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Journalism of Courage
For longer than has been really necessary,the discourse in Delhi about Kashmir has been more heated and full of hot air than is necessary. Statements from Home Minister
P. Chidambaram,on his return from a trip to the troubled state,should aid in returning to earth some of these verbal balloons. Jammu and Kashmirs problems,he pointed out,are not a cricket match. Ball-by-ball commentary is not going to help; what matters is the eventual outcome. Indeed,the implication is that a continual airing of minute developments and every additional piece of information in public is only likely to slow things down. This dovetails neatly with what the Centres interlocutors were in fact chosen to do: to act as a panel of elders,a listening team,who would get the sense of a Valley disturbed,speak to all available voices,including those drowned out in the noise
of protest,and try and give Delhi a complete picture,not release pixels piecemeal and make those outside Kashmir construct whatever image they desire.
Reporting to Delhi was only part of the interlocutors real mission,of course. The other part was to remind those in Kashmir that their government in Delhi is willing to,indeed anxious to,listen to them necessary,given the political failure of the states government to keep in touch with the people who put it in office. That too depends on a level of seriousness. The three-member panel of interlocutors submitted on Tuesday their first report to the home minister; it is meant to be kept confidential. He did point out that the panels visit has already changed the discourse in Kashmir. This effect,the alteration of the Valleys atmospherics,is exactly what a political engagement is supposed to do.
Chidambaram also pointed out,in the course of questions,that the Delhi Police had acted in accordance with the letter and spirit of the law in not responding to calls for the prosecution of activist Arundhati Roy for a speech she gave in Delhi recently. He also addressed the question about whether warnings about David Headley had been turned over to India by US intelligence,saying that he thought the issue has been blown out of proportion. Retaining a proper perspective on issues of national security might be difficult,but is essential.
