Consolidation of nationalist forces

Shiban  Khaibri
The imperative need in Kashmir to salvage democracy lies in  consolidation of nationalist forces  which alone could prove as a long term  anti dote to the diabolical mechanisms of terror groups which have surfaced again as a result of directions and support from across the border. The recent senseless killings of some Panchs and Sarpanchs  by these terror groups, preceded by poster threats, is a very serious phenomenon with intent to derail and destroy the democratic process and democratic institutions in Kashmir, with the sole aim of alienating a large section of Kashmiri people from the mainstream national political set up.
Union Minister, Gulam  Nabi  Azad has termed these killings as a matter of grave concern and feared that terrorism was again raising its ugly head in Kashmir. He further said that if the malaise recurred, that could mean an all round disaster for the tourism industry and hence the economy of the state. He advised people to come out on the streets, raise their voices and openly condemn such gruesome acts. The question is as to why all political parties believing in democracy and democratic institutions are not joining hands together to form a solid and impregnable front against the elements advocating and practicing terror and intimidation as a means to achieve their political ends of whatever hue? It is a misconception that armed forces alone can take them. Politically and socially, such elements can be subdued and failed only by a consolidated nationalist democratic front of political parties based in Kashmir, even if having divergent political thoughts.
Unfortunately, however, the terror groups have succeeded in creating an avalanche of resignations of the Panchs and sarpanchs which have appeared in the vernacular press, with inexorable local effect, in Kashmir. Till the writing of these lines, a number of more than 105 heads of Panchayats have reportedly   tendered their resignations. Why has this all happened and why it could not be prevented, are two pertinent questions which, both the state and the central governments shall have to reply. Why, for playing to the galleries and adopting appeasing policies towards the separatists, a lot of undue noise about AFSPA was raised and demands of withdrawal of security forces from the affected areas made with the centre, resulting in the elected Panchs and sarpanchs being left to fend for themselves or to put it more rustically, making them as sitting ducks for the terrorists, (un)popularly called militants? Such demands and posturing were made with a lot of ado by both the National conference as well as Peoples’ Democratic Party, both miscalculating the threat perceptions from the cross border terror, the main ploy and tactics employed by Pakistan against India and to keep the so called Kashmir issue raking up at international fora, like the recent one done at the UN by its President Zardari who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani. While addressing the General Assembly, he expressed his veiled unwillingness to fight terror under the alibi of “having done sufficiently enough against terrorism and should not be asked to do more”. His rating UN as a “failed system” because of Kashmir unravels Pakistan’s intrinsic motives. India, the victim of Pakistani sponsored, aided and funded terrorism has get to be very firm  to make  Pakistan wind up its terror industry responsible for fomenting continuous trouble in Kashmir. Now enough must be called as too much enough with firm resolution and assertion to Pakistan.
The problem of threats to the elected chiefs of Panchayats is compounded by cultivating in the situation, a politics of avoidable hue, besides indulging in a free flow of blame game. The principal party in the ruling coalition and the opposition party, try to shift blames on each other.  It is but unfortunate that the main opposition party should cast doubts in a recently held press conference, in Srinagar, about the source of trouble by saying that, “it is quite possible that government gunmen are behind these killings.” The result of such speculations strengthens the morale of saboteurs and the terrorists and weakens the mechanism to counter them. Besides, in addition to the violence by the terror groups, such political accusations and counter accusations cut at the roots of the exercise undertaken after a long time to involve people from the grass root level in the democratic process by participating in the elections of Panchayats in the state.
What activities had these elected representatives to perform who braved the threats and boycott calls from the separatists, anti Indian and disruptive terror elements, after being elected? Why they were not delegated the powers to take decisions about developmental works in their respective areas? This could have lent creditability to them enabling   mobilization of public support and presenting a face of grit. In the absence of their empowerment, the purpose of the whole exercise of what is called strengthening grass-root democracy appears to be a mere slogan only.
The state Chief Minister has not done enough by daring these marauders with alien allegiance, to attack him and not the ones totally unarmed by saying, “My government will protect them.” While claiming that no resignations had been accepted, he was critical of the media for “blowing the issue out of proportion”. Required amendments to the constitution of the state to empower panchayats were categorically disapproved by him as being “against the spirit of the state constitution.”  He, however, acknowledged that in north and south Kashmir, ‘militants’ were present.  The CM was critical of the Congress party as well, ostensibly because Congress might put its force behind and in support of the move for bringing in the required 73rd and 74th amendments to the constitution so that Panchayats were reasonably empowered.
It is worth noting that in Jammu, lot of resentment has been shown by the people against the recent killings of Sarpanchs in Kashmir and irrespective of political affiliations, have condemned such acts, thereby giving sufficient assurances to the Panchs and Sarpanchs in the valley that they were not to feel alone in their resolve to save, sustain and strengthen the grass root democracy in Kashmir.  This should open the eyes of those separatist politicians in the valley whose sustenance is based on activities aiming at anti India and anti democratic stances. The democracy has to be saved in the valley at any cost and then alone can the future elections to the state assembly and the Parliament smoothly ensured, free and fair, like in the year 2009. That should make politicians of all political parties jitter if they do not unite, combine and cohesively fight against terrorism. Memories of the dead and the pain of the living must further motivate political leaders to act in unity, discard petty politics, trading charges and indulging in blame games. Only then, can they be in a position to contest elections to get elected to the august institutions of our democracy in future.

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