Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to Sheikhgund village in south Kashmir during the latest episode of Mann Ki Baat was, on the face of it, a heartening story. By highlighting how a single concerned resident mobilised an entire village to curb the sale of tobacco and confront substance abuse, the Prime Minister underlined an important truth: community resolve can make a difference. In a region often discussed only through the prism of conflict and politics, Sheikhgund was projected as an example of social responsibility and collective action.

But the larger picture beyond this inspiring anecdote is far more disturbing. Even as the Prime Minister spoke of a........

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