Col J P Singh, Retd.
BJP-PDP coalition in J&K is under criticism ever since it was formed. Such political adversaries will become allies and form the govt was considered impossible. Surprisingly it happened. So far as J&K is concerned, this coalition is not a love marriage. It was a product of political necessity. This political marriage raised expectations. Since it is a political marriage, it is bound to hold despite love-hate and criticism.
Unlike other states of India, governance in J&K is uniquely complex because; (i) Art 370 gives it a special status and makes it a ‘Nation within Nation’ impacting, rather complicating, Centre-State relations. (ii) being a border state, India’s relations with China and Pakistan directly influence state’s politics. Thus it acquires geo-political, rather international significance. (iii) State is demographically divided evenly. There is Muslim majority Kashmir, Hindu majority Jammu and Buddhist majority Ladakh. They are culturally and geographically also divergent. (iv) To top them all the world perceives it disputed. (v) Last but not the least is the proxy war unleashed by Pakistan.
It is first time in the history that BJP is sharing power in J&K. Today there is BJP everywhere in Jammu; in the media and the posters. But there is no visible BJP sarkar in Jammu anywhere. PDP is in the Valley. There isn’t even Mufti sarkar effective in the valley because Pakistan and ISIS flags fly in the valley and Khalistan posters were seen in Jammu. Next may be Chinese flags flying in Ladakh. Pak proxies and separatists suddenly seem enthused and emboldened as is evident from Masrat Alam release drama, Ali Shah Geelani’s defiance and Asiya Andrabi’s recent drama of furling Pakistani Flag, singing Pak National Anthem and video addressing Jamatul Dawa Chief Hafiz Saeed organized rally in Pakistan. Ironically opposite of what was expected is happening. All these and the loud noises of AIIMS etc in Jammu must be rasping hard on the BJP ears.
BJP’s downward journey started the day it signed a coalition deal with an ideologically divergent and dominant PDP. This meant that it had to part ways with its core ideology. It also meant that it ignored the sentiments of Shayama Prasad Mukerjee, its fountainhead. Justification given was that the split mandate was a compelling reason to form the govt with the PDP. The compromise was considered necessary on the grounds that how could the BJP bring in a new order in J&K if it stayed away from Govt formation. But soon came the first blow when Mufti Mohd Sayeed, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Pakistan and the separatists for the peaceful conduct of election. But the BJP rejoiced saying that Mufti has blundered by not giving credit to the public which overwhelmingly participated in the election. Jammu accepted it with grace. Then came the AIIMS blow with Mufti’s assertion that AIIMS will be in Srinagar not Jammu. Silence of BJP was contested. Jammu observed complete band with support from all non-political oganisations rattling the coalition. Hardly few days had passed when Mufti scrapped artificial Tawi Lake project in Jammu. Both these blows were deadly because Arun Jailtely had announced AIIMS for Jammu in his 28 Feb 2015 Budget speech and the artificial lake was nearing completion. But for the Jammuites, with all the things going wrong, there was no option but to launch an agitation against its own BJP because party which always held to its idealistic moorings, did everything to its contrary. It showed itself lingering on to power and for lot of its dedicated original cadre it was highly disillusioning moment. For them, BJP’s experiment with disillusionment was all but over. Ever since the formation of AIIMS Coordination Committee, BJP’s normal mode of functioning became confrontationist. Strange! They are alleged to have tired to sabotage the agitation. That shows inexperience, lack of confidence, lust for power, internal differences and above all lack of vision. Our hope stands demolished. In the face of unpalatable facts, how will the BJP find ways to undo the damage done to the public psyche is our worry. We know that wise men start discovering new ideas to keep hopes afloat and the politicians are always wiser. They recalibrate ideas, adjust to compromises and catch a straw to remain afloat.
To put the BJP on the right track, civil society is doing what it should be doing. It formed a coordination committee led by Jammu Bar Association, to put pressure on the govt by relay hunger strike and Jammu bandhs. Seeing the mood of the masses, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Dy CM gave a written assurance that by 20th July, he will get an undertaking from Central Govt for Jammu AIIMS. This brings to what I call clutching to a last straw and that also did not happen. This decisively proves skeptics right and buries the ideals that threw up a formidable party in Jammu to ensure that there will be no discrimination. Even after getting 10 more days BJP could not get AIIMS. Dr. Nirmal Singh disappeared from the scene and the stage of given over to Ch. Lal Singh, the Health Minister. News of grant of AIIMS to Jammu was received with confusing signals. Despite being charismatic and known for pro Jammu stance, Lal Singh was unable to satisfy Jammu. Govt notification, as demanded by AIIMS-CC, is nowhere in sight. Identifying 200 acres of land is no guarantee. What has gone wrong and where, by which Jammu’s discrimination is rather increasing? For the BJP, the situation is the same from where it had started decades ago.
To my mind Art 370 actually promotes discrimination because it provides special status to J&K and unique powers to the ruling elite by which everyone tries to use this constitutional provision to blackmail others for vote bank gains. PDP has outnumbered and outsmarted BJP in this game. Whom does Jammu fall back on now if not the BJP? As a text, BJP is still telling us that everything is not yet lost and they can deliver. Nor can the reality be reframed differently. Jammu will have the AIIMS. Jammu Lake will see the light of the day. There will be no discrimination. Roads will be repaired. Illegal encroachments will be demolished. Jammu will have a smart city. Are these rhetoric the only dreams?
BJP, undoubtedly, will live for next over five years because no alternative is in sight. Politically it has the fuel in its tanks to drive it to full term. But the road is bumpy. Five years is a long time. Should they run out of steam, ‘Jammu Regional Council’ may rescue them. Therefore we still retain our belief that BJP is still the last hope for us and PDP for Kashmir. Hope BJP will not let Jammu down. PDP will never let down its core constituency. Hence Regional Council is such straw that I consider as viable alternative to Jammu’s dreams. The undercurrent however is that Jammu is on the lookout for its Anna Hazare. Some political Pundits are homing on to an icon who they think can lead Jammu to its dreams. BJP or Anna? If BJP fails, Anna will surface, is my conviction.
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