Mincing no words in his speech addressed to New Delhi, chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday warned the Centre against taking anger in Kashmir "for granted and believing that peace in Kashmir was permanent".
"I want to tell them (New Delhi) that this is not the case and the anger of Kashmiris and peace in Kashmir cannot be taken for granted. Though, people have always chosen peace against disturbance, yet you cannot take them for granted forever," Abdullah said during a public rally in central Kashmir's Chrar-e-Sharief town, 30 km from Srinagar.
Upping his ante against the Centre, apparently to reach out to the separatist pockets in the Valley ahead of the 2014 polls, Abdullah said, "Permanent peace and tranquility is directly proportional to the resolution of basic political issues confronting the state."
In the last one week, the chief minister in several interviews to newspapers and news channel has chosen to attack the army by blaming it for roiling the situation in 2010 by fake encounter in Machil, insisting on revocation of the Armed Special Powers Act and referred to his warnings to Delhi against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
"The people in Kashmir may exhibit restrain and patience over various provocations like hanging of Afzal Guru without informing his family, killing of two innocent youths in Markundal, Bandipora district, recently and many other such aggravations, for which I salute them, but that does mean that their patience will always be taken for granted," said the chief minister, in a veiled reference to changing mood of the youth in the Valley towards violent means.
{{/usCountry}}"The people in Kashmir may exhibit restrain and patience over various provocations like hanging of Afzal Guru without informing his family, killing of two innocent youths in Markundal, Bandipora district, recently and many other such aggravations, for which I salute them, but that does mean that their patience will always be taken for granted," said the chief minister, in a veiled reference to changing mood of the youth in the Valley towards violent means.
{{/usCountry}}In the past six years, 2013 has so far registered fierce encounters between militants and security forces, leaving 12 armymen, five CRPF jawans and six cops dead. Most militants killed this year are young local recruits of Hizbul Mujahideen. Otherwise at the forefront, Lashkar-e-Toiba has taken a backseat.
In fact, Abdullah's fiery speeches have come in the backdrop of the heightened militants activities of the indigenous Hizbul Mujahideen, headed by Syed Salahuddin, who also heads the militant conglomerate of the United Jehad Council (UJC).
"Mainstream politicians are the worst enemies of people of Kashmir. These people fully know what India has been doing in Kashmir and still they let it happen for their petty interests," said Salahuddin incidentally on Sunday to a local news agency.
Claiming that the Amarnath yatra has no threat from militants, Salahuddin said, "We know who our foes are and where from anti-movement policemen get directions. It's disheartening to see mujahideen targeting our own Kashmiri policemen but we have no option."
The Hizb has warned to intensify attacks. "Our recent attacks were just test doze for them and they should remember that mujaihdeen can strike anywhere any time," he said.With militants also raising pitch, Abdullah is trying to represent the angry and alienated youth of the state. "Kashmir issue is not any issue of money or gun but of political genesis needing political solution."
The chief minister said, "Those sitting in Delhi and considering that participation of people in panchayat elections, qualifying of IAS and other All India Competitive Examinations by Kashmiris or selection of a local youth in Indian cricket team have solved the basic political issues is untrue. This kind of mindset is unfortunate."