Col J P Singh
JK UT Legislative Assembly was convened on 4th November 2024 at Srinagar after successful 3 phased election held in September-October which elected its Speaker followed by inaugural address by the LG. Before that hte Council of Ministers had passed a resolution on 17 October 2024 for restoration of Statehood stating that this resolution echoes the aspirations of the people of J&K. Welcoming the restoration of the House, in his address, LG also emphasized that restoration of Statehood and Constitutional Guarantees would be a befitting reciprocation of the faith reposed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in democratic institutions. Assurances on Statehood enthused Jammu because the J&K State was created by the sweat and blood of Dogras. It was a promising beginning and everyone saw it a win-win situation because like me others also had dreamt of a golden period post election. But the sentiment in the Assembly about special status and 370 shatters our hope.
Abrogation of Article 370 and Reorganisation of J&K was a monumental political initiative of Modi led Govt which demolished the political, psychological and religious barriers coming in the way of meeting of the Indian minds. Pre reorganistaion of the State, ‘Damocles Sword’ kept hanging over country’s sovereignty and integrity. This historic initiative of integrating J&K fully with the nation was a strategic initiative. Past 5 years was a golden period for Kashmir. Politicians were sidelined. Stone pelting had stopped. Tourism had boomed. Economic prosperity has come back. Infrastructure development fast tracked. But it was taken with a pinch of salt by the Kashmiri Sultans. They took the abrogation of 370 as direct attack on their private Fiefdom and saw it a personal humiliation. Hence Article 370 was made election issue telling people that their identity had been snatched, their pride crushed by Modi and hence Islam endangered. This emotional blackmail gave them unexpected mandate, now a tool to defame Modi. Their success in the election is being projected as rejection of the Parliament decision and hence the cudgels picked up inside the Assembly and outside for the return of their Fiefdom and restoration of pride. It seems that valley MLAs are in a combative mood and hell bent upon taking the UT, likely to be a State soon, back in times rather than moving ahead with the times in galloping India. This narrative has irked Jammu Dogras. Jammu’s 28 BJP MLAs are also up in arms against unconstitutional Kashmiri agenda. Above prologue suggests that people of Jammu & people of Kashmir not only differ on the above issues but are at daggers drawn on the issue of pre-5 August 2019 status. Some political censors in the valley are transmitting pre-1953 signals. The prolonged ruckus in the Legislature was not a healthy sign for the return of peace and prosperity. Hence prospects of forthcoming Statehood turn gloomy.
What began on a conciliatory note on the progress of Legislative business inside the House soon turned out to be confrontationist when an MLA moved a resolution against 370 on the very first day. Succumbing to the valley MLAs and his own party, Chief Minister minced no words in stating that the Mandate of the House was against 5th August 2019 decision. Thus establishing once again beyond any doubt that Kashmiri Legislators of all hue will not abandon their exclusivity and anti India ideology which hurts the sentiments of traditionally discriminated Jammu. As expected opposition benches tore off the resolution giving way to unending and ugly confrontation/marshalling out. CM continued to assure the House that he will not relent in his endeavors to get the special status and Statehood back. Modi-Amit Shah duo rejected the agenda at its hustings stating that no power on earth can bring back 370. The fact is that Parliament has passed the Reorganisation Act by majority and the Supreme Court has upheld the Act.
7 decades of special status and an idea of Kashmiri Sultanate had led Kashmir on the path of confrontation with Delhi whereas last decade of Modi rule raised the hatred to a higher level of destructive path. Given this opportunity to rule, MLAs will leave no stone unturned to derail the peace process even at the cost of self destruction. Till now all mighty Abdullahs, Gilanis and Muftis of Kashmir have been psychologically and emotionally exploiting the poor people of the valley on the regional and religious grounds in order to blackmail Delhi and enjoy the perks and privileges of the power. Under Modi dispensation they were denied of this luxury. The blackmail has worked again.
I had opposite take on the formation of new Govt in the UT. I didn’t expect Omar Abdullah be CM because he had said repeatedly, “I will never enter this moth-eaten Legislature”. I expected Dr. Farooq to take over as CM instead and sing in a different tune of harmonious center-state relations and tone of reconciliation as peculiar to his personality. Since he had been out of power since long, course correction was expected from him like Sheikh Sahib, his stalwart father, who bowed down for the sake of power in 1975. Similar good sense should have prevailed upon the grandson. I would often debate in my peer group telling that the very first resolution/bill in the Assembly would be approval of 5th August 2019 Parliament Act followed by another Resolution exhorting everyone to work for the welfare of the people and make Kashmir paradise on the earth again. I also expected the new Assembly to take credit as harbingers of peace and prosperity. I expected the new Assembly to compliment the security forces for creating an atmosphere for most peaceful election enabling them return to power. My assertions were based on the ground reality. Infrastructure development in the valley, influx of tourists and massive voters turn out, more than 75 percent at places, caught my attention. I saw this mandate for peace and development and not for return of 370 because the NC and PDP had been earlier rejected by the same voters on similar slogans / manifestoes and shown the empty ballot boxes. By loud parroting against Parliament decision, they did manage the mandate. But that doesn’t mean that Kashmiris have shunned peace and development. The massive polling certainly wasn’t for the return of militancy. I would still reiterate that the mandate is for peace and prosperity but the Legislators have highjacked it. They need to be exposed by the BJP in Jammu as the PM and HM are exposing NC-Cong nefarious agenda during electioneering.
So far as Statehood is concerned, it is getting complicated. Jammu’s mandate suggests separation of Jammu. Lot is being written and spoken about it. If simmering discontent is not addressed, pre 1953 type political scenario may emerge. Wisdom would lie in understanding that Kashmir is Crown of India and hence immensely cared for even at the cost of Jammu. Kashmiris should feel proud of being Indian and part of Indian growth. Public must speak over and above their Sultans’ agenda. The ruckus about 370 and debate on Statehood must be kept in cold storage for a year atleast so that the limping peace takes roots.
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