The BJP never tires of accusing the Congress and other Opposition parties of internationalising the Kashmir issue. But, the Centre has needlessly tried to do the same by organising the three-day-long G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar last week. The ostensible reason for taking over 60 delegates from G20 countries there was to showcase Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh as a peaceful territory with huge potential for investment. If economic wellbeing is one of the main agenda of G20, the entire country, as a profitable destination, should have been promoted and not just one state. That makes the very attempt, to make J&K the focus of the tourism meet, suspect.
Much before the event took place, Pakistan had first tried to raise the issue of the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the former state of J&K as an illegal act. The Indian response of not bothering about the hue and cry made by Pakistan on the ground that the latter does not belong to the G20 group is inconsequential. The fact that Pakistan could drag the Kashmir issue into international focus discredits the Indian government somewhat. Predictably, China followed Pakistan and sought to reinforce Pakistan’s arguments with the claim that the event was being organised in a disputed territory. Both Pakistan and China had previously made unwarranted references to the conversion of J&K state into an Union Territory.
This resulted in China promptly announcing its boycott of the meeting. This had a chain reaction in the international arena and Turkey and Saudi Arabia sent out signals they were following in the footsteps of China.
What is even worse is that the government’s action gave the UN special rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes, an opportunity to slam the Centre’s handling of the Kashmir imbroglio. Criticising the venue of the meeting he said the meeting would support a “facade of normalcy” while “massive human rights violations” continue in the region. India’s mission at the UN in Geneva rejected the statement as “baseless” and “unwarranted allegations.” But, the whole episode was uncalled for.
That the narrative of peace and stability in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 is suspect was unnecessarily brought under international scrutiny. For the G20 tourism meet India’s elite National Security Guard, including its counter-drone unit and marine commandos, were deployed to help the police and paramilitary forces to secure the event venues. The main city of Srinagar appeared calm as the event started. The roads were unusually clean. Most of the usual security checkpoints had been removed or camouflaged with G20 signs. Officials said hundreds of officers were specially trained in what they called “invisible policing” for the event. However, authorities did not take chances and shut many schools in the city.
The measures taken during the programme contrasted sharply with the visible security imposed in the days before the event. A massive security cordon was placed around the venue on the shore of Dal Lake, with elite naval commandos patrolling the water in rubber boats. The city’s commercial centre was spruced up.
It would be naive for the Centre to think that international delegates would have been convinced with a stage managed show that peace had returned to the region.The G20 includes the world’s 19 wealthiest nations plus the European Union, together accounting for 85% of global economic output and two-thirds of its population.
India has got the responsibility of hosting the G20 summit as a routine rotational chair system. But, the BJP-led-government has been from the beginning projecting it as if it is an international recognition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The reason is not far to seek. Lok Sabha election will be held in 2024 and the government has failed on the economic front with a series of disastrous policies, including an ill-conceived demonetisation, botched up GST and record unemployment. The G20 summit offered an opportunity to the government to divert the people’s attention from the bread and butter issues and project their mascot as an international leader. However, the fallout for India on the long run has been bad.