One of the worlds`s biggest political and social challenges in the new millennia is the growing religiously inspired radicalization. India is a secular country where all faiths are worshipped and respected by the Indians. This unity of faith is being developed slowly and smoothly since ages. Indian culture has always been so adaptive that it has absorbed all religious faiths with open hands. Prolonged period of religious cohesion and tolerance, Indian people have developed a religious tolerance.
After independence of India, new state Pakistan was born based on radicalized Islam. Since the inception of Pakistan, pillars of ideology of the Pak state are Islam radicalisation, animosity against India and modernization of armed forces with USA’s economic support. Animosity against India deepened with signing of Instrument of Accession on 26 Oct 1947 for inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir state with India. Pakistan tried four times to win Jammu and Kashmir through inimical force but failed miserably. Finally under the dictatorship of Gen Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq since 1977-88 Pak decided to misguide the youth of Jammu and Kashmir through religious radicalization vide Thousand Cut Policy against Union of Indian State.
Religious Radicalization is a process by which a person or a group comes to adopt increasingly extreme religious ideas and aspirations that reject or undermine the status quo or rejects and undermines contemporary ideas and expression of freedom of choice. Religious radicalization in Jammu and Kashmir State is always supported by Pakistan through various puppet terrorists’ organizations and extreme violent religious institutions like Jamaat-e- Islami which spits venom through various sermons during religious practices. Pakistan exploits religion to misguide youths of Jammu and Kashmir to fulfill her ideology of animosity against India since 1947. Initially, Pakistan kept radicalization alive through Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) whose motive was Aazadi of Kashmir but not with religion radicalization. Then Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT) came into play and neutralized JKLF cadre. LeT infused Islamic Religious Radicalisation to further disturb religious cohesion and law & order in the J&K State since 1989.
The Government of India has taken various steps to mitigate religious radicalization in India specially Jammu and Kashmir state. The first and foremost measure is education reforms i.e. Madrassa education reforms. Government implemented “one hand Kuran and in the other hand Laptop” to modernize the madrasa education system as per contemporary education policy. The second step is reducing Wahhabism and enhancing Sufism in the culture and day to day activities. Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A by Government of India was a milestone to curb religious radicalization, money laundering for terrorist activities, stone pelting activities, various agitation activities and enhance government agencies’ grip over the local system. Various development projects to enhance rail, road and air connectivity of J&K state with rest of the India and Rejuvenation of Old Mughal Road to make available another road connectivity with Srinagar which connects ancient shrines and sarai’s of Mughal era to increase tourism and economic activities. Youth engagement programs are also initiated by the government to engage youth to channelize their energy towards the main stream. Army initiatives are also helping to curb radicalization like various sports activities being conducted in the respective AOR, Sadbhavna Projects, Med Camp facilities, Super 30 Initiative, Chai programs/ melas with local etc to enhance Awam connectivity and develop trust and respect, conduct various events to mitigate locals’ hardships like Chillai Kalan events. Army is also running various schools to improve the education system for Awam like Army Public Schools.
Religious radicalization is distorting the ambient/ Sufism culture of Kashmir and disturbing the basic cohesion of multi cultural threads of the Kashmir. This extremism will hamper the nation`s integrity in the diversity concept and approach. However, government initiative, local Awam participation in the government activities and youths’ participation into main stream will curb it and enhance multiculturism of the nation and Kashmir. Thus all these efforts will again lead to make Kashmir ‘Jannat’ again and enhance strong bond between Awam & government.
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