In 1983, when Kashmir hosted its first ever, one among the only two, international cricket event – an India versus West Indies game – the crowd cheered enthusiastically for every stroke played by West Indian batsmen. Most of the spectators were Kashmiri youths, applauding each and every delivery by West Indian bowling legends who were giving Indian batsmen a troublesome time on the wicket. During the match, some youths also started waving Pakistani flags, perturbing even the West Indian batsmen as much as the Indian cricketers. This little event was a metaphor of a larger reality surrounding Jammu and Kashmir’s repulsion to the domination of Indian state. Much has happened in Kashmir since that match, but nothing has changed. Yesterday’s event is the testimony.

Dominating the political landscape in the Valley since partition in 1947, the word ‘Pakistan’ punctuates daily lives of the Kashmiris; be it in the form of singing marriage songs, shouting Azadi slogans, celebrating Pakistan’s win or even during funeral processions of militants. Ask a cricket-loving child in Kashmir about his favorite player. More often than not, the reply will be the name of a Pakistani cricketer.

It is precisely in this context that Mufti, while sailing on a soft-separatism wave but fundamentally representing Indian mainstream politics, had after elections thanked Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants for 'providing conducive atmosphere for elections in the Valley’, deriving irk and resentment from BJP top leaders.

The controversy also strips open a thin line which exists within the framework of different pro-Indian political parties, in this case BJP and PDP, vis-a-vis dealing with the anti-India sentiment in the Valley. While the coalition partners may disagree with their ‘way’ of ‘containment’ of separatist leaders in the Valley, the booking of Geelani and Alam manifests that the underlying principle of sustaining the status quo remains unchanged.

As far as PDP is concerned, they will be more than happy to corner the issue and move forward. But will BJP allow it? The much hyped marriage of “north pole and south pole” alliance is likely to go through many sleepless nights in the coming days.

Source: Kashmir Reader