The so-called Kashmir Day which Pakistan observes every year on February 5 has lost relevance in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
The scrapping of J&K’s special status and its conversion into a union territory turned Pakistan stooges in J&K inactive. These agents were the ones who used to create hype about this day. Separatists like Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Hurriyat dove, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, so-called JKLF chief Yasin Malik and others ensured that they issue big statements on this day to express gratitude to our rogue neighbor for expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
However, after New Delhi’s bold move on August 5, 2019 these separatists have lost their addresses and no one has been left in Kashmir to carry forward their legacy.
The Kashmir Day was first observed in 1990 in Pakistan on call of Nawaz Sharif, who was the opposition leader and chief minister of Punjab at the time. Sharif in 1990 had appealed for a nationwide strike and called for people to pray for success of the so-called Kashmir movement. Subsequently, February 5 was declared as a holiday in Pakistan.
After the abrogation of Article 370, people in Kashmir have not shown any inclination towards this so-called Kashmir Day and have carried on with their daily chores without bothering about what people in Pakistan do on this day. The developments that have taken place after August 5, 2019, are an indication that Kashmiris have realized that their future lies with India and not with Pakistan.
During the past three decades Pakistan hasn’t done any good to them. Since 1990 people of Kashmir have been witnessing bloodshed, strikes and mayhems. They are fed up of Pakistan and the militants that our neighbor has been sending into J&K.
After J&K’s transition into a Union Territory ground situation has changed. Security forces have eliminated top militant commanders and their accomplices.
The development works that were in limbo for the past so many years are nearing completion and foundations of many new projects have already been laid. Even during the COVID times the Centre ensured that nothing stops in Jammu and Kashmir.
After Manoj Kumar Sinha took over as the Lieutenant Governor of J&K things started moving at a very fast pace and results are evident. People sitting in Pakistan and their agents in Kashmir are finding it hard to digest that people in “Naya Jammu and Kashmir” have abandoned the leaders who used to preach separatism and sedition.
They never expected that situation in J&K will change so fast and masses will reject the advocates of Pakistan outrightly. Despite facing defeat at all the fronts our rogue neighbor has not given up, many facebook accounts , twitter handles and what’sup groups that are run from across the Line of Control are leaving no stone unturned to foment trouble. But these people are not finding many takers.
Denizens of Kashmir have realized that they can no more push the younger generation towards guns which ultimately lead to lives getting lost and filling up of graveyards. The main players who used to orchestrate street protests and push youngsters towards so-called Jihad are out of business due to their funding channels getting choked.
Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister of India has proved to be big blessing for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He has reached to the core of Kashmir problem and has succeeded in ending the uncertainty in Kashmir to a great extent. PM Modi has in real sense given Azadi to Kashmiris from the elements inimical to peace, prosperity and development.
As on date very few people in Kashmir want to talk about Pakistan and so-called liberation. They want to grow and become a part of the New India. No one in Kashmir wants to lag behind. People in Pakistan taking out processions, staging protests and doing other things on February 5 are of no significance to them as they are aware of the fact that it’s a part of the drama which Pakistan stages every year.
It’s high time for people handling Pakistan to realize that Kashmiris are least interested in their theatrics. They need to concentrate on the issues that confront their country and stop worrying about Kashmir. People of J&K have already made their choice.
They have driven home a point in the last one and half year that illusions don’t attract them anymore. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, August 5, 2019—when the Centre revoked J&K’s special status—is the real Kashmir day as from that very day, the things changed for the good.
The gun totting militants, stone-pelters, separatists and others who used to work overtime to disrupt normal life are not seen anywhere now, nor are the people like Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik and others relevant anymore.
