Col J P Singh
J&K has rarely seen a moment of political calm. Having withered many political storms in the past, it still remains a hotbed of ideological storms. Two principal political parties, both ideological opponents, continue to lock horns with added intensity in the current session of the Legislative Assembly over critical issues such as restoration of Article 370 and Statehood.
Jammu and Kashmir, which have voted for these two principal parties separately, are both politically contrarian and poles apart, one complimenting the other, in many aspects. Historically, Dogras of Jammu were emotionally more attached to the Statehood because the state was their ancestors creation while Kashmiris were taunting them as buyers and not the unifier. It is pertinent to note that before 1846 Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were separate kingdoms. Ladakh was Suzerain to Tibet and Kashmir to Sikh Kingdom. These regions were knit into one political entity by the Jammu Ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh. Ladakh was militarily annexed in 1839 whereas Kashmir was diplomatically taken in 1846 by Maharaja Gulab Singh by virtue of Treaty of Amritsar. Hence their political aspirations differ. The political fault-lines are by inheritance. With the advent of democracy each region had started reasserting its entity. There was a backlash against Dogra rule in Kashmir. A vigorous ‘quit Kashmir movement’ was started in 1946. This led to the transfer of power to a Kashmiri leader. Once the feudal power was transferred to a democrat, Jammu and Ladakh were denied power sharing. That led to a similar backlash against Kashmiri hegemonistic. The fault-lines kept deepening. Treachery over temporary hutments for Amarnath pilgrims led to 63 days vigorous mass agitation in Jammu, resulting in loss of precious lives, not yet forgotten, a stark reality of trampling over Jammu’s sentiment. Hence having faced continuous regional discrimination at the hands of Kashmiri hegemony, their emotional connect with Statehood is wanning. This is clear in BJP’s and centres muted/rhetoric stance on the Statehood demand.
The archaic unsolicited truth came out in the open in the recently held election. Jammu based BJP didn’t win even a single seat in Kashmir out of the 47 in the fray. BJP had bet a lot to open its account in the Valley. It had gone out of the way to appease the voters. End result thereof was rejection. Such wash out wasn’t expected. In Jammu it won 29 out of 43. It wasn’t a promising outcome either. Perpetual political fault-lines have been reignited by the electorate. Hence a political dilemma prevails for Delhi.
During election, Kashmir unitedly voted on the agenda of restoration of ‘Special Status &Statehood’, whereas Jammu by & large voted against it. Thereafter on daily basis NC and BJP continue to bolster their positions by steadfastly adhering to their opposing stances. NC’s unwavering commitment on the restoration of special status is strengthening its support base in the valley. While BJP’s forceful rejection of it has solidified its base in Hindu majority Jammu. In the pursuit of this divergent ideologies, both have weakened J&K’s identity as a united political entity. After the election outcome Mr Haseeb Drabu, a politico-economist and a former Finance Minister endorsed the election outcome stating that there is no justification in keeping the two regions together after such verdict. Doing so will be a failed attempt when there is no compatibility between the two across Pir Panjal, he asserted. That may be a solicited truth which has come from a seasoned politician. These remarks raise a storm in the tea cup. More we debate and post mortem the resolute statement and restoration of Statehood and 370 issues, more and big ‘Cans of Worms’ are bound to open. That has the potential of weakening the case for Statehood restoration.
Rhetoric, blame-game, sloganeering, stone pelting, disdain and fanning emotions have been the hallmark of Kashmir politics and ‘loud mouthing’, the trademark of politicians. Snippets of the same are seen during the last electioneering and within first Assembly session. This narrative only led the Valley to disaster, now being retrieved. The dubious drama inside the Assembly of who introduces the Article 370 Revocation Resolution first was in the similar vein to gain political brinkmanship and a heroic tag. This brinkmanship continued for Statehood, Darbar Move and Revocation of 370 little realising the efficacy of Newton’s 3rd law of motion. This demand doesn’t resonate in Jammu, hence a dilemma.
The archaic truth is that we face increasing security threats from our borders. Pak Drones are dropping drugs and armament. Jammu region has become a hot spot of terrorism. With escalating tensions along the borders, the stakes are high for the elected govt. This govt should be committed to its citizens to give them a scare free environments. Recently Army and BSF have inducted additional troops. This was to check cross border infiltration. After recurring BLA’s successful attacks on Passenger train and Army convoy, dangers of infiltrations and cross border firing are heightened.
The region where internal and external security, drugs, terrorism, corruption, and unemployment are effecting the very core of the UT, ignoring them at the cost of meaningless rhetorics means shying away from real challenges. This won’t work well with Modi led govt which is committed to peace in J&K. If NC genuinely wants to keep J&K as a united State entity (a State) and its early restoration, one day soon, it must adopt a broader inclusive approach to the sentiments of both, Delhi & opponent political entities.
Although election outcome shouldn’t be a yardstick for defining any historic perception of voters necessarily but it would be equally naïve to assume that the election outcome has no relevance to the under current of the political winds.
If the Statehood gets restored soon, Kashmir will claim its share of the pie and become demi-lord. Thereafter revocation of 370 & 35A and go on for pre 1953 status. BJP is likely to oppose it tooth and nail. In this Kashmir vs Jammu game, Jammu is more likely to lose. If all that happens, Jammu will face an identity crisis and hence pertinent to analyse election outcome from that perspective. Jammu’s electorates message may be discreetly suggesting separation like Ladakh as a way forward but needs to be dissected. Whatever deductions are drawn, should they suggest restoration or a division, (Mr. Drabu’s idea), a final decision, even if bitter than that of 5th August 2019, must be taken sooner than later to end the logjam and steer the UT on the path of faster growth. Introspections after all are the best thing to do after a disputed/controversial event. In the meantime,’ demand for Statehood be put in the cold storage till Parliament itself restores it’.
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