Through discussions started May
2008 the launch of cross LOC trade in August 30,2008 was times to appease
Kashmir Valley just ahead of assembly elections.In summer 2008 Jammu and
Kashmir passed through crisis, perhaps the worst for India in 50 years. Kashmir
valley erupted one on the transfer of a piece of land to a temple trust on two
counts-the some sections of the Kashmir valley saw it as a government sponsored
attempt to change the demographic profile of the Valley while others based their opposition on ecological
concerns.Under pressure,the state government rescinded the land allotment order
leading to an immediate and violent backlash in Jammu and other parts of
northern India.Hundreds of thousands of people in Kashmir valley vented their
anger against India and took a APHC leaders laid by sambolic march to the Line
of Control demonstrating for connections with in POK as the Amarnath
disturbances had blocked the National Highway
through Jammu.17 protesters including frientline JKPL-Jammu and Kashmir
Peoples Leauge chairman, Mr. Sheikh Abdul Aziz were killed. The Government, it seems, has not learnt any
lessons from the 2008 agitation. In response to Hurriyat call, eight lakh people (as per rough estimates) assembled
at Pampore at the Rasam-e-qul (last rites) of slain Hurriyat leader, Sheikh
Abdul Aziz. He was killed in Baramulla district while marching towards
Muzaffarabad. The separatists could not manage the gathering. The microphones
did not work and people did not hear what the leaders were saying from an
elevated podium.
In Jammu local Hindu dominated
business community called for complete snapping of trade ties with Kashmir.In
such a surcharged atmosphere New Delhi felt strong pressure from Indian civil
society and therefore immediately started taking about cross-LoC trade between
Srinagar and Muzafarabad to ease tension in Kashmir Valley. Jammu saw this as
weak appeasement or surrender by Delhi
to separatists pressure,while the Kashmir Valley saw it as the start of lasting resoulation of the Kashmir dispute.
New Delhi feared Kashmir Valley
would not vote in legislative assembly elections announced its go-ahead. A delegation
of traders from Muzafarabad was invited to visit Kashmir and then Jammu. But Mr
Syed Ali Shah Gilani and other separatists called the proposal a cosmetic
measure to deviate attention from core issue. However it was largely welcomed
in the Valley. A 23-member traders delegation from Muzafarabad was warmly
welcomed in Srinagar even though the government and civil society groups where
the atmosphere was surcharged by the Hindu temple land row.
