The siege of Kashmir’s mainstream camp completed five months on January 5. Since the central government revoked the special status of and announced plans for reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, those in the mainstream camp who had come to represent the face of India, especially for people in the Valley, have been branded as troublemakers by men and women at the helm of affairs in New Delhi. From former union minister, three time chief minister of J&K and sitting Member of Parliament, Dr Farooq Abdullah, arguably the tallest living leader in the mainstream camp, to two former chief ministers, ministers, lawmakers, party leaders, activists and their immediate relations, New Delhi has discovered a new class of ‘traitors’ who have been described as the cause of all that ails Kashmir. However, with the global opinion on Kashmir raising temperatures, there seems to be a softening of stand. Lately, some measures have been taken to set the process of freeing the detained political leaders into motion. Altaf Bukhari, with his plan of floating a new political outfit, has swung into action too. Over the past few weeks, some leaders have walked out of jails after signing a bond before a magistrate that they will not speak about the Article 370 abrogation and the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir where the security lockdown and communication blockade following August 5 has, according to the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, resulted in losses over Rs 18000 crores. According to reports, barring five leaders, all the political detainees who are being presently held at Srinagar’s MLA hostel, are going to be released by the end of this month. Rumours are rife that a major announcement is being made on Republic Day. However, there is no word on when Dr Farooq and two former CMs are going to be released. In their absence from the political arena, can the Centre make claims of normalcy in J&K, and get away with it? Not so long ago, there was a talk of “alternative to Muftis and Abdullahs”? Why hasn’t it even appeared on the political horizon? If Altaf-led group the alternative? Also, how is the central government going to fill the political vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir? In times of uncertainty, is Panchayat Raj a way out? How is the system going to compensate hundreds of thousands of jobs that have been lost in the service sector in less than five months? What about the economy? Can the political siege be sustained? Or will it end, with the end of Chillai Qalaan? We will know soon!