IT is now nearly six months after the coalition government headed by the People’s Democratic Party chief and former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, took over on November 2 last. The common minimum programme set by the four parties in the 87-member House — the PDP, Congress, CPM, Panther Party and Independents — has been aimed at restoring peace with dignity, providing a healing touch to those affected by 12 years of militancy and other soft measures towards the relief of the people in general. Though different political parties, including the National Conference of the former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, resented the soft approach towards the militants, the criticism has gradually died down. But, the killing of 24 non-migrant Kashmir Pandits at Nadimarg raised many an eyebrow. The incident came after there was a spectacular decline in the number of militancy-related incidents after the elections, which had witnessed a number of attacks on candidates and on people participating in election rallies.

The short-lived respite from militancy came to an end with the attack on a security forces camp housed in Pamposh Hotel in Srinagar on November 22, only 20 days after the new government took over. This was followed by two more gory incidents. First, an IED explosion near Qazigund killed over two dozen people, including Armymen, women and children. There was again an attack on Raghunath temple in Jammu. Incidents like these and the continuing smaller militancy-related incidents like the firing of two grenades on the Nowgam residence of the Chief Minister Sayeed on the day he took over, were "part of the ongoing militancy" in Kashmir. But the incident that once again raised many an eyebrow over the "soft approach" towards militants was the Nadimarg massacre. The separatist Hurriyat Conference and several militant organisations condemned the incident as yet another "attempt by the government agencies to defame the separatists". While the police claimed to have arrested a militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Zia Mustafa on April 24, responsible for the killings at Nadimarg, the outfit reiterated the earlier stand and alleged that the militant held was apprehended about a week before the incident.

Hurriyat’s claims apart, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) is also on a week-long hunger strike (April 17-24) against the unabated incidents of ‘disappearances’ in the state, and the immunity granted to the law enforcing agencies. According to Parvez Imroz, head of the APDP, 26 cases of ‘disappearances’ took place since the coalition government took over. Over 6000 such ‘disappearances’ of non-combatants have taken place since the eruption of militancy in the state in 1989. The relatives of such ‘disappeared’ persons claim that there is no difference between the previous gubernatorial and the NC regimes and the present government. The authorities, however, claim that many such persons had, in fact, crossed over to the other side of the border.

Even as complete peace has not been restored, the situation, according to the senior government functionaries, has changed a lot. Despite the non-implementation of POTA by the present government and the merger with the police of the Special Operations Group (SOG) that exclusively dealt with militants, senior government functionaries claim that there is a discernible change in the situation as compared to last year.

Police and security forces officers, however, are keeping their fingers crossed over the possible infiltration of armed militants from across the borders after the snow melts. The Defence Minister is reported to have indicated that a large number of militants were waiting on the other side of the Line of Control to cross over during the summer months.

The PDP-led coalition’s other achievement was the visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on April 18 and 19. The visit came within the first six months of the elections. The coalition feels that the visit has endorsed the "healing touch policy" of the government, and all the political parties have endorsed its policies on dealing with militants and providing relief to the common man. Vajpayee’s visit and his public meeting in Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir stadium, first of a Prime Minister in the past 15 years, is claimed as yet another achievement. This shows the seriousness of the Central Government to resolve various issues in this trouble-torn state. "The mindset of the people has changed", comments Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. "Even in peace time, when people in large numbers would come to Srinagar from different parts of the valley, things were not so easy", says a senior PDP leader, adding that even incidents of stone pelting on the people coming from the villages on such an occasion was normal. Over 20,000 people came to listen to the Prime Minister despite a general strike called by the separatists.

While certain sections were disappointed at the PM’s public address, he set the things right before concluding his two-day tour. "I did not mention about the massacre of Pandits at Nadimarg deliberately at the public meeting," he said, adding that he "wanted a new beginning" and did not want to fan passions. He pointed out that the situation in Kashmir, as well as at the international level, has changed. "Mein sapno ka saudagar nahi, Kashmir ek mor par khada hai," he said. He added that the coalition government was a new beginning and the most needed one as 44 per cent of the people participated in the last Assembly elections. He also announced an economic package. The appointment of N.N. Vohra, former Union Home Secretary, as the chief negotiator in Kashmir talks is also considered to be another milestone on the road ahead to "peace and prosperity" in the state.

Photos: Amin War