Mahesh Chander Sudan
We, the people of JK, have recently witnessed release of two prominent leaders of National Conference who were detained post Application of Reorganization Act 2019 to erstwhile state of J&K and abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of Indian Constitution on 05 Aug 2019. Two former Chief Ministers of the state along with other political leaders including PDP Chief Ms. Mufti were detained to contain anticipated law and order issues. Arrest of prominent leaders of the main stream political parties resulted in deficit of leadership to protest against demotion of princely state into two Union Territories carried out with an aim to control ongoing terrorism in the valley. Absence of senior cadre of main stream valley centric political parties left workers of the party with no option than to remain indoor resulting in total lull during last eight months. However, the involved administrative changes in carving territorial division for two Union Territories also discouraged any political activity barring for recent launching of Jammu Kashmir Apni Party by a group of dislodged politicians of PDP, NC, Congress and few other political outfits of the valley at the alleged behest of BJP to justify their unilateral decision and to attract youth of the valley in specific.
Snapping of Public Safety Act to release two tall leaders of National Conference in succession rejuvenates party cadre to reach out to masses and re-establish their ground level connect with people especially in the present times when the danger of COVID-19 looms large. Both the leaders of National Conference, Mr. Farooq and Mr. Omar enjoy a very prominent and tall stature not only in valley but across Jammu and Kashmir. We, the people of JK, have been denied active representation in the governance of the erstwhile state and the newly formed Union Territory since Jun 2018 due to premature dissolution of PDP+BJP Government. An objective analysis of the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir indicates that the people have a limited option of aligning with Congress or National Conference as PDP failed to prove its political strength due to miscalculated coalition with BJP. At the same time, people of Jammu division extended large mandate to BJP in response to the party election manifesto that promised relief from ongoing discrimination to the people of Jammu province,and the party thus achieved unprecedented win from 25 constituencies to forge coalition with PDP for sharing power in governance but failed to keep up their promises made to the voters. This unholy coalition of two ideologically opposite parties ended premature and people of Jammu province felt deceived in the bargain. It therefore clearly indicates that people of Jammu Province will not repeat the history next time and it would either fracture the mandate or offer fertile ground for National Conference to utilize in party interest.
The recently formed Jammu Kashmir Apni Party by a group of dislodged leaders of PDP, Congress, NC and few others requires hard work to establish her for gaining sufficient mass support in shortest possible time available before next elections to either win few seats or disturb public mandate to benefit friendly political outfit especially in valley as most of the present members of the party hail from that province and do not hold any substantial influence in Jammu Province. Quickest ideological shift of these leaders is another issue that would keep them away from general masses. None of these leaders have persona specific dominance to appeal young voters of Jammu and Kashmir to cast mandate in their favor. The JKAP of Altaf Bukhari may attempt to reach out to commoners through their Vision Document and may become Credible Voice of the people of Valley.
The last but not the least is old National Party i.e. Indian National Congress which played very important role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir since its accession with Indian Union. The party in specific has many learned leaders but is suffering leadership crisis at National level in the recent times. The party cadre of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is equally suffering from deficiency of leadership at present, and it is affecting its mass appeal across the length and breadth of the UT. Team of leaders of JKPCC is required to rejuvenate its cadre from booth levels as the ground level workers need sufficient ideological persuasion to reaffirm faith in general masses. No doubt, Indian National Congress has immense potential to exploit political landscape of UT of JK in their favor unless the high command of the party would set the house in order.
In the given situation when the entire mankind across globe is challenged for her existence by an unprecedented danger of COVID-19, the leaders of all political parties of newly created union Territory are required to reaffirm their presence to the masses by joining national fight against deadly virus rising above party differences. They have to prevail over unsettled political environment resulted out of few constitutional changes effected in the recent past and it needs concerted, prudent and well balanced mature approach to convince people of erstwhile princely state and not to exploit their sentiments for political dividends. Leaders of all active political outfits of any status, whether valley centric or otherwise, need to handle precarious prevalent situation in the larger interest of the people by redrawing their party vision documents to include overall balanced development of the UT without any regional discrimination, provide for employment opportunities to educated/ trained human resource, optimum exploitation of abundant natural resources, development of core sectors like tourism, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and comparable health services for commoners.
We, the people of JK, do urge leaders of all political parties to be realistic in redrawing their priorities rather than showing unachievable dreams to the commoners who suffered issue of democratic representation for almost three years besides on going anti national activities at the behest of our adversary. It is an earnest approach to prominent leaders like Dr. Farooq Abdullah who have the credit of joining nationalist forces as per the demand of the time across political spectrum without any ideological compromise. Let us forgot the past and look forward for prosperous Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir without any discrimination based on religion or regions to hold the principles of humanity high. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
The author is WgCdr (Retd)
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
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