The squabble between India and Pakistan over the patent of Kashmir Pashmina has finally gone in to the kitty of India. The Geographical Indication (GI) registry in Chennai has awarded the GI status to Kashmir Pashmina and Kanni shawl in favour of Srinagar based artisan body Tahafuz after setting aside the objections made by Pakistan's Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the grounds that Pashmina shawls are also woven in Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan region as well. The trade body in its plea had argued that India alone cannot claim the Pashmina trademark in the international market.

However, the GI status for two Kashmiri products has come after registry has got convinced of their Kashmiri origin and the immensely popular traditional handlooms and handmade process involved into their making.

From now onwards Kashmiri Pashmina and Kanni shawls will now have their own distinctive logos on labels that can differentiate them from the fakes selling in its name in the market. The Kashmiri Pashmina and Kanni GI would be registered in Clauses 23 (yarns and thread for textile use) and 24 (textiles and textiles goods, not included in the category of bed, table covers and clothing).

Pashmina is a woollen cloth made from hairs of fleece of the Himalayan mountain goat, Capra  Haircus often referred to as the "Pashmina goat"and Kanni shawls are made of Pashmina woven on wooden spokes called tujis in local parlance.

The efforts to get patent for Kashmir Pashmina was spearheaded by Craft Development Institute, through a society of artisans involved in the making of diverse Kashmiri handicrafts. Similar initiatives were made by Kashmir Handmade Pashmina Promotion Trust (KHPPT) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

Initially there was some confrontation between the two groups fighting for the same cause, however the matter was resolved by the central government's intervention and an agreement was reached between KHPPT and Tahafuz. As per the agreement signed among the four parties, all KHPPT members will become members of Tahafuz to look after intellectual property rights and issues related to Kashmir Pashmina.

The KHPPT is a body of former shahtoosh and pashmina workers, which came into existence at the behest of WTI and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to promote traditional Kashmir handmade Pashmina.

CDI was established in Srinagar in 2003 as part of the Prime Minister's development package for the state to promote arts and craft in the region. It receives support from the textiles ministry and Jammu and Kashmir's Directorate of Handicrafts.

Granting of GI status to Kashmir Pashmina and Kanni shawls is expected to empower the artisans involved in the trade and raise their standard. The news regarding GI status has been received with eagerness by the artisans.

"This is an achievement for Kashmiri artisans in real sense. The GI status has given genuineness to our products. Now machine made products from outside can't be sold under the name of Kashmir Pashmina. Earlier there was no label to differentiate between the two.

Now our products will bear a definite logo.  Now we can command the prices. Even buyers too won't get confused in the grey matter that otherwise was flooded with fakes from Amritsar. This would automatically raise our standard and earn us the appreciation," said Ali Mohammed Najar . Najar is president of Tahafuz.

Since markets were usually flooded with machine made cheap products and fakes, the original Kashmir Pashmina shawls were less in demand. The imitation had badly affected the shawl weavers whose earnings were often getting reduced. Contrary to the high prices that Pashmina shawls usually fetch, it has been found that earnings of a weaver or spinner do not go beyond Rs 75 a day. 

According to Tahafuz only 50,000 pieces of Kashmir Pashmina shawls are weaved per year in Kashmir.

While a plain Pashmina shawl cost can cost Rs 5000, an embroidered Pashmina shawl can cost Rs 1 lakh, a Jammavar shawl which takes months to make can cost up to Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh.

The GI status brings the Kashmiri products in the same league as Scotch, Darjeeling Tea, Alphanso Mango, EI leather , Alleppy Green Cardamom  and Champagne. Now the implementation of tag is a big challenge for the officials as well as government.

"Now we are in the process to work out a mechanism wherein we are going to look into how to implement this certification mechanism. It is an unorganised industry — spread over large areas comprising traders and weavers. We have to find a method which is both practical and simple," said Muhammad Shariq Farooqi, director, Crafts Development Institute.

The application for getting GI for Kashmir Pashmina, Kani shawls and Sozni - a fine needle embroidery dating back to the 17th century was submitted by Tahafuz in March 2006.

"I can not comment on why Pakistan's objections have been rejected. As far as I understand Pakistan has not filed the objection within the stipulated time. Our claim has been found genuine after an expert team visited valley to cross check it," Farooqi says.

With GI status conferred to Kashmir, now no one in the world can sell their products in the name of Kashmir Pashmina. So Pakistan has to sell its Pashmina products in the name other than Kashmir Pashmina.

