Kashmir Halcyon:

From self-sufficiency to dependency Daanish Bin Nabi Till 1953, Kashmir was self-sufficient and did not import anything apart from salt, tea and clothing. However, the political coup and the subsequent arrest of Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on August 8, 1953 changed the political as well as economic course of Kashmir. In 1947, the import-export ratio of Kashmir’s trade was 1:3, indicating that Kashmir had a surplus trade. But 68 years down the line this ratio has taken a u-turn. Today the trade ratio of import-export of Kashmiri goods stands at 7:1. Kashmir now import goods of worth more than Rs 40,000 crore a year and only export goods worth Rs 7000 crore. There is a deficit of Rs 33,000 crore, which increases every year.  Import and Export of Goods In 1951, a devastating draught hit Kashmir and there was dearth of rice. At that time, council of minster of then Prime Minster Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah suggested that Kashmir should import food grai...

Daanish Bin Nabi Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee walked an extra mile to reach the people of Kashmir as the attack on Indian Parliament in 2001 had driven a wedge between India-Pakistan relations and put to freeze conclusive dialogue and talks on Kashmir. Despite the criticism and annoyance at home, Vajpayee addressed the people of J&K at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in April 2003. For his intent and openness he was well received with slogans of “Na Banduk Se Na Goli Se Baat Banegi Boli Se” (only talks are the way out). In his address, Vajpayee made a reference to the then situation in Iraq and said, “Bloodbath should end in Kashmir because guns and war is no solution to any problem.” Cut to 2015; state Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did everything to please Prime Minister Narendra Modi who reached Srinagar on November 7 and addressed a rally in the same stadium. Tweaking the same slogan, Mufti Sayeed said at the same venue, “Na Grenade Se Na Goli Se Baat B...