Kashmir's example.

THE scheme that India's ruling BJP is working on is at variance with the basic tenets of democracy. By all indications, the BJP believes that its best shot at securing a victory in the general election in India is by driving a wedge between the majority Hindu community and the minorities, which by no means constitute 'small' sections of the population. Armed with Hindutva ideas that are blamed for pre-deciding the polls on the basis of religion, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone about employing tactics that are meant to intimidate and scare off opponents and force large-scale public surrender to the BJP doctrine. In this search for models to communicate the Modi message to large sections of the Indian people, the long-smouldering occupied territory of Kashmir is but a natural hunting ground for the champions of Hindutva. Within India-held Kashmir, perhaps there is no leader who draws greater wrath from the rulers in New Delhi than Yasin Malik. Now in his 50s and accused of murder and abduction and much else, Mr Malik retains the old aura that links him and yet sets him apart from the other big names in the Hurriyat, the umbrella organisation of parties fighting to free IHK from Indian captivity.

There are a number of Kashmiri leaders who command respect from the people in their own right. Frequently, political analysts come up with their own assessments about who among them is more relevant or more active at a particular...