Tahafuz has also applied for GI status for 10 more products, including papier mache, walnut wood carvings, Kashmiri silk carpets, Amblikar shawls, Namda or Kashmiri rugs, Katamband (wood ceilings) and Pinjrakari (latticed wood carvings).

"Now we look forward for GI to Sozani after that many more patents will follow soon," satisfied Najar informs.

Public convergence at TRC grounds on August 18 in response to Hurriyat's march to United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office at Srinagar became a defining moment for separatist leadership in Kashmir to show off their strength. Seeing the crowds rallying behind separatist call that saw administration in disquiet, it was a complete win-win situation for the erstwhile disarrayed separatist leadership.

The newfound separatist unity that was conspicuous by the presence of hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and pro-independent Yasin Malik sharing the dice was fast emerging as the face of renewed resistance from the Himalayan state. In the run off of huge public presence, other leaders from the separatist camps too were speaking in unison.

Earlier rally called to commemorate slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh AbdulAziz at his hometown in Pampore in south of Srinagar, proved a success after people boarding the vehicles from other districts reached thereand registered their presence.

Hurriyat got the feel and started calling the shots. March to UN call followed and it attracted sea of people. Much that even surprised the separatist leadership. Carried away by the huge crowd, Geelani made a speech from the core of his heart.

In the catharsis, he went ahead with his desire for Pakistan and sought approval for himself as a "sole leader" for Kashmir cause from the masses.

Geelani roared, "There can be no two leaders in our movement, and today I am giving you people the right to decide who your leader is."

Then after a pause he went ahead asking people - do they have trust in the leadership of Syed Ali Geelani and tens of thousands of hands rose in unison and thundered in affirmation.

Ignoring the presence of others like Mirwaiz and Malik, the aged leader forgot that his words are endangering the fragile unity and virtually took it at the brink of collapse. Besides this his words started a spat.

The differences among top separatists were evident enough, for from the same podium Mirwaiz demanded "immediate self-determination" for Kashmiris. Contrary to it Yasin Malik, rose to announce, "We are for complete independence, neither for this country nor for that.  "Is paar bhi langey- azaadi, us paar bhi langey- azaadi," he exclaimed.

However, the situation was saved from getting worsened by Geelani's aides. Back home within hours Geelani was made to realize by his lieutenants that he of course has committed a mistake and for which he needs to speak in public. Acting on their advice, he went for a damage control and hurriedly called a press conference at his home.

"The movement is bigger than the individual. It was a slip of tongue and if it has hurt anybody's feelings, I apologise. I prefer unity over everything else," Geelani clarified the same day.

Analysts in valley view Geelani's moves as highly political and timely. "There is no disagreement on the point that popularity graph of Syed Ali Shah Geelani is at higher side as compared to others. Geelani tried to usurp the space and thus leaving no room for others to go for any kind of parleys with New Delhi. Moderate leadership whose ideology has takers in national and international level got discredited after their engagement with New Delhi in peace talks yielded no results. May be he might have fears that people might get indulged in back channel talks," said Gul Wani said. Wani is a political analyst in Kashmir and has an eye on the separatist politics in Kashmir.

The two factions of Hurriyat and others had patched up to fight the transfer of 40 hectares of forest land in Baltal area to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and the backlash against it in Jammu by the imposition of economic blockade had further strengthened their alliance.

The remark by Geelani had triggered resentment among other separatists, including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik, besides bringing resentment among thousands of their supporters. But it is learnt that both the leaders had earned enough say in the coordination.

People in moderate Hurriayt are tightlipped as to why Geelani made a charged speech aimed at ignoring rest of the leadership.

 "I think the matter was resolved by the Geelani himself after he went for an apology. There is tremendous public pressure on leaders and they can't afford to commit mistakes at this juncture," said Nayeem Ahmad Khan, senior Hurriyat leader. Khan along with Shabir Ahmad Shah are said to have forged unity among the two Hurriyats and were representing the moderate faction in Coordination Committee.

Last week both the leaders were called back by the Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar from the committee, however days after he was made to reconsider his decision and keep the duo in Coordination Committee.

"For New Delhi our unification is a biggest hurdle. There are forces who are trying to break Hurriyat from outside and within," Khan said.

Geelani's colleagues admitted that that they received hundreds of calls from people who felt the Geelani is trying to alienate other leaders and that his speech could create a gap between the leadership if not clarified. For the first time Geelani has made such an apology for whatever he said during the rally at Tourist reception Centre (TRC) Ground.

