Jammu, February 8
When thousands of Kashmiri youths appeared at the Army recruitment rally in Jammu and Kashmirs summer capital on Tuesday in the face of threats from various militant groups, it sent three messages to the separatists and the government. Besides the Muzaffarabad-based Jehad Council, Hizbul Mujahideen rebel outfit had dished out threats to the family members of those youths who had participated in the Army recruitment rally.
While the Jehad Council,Lashkar-i-Toiba and Al Badr had directed the Kashmiri youths to stay away from the recruitment rally, Hizbul Mujahideen had threatened that the family members of those youths who participated in the rally, would be pushed out of the valley after locking their houses.
Despite these threats, more than 10,000 Kashmiri youths appeared for an interview at the Army recruitment rally.
The first inference is that the level of unemployment in the Kashmir valley has touched a new high forcing the youth to defy militant threats and seek jobs in the Army.
Secondly, it was a clear hint to the separatists, especially the rebels, that their ideologies and plans have no relevance for the Kashmiri people who had lost more than 40,000 of their kith and kin. During the last 16 years, their trade and job opportunities have suffered a severe setback.
A year ago, Mufti Mohd Sayeed, who them headed the coalition government, persuaded the Indian Air Force to hold the recruitment rally in Srinagar.
In the first such exercise, several hundred Kashmiri youths had appeared for the written test and viva voce.
The IAF authorities had confirmed that the response to the rally was the highest ever from the Kashmir valley.
Apparently, people in Kashmir are fed up with the prolonged militancy related turmoil and hence they keep on encouraging their wards in seeking better job avenues outside the state government.
And the high level of response to the Army recruitment rally clearly indicated that the rebel groups could no longer ensure that their writ would run in the valley.
Thirdly, the role the Army played in carrying out relief and rescue measures, during the October 8 earthquake has convinced many in Kashmir that the troops are not their killers.
The level of unemployment in the state has remained a constant worry for the successive chief Ministers. Right from Dr Farooq Abdullah to Mufti Mohd.Sayeed and now Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad their main plea with the centre was to increase job opportunities for Kashmiri youths.
Mufti Mohd Sayeed was instrumental in persuading the central Government for sanctioning seven battalions of Home and Hearth territorial Army.
Even response to a recruitment drive for the Territorial Army during the last one year has been phenomenal.
Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, is confident that return of peace and normalcy to the state will mainly depend on engaging Kashmiri youths in gainful employment.
When thousands of Kashmiri youths appeared at the Army recruitment rally in Jammu and Kashmirs summer capital on Tuesday in the face of threats from various militant groups, it sent three messages to the separatists and the government. Besides the Muzaffarabad-based Jehad Council, Hizbul Mujahideen rebel outfit had dished out threats to the family members of those youths who had participated in the Army recruitment rally.
While the Jehad Council,Lashkar-i-Toiba and Al Badr had directed the Kashmiri youths to stay away from the recruitment rally, Hizbul Mujahideen had threatened that the family members of those youths who participated in the rally, would be pushed out of the valley after locking their houses.
Despite these threats, more than 10,000 Kashmiri youths appeared for an interview at the Army recruitment rally.
The first inference is that the level of unemployment in the Kashmir valley has touched a new high forcing the youth to defy militant threats and seek jobs in the Army.
Secondly, it was a clear hint to the separatists, especially the rebels, that their ideologies and plans have no relevance for the Kashmiri people who had lost more than 40,000 of their kith and kin. During the last 16 years, their trade and job opportunities have suffered a severe setback.
A year ago, Mufti Mohd Sayeed, who them headed the coalition government, persuaded the Indian Air Force to hold the recruitment rally in Srinagar.
In the first such exercise, several hundred Kashmiri youths had appeared for the written test and viva voce.
The IAF authorities had confirmed that the response to the rally was the highest ever from the Kashmir valley.
Apparently, people in Kashmir are fed up with the prolonged militancy related turmoil and hence they keep on encouraging their wards in seeking better job avenues outside the state government.
And the high level of response to the Army recruitment rally clearly indicated that the rebel groups could no longer ensure that their writ would run in the valley.
Thirdly, the role the Army played in carrying out relief and rescue measures, during the October 8 earthquake has convinced many in Kashmir that the troops are not their killers.
The level of unemployment in the state has remained a constant worry for the successive chief Ministers. Right from Dr Farooq Abdullah to Mufti Mohd.Sayeed and now Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad their main plea with the centre was to increase job opportunities for Kashmiri youths.
Mufti Mohd Sayeed was instrumental in persuading the central Government for sanctioning seven battalions of Home and Hearth territorial Army.
Even response to a recruitment drive for the Territorial Army during the last one year has been phenomenal.
Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, is confident that return of peace and normalcy to the state will mainly depend on engaging Kashmiri youths in gainful employment.
