Continuing to be under curfew with no relaxations in between, Kashmir seems to be heading for a humanitarian crisis. If New Delhi did not care about the sensitivities of Kashmiris while executing Afzal Guru and found it unavoidable, the state government’s handling the situation in the post-execution period has been disappointing to say the least. Although government’s apprehension about violence in the Valley cannot simply be rejected off-hand, yet a democratic dispensation that swears of the rule of law cannot afford to cage its people like cattle for days together giving a damn to their individual and collective civil rights. The government has put a ban on all the communication links including internet in Kashmir least realizing that where these communication channels provide access to wide information to the people, they also serve as an interface between the state and its subjects. Blocking these links has created disconnect between the state and its subjects. With people left guessing about government’s decisions about relaxing or not relaxing the curfew as also other decisions that affect their life, they find themselves in an utter state of uncertainty. With curfew in place for about hundred hours now, there is every chance that people might have run out of essential commodities; ailing and ill may be suffering for want of medicine, children and elderly may be facing several other acute problems. The government unfortunately seems to be totally indifferent to this situation. During crisis of this nature when the government, which is supposed to be more close and connected to its people, blocks the channels of communication, there is sometimes seriously wrong at the policy framing level. The government must understand that steps repugnant to the basic civil liberties guaranteed under a democratic system, instead of serving any purpose could exacerbate the situation on the ground.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST