Page 90 - Love Story of a Commando

Here, the role of separatists or terrorist heads was pivotal as they
were the ones who provoked generations of youth to join the so called
‘jihad’ while their own sons and daughters were studying abroad and
becoming doctors and engineers. The Indian government also had limited
options here. These separatist leaders sponsored by the enemy country spoke
openly against the country they lived in but the Indian government chose to
ignore them. Any strict actions against these popular leaders meant protest
by the masses and also raking up of the Kashmir issue among international
communities.
The government would just imprison them occasionally.
This is politics. This is the world. It demands blood and flesh. The
struggle between masses and the government is always of apocalyptic
proportions. Who benefited? Those leaders who turn out to be gold diggers
or those governments who turn out to be tyrannical? What of the common
man who is affected the most by the clashes and also by the negotiations?
The day of the prime minister’s arrival was close.
However, no official statement had been issued yet. Mr Khan looked
perplexed. There was grave danger looming over his head because of the
military but being a government employee, he had no option.
Watching those men in uniform would also make my stomach churn
sometimes. Though their camouflage combat uniforms were nothing like
Virat’s black overall, the presence of the army reminded me of him again
and again.
The happiness that I had gathered recently, the smiles that I would
flaunt and the momentary truce with the past were gone suddenly and the
nightmares of blood, death and Virat were back in my life. The angelic faces
of the kids was calming but I was distracted and could not put in hundred
percent of my energies for those kids. I felt guilty most of the time.
Finally, the day of the prime minister’s visit arrived. It was a three-
day visit to Kashmir. His itinerary included various important places. He had
a very charismatic personality and the media just loved clicking him. The
newspapers, TV channels and social media were all buzzing with ‘what he
ate’, ‘where he visited’, ‘whom he met’ and many things more.
His candid pictures hugging Kashmiri locals, offering chadar at
Hazratbal, sharing sweets with troops or a shikara ride on Dal Lake in
Srinagar were going viral. The TV channels promptly set up debate panels
over the long-term result of his unexpected visit.
He gave speeches about peace and prosperity.
He looked convincing when he said the dark phases were over and
now the youth of Kashmir deserved equal opportunities like any citizen of
India. He promised more colleges and hospitals. Thousands of people turned
up to his public events. It all looked very appealing. But there was