It seems that separatists loosing ground in upper town areas, the situation looked more than normal, downtown people suffer a lot.
Srinagar turning back to normal, Banks Open Up, offices open up with 95 percent attendance, Rush On Roads, looked like turning back to normal, there was increased movement of private cars and auto-rickshaws, trucks, KMD buses on the roads in upper town, the banks were also seen open and were flooded with customers but unfortunately schools, colleges and other educational institutions and shops remained closed due to the strike called by separatists groups. Let me ask, if upper town except shops, all were busy with their own work, then it is better to open colleges and schools also in upper town, why then the students will suffer unnecessarily, it is the question of their future then.
The separatist camp has extended the strike call in the Valley till September 1st, only in downtown people had blocked the ways, at Alli Masjid, Narwara, interior areas of Iddgah, and at Alijan road that leads to Soura. Small boys with sticks and stones in their hands, were hooting and shouting, if any vehicle they saw coming towards them, tyres were burnt on the roads, big electric polls were kept on roads for obstructions.
Safakadal, Karanagar, main road of Batamaloo, interior part of the Batamaloo was totally closed, Heri Singh High Street, Residency Road, Dalgate, Bypass, Ghangir Chowk, Guru Bazar, Qamarwari, Chanapora, Natipora, Rajbagh, Rambagh and Highway are the areas where normal traffic was plying, even some Sumo’s were seen carrying passengers in Dalgate area, except Mazda’s and Tata buses that were off the roads. In uppertown atmosphere was very pleasant and at every nook and corner vendors were seen selling their materials, mostly at Ghangir Chowk. A very good sign for the government. The hartal sign’s couldn’t be seen in uppertown areas due to sufficient traffic on the roads, only shops were seen closed, even in some areas half shopes were open, and vendors, hawkers were seen selling vegetables like hot cakes, then why only the shops who are in front in Lal Chowk suffer why are they suffering loss, they must also open their shops and start their work and business, what is the fun of all this then. This shows breach of trust by the people of uppertown areas towards the people of downtown areas, who have never remained faithful to the downtown people. I take pity on the people of downtown, who are wasting their time and are big fools, who are failing to understand the reality and ground situation, they have always been made scapegoats and fooled. Again a question, why then one part of the city will suffer and other half will not suffer.
In contrary to this, downtown areas, starting from Hawal, Alamgari Bazar, Lal Bazaar, Botakadal, Mill Stop, Soura, Buchpora, Dargah where less traffic was seen because of restrictions imposed by the security forces. Moreover, the areas that come under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta and Mehraj Gung were under curfew.
To ponder over this, only downtown areas face the brunt, burden of loss and pain in every sector. Why only downtown, why not uppertown, to be more frank enough, in those curfew days only downtown employees could not reach to their offices, and those who reside in uppertown areas, their attendance to their offices is 100 percent. Why step motherly treatment is given to the employees, those who live in downtown areas. In uppertown only in Maisuma, Gowkadal areas strike is strictly observed. It has become a joke and mockery, for the people who have become selfish enough to be the part of this resistance, denying the calendar and favouring government, the history is the best epitome of this, as I have heard from my elders, that once the then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was asked by Nehru, how many people support you, he replied 50,000 and then he was asked how many support Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, he replied again, same 50,000, the Nehru got puzzled, and said, then who has got maximum support of people, he replied nobody. Then Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad explained to Nehru, here the people of the Kashmir, cannot be trusted, they favour where from the wind blows, today I am Prime Minister they bow to me, tomorrow Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah will take charge, they will bow to him also. Such are the people of Kashmir, from where they get benefit and money they run towards that direction. The people or anyone who does not possess realization, is supposed to be said, in medical terminology as “DEAD MAN WALKING”.
The difference between the two towns of the city, is not favourable and good for the Kashmiries. No cooperation and support is given by uppertown people of the Srinagar city to their downtown people, who are not given any relaxation and are suffering a lot, while uppertown people enjoy freedom, ignoring the pain of downtown people. When asked to a residents of downtown areas they showed angry and hatred towards the people of the uppertown, called them traitors, black sheep and spoke ill of them.
Divisional Administration of Kashmir had a seigh of relief with Kashmir, mostly in uppertown area of Srinagar, slowly and steadily showing improvement and Kashmir turning back to normal. The great achievement for the government. As a whole, government is gaining hold of the situation in Srinagar city and other areas of districts also.
An official of DivCom office told that DivCom office remained open till late nights on all working days as DivCom Kashmir was personally monitored the situation of all districts falling under Kashmir province.
The views presented in this article are the Author’s own, and does not in anyway depict the views of the Kashmir Digest. This is an Op Ed
Syed Abadi Hamdani
Freelance Writer
Writes on Social, Economical and Environmental Issues.