The IIC Symbolism

It is raining autonomy reports in Kashmir. In a bid to make themselves relevant in the current turmoil, the three interlocutors ap­pointed by New Delhi are meeting any political leader who is willing to meet them. On 21 December, the interlocu­tors met Begum Khalida Shah, presi­dent of the Awami National Conference, who presented them with her party’s report on greater autono­my. The group has said it has already received three other autonomy re­ports: one from the ruling National Conference, another from Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the third from separatist leader Sajjad Lone who has authored a document called ‘Achievable Nationhood.’ This has already generat­ed controversy, with the BJP alleging that the interlocutors were working on an anti-national agenda. BJP spokes­person for the state Ramesh Arora has alleged that after a meeting with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, one of the interlocutors Dilip Padgaonkar told Mufti that they considered the PDP’s document on self-rule the most viable solution. Apart from political leaders, the interlocutors have met other groups such as students and human rights bodies. The group is expected to submit its review report to the Home Ministry shortly. But, as of now, no tangible results are expected from whatever work they have done in the state. So far, the interlocutors don’t enjoy the confidence of prominent separatist leaders in the Kashmir Valley. A recent RTI application has revealed that each interlocutor is being paid a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh, with the proposed provision of sepa­rate offices. Till their offices are estab­lished, the three can meet at Delhi’s elite India International Centre (IIC)—the expenses of which will be borne by the Home Ministry. This is at a time when thousands of students in the border town of Uri are being forced to attend classes in the open—in the Valley’s harsh winter—because school buildings were damaged in an earth­quake five years ago. To date, the state government has been unable to re­build these schools, owing first to inadequate funds and then to a fiasco involving the education department, teachers and the contractors of govern­ment agencies. In the Badgam district near Srinagar, the literacy rate is as low as 39 per cent as opposed to the state’s overall literacy rate of 70 per cent. Obviously, the IIC symbolism figures more prominently in New Delhi’s priorities than actual development in Kashmir.