The DayAfter NOVEMBER 16-30, 2016 ISSUE | Page 34

states politics New Tress of Fundamentalism in Kashmir J&K government has been unable to coin ideas other than the use of strong-arm methods W By Amulya Ganguli ith no sign of the unrest in Kashmir subsiding, the state is passing through one of the worst phases of its history. The scene has been made gloomier by the fact that both the Centre and the state government appear to be clueless about a solution. Although Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti believes that only five per cent of the people in the state are supporting the 34 The Dayafter November 16-30, 2016 insurgency, she has been unable to rally the remaining 95 per cent in the government’s favour. Her administrative inexperience and political timidity may be responsible for her seeming helplessness. But, unfortunately, her coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has also been unable to come out with ideas other than the use of strong-arm methods, of which the pellet gun remains the primary weapon, to bring the situation under control.