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Written by: Fatima Chand

Category: ARTICLES

Published: 13 June 2015

When things are running smoothly in Srinagar with people going about with their work and there is an air of normalcy, miscreants try to create an atmosphere of uncertainty. A similar incident was witnessed on the afternoon of June 12.

I was in the bus, heading for Munwarabad when it stopped to drop off a passenger at Nowhatta, opposite Jamia Masjid. Looking out the window, my attention was drawn towards a youth bending down near a parked vehicle. He took a handkerchief out of the pocket and wrapped it around his face. As I continued to watch, he picked up a brick and jumped up with a shout.

This alarmed the surrounding people and everyone started running. The police came running to control the situation. People continued to run to get away from the scene. They didn’t want to get into the cross-fire if there was any exchange of bricks and bullets.

These incidents have become a routine every Friday after Jumma prayers. Neither political leaders nor religious groups are doing anything to guide the youths. Who will take responsibility of such incidents? Political parties use it to their advantage to misguide the people whereas religious groups just shake their head and say nothing.

When a youth is killed in the process, then strikes and protests are declared. Separatists step out and cry for ‘aazdi’. They have the so-called ‘aazdi’ but they misuse it. Misguiding youths and brainwashing them to carry out political dirty work for one’s own political agenda is utter evil and foolishness. And this is not Islamic at all.

Religious groups should come up and guide the hot-blooded youths towards righteousness. Their energy has to be channeled into something which will benefit the ummah and the state of Kashmir as a whole. Churning troubles will only get them in the cross-fire and hell. If Srinagar wants to develop and progress like other states, then it has to take responsibility of its youths. It’s about time this issue gets addressed.