"The infighting over imposing agenda on each other has done a serious loss to the movement in Kashmir. We have an experience of it when JKLF was fighting with HM. So Geelani can not impose his ideology on masses and neither can I. let us forget these things and left the matter for people to decide. The new generation clearly says that we don't need to listen to the speeches. Let us do something practical and concrete.

Huge participation of people is enough powerful than a leader's speech. Leaders have to remain cautious," said Javid Ahmad Mir, senior Hurriyat leader and former JKLF commander.

Although the matter was buried after Geelani's apology but cracks in separatist leadership are as evident as before. However, in the face of growing public pressure the leadership is trying hard to conceal the fissures.

These erupt time and again as separatists are lost on where to direct this mass uprising. The leaderless mob on the street is no longer satisfied to hear leaders from the podiums. They want them to put their words in action.

Valley continues to be under the blanket of curfew. But first let me share today’s news with you. Administration has conceded to the demand of Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti regarding transfer of land to shrine board. The decision was taken without taking people from Kashmir (Kashmiri civil society and Action committee against land transfer) into confidence. Again a mistake committed by the administration headed by Governor N.N.Vohra.

Let us go into the genesis of the problem. First the coalition government decided the diversion of 99- acre (40-hectres) of land to the board without having a feel of ramifications, it was likely to generate. They took the aspiration of people forgranted and gave into the demands of former Governor Lt. S K Sinha. The second mistake was committed by the then state government by revoking the order without taking aspirations of Jammu people into confidence. The government at centre preferred watching the situation getting deteriorated rather than mooting a dialogue across Jammu and Kashmir to reach a consensus.

It watched the rightwing forces making it an issue and blowing it out of proportion. It watched the right wing forces taking whole state hostage and imposing economic blockade on Kashmiris.

It used double standards to tackle the crowds in two divisions on either side of Pir Panjal range.  Here peaceful crowds were targeted with bullets, while as those protesting in Jammu and using violent means were dealt with water canons.

No outsider was chased out from Kashmir. No driver from outside was killed or hurt. However, contrary to it drivers from Kashmir were attacked with petrol bombs, their trucks looted. One Kashmiri driver got killed in the mayhem in outskirts of Jammu. In between Yatra in Kashmir was going on without any disruption and a record number of around 6 lakh yatris visited the cave.

We don’t demand that protesters in Jammu be killed but at least administration should have the consideration that Kashmiris too are humans. By resorting to such tactics, officials are deepening the gap between people of Kashmir and New Delhi. So far 48 people have been killed in state and majority of them have got killed in police firing in Kashmir.

Office of the high Commissioner for human rights last week asked Indian authorities particularly the security forces to respect the right to freedom of assembly and ex-pression of people and comply with international human rights principles in controlling the demonstrators.

However, the statement irritated ministry of of external affairs in India, who termed the statement as "uncalled for and irresponsible. The official said,"India does not need any advice in respect of the protection and promotion of the human rights of its citizens,"

Contrary to what it said, curfew continue to be clamped in the valley since last Sunday.There is dearth of essentials in the valley and people are forced to suffer.Soon after today’s news pertaining to government decision became public, officials despite having decided to relax curfew in Kashmir, beefed up the security.

In my locality CRPF personnel carrying lathis (sticks) appeared in the marketplace during the relaxtion hours and started beating the locals without any provocation. Some youngsters were picked up and taken along. In the localities of Srinagar as well such things were repeated to keep people indoors. 

Is anybody listening?

Valley continues to be under curfew for the past six days. All the district headquarters and major towns are experiencing worst kind of restrictions imposed by authorities. Capital city Srinagar has been virtually changed into a garrison with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and Police officials dotting the empty streets. Freedom of people to move around has been curtailed. Every lane and road has been sealed off. Barricades have been put on roads to impede the vehicular movement. Coils of razor wire and tin sheets have been erected around the symbolic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) at city centre. For a moment it looks that the city has been closed off for once and for all.

The situation is not different in other parts of valley. In the wake of these restrictions, people are forced to remain indoors and suffer. There is dearth of eatables, essential commodities and life saving drugs in every nook and corner of valley. Patients too are not spared. They are not allowed to be taken to hospital.

