The stage seems to be set for another 2010. Normally it's expected in summers, but this year it started boiling up far earlier perhaps to enjoy its share to the fullest. We hope it doesn't happen, but the way things are shaping up makes us foresee something sinister. What do we do when nothing is within our reach. We still can do a lot.
The whole calm was destroyed by hanging Afzal Guru. Though an instant clampdown by the government gave an impression that the situation has finally limped back to normal, but that wasn't the case. A mysterious death of Mudassir in Hyderabad immediately followed by a loss of life at Barahmullah threw us back to where we had somehow come out of. Fixing blames won't do. What we need is to understand our role and play it effectively. The state government has expressed utter helplessness and chief minister's recent assembly outburst illustrates the same. There is no doubt that disproportionate use of force by law enforcing agencies lets the cycle of violence continue. Negotiating an abnormal situation must not let police go on rampage. The ever increasing number of injured since the past few days speaks of the inept handling of the situation. That is exactly what happened in 2010. One killing on one day paved the way for more killings on the days to follow. The number swelled up uncontrollably and we lost more than a hundred precious lives. Bullets are no answers to stones. That way they can only add to the dead thereby fattening the churchyards across valley.
On the other hand separatist school has a duty on their shoulders. Issuing calendars can't rescue us of the mess we are in. More economic deprivation will mean more problems for us in the future. We learnt a great lesson in 2010. Those who suffered continue to suffer even now. We must not squeeze the possibilities for our own people to make them reach a point of  exhaustion. Creating an atmosphere of uncertainty whereby no one knows what happens next will only destroy us as it has done in the past. Letting a breed of young boys do take reigns will push us to an irrevocable chaos. There can be better, more lasting, and more cost effective ways of expressing discontent. The emotions are to be kept under a tight leash. Damaging our own selves is in no way going to put pressure on government authorities. Losing lives is a collective loss the same way as saving lives a collective responsibility.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Mar 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Mar 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 IST