‘Won’t Let More Kids Die’: Kashmiri Women On Struggles of J&K Life

A deserted street seen through a barbwire set up as blockade during curfew in Srinagar, Kashmir

(Photo: AP)

Video editor: Vishal Kumar
Video producer: Hera Khan

Life hasn’t been easy for the people in the Valley after the abrogation of Article 370.

Women of the Valley expressed sorrow and disappointment at the condition of Jammu and Kashmir and the issues its residents are grappling with.

‘People Have Been Taken Out of the Picture’

One of the women said, “Taking a decision after imposing a curfew shows that they were scared.”

Another woman rued,

“India is supposed to be a democracy but I don’t think it is. All this was reportedly done for the people but if the people have been taken out of the picture, then what is left? At least people’s opinion should have been taken. People (of Kashmir) had no role to play in this.”

Kahsmiri Resident

‘We Don’t Want to Lose Our Kids’

Talking about stone pelting by Kashmiri youth, a woman said, “Everyone, including the government, is saying no stone pelting is happening here. It’s not happening because we don’t want to lose our kids.”

Another woman articulated the helplessness which has pervaded the minds of Kashmiris and said that stone pelting is only a response to the suffering to which they are subjected, and isn’t limited to Kashmir insofar as other states would have reacted in the same manner under similar circumstances.

“People are still calm. I think it’s been two weeks since the lockdown... What would be people’s response? What do we have? For example, if this situation persists, what are people going to do? They will definitely come out on the streets. They will react in one way or the other.”

Kahsmiri Resident

Upon being asked if women participated in stone pelting, a young woman said women have always partaken in such events, but have not been in the limelight.

‘Political Parties Did Nothing for Kashmiris’

Slamming political parties including National Conference and PDP, these Kashmiri women expressed disappointment over their rule.

“Whether it is Sheikh Abdullah’s family or the Mufti family. When they were in power they only thought about themselves. A seven-year-old child who is pelting stones is called a mastermind and Mehbooba Mufti sahiba said “Will they be given toffees if they go to the camp?” They have never felt the pain of Kashmiris.”

Kashmiri Resident

These women demand free Kashmir and plan to hold protests.

A Kashmiri woman said, “We will not let more kids die. Many kids have died here. This land is soaked in their (kids) blood.”