit—J&K—would help nationalist forces and open up opportunities for development and employment. This vision would be known only after things are in the open.

Had the Bill got support of one and all, the Valley and parts of Jammu region would not have been under curfew.

The entire Kashmir valley and at least five out of 10 districts of Jammu region were under curfew with a complete clampdown on information dissemination and communication networks when Home Minister Amit Shah introduced these Bills in the Rajya Sabha, a clear evidence that the government had fears of backlash in mind. It is not clear as to what would happen and when, but the history of the past over 70 years has been changed, as of now.

Going by reactions of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and NC chief Omar Abdullah, there are dangerous consequences in store. Only time will tell, whether it is so.

Three takeaways

• The BJP has delivered on its pledge to end special status of J&K
• Separate Ladakh UT is a high moment for local Buddhists who had been agitating for it
• The move would help subdue secessionist forces and tame Pakistan-sponsored terrorism

People queue up at fuel station in Srinagar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Mohammad Amin War

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 5

Restrictions were imposed in Srinagar district under Section 144 of the CrPC with effect from midnight. There would be no movement of public. There will be a complete bar on holding any kind of public meetings or rallies. Identity cards of “essential services officials” will be treated as movement passes wherever required.

Meanwhile, all educational institutions were ordered closed across the state as a precautionary measure till further orders.

Internet services on mobile were stopped in Kashmir in the evening, while broadband was also cut late in the night. Voice calls were expected to be cut in a phased manner.

In Jammu too gathering of four or more persons was prohibited under Section 144. The University of Jammu also announced closure, and that all UG and PG examinations to be held on August 5 stood postponed. Fresh dates would  be notified later.

Amidst panic and confusion over what was happening in Srinagar as well as Kashmir at large, there were also unconfirmed claims from mainstream leaders, including Omar Abdullah, that restrictions had been imposed on their movement.

Omar Abdullah✔@OmarAbdullah

I believe I’m being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight & the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is then I’ll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store. Allah save us 9,385 people are talking about this

The Governor was in a meeting with the Chief Secretary, Advisers, DGP, ADG, and IG among others, late at night.

All eyes are on Parliament, which resumes its business on Monday, even as uncertainty and fear have further deepened in Kashmir.

In a tweet, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said: “If officers in the state government are to be believed mobile internet is going down now, an unofficial curfew is going to start…”

Omar Abdullah✔@OmarAbdullah

To the people of Kashmir, we don’t know what is in store for us but I am a firm believer that what ever Almighty Allah has planned it is always for the better, we may not see it now but we must never doubt his ways. Good luck to everyone, stay safe & above all PLEASE STAY CALM.3,852

Kashmir has been on edge for the last few days after New Delhi rushed additional companies and asked Amaranth pilgrims and tourists to leave Kashmir. The series of government advisories in past few days have created massive panic amid reports that New Delhi was planning a major political decision on Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti✔@MehboobaMufti

In such difficult times, I’d like to assure our people that come what may, we are in this together & will fight it out. Nothing should break our resolve to strive for what’s rightfully ours.

On Sunday, while shops were open and traffic plied normally, there was a general scare among the masses. The fear got further worsened when reports emerged that Union Cabinet was scheduled to meet at 9.30 am Monday morning. Besides the ruling BJP has issued a whip to its parliament members asking them to remain compulsorily present in both Houses from August 5 to 7.

Mehbooba Mufti✔@MehboobaMufti

How ironic that elected representatives like us who fought for peace are under house arrest. The world watches as people & their voices are being muzzled in J&K. The same Kashmir that chose a secular democratic India is facing oppression of unimaginable magnitude. Wake up India

With the Centre keeping cards to their chests, common Kashmiris were seen stocking essentials and medicines.

Sajad Lone✔@sajadlone

It is imperative that we stay calm. Violence has cost us thousands of lives. If we disagree— there r many ways to express dissent. Nothing is irreversible. And nothing is permanent. Justice will prevail.

Meanwhile, an order issued by District Magistrate, Anantnag, asked all petrol dealers against resorting to the sale of fuel without the permission of the DM or the officer authorised on his behalf. The order, it said, has been issued in view of panic stocking by general public in the last few days, which has caused considerable shortage of petroleum products.

Anticipating that the restrictions might come into force, a letter addressed to the Srinagar District Magistrate by  Medical Superintendent of CD Hospital, Srinagar, sought “curfew passes” for the hospital staff.

