Col J P Singh
Blessed with greatest gift of human life, as we are, we are uniquely capable of seeing what is happening around us and elsewhere. Prefixed with Jammu, Kashmir was the most beautiful and vibrant state of India. Same Jammu and Kashmir is now in focus for different reasons. The valley, which once upon a time was remarkably politically vibrant is totally dull now. People have lost interest in politicking. Known for breathtaking beauty of its landscape and identified with the epithets such as Jannat, Heaven on Earth, Crown of India, Land of Rishis / Sufi Saints, Bollywood Dreamland etc and adorned with the glory of pluralism, today it is in ruins to the extent that if Kashmir looks into its own mirror, it would not recognize itself. It is not because the mirror is smoked. It is because Kashmir is charred. The beauty and its pristine glory lies tattered and lays bare its doom. It is all because of Kashmiri politicians and clerics. All these years they ruled over Kashmir during which they have done a great disservice to their own people and its landscape. Those who were to govern the state and give it a direction, got trapped in dirty self serving politics. They told lies. They misguided the people and cheated them. Those who were to improve things worsened them. They made fortunes by politicking. Infact they created an atmosphere which provided an opportunity to external forces to enter the vacuum and exploit the situation. Hence today when they seek votes, they are shown thumbs. In Srinagar where one of the tall Kashmiri leaders is contesting, polling percentage is just about 7 %. And in another former CM’s constituency, the voting was just about 4 %. It means that they have not only been rejected but being hated for their wrong doings. As we are bracing through the running election, there is a country wide apprehension that valley is going to give the nation a real tough times ahead. Hence these days we in Jammu spend lot of time going through the newspapers, interacting with others and watching TV to explore what the valley is going through.
The blunders of the past haunt us. The blunder is neglect of long pending issue of Kashmir problem, which has become a pestering wound between India and Pakistan one the one side and between Jammu and Kashmir on the other. The grim politicking in the valley presage worse to come. What led to such a gory situation? Too much of appeasement led to it is what many say. It led the fangs of Islamisation spread like that of Octopus. Terrorism bared itself in the guise of freedom struggle. An era of violence began and went on unstopped. It started with rapes, murders and loot of Hindus which led to their mass exodus. It continued with attacks on security forces. It came to a stage when the writ of the terrorists started running. Army was called in. The bloodshed intensified. Most of the blood that has been shed is of Kashmiris. Those who have been shedding it are mostly Kashmiris. They have made it hell. It is Kashmiris who have turned anti Kashmir & anti India. This time around politicians are chanting anti national slogans and issuing dangerous statements such as Kashmir will burn and nobody will be left alive to carry Indian Flag. The discourse over Articles 370 and 35 A has also done the damage. It has brought J&K into direct confrontation with Delhi. Earlier the ordinary people may not have been aware of the constitutional status of J&K, now they know that Article 370 allowed it to have own President, Prime Minister, Constitution and Flag. What if that status gets restored? And 35 A doesn’t allow them any status or entry in J&K while Kashmiris can settle anywhere in India. These issues worry the nation.
Kashmir finds a special mention in the manifestoes of both the national parties. While BJP talks about abrogation of 370 and annulment of 35 A, Congress talks about review of AFSPA. Both grabbed the headlines. Vastly differing policies and postures on Kashmir created scare and further vitiated the atmosphere.
To exacerbate our political predicament, the Pak Army and ISI combine should be waiting for the Americans to pull out of Afghanistan for unleashing its ‘strategic reserve’ ie Taliban on the valley. In such a daunting situation, Indian as well as Delhi mind is focused on Kashmir. They are for a strong Govt at the Centre and the State. Governor rule in J&K with fully empowered army to react quickly to meet every crisis whether internal disorder or external threats is working well; but how long.
When people of Kashmir are showing little interest in the democratic process it puts question mark on the legitimacy of the same. Such situation doesn’t augur well for a conflict ridden Kashmir which needs firm roots of democratic process. The people of Jammu are worried over it. They are nationalists and vote liberally. The main protagonists must sit together and think about Jammu and Kashmir. Dogras are worried about Kashmir because their forefather gave their blood to build it. Jammu can play a larger role in restoring normalcy and pave the way for emergence of new dawn in Kashmir. This idea is emerging and needs a larger debate. There is no justification or reason for the valley to be soaked in blood because of its political leaders. Kashmir needs peace and progress. Some soul searching is needed by the Kashmiris also. Maharaja Gulab Singh bought Kashmir from the British who had confiscated it from Sikhs who had won it from Afghans. Brig Rajinder Singh saved it from Pak aggression and Maharaja Hari Singh, the Dogra Ruler, acceded it to India. Hence Dogras of Jammu are greater stakeholders in its creation and existence. They must put pressure on the central govt and seek greater role in putting Kashmir back on the rails.
It goes without saying that the prime responsibility to address these issues lies with the central govt. A new strategy is needed. Since an elected Govt is a constitutional requirement, the next J&K Chief Minister should be someone who is honest, result oriented and has the credentials of performing. If there is none in Kashmir, there is need to look around in Jammu and find one. Moves and high level meetings are afoot to hold an early Assembly Election. Indications are of another coalition in J&K, possibly with a Jammu origin chief minister or someone better than the old timers who will be reliant on Jammu support.
Though depends upon elected MLAs, New Delhi protagonists should give preference to a Dogra Chief Minister in J&K. Democracy should give a fair and just deal to everyone and the system must grant just and equal participation in decision making to all the regions. By all systems and mechanisms, Jammu and Ladakh were denied political, economic and social participation. Rise of a regional political party in Jammu, the ‘Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party’ led by former MP/Minister Ch Lal Singh, is clamoring for power sharing. He is aspiring to rule J&K. As per Prof A M Pandit, this party is getting wide public and intellectual support. Wanting normalcy in Kashmir, New Delhi must see the Kashmir politics through a new prism and galvanise it through a new experiment. Hopefully it will succeed.
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