Inside hospitals again it is a chaos. Those patients who are to be discharged do not have the permission or means of transport to go home. Attendents are facing difficulties in getting food. Health officials too find it difficult to make it to their places of posting. There have been instances, where in health officials have been brutally roughed up and ambulance vehicles damaged by the CRPF and police officials.

Fourth estate too is not allowed to perform its duties and responsibilities. The worst thing is that the newspapers from Srinagar, the capital city are not being published. The staff reporters are not allowed to venture out for reporting the situation on ground and thereby reach office.

About two dozen people belonging to media fraternity have been heckled and physically assaulted. They are being intercepted and questioned thoroughly. Last but not least abused and chased out.

Senior journalists who have seen the beginning of insurgency in 1990s have termed the restriction "worst". They say that never before has the restrictions been as severe as of present.

Curfew passes issued by the authorities are not honoured. Rule of men in uniform govern the streets.

It all happened in response to the mass movement by the people following the march to open LoC for tarde. So far around 40 people have got killed due to police firing. Basically government intends to teach a lesson to the people who came out and rallied in open defiance.Everyone here knows that administration is using iron to deal with the peaceful protestors.

I fear that the restrictions and brute force is neither the solution nor a way towards it. It will only deepen the vicious circle. If this is a policy with administration, there is dire need to have a second thought about it.

Tens of thousands of people flooded the Pampore town this weekend in response to the call mooted by Hurriyat Coordination committee to observe the Rasm-e-Chahrum (fourth day ritual) of slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

Seeing a sea of people gathering at a particular place reminded me of the 1990s. Gathering at Pampore was akin rather bigger than earlier one’s when people were swarming the streets demanding independence from India. Boarding buses, trucks and other vehicles, the people carrying green flags and chanting slogans has shattered the feeling that sentiment has died in Kashmir.

It was at its zenith after a gap of twenty years.

Pampore is hometown of Sheikh Aziz a militant turned separatist leader, who was killed when police fired into a massive procession heading towards the LoC last Monday near Uri. Aziz was part of the fruit growers group who had planned to take their fruit to Muzaffarabad in wake of the economic blockade and threat to the Kashmiri truckers at Jammu.   

Again on Monday there is a call from Hurriyat Coordination for a march to UN office in Srinagar. The organization has urged all the people to visit the venue to impress upon the international body about the happenings in Kashmir.

Hurriyat Coordination have plans to hand over memorandum to the office of United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Srinagar. Toping the list of demands would be immediate reopening of trans-LoC Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for unrestricted movement, withdrawal of disturbed areas act and armed forces (special powers ) act, setting free political prisoners and withdrawing cases against them.

There is raging debate going on in New Delhi that Hurriyat is stoking the fire and raising the flames in Kashmir. But to me Hurriyat is a beneficiary. Actually people are tired of the ongoing conflict and want an end to their sufferings. The sea of people that one sees on roads, defying restrictions and braving bullets are the ordinary common men. They are not activists of any regional party nor have any affiliations with Hurriyat. It is a group of young leaderless mob demanding an end to the impasse Kashmir is in.

Twenty years have gone by and the insurgency is going on. There have been attempts to paint the picture in a rosy way but the fresh uprising has defined the sentiment again and put the credibility of such attempts at stake.

Contrary to the Pakistan bashing and the hand of foreign agencies, today’s national newspapers carrying Kashmir as a special has in its columns  suggestions “let India try a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir” for its own good.

The row over Amranath land seems to be unending and the government at centre apathetic. Fifty days of rioting. More than two dozen deaths and scores injured. The standoff has deeply polarized situation in Jammu and Kashmir that now seems to be limping towards a point of no return.

With Jammu for and Kashmir against the transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), the agitation is taking communal colour in Jammu and raising the separatist sentiment in Kashmir. Imposing "economic blockade" and disallowing the horticulture exports from valley is deepening the divide and has virtually brought two regions at loggerheads with each other. For a moment it seems the two provinces want to break apart. In the conflagration solution to the problem remains elusive by now.

Ironically the third meeting of the all-party delegation in Delhi called by Prime Minister ended up without reaching any conclusion. Shall we say that New Delhi has given up? Who is responsible for the blood that has been spilled on streets? In this hour of darkness there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Are there no thinking beings in the power corridors?

A cursory look in to the happenings that preceded the land row makes one understand how much irresponsible the representatives of the elected government were. Had ministers of PDP resisted the transfer of land at an in initial stage, state would not have gone into flames?

Role of Congress party was equally disgusting. They could not foresee the danger. They allowed the situation to worsen first in Kashmir and then in Jammu.