“With no clarity, we are really worried,” said Shabir Ahmed, a Srinagar resident. “These days we wake up to new fears. Now all eyes are on Monday when Parliament proceedings will begin. It seems we are waiting for some doomsday.”

Members of the business community, too, are seeking clarity from the Centre so that a sense of security was restored among the public.

“On behalf of the business community, we demand restoration of a sense of security amongst the general public, proper assessment of business losses caused and protection against future losses,” said Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) secretary-general Farooq Amin.

Authorities have stepped up security deployment at vital installations and sensitive areas amid heightened terror threat and flare up of hostilities with Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC).

After the Jammu and Kashmir administration curtailed the Amarnath Yatra and asked pilgrims and tourists to leave the valley at the earliest on Friday, anxious residents continue to throng markets to stock on essentials and serpentine queues have been visible outside shops and fuel stations.

Cricket trials postponed

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, the mentor of Jammu and Kashmir state teams who was in Srinagar to oversee the trials for the U-16 (Vijay Merchant Trophy) and U-19 (Cooch Behar Trophy) squads, has left Srinagar, along with the young players.

“We have for the time being postponed the second phase of junior team trials…since there has been a government advisory, I had a meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association…Accordingly, it was decided that boys need to be sent back home,” Pathan told PTI.

Various educational institutions also directed their students to vacate hostels.

Additional paramilitary forces, which arrived here last week, have been deployed across the city and in other vulnerable areas of Kashmir Valley, the officials said.

The strength of the security personnel has been increased around vital installations such as the civil secretariat, police headquarters, airport and various central government establishments in the city, they said.

Barricades have been erected on many arterial roads, including the entry and exit points to Srinagar, the summer capital of the state.

Riot control vehicles have also been kept on standby in some areas where apprehension of law and order disturbances is more, the officials added. — With PTI inputs

Deeply entrenched notions of patriarchal control have been politically exploited to target and terrorise certain minority groups. The myth of ‘love jihad’ has been promoted by extremist groups to create insecurity and anger in the Hindu community against Muslims by accusing them of following a hidden agenda wherein Hindu girls are enticed by Muslim boys. No such evidence has come forth in the court to date.

Ranjit Powar
Psychologist

A triple murder in Tarn Taran, Punjab, was reported on July 29. The murders were in retaliation to a choice marriage between a boy and a girl from different castes. Both are Sikh families, following a faith which denounces caste. There have been reportedly 300 cases of honour killing in the country in the past three years. Caste or community groups in Haryana hold kangaroo courts to pass punishment on couples who choose to marry in violation of the set social codes. Khap panchayats have dissolved marriages, forced rape victims to marry their rapists, expelled families from villages, and condoned honour killings through social approval, forcing the Supreme Court to come down heavily on them. Women have been dictated to dress traditionally and desist from talking to men outside the family.

Strangely, many a family’s honour is related to the social and sexual behaviour or choices of its women. When and how did this come to be? Through what logic did Indian women become the torchbearers of the family honour? It’s intriguing that instead of a man’s honour being defined by his ethics, conduct and merit, it came to be reflected in the behaviour of his sister, daughter or wife! On the contrary, a woman’s honour remained untouched by the behaviour of the males of her family.

Many social groups justify murders of erring women relatives in the name of avenging the family honour. The terminology which dubs such killings as ‘honour killings’ is in itself an indirect validation of murder in the name of honour. A strict code of conduct is enforced upon girls from infancy. It mainly entails obedience, chastity, endurance and virginity. This code is often internalised by older women for gaining acceptability and merit in a patriarchal system. 

Women may provoke honour-linked violence through forming sexual alliances, refusing arranged marriages, asking for divorce, infidelity, dressing inappropriately, leaving the home without permission, dating or speaking to men who are not family members, being victims of rape or even behaving or dressing  provocatively. Any of these transgressions will result in scandal and gossip in the community, which will directly result in loss of honour for the male members, for whom honour is gained through the control and dominance they exert over females and younger males in the family.

Collective sanction by the community to control and regulate women’s behaviour, freedom and sexual choices gives it validity and acceptability in the guise of culture or tradition. In a society where the norms continue to be set by men, such controls are a reflection of deep-rooted patriarchy with the overt motive of protecting women. The underlying fact is that the male of a patriarchal system wants to keep the strings of the woman in his hands, and cleverly terms this suppression as ‘honour’. Mythical characters like Sita, Parvati and Savitri are held up as examples of virtue and duty for women to emulate. Interestingly, Krishna’s consort Radha is never quoted as such an example.

