Rajan Gandhi
The visit of Governor to Leh has spilled the beans of development of Jammu and Ladakh region. What BJP quoted while withdrawal of support to Mehbooba Mufti Government is the stark reality and surprisingly BJP itself is playing the victim card now. For three years state Coalition Government’s blissful ignorance or deliberate suppression of the ground realities and difficulties being faced by general public has boomeranged now. The fire fighting launched by the Governor rule seems to be too little too late. With the appointment of Chief Secretary and one of the advisor’s from outside the state Central Government has rightfully realized the shortcomings, alliance and loyalty of officials to different political groups not proving to be a healthy trend in improving the work culture and volatile situation of the state. Politics of petty upmanship has stalled the progress of the state for last seventy years and it’s still going on.
BJP’s different spokespersons have time and again reiterated that main reason for withdrawal from coalition was deliberate attempt by PDP to stall development projects of Jammu and Leh-Ladakh region but the truth is only partial as all previous press releases were highlighting development and achievements of the coalition .Can BJP explain why it’s ministers were silent in cabinet meetings during last three years, meekly surrendering to dictates of PDP? Incident after incident right from Nowshera- shifting of ADC , Kathua – rejecting demand of CBI probe, whole border area- no land for bunkers, AIIMS- land allocation, Bio technology park- land allocation , Ring road -land allocation , Gandola projects- inordinate delay, Jammu tourism- meager funds allocation, minutes of Tribal Affair’s meeting , NIT Srinagar flag hoisting issue , Maharaj Hari Singh holiday to name a few issues which constantly eroded the credibility of BJP with the resultant resentment among its vote bank throughout the area. BJP in its zeal to rule from Kashmir to Kanyakumari compromised its core ideology as evident from AoA (agenda of alliance). Article 370 and 35 A were no more issues for BJP as it played to the tunes of PDP and time and again .Centre’s tactics of delaying the two contentious issues in Supreme Court repeatedly on the pretext of trying to evolve consensus by interlocutor or asking for more time to take a final stance on the issues and all this gave ample opportunity to the opposition to corner BJP on both the issues as with both Central and State Governments of BJP it had no excuse to offer to masses. On the other hand Mehbooba has openly admitted that she has been able to defend Article 370 , 35 A and Gujjar and Bakerwals from eviction from government land and in recent interview of Mehbooba with one of the TV channels ,her simple explanation was BJP ministers never protested or raised these issues in cabinet meetings and with both forest as well as health ministry with BJP who was stopping them to construct AIIMS or for that matter any other project. The kind of projects assigned to Jammu and Kashmir will make any state envious, in fact TDP breaking ties with NDA on this pretext and JDU in Bihar sulking to get special package like J and K. But despite a lapse of three years only 25 percent of money has been utilized and none of the flagship projects saw the light of the day even to the stone laying stage leave alone completion.
Restraining army and paramilitary forces from taking decisive action was another issue compromised time and again. Last straw in this whole saga was ‘Ramzan Ceasefire’.
With TV channels playing clips of hostile mob stone pelting time andagain. On the other hand body bags of soldiers going to different states have not gone well pan India as nationalistic jingoism, forte of BJP seems compromised and election after election picture became clearer to the Central leadership that BJP cannot carry the burden of this alliance any more though initially it tried to pose a brave face with the reshuffle in the state ministry but it seemed to be a futile exercise. It is not question of just three seats of Jammu and Ladakh but the reality is Jammu always sets a trend for national politics and BJP has ignored it for too long. The damage control exercise has begun but public is practically in no mood to listen now. All the by elections to Lok Sabha, BJP has lost, state after state and reasons are too obvious to ignore. What can be bigger instance of discrimination that not a single university exists in Ladakh. Though Ladakh comes under the administrative control of Kashmir division yet majority of its student population prefers to study at Jammu which happily welcomes them but the burden of staying in PG and other expenses is too much for parents. Proposed Kashmir University Satellite Campus in that region is still a distant dream for students and no practical alternative is offered to them right now. Four seats in assembly to raise their genuine demands seem to be too faint right now. Most amusing part is BJP MP and members complaining to Governor about zero development during PDP-BJP rule.
Recent outreach of Governor is really appreciable and it seems what the whole VIP fleet of ministers couldn’t even think of, Governor’s Administration will deliver. Biometric attendance got implemented in a week’s time, pruning of administration done clinically, irresponsible Resident doctor’s strike dealt with an iron hand, 10 BDO’s suspended in one go, IAS officer crossing the administrative decorum show caused, Vigilance organization asked to file monthly progress report, all attachments revoked, all chief engineers asked to visit sites monthly to remove bottle necks without any further delays to name a few. List of grievances coming to Governor’s administration is exposing the previous inert administration. Same set of officers have become active and alert as there is no place for complacency under Governor’s rule.
All this has been achieved within a span of little three weeks and ironically BJP submitted a list of pending works to Governor despite the fact they were part of ruling coalition for last three years. All these happenings have exposed the local BJP leaders who are finding it extremely difficult to explain to the people how and why they failed to implement PMDP projects in three years which ultimately Governor has been successful in initiating the things in right perspective within three weeks. Another rumour theory going round the corner is installation of first Hindu CM of the state. Practically speaking masses of both the regions, Jammu as well as Kashmir, are quite happy right now with a Hindu Governor, Hindu Chief Secretary and Hindu DGP with least problem and only issue seems to be deliverance of good governance on the ground as time and again our political class has failed to rise to the occasion to initiate development of every region of the state. Most recent irresponsible statement by Mehbooba Mufti on revolt in her own party warning centre of Kashmir producing more Syed Salahudins and Yasin Maliks shows only the desperation level of local leaders when out of power.
Year after year lack of proper Shri Amarnath Yatra preparation is another issue as no permanent facilities have been provided due to fear of local backlash , be it 2014 floods, 2016 Burhan Wani episode, last year terrorist strike on yatris and this year again lack of registration counters, black marketing of chopper tickets, exorbitant rates being charged from pilgrims and both the routes marred by landslides so much so that Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji of ‘Art of Living fame’ who is member of Shri Amarnath Yatra committee has asked for cancellation of yatra this year and all these miseries are compounded by frequent closure of national highway along with alternative Mughal Road . With the least facilities at Jammu, pilgrims are left in open in scorching humidity / rain and this misconceived treatment message is again carried out throughout India.
With Lok Sabha polls fast approaching, centre sacrificed BJP Government right now to ensure peace and overall development of all the three regions but it seems BJP has taken a bit too long to gauge the resentment of the people. Though with confused opposition still unable to decide which way to go; but the public seems to be eagerly waiting for elections to deliver their verdict now. With CBI inquiry still elusive in Rasana case, border firing still going on without bunkers, demand of district status to Nowshera, Sunderbani still pending, promise of UT status to Ladakh nowhere in sight and in Jammu region projects of AIIMS , Ring Road , Bio Technology Park, Metro, Tawi River front all are still elusive dreams for public , Governor’s rule seems to be ‘Too Little Too Late’ right now unless BJP has some hidden tricks up its sleeves and it remains to be seen whether Governor’s rule delivers it for BJP or not.
“Good governance is nothing but being focused, effective and accountable.”
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel