Massacre timing hit many targets

Secondly, implicit in the massacre is an attempt to sharpen the conflict between the Centre and the state. It’s also aimed at sharpening the contradictions between the ruling PDP and its ally, the Congress, and between the Congress and the BJP.

The killing of Hindus, and particularly Kashmiri Pandits whose cause the BJP has espoused over the years, is bound to agitate the Sangh outfits, which in turn will put pressure on the Government. That seems to be the calculation behind the killing.

There is nothing unusual about political parties taking advantage of each other’s weaknesses, but a working relationship between the Centre and the state is crucial to J-K and this has existed since Mufti Mohammed Sayeed took over four months ago. While the BJP flayed the PDP-led coalition for being soft on militants, Central BJP leaders have been much more restrained in their utterances. Even today, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, who visited Nadimarg, cautioned this was not the time for a blame-game.

Above all, coming as it does within a few months of the new government taking over, the violence is an attempt to scuttle Mufti’s ‘‘healing touch’’ policy, which seemed to be finding more and more takers in the Valley.

Targeting Kashmiri Pandits is also an attempt to scotch the efforts that were being made by the CM to bring them back to the Valley.

Mufti had repeatedly referred to his plan to resettle the Pandits and, significantly, there was no adverse reaction to the idea. This will now go for a six and fuel the fears of the Pandits who are outside. If anything, it may lead to an exodus of the few who had remained in the Valley.