Behind the agitation is Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (AYSS). The organization is having members belonging to RSS, VHP and other right wing groups. Spearheading the samiti is Leela Karan Sharma, a RSS loyalist.

To make its voice heard, members of the AYSS blocked Srinagar-Jammu highway -Kashmir's main link to the rest of the country. At places Hindu mobs attacked the Muslim shops and homes and raised slogans demanding Muslim Kashmiris to leave the area.

J&K is presently under Governor’s rule and the onus of all this is on the Governor. He seems to have lost the control over the situation. People in New Delhi too seem to ne helpless. One gets enough feeling that central government too seems to be playing at the hands of BJP, for the situation has come as a political bonanza for the party. Not only are they going to reclaim itself in Jammu after it was wiped in last state elections in 2002, it has decided to make it a nationwide issue to take on Congress in the 2009 elections and sweep the polls.

Tail Piece

Resorting to blame game and petty politics is no solution to the problem instead New Delhi has to take some concrete steps to resolve the crisis. Negating that economic blockade is not in offing simply worsens the situation. There is hell lot of difference between making statements and the enforcing it on ground.

Last week I managed to take out time from my hectic schedule to visit Kashmir University. Ever since I left University I hardly get time to revisit my favourite place on earth –the University campus. Last Saturday proved to be a dream come true. I got time to stroll on the lush green campus with plenty of chinar trees dotting it. Life on campus reminded me of my University days. It made me to think about the people whom I liked and yearned to talk but never succeeded.

Usually time passes, never comes again but memories remain there to be remembered again and again. I heard that student union has come up in University and that it works for the welfare of students. During our time there was a complete ban on the formation of any such union.

In the absence of any collective body of students, authorities were always exploiting the students. The worst part of this was that the police on the campus were always resorting to highhandedness. Students were often intercepted, questioned inside the administrative block and inside the lawns. Their entry inside some buildings was restricted until 2 pm.

Sometimes if they would defy the unnecessary restrictions, they had to face the wrath of police officials. Students like me were kept lingering for a small official requisite inside administrative block. At times either concerned clerks had left their counters or were in no mood of doing the work post lunch time.  

Such restrictions are still in force on the campus.

Two weeks before two students were beaten up by the guards and left critically injured for entering the administrative block to submit their examination forms.

Imposing restrictions on students and lending free hand to clerical staff and policemen is detrimental to the academic excellence.

Mr Vice Chancellor such happenings are the creations of your predecessors, here is a chance for you to set the right trend.

As I sat to write about the political crisis in my state, a friend of mine called me up to inform Jammu and Kashmir assembly was dissolved and the governor’s rule was imposed. Although, it’s not something unexpected instead was quite obvious after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s resignation.

Azad’s resignation in the state assembly on Monday (June 7) that had met in Srinagar to decide Congress government’s fate was approval to the fact that he and his cohorts were lying to maintain their decorum until then. Well before the polling Azad gave a speech followed by his announcement to step down.

During his speech to assembly Azad told that he does not wish to put his friends in trouble whose hearts are somewhere else and their party whip is somewhere else. This was followed by his request to speaker Tara Chand to withdraw the confidence motion moved by him at the beginning of his speech.

Ever since Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pulled out from the coalition government, Azad and his cohorts were high on rhetoric maintaining their party would be able to prove the majority during the floor test. Although none of the Congress leaders were pragmatic enough to substantiate their claims, still there were assertions that party would be able to garner the support from some legislators mainly belonging to PDP. And statements issued by PDP in the press giving an inkling that Congress might indulge in horse trading to show their majority lend credibility to such reports.

However, the claims and allegations proved to be a complete hoax. With National Conference, PDP, NPP and BJP together having 48 members in the 89-member state assembly (two women members nominated by the Governor), Congress could not get the required 45 seats. Therefore, Azad was left with no choice but to tender the resignation to the Governor.

PDP had entered into a power sharing agreement with Congress following a hung verdict in 2002 polls. The Congress and the PDP coalition took over the reins in November 2002 with an agreement that each would hold the chief minister’s post for three years. PDP completed her term in the first phase and handed power to Congress in 2005. There have been instances when party differed with the stand taken by PDP. Be it troop withdrawal or that of involvement of forest minister in the forest scam. Every time the parties overcame the crisis with central government’s timely arbitration well before endangering the coalition. Since Congress party at the centre is caught in the crisis over nuclear deal, it could not effectively strike a deal between the two partners in the current crisis.

