Huge participation of people especially the Kashmiri youth and women in the DDC elections in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir could be a game changer. People have to exercise a preference—democracy for plural polity, peace, development and future, or separatism, despondency and militancy.Exclusiveism or pluralism.Death, destruction and despondency or peace with development and mainstreaming with the land of huge opportunities.
Huge turnout and people’s participation in the DDC elections is people’s preference and will to exit from the present cycle of death and destruction inflicted on innocent Kashmiris. People have consciously decided to go with the devolopment agenda and political mainstream of the country. The DDC elections are the first election in the J&K after the inoperablity of Article 370 by the Central government on 5 August 2019, amid massive security and communication clampdown in the erstwhile state. “People have high hopes in their elected representatives that development will happen that is why these polls are important as a base line for evolution of future agenda and exit route to separatism and eventual militancy. Say the voters and people who participated enthusiastically in the DDC polls so far.It is hoped in all other phases the people’s participation in the democraticy and the process would go higher.
Democracy is the best political doctrine as a counter to separatist political narrative and militants.Huge participation in voting is bound to empower the grassroots representatives.This election is a God send opportunity for the people to loudly tell the world that Kashmiris want peace and exit from the current death and destruction phenomenon unleashed by enemies and militants for last three decades.
Though the Kashmiris are deeply hurt by inoperability of article 370 and bifurcation of the JK State into two Union Territories.It is perceived as an affront and brazen insult to Kashmir’s historic distinct status within the Union of India that was granted and recognised by the Constituent Assembly of India.Yet people have full faith in democracy and constitutional institutions of the Country.
The objective given by current ruling dispensation while abrogating article 370 was -that militancy would end,Democracy will strengthen,plural Kashmir ethos will revive and huge opportunities of employment would be created for youth,Tourism will flourish and new vistas of development will open up etc.None of such commitments are actually visible on ground.Although Kashmiris want it all and deserve too. The aspirational youth wish to mainstream with the global economic opportunities via Indian mainstream.
Kashmir calls for Justice and mainstreaming.Kashmir imbroglio required to be resolved by winning their hearts and minds.The idea of India in Kashmir has to be consolidated by love and not by use of force.Kashmiris can be won over by love and never by sword -Was said by Pt.Kalhana about 1200 years back and it holds true in today’s enlightened times.
Resolution of Kashmir imbroglio is to a national priority. A party-independent approach and political will are necessary.The people of Kashmir are longing for an end to militant violence, the return to a peaceful life,the rehabilitation and return of exiled natives physically back in their homeland
People’s Democratic temperament reflected through Votes is an effective answer to a strong narrative of self-determination (azadi), created by separatists and the people have no voice of their own and emotions are controlled and charged by proxies. People know the disastrous consequences of the harm terrorists and their masters across the border have done to the current generation and also its impact on future generations. The alienation and anti-India sentiment that has grown over the years is so strong that people refused to see the logic but DDC elections have shown the way forward.
Politics is all about emotions and not reason. Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi successfully portrayed himself as the saviour of Indian nationalism, culture and civilisational ethos. People believed in him and every bit of his narrative in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign. He turned the whole election into a sort of “presidential form” — people trusted and voted for him overwhelmingly. The Kashmir situation and the Balakot airstrike deep into the territory of Pakistan as a retaliatory measure against the Pulwama terror attack struck a deep emotive imprint in the psyche of the Indian masses across the spectrum. It was competently used by a well oiled BJP cadre machine in the election campaign — that turned its fortunes to a massive electoral victory.
After Article 370 was made inoperable Kashmir and the country’s relations with Pakistan are the main focus of the Government of India and Home Minister Amit Shah. He is conscious that Kashmir affairs have wheels within wheels and international players are keenly watching as to what the ministry of home affairs under him is up to in Kashmir.
The government needs to acknowledge that the use of military force is not a solution to the complex situation in Kashmir. To win the people’s trust is the real issue that can be done through engagements with all the stakeholders. It is the psychological, attitudinal, social, political and economic grievances that need to be addressed. Therefore, the government should focus more on winning back the trust of the people and let terrorism be handled by the security forces.
Militancy in the Valley, however, also seems to have developed an autonomous raison d’etre in the absence of comprehensive policy and the absence of dialogue with the stakeholders.
Realising the ground sense better, Leftinent governor Manoj Sinha,who acts as eyes and ears of the Union of India, has extended an olive branch for surrender to militants.Likewise, the top BJP leadership and other national parties particularly, the Indian National Congress recently have echoed the political out reach approach. with all the political leadership including non-mainstream leaders could be a good optics.Moderate leadership led Mirwaiz Omar has always been a votary of dialogue in past, and led the Hurriyat leaders’ delegation for talks with deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003 — and also with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh subsequently.
Pakistan plays spoiler whenever there is an attempt to open talks with Kashmiris for peace and progress. A peace and war scenario has been thrust. It is a dimension of a hybrid war. The security forces and intelligence agencies have completely overlooked and misjudged the potential of this dimension of hybrid war in Kashmir. This phenomenon is evident from the fact that tourism, education, health services, law and order, developmental activities and the public grievances system have collapsed and stand completely eroded. Democratic institutions stand marginalised and discredited. Drugs, black-marketing of essential goods, smuggling of timber, hawala and fake currency have become the backbone of a parallel conflict economy.
Kashmir analysts are of the opinion that New Delhi’s policy and its political managers should shun hawkish approach and allow the political space for both the mainstream and non-mainstream Kashmiri leadership to exert a moderating influence that could prevent youngsters from taking up the gun.
Kashmir deserves to be managed by an out of the box “vision” that can encompass a comprehensive process to resolve the imbroglio instead of dithering. The question remains whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP has any out of the box vision and political will to resolve the issue. Loud statements made by security forces that there are very few militants in operation is something people don’t trust because they have been hearing these claims through three decades of active militancy. Security forces kill one — three get freshly recruited, voluntarily. It looks like an unending phenomenon.
A long spell of governor’s rule is no substitute to democracy. DDC elections reflect people’s mood for democracy as the only means for peace in JK Union Territory.Therefore assembly Elections have to be held and the political process has to commence, better sooner than later. Kashmiri affairs have to be dealt in a party-independent manner by all the political parties, particularly by the ruling party.
Kashmir has been on the boil for more than 30 years. Tens of thousands of people, both civilians and soldiers, have died and the population of Kashmiri Pandits exiled. Kashmiri affairs is seemingly messed up. Terrorism has rendered the state, especially the Valley, without liberty and individuality. It has devastated the economy, education and normal living patterns, the plural ethos and has imperilled institutions. The societal psyche is becoming cynical and despondent and that is what Pakistan and militancy have managed to do to the people of Kashmir.
Modi 2.0 has raised expectations in Kashmir too. The average Kashmiri has both hope and fears — hope that PM Modi’s massive mandate may allow him to think out of the box to resolve the issue and live in history as a legend. Fears abound of his other team members particularly home minister’s reputation of being a hawk — It is perceived his belief in a strong muscular policy may not work longtime.
The country needs a healthy Opposition in the best interests of robust, democratic and transparent governance. The grand old party, the Indian National Congress is expected to lead the Opposition. Democracy and a formidable Opposition leads to moderation and checks and balances. Would the party rise to the occasion and fulfil the most onerous democratic role of building and strengthening a moderate, secular and inclusive idea of India? To initiate a political healing touch in our Kashmir policy, there is an urgency to create consensus across the political spectrum.
Therefore, Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, have a big stake and role in shaping the future of our Kashmir policy. Kashmir has to be treated as a national priority and as a party-independent issue that deserves collective national attention and a visionary and comprehensive national policy instead of being party-centric.
For our Country of 1.3 billion people Kashmir is special and domestically sensitive with international ramifications, Therefore as such, deserves astute and Party independent approach and care with focus for an early resolution. The people and the nation wait as watchdogs for Modi 2.0 to deliver.
Ashok Bhan is SeniorAdvocate, Distinguished fellow, USI , and Chairman, Kashmir Policy & Strategy group.
The DDC polls reflect people’s mood for democracy as the only means for peace in Jammu & Kashmir. Therefore, the Assembly elections have to be held and the political process has to commence, better sooner than later. Kashmir’s affairs have to be dealt in a party-independent manner by all the political parties, particularly the ruling party.