B L Saraf
The result of National Election 2024 will soon be analyzed from various angles – if the exercise isn’t underway and the political Pundits aren’t on the job, already. The result has many a story to tell in the mainland. Nonetheless, there are quite a few strands which appear clear and noticeable even to a naked eye. The sense of despondency stands lifted and, most probably, the country may see end of the agenda which was propagated to subject people of this diverse country to one leader, one party and the one belief project. A sigh of relief, indeed!
This result gives hope to many Indians that basic fundamentals of the Idea of India are well founded to withstand the turbulence – political or administrative. We live in a highly polarized world where societies stand riven apart on sectarian considerations and people look at one another with fear and suspicion. Therefore, any message intended to create an atmosphere to overcome the feeling of insecurity, reinforce inter- societal and inter- communal bond among the people who live in India is welcome. ‘Nationalism ‘and the sectarian rhetoric can be hyped to a limit where after it becomes a story of diminishing returns. In politics emotions have a limited role, they are soon overtaken by the real issues of bread, butter and the shelter.
Message nearer home is loud and clear – that people in Kashmir nurse a discontent and are angry on the 5/8 constitutional tinkering which denuded them of the left over autonomy and reduced a Class 1 state to a big Municipality. Their silence was not a sign of acquiescence or acceptance but only tactical. They waited for a democratic opportunity to give vent to their hurt feelings which Election 2024 provided them and they used it to the hilt.
Engineer Rashid’s huge success in at the hustings, in Baramula, and the euphoria of his campaign managed, in his absence; by his two sons has a big lesson. In fact his success with huge margin trouncing ex CM Omar Abdullah and ” prospective CM ” Sajad Lone is a perfect barometer to gauge the extent of anger a common Kashmiri has against the Central government for variety of reasons.
The electoral defeat of Omar Abdullah at the hands of Engineer Rashid has given rise to a theory that after 5/8 anger among Kashmiris was so high that any one seen close to the rulers in Delhi was considered a persona -non -grata. We have to examine rather keenly if Omar Abdullah could lose how come his two candidates in Srinagar and Annantnag constituencies came through triumphant. Is there any substance in the argument that success of NC in Anantnag and Srinagar is Clan specific -essentially a personal success of the candidates who contested rather than of the party on whose ticket they entered the fray. Remember, Srinagar candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Medi is a popular Shia Cleric with huge following in the community. Similarly, Anantnag MP Mian Altaf Larvi is a spiritual figure within the Gujjar and Bakerwal community living in mountainous areas of Kashmir and Pir Panchal region in Jammu. Down the generations, his family stands revered spiritually by the people.
It is most likely that in Engineer Rashid Kashmiris saw a brave fighter for a cause so dear to them who presently stands incarcerated for more than 5 years in a Delhi jail. As against him Omar and Mehbboba gave a compromising and timid look who couldn’t bear a mere six month confinement – that too near home.
All the candidates whom the BJP backed in Kashmir Valley, including Sajad Lone of Peoples party, lost election. Some would surmise that people here voted against “the hybrid leaders propped up after 2019.” There is general refrain in the Valley that BJP’s, Naya Kashmir, narrative -built on hollow foundation, has crumbled. The party should care to understand that there has been consolidation of votes against the BJP. In order to find some space in Kashmir party must reinvent itself and fine tune its rhetoric to the ground realties. Kashmir is still a barren ground for the lotus to bloom. Amit Shah admitted it when he was asked to explain why BJP didn’t field a candidate in the Valley. It doesn’t make a good picture but is a fact that the 2024 Election result in Jammu and Kashmir has fore grounded a clear divide on the religious lines.
Ladakh, having been an essential part of Jammu and Kashmir till recently, also bears a mention in this regard. Its macro and micro management is carried out directly by the Central Ministry of Home Affairs – with Prime Minister Personal monitoring it regularly since August the 5th, 2019 – Ladakh’s. Latest political development which has witnessed an independent from Kargil prevailing upon a B JP candidate of Leh region has to be noticed because here BJP had put everything at stake.
The tide of the religious divide has to be stemmed. There are positive signs that it can be done. The important takeaway of the recent election is that Kashmiris have reaffirmed faith in a democratic polity. The huge turnover of the voters in the Valley has revealed so. All are not for separatism in Kashmir. They need to be heard with care and sensitivity. GOI must restore statehood soon and order Assembly elections. Though not going their way as projected, the election result does give some hope to the N C – may be to the PDP also -that all is not lost. Something can be still retrieved.
It is moment for Kasmiri Pandits to reflect upon the whole matter, coolly, and consider how long they will go on a hitchhike ride provided by a self serving politician. It has taken them nowhere . KPs will have to shake off the slumber find feet and way, a fresh, and embark upon a return journey, solo, which will lead them to a place from where they were thrown out in the dark days of 1990s : which historically, geographically, spiritually, psychologically and culturally belongs to them as original inhabitants.
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