The prevalence of caste and religion prejudices gives greater acceptance to the right of parents and brothers to control the choice of a partner by their daughters. They must in no way step out of caste and religious boundaries. Over the last some years, self-styled protectors of Indian culture have taken it upon themselves to heckle and attack youngsters who are seen as violating the sacrosanct ‘Indian’ traditions. Self-styled vigilante groups like the Bajrang Dal, RSS, Dukhtaran-e-Milat target youngsters celebrating Valentine’s Day or sitting together in parks. The police choose to look the other way, and at times also support their hooliganism or actively indulge in moral policing.

Deeply entrenched notions of patriarchal control have been politically exploited to target and terrorise certain minority groups. The myth of ‘love jihad’ has been promoted by extremist groups to create insecurity and anger in the Hindu community against Muslims by accusing them of following a hidden agenda wherein Hindu girls are enticed by Muslim boys. No such evidence has come forth in the court to date.

Many minorities like Christians, Coorgis and north-eastern communities are as much a part of this country as the Hindus. Their cultural norms are much more open and liberal in terms of sexual choices and intermingling of sexes. The Nair community of Kerala enjoyed much sexual freedom and could even keep relations with multiple partners at a time. Most communities in the North-East states allow girls to choose their mates. These communities do not have a noticeable incidence of rape or killings.

What gives anyone the right to disregard such liberal traditions and impose a subjective code of conduct as ‘Indian’? These self-styled protectors of a mythical ‘Indian culture’ choose to overlook that Indian is not synonymous with Hindu. Furthermore, that Hinduism never propagated prudish norms in myth or reality.

The most damaging of restrictive and suppressive attitudes are those propagated by teachers in rural and small town schools. It is commonplace to find girls and boys strictly segregated in co-educational schools. Boys and girls have been known to be reprimanded and even beaten for so much as speaking to each other. In one rural school in Bathinda district of Punjab, an affair between two schoolmates escalated to a feud between two village panchayats. The girl was withdrawn from the school and the panchayat demanded rustication of the boy, who had to take his exams under police protection. Such unhealthy, patriarchal environments instil perverted concepts of ‘honour’, encouraging violence, abuse and even murder.

The Adolescence Education programme (AEP) was a sex education programme designed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and National AIDS Control Organisation. It faced opposition in various states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan, which refused to allow it in their schools. Is it a surprise that many of these states are notorious for the high numbers of honour killings?  According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), between 2014 and 2015, the number of honour killings in India leapt up by a whopping 798 per cent!

Paradoxically, rape is the fourth most common crime in a country which is obsessively concerned with safeguarding the ‘honour’ and virtue of its women!  India has an average of 106 rapes a day and four in 10 victims are minors. The conviction rate for rape remains a shameful 25.5 per cent. Eve-teasing is so prevalent that recently, girls from a school in Punjab appealed to the high court for safety. This, in a society which claims to regard women as its ‘honour’ and worships them as goddesses!

It seems that a schizophrenic chasm runs somewhere between the collective Indian social psyche. Entertainment media like TV and cinema focus overwhelmingly on romantic themes in keeping with public taste. The youth may watch cheap romance on celluloid and fantasise, but god help them if they opt to have normal relationships or friendships with the opposite sex. Such conflicting attitudes reflect a serious faultline in the concept of what is pushed as ‘Indian culture’ or morality.

Natural instinctual behaviour may be regulated and controlled within reasonable limits, but forced suppression and criminalisation of human urges promote distorted and violent expression and take on forms of a social evil. Let’s wake up to the fact that culture is not static; it is a dynamic process which must move in tandem with the larger global, social and technological scenario. Hypocrisy and double standards cannot be camouflaged in the name of a pseudo culture. Indian society must shed patriarchal attitudes and be honest, upfront and liberal to be healthy, safe and progressive. Therein will lie the safety and honour of women.

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 1

Pakistan has asked all militant groups operating in Kashmir, including Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba, to lie low till the October meeting of the international watchdog against money laundering and financing of terrorism — the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The FATF, at its June meeting in Florida, had set an October deadline for Pakistan to fix the deficiencies in its anti-money laundering measures and in combating financing of terrorism so as to avoid degradation from the grey list to being blacklisted.

