Let's first talk about what should not be done in Kashmir: Radha Kumar

Interview with Writer and policy analyst

Over the past two months, arsonists have set fire to 25 schools in the Kashmir Valley. Finally, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court stepped in this week and asked the government to protect the schools. Writer and policy analyst Radha Kumar, who was among the three government-appointed interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir in 2010, speaks to Veenu Sandhu about the situation in the state and where the governments have failed. Edited excerpts:

While there is ambiguity still about who is behind the burning of schools, why do you think schools were targeted?

Schools will show a return of normalcy and they don't want that. That seems to be the obvious message - they want the situation of abnormalcy to prevail. There are these protest calendars, which, as I understand it, do not allow people to go to school. There has been a lot of public opposition to the burning of schools. Even the Hurriyat had to come out and criticise this, partly because of public dissatisfaction. So, I was quite surprised to see that more schools were burnt even after both (Syed Ali Shah) Geelani and Mirwaiz (Umar Farooq) came out and said that they were not opposed to schools functioning.

What do such incidents do to the morale of people, especially children?

In Kashmir, education is highly valued. Children have seen their schools closed for the past four months, and now the exams have been announced. This, no doubt, will have a negative impact on them.

Is it wise to go ahead with exams when schools have been shut for so long?

It is not wise. Before the exams, you need to have classes, which hasn't been the case. They are saying exams will be held this month, but the schools aren't open. It doesn't make sense.

Can the government ensure the safety of children if exams are held as planned?

I would be astonished and shocked if anyone would attack schoolchildren. I don't think safety is a big issue, though I am sure there will be a lot of security. That in itself will become a reason for complaint. If there is any need to frisk or check the IDs of students, then let the teachers do it. Security people too are in a hostile environment and they can be rude. When it comes to children, you have to be very careful and gentle.

How does the situation in the state impact Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's image? Does it make her come across as a weak leader?

Mufti has taken a lot of punishment. But then, we saw similar problems in 2010 under a different government, Omar Abdullah's. Then too it seemed like the state government was quite incapable of handling the situation. Militancy really dipped in 2007-08. That was an opportunity when Kashmir could have moved away from conflict into peace-building. But there was little political initiative, especially from the Centre. And the opportunity was lost.

There is also the problem of bad synergy between the Centre and the state. Both Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party fought an election in which they were extremely hostile to each other. PDP looked at BJP as the hardline Hindutva party and BJP looked at PDP leaders as separatists. They fought it to keep each other out. But later, they formed an alliance. The expectation was that in an alliance, both parties would do their best to overcome the previous problems of hostilities, but that didn't happen. So, people came to the conclusion that this was pure opportunism and not an effort to work together to bring substantive peace in the state. That was the added problem for Mufti and it will continue to be one.

What should be done so that things improve?

First of all, let's talk about what should not be done. One, avoid making provocative statements that will alienate people, like Jitendra Singh in the Prime Minister's Office saying that the government is going to roll back Article 370. He said this the day BJP took office at the Centre. It was the most ill-advised statement that could have been made. And, at the official level, no one countered it or reassured the people. Two, don't say things you cannot do. The home minister said the use of pellet guns would be stopped but that didn't happen. So, what message is New Delhi giving about itself, that the home minister cannot control the use of pellet guns? Implement the agenda of the alliance. Show that there is some accountability of government, both at the state and the Centre.

I am still waiting for New Delhi to even respond to the kinds of comments, concerns and protests coming out from Kashmir. The way things are, it appears the Centre is not interested in Kashmiri aspirations and sentiments. And, I am not taking about separatism. I am talking about the basic democratic aspirations of the people on the ground.