Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has finally broken his silence after the withdrawal of Articles 370 and 35(A) for the erstwhile state. In an interview to The Indian Express, he says that while this was something the BJP had always been talking about — it’s part of its manifesto — the stealth and suddenness of the move surprised him. More so because hearing the rumours, a delegation of NC leaders met the Prime Minister a few days before 5 August last year (that’s when Article 370 was withdrawn), and were sent back reassured as to what was really on the Centre’s mind. This was also told to me last year by NC Lok Sabha MP Hasnain Masoodi in an interview for NewsX. Masoodi also told me that they met the Governor a day before Article 370 was withdrawn and he assured them that the Centre had no plans to abrogate it.
Whether this was the right move or not, has been debated through some rather heated television shouting matches; though with any counter argument being immediately labelled as anti-national, the debate is more in the nature of “Nation Better Know”, than what the “Nation Really Wants to Know” (what’s good for it).
Having said this, it is interesting that Omar Abdullah has broken his silence, for his has been one of the more rational voices from the Valley. His colleague from the other side of the political aisle, Mehbooba Mufti is too mercurial, and is also seen as someone whose sympathies lie with the militants rather than the government in Delhi (This is one of the main reasons why the alliance with the BJP broke). Hence her speaking out would probably make a bad situation worse. Of the two, Omar makes a better brand ambassador for the Valley.
Omar speaks about “a deep sense of betrayal”. While reiterating that “these changes to J&K are unacceptable to us”, he adds, “We will fight them with every democratic means at our disposal… Now if you are asking me whether the NC will take this battle to the streets, I think the time for that has passed. When in the immediate aftermath of what happened on 5 August, the battle didn’t go out into the streets, why would it go down to the streets one year later. So we will fight it politically, legally. We are committed to do that.”
Legally the matter is in the courts. Politically, Omar would be fighting a losing battle by simply raking the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, for that is a move that got widespread support from the rest of the country. And so, somewhat pragmatically and in a smart move, Omar draws a distinction between “Article 370 and dismemberment and UT development”. He points out that he is “deeply resentful” about the lack of support from other political parties on the downgrading to the state as a Union Territory. Not one political leader campaigned against this move. And this silence from his allies is what is hurting more than the BJP’s actions.
Of course BJP leaders claim that the move to Union Territory status is not permanent and that J&K would get its statehood back once the situation normalises. Ram Madhav, BJP general secretary in-charge of the Valley, told the same to me in a recent interview. But he also added that first the delimitation process has to be completed and elections held. Omar has said that he would be boycotting the polls. As Mehbooba is still under detention, one is not sure of what line the PDP will take on this.
Omar Abdullah is one voice from Srinagar. Arguably he is one of the Valley’s most articulate voices, though the BJP has also painted him as one of the privileged elite that Kashmir needs to be rescued from. Moreover, he will have to fight hard for the country’s mindspace which is currently beset with combating corona, building the Ram Janambhoomi temple and the delivery of the Rafale jets (and not necessarily in that order).