Getting on the FATF blacklist could cripple the neighbouring country financially.Islamabad is banking on the support of the United States in light of the renewed bonhomie between the two countries following Pakistan premier Imran Khan’s visit, which saw US President Donald Trump offering to mediate or arbitrate in Kashmir, that was followed by a strong rebuttal by New Delhi.

Before Khan undertook the visit to Washington, Pakistan had arrested JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and his associates to showcase its seriousness in the fight against terrorism. “But all this is an eyewash. Imran Khan is basically concerned over the FATF listing. It is with this line of thinking that the Pakistan establishment has asked the terror outfits to lie low in Kashmir,” sources said.

The militant outfits, as per sources who have been monitoring the situation post the US visit of Pakistan premier, army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI head Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, have been told “not to plan any attacks till the FATF meets and Pakistan manages to get a clean chit, which is crucial for it to get the foreign investment it so desperately needs”.

There has been no major militant action in the Valley in the recent past, while the security forces have recorded stunning successes in the anti-militancy operations, including the decimation of the JeM leadership in Kashmir that had executed the February 14 Pulwama terror attack.

Watchdog scanner

• Getting on the FATF blacklist could have a wide-ranging impact on Pakistan’s economy
• Could result in denial of loans, development funds its crippling economy needs
• The FATF, in June, had set an October deadline for Pakistan to take decisive corrective measures to combat terror financing and money laundering

Jalandhar, July 29

Jalandhar Officiating Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulwant Singh today called upon the youth from the district to participate in the upcoming recruitment rally of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from August 5 to August 8 at the PAP grounds.

Interacting with mediapersons here at the District Administrative Complex, the DC said: “The recruitment rally will be held for 12 districts, including Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Pathankot, Ropar, Moga, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, Bathinda and Kapurthala.”

He said the candidates who were born between July 19, 1999 to July 1, 2003, could participate in the rally, adding that they must have got 50 per cent marks in Class XII and 50 per cent in English.

He DC said the physical fitness test and written test for candidates for the candidates of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Nawanshahr, Ropar and Moga would be held on August 5 and their adaptability tests I and II would be held on August 6.

“ The physical fitness test and written test for youth from Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, Bathinda and Kapurthala will be held on August 7 and their adaptability test I and II be held on August 8,” added the DC. — TNS

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 26

Within hours of learning that Kargil war hero Satpal Singh was managing traffic as a senior police constable in Sangrur, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered double promotion for the Vir Chakra awardee.

The Chief Minister accused the previous SAD-BJP government of ignoring the credentials of Satpal Singh at the time of his recruitment in 2010.

An official spokesperson said Satpal Singh, who joined the Punjab Police after his discharge from the Army, has been named Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) following direct orders from the CM in recognition of his valiant contribution during the Kargil war.

As a special case, he will be promoted as an Assistant Sub-Inspector, after relaxing Rule 12.3 of the Punjab Police Rules by the DGP, who has been so authorised by the Chief Minister.

Satpal Singh was posted in the Drass sector during Operation Vijay and was part of the team that helped the Army capture Tiger Hill.

He killed Pakistani Captain Karnal Sher Khan of the Northern Light Infantry and three others. Khan was later conferred the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award, on the recommendation of an Indian brigade commander who vouched for his bravery on the icy heights.

Capt Amarinder lamented that Satpal Singh had to suffer the ignominy of working as a senior constable after his act of gallantry during the Kargil war.

The CM said he found out about the situation of Satpal, who also belonged to the Chief Minister’s battalion, when he read about it this morning.

The Chief Minister has authorised the DGP to grant the required relaxation in age (November 7, 1973) for the recruitment of Satpal Singh as an ASI in the Punjab Police, the spokesperson said.

Satpal Singh was recruited into the Punjab Police as senior constable and was currently discharging his duties in an outstanding manner in Bhawanigarh town of Sangrur district, Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said.

He said ex-post facto approval of the Council of Ministers would be obtained subsequently for the required relaxation in rules.

Gupta said Satpal Singh was posted in Sangrur, but had sought transfer to Bhawanigarh six months ago, which was accepted.

Elevated to ASI

• Satpal Singh will be promoted as an Assistant Sub-Inspector after relaxing Punjab Police rules
• He was posted in the Drass sector during Op Vijay and was part of the team that helped Army capture Tiger Hill
• He killed Pak Captain Karnal Sher Khan of Northern Light Infantry and three others