Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo
With the election results having been declared and the new Government in place, a different socio-political scenario has emerged in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The first and the foremost job in hand for the new Government led by the J&K National Conference (JKNC) would be to establish a working relationship with the Central government and the Lt. Governor of the UT.
There are many unprecedented technical and administrative issues that the new government will have to cope up with in the given scenario. The notion that the ‘JKNC and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) hold collective responsibility for the J&K’s fate & future’ is the biggest message of the kind of results of the recently held Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir. This message needs to be recognised, diffused and analysed. It would be in order that this issue is brought to the notice of the political leaders, political parties and the common citizens of the UT, as the foremost narrative for the next five years.
The JKNC has emerged as the biggest political party in the state with an overwhelming representation of the Kashmir valley in terms of seats (42) it won. However, it is the second largest party in terms of the vote share it got (23.5%). The BJP came out as the second largest party in terms of seats (29) it got, but it has simultaneously emerged as the biggest political party in the state in terms of its vote share (almost 26%). It won all its seats in the Jammu region only. On the face of it, it becomes clear that the JKNC has been recognised by the voters as the prime representative of the Kashmir valley and likewise the BJP stands as the premier representative of the Jammu region. All other political forces in the state have been virtually sidelined, huffed or decimated in the electoral battle including the Congress and the PDP. The consequent results haven’t also been alleged as rigged or manipulated by any element this time.
In order to clear the position, it needs to be informed that the Kashmir valley has a larger population as compared to the Jammu region but it has comparatively smaller area than the Jammu region. While Jammu constitutes an area of around 26,000 square kms, the Kashmir valley comprises almost 16,000 square kms only. The BJP can claim representation of a bigger geographical area while the JKNC can do so in terms of the population it represents. The fact remains that the JKNC has got six seats in the Jammu region (mostly from the Muslim dominated constituencies in the region). The BJP has emerged as a key player in the Kashmir valley for the first time with almost 6% vote share therein. The other fact is that it has stood second in two constituencies in the valley and has also stood third or fourth in a number of other constituencies.
In the nutshell, while JKNC has emerged as the main representative of the Kashmir valley and the Muslim population of the state, the BJP has emerged as the principal representative of the Jammu region and the Hindu population of the state.
The BJP in all its forms and manifestations opposed both ‘constitutional separatism’ as well as ‘extra-constitutional separatism’. The JKNC was always a votary of ‘constitutional separatism’ and would at times even support ‘extra-constitutional separatism’, sometimes overtly and sometimes covertly. Article 370/35A, special status, separate symbol, separate constitution for the state and the separate flag were all representative of ‘constitutional separatism’ which would encourage the ‘extra-constitutional separatism’ leading to the absurdity of secessionism and terrorism. Article 370, though a temporary provision in the Indian constitution, was instrumental in providing an administrative mechanism to separatism and fissiparous tendencies in the J&K state. With the abrogation of Article 370, the issue of ‘constitutional separatism’ is buried forever.
The National Conference, as a responsible representative of the people of the state and especially of the valley elected under the Indian constitution, has a bounden duty and responsibility to make its core constituency, particularly in the valley, understand the ground realities of the current socio-political scenario of the state as well as of the nation. Article 370 is a dream impossibility which can never be restored back particularly after the two final decisions of the Supreme Court of India. The primary task of the National Conference is to take Jammu region along with, make cordial relations with the Centre, provide a people’s friendly government and work towards the welfare, safety and security of its minorities in the state. All other issues including statehood can wait.
On the other hand, the BJP, as the elected representative of the Jammu region has also a number of responsibilities and it will also have to prove itself equal to the task in the given situation. Besides being the torch bearer of Jammu interests, it has also got an overwhelming support of the minorities of the state, refugees and displaced people living in the region and also of a sizeable number of population in the Kashmir valley. It will have to protect the political, religious and human rights of these sections of the society particularly when all these sections have reposed their trust in the party. It has an added responsibility since the Central government is led by the BJP and the Lt. Governor of the UT is an appointee of the Central government.
Under the J&K Reorganization Act 2019, the LG of the UT has a vast arena of political and administrative powers despite having an elected government in the UT. This puts an extra onus on the BJP to make its mission of protection of minorities and the people of Jammu region a reality in functionality and essence. BJP will be held more responsible in all circumstances in the given scenario by its core voter constituency. This doesn’t absolve the government of the day from its responsibilities towards its citizens. However, keeping in view the past experiences of the NC and NC-Cong rule in the state, the BJP will have to be extra-cautious, proactive and prove itself as a truly contributing factor so far as the safety, security and welfare of the minorities living in the UT are concerned.
The J&K state is heavily dependent upon the Central Government’s aid and support. The state has meagre revenue sources of its own. Any sort of confrontation by the state government with the Centre will only jeopardise the pace of development in the UT, precipitate financial crisis and can create an unpalatable situation politically. The JKNC has a tough test to go through particularly when its allies in the Indi-Alliance have their own irons in fire. States ruled by the Indi-Alliance partners have a very dismal report card to exhibit. Their pleas for more funds (above their respective quota) from the Centre were also rejected by the Supreme Court of India. Then they also have nothing tangible to offer to J&K. The JKNC led government in the UT of J&K needs to learn lessons both from the past and the present. Any kind of unfriendly relations with the Centre has the potential to lead the UT to mayhem and chaos, which no saner element would like to happen.
The JKNC would be expected to run a responsible government in the UT and the BJP is supposed to act as a responsible and effective opposition. The Central government would be expected to maintain public order and bring the unabated terrorism to its end besides helping the UT government in its welfare measures whenever it would need its support. The controversial political questions need permanent rest. The parliament will be able to take up the statehood issue only when there will be the guarantee of the UT not going back to the stage from where it has been brought out with so much labour, sacrifices and planning. Let the new government work to create ‘an appropriate time’ to take up that question by the Centre. It is time to perform collective responsibilities under the constitution with commitment and dedication.
(The author is a senior BJP and KP leader)
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