A fissure in relations between Congress and the PDP before the upcoming Assembly elections was always on the cards, but analysts say for the PDP it could not have come at a better time, or for better reasons. However, in the development Congress party was at a receiving end for the crisis could not have come at a worse time, or for worse reasons.

PDP has long been thinking to break free of the shackles of a coalition with the Congress and expand his own base in the Valley and beyond. But insiders in the party maintain that rift within the party thwarted any such effective strategy. The party received a blow after its rebel leader Ghulam Hassan Mir launched his own party.  

Chief Minister’s resignation came nine days after PDP withdrew support to the coalition government over the Amarnath land row. Around 40 hectares of forest land in Baltal area have been transferred to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for Rs 2.31crores (23.1 million rupees). The order triggered valley wide protests and government was made to rescind the order. No doubt the government’s revocation brought life back to normal, in Jammu, the move was strongly opposed. Tension gripped to such an extent that curfew was imposed in the many party of the region to contain the situation that was taking communal shape. Land issue virtually divided two regions of the state in to two with Jammu for and Kashmir against the granting of land to SASB.

 So far eight people (six with valley and two in Jammu) have got killed and hundreds of others injured in the state over the row.

Observers see the decision by Ghulam Nabi Azad as a political one to dilute the situation in Jammu region that erupted following the government’s rollback on Amarnath. Azad’s resignation has been celebrated in Jammu with people setting off fire crackers and distributing sweets. Since people have been demanding his resignation over his decision to revoke the land transfer, the act would come as a relief for the agitating youth who would see decision as the winning of popular sentiment.

Although Azad defended his decision to withdraw the vote of confidence in assembly by stating that since he has brought the anti-defection law into the state, he would never wanted to indulge in horse trading. However Azad’s response to avoid vote of confidence motion is taken as a face saving by him. Insiders say that although Congress party was well in touch with some legislators but it was not able to woo the required number to prove the majority.

Last Friday on May 27, a sea of people swarmed on the roads of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir demanding the revocation of the land transfer.  Around 40 hectares of forest land in Baltal area have been transferred to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for Rs 2.31crores (23.1 million rupees).

The people’s mass movement was ensured after Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, I G Sahai made a statement that police has been asked to exhibit restraint. Sahai’s statement came four days after street protests and clashes with police and CRPF left three people dead besides hundreds wounded.

Tens of thousands of people came out in one of the biggest demonstrations in recent years shouting pro-freedom slogans. The demonstrators including men women and children marched through streets in Srinagar and ultimately gathered at Lal Chowk (Red Square) in city centre.

The youth hoisted green flags over a historical clock tower in the Lal Chowk of Srinagar, where authorities hoist national flags on independence and republic days in tight security vigil.

Lal Chowk drowned in the sea of people and reverberating with slogans made the gun wielding CRPF personnel who have a post at the base of the tower to watch the unusual ceremony as mute spectators. However, none from the mob tried to clash with these personnel nor did they bother to hinder. People watched the scaling of clock tower by youth with much jubilation and intermittently clapped in affirmation.   

“This is for the first time that people have been able to hoist the flag of resistance in broad day light. That is enough a message that should stir New Delhi. Now it’s a people’s movement. No militants, no Jehadis, we are Kashmiris and that is our verdict,” said a protester Muzamil Ajaz from down town locality of Srinagar.  Ajaz has come to city centre along with his cousins. Friday protests reminded people of the 1990s protests. Large-scale processions were common in Kashmir in the early 1990s soon after the outbreak of an anti-India armed insurgency in the region. However, a strong police presence later made such processions almost impossible.

Clock tower in Lal Chowk has been a symbolic. Paramilitary troopers have been occupying it since 90s. Earlier the space around it was encircled by piled up sandbags and net but of late the decline in militancy related incidents made security officials to relieve the place to ensure free traffic movement.

Friday’s episode culminated without any violence but people met the resistance on Saturday after they tried to come again to register the similar protest. This was followed by an undeclared curfew by authorities in parts of city to confine people inside the houses.

Flags were also hoisted outside radio station in Srinagar and main traffic intersections.

The mass participation of the people took amy people by surprise and reminded them of the 1990s.

A row over transfer of 100 acres of forest land at Balthal in Sindh forest division is going on in Jammu and Kashmir. The issue came up after people came to know about the coalition government’s approval of the land transfer to Shir Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).