Since the news of allotment 800 kanals of forest land to Sri Amarnath Shrine Board broke out, Srinagar simmered for ten days. Separatists highjacked the issue and ran their campaign based on lies, half truths and rumours. They said it is a 'sell off of Kashmir' and the govt wants to change the demography by settling the Hindus on the allotted land. Govt of the day did not do anything to counter the slander and propoganda. Rumour mills worked overtime and churned fabulous stories which were lapped up by gullible public. Hired hooligans took to the road to intimidate normal public to enforce a bundh. Partisan Kashmiri media and ignorant national media also chipped in terming it as a popular movement. For nearly ten days Kashmir was virtually handed over to the separatists and govt's inactivity was all too evident. Amarnath yatra was disrupted and yatris faced so many problems. At times one wonders are we really living in a secular country? Islamic identity of Kashmir was so openly and crassly flouted that it is no surprise that a similar movement has been started in Jammu by Hindu organisations. It was govt's inaction all along, which made separatists to encash a non-issue. It was a betryal by media who connived with separatists due to their alligience or ignorance. The first round has been won by Separatists. What next?
