State
after Article 370.
The
events leading after 2016 Assembly elections have proved out to be yet another
watershed movement in the geo-political movement of the state of Jammu and
Kashmir. The decision of PDP aligning with the BJP has once again proved fatal as
has been the previous alliances with the center. But those who were responsible
for the alliance from back door working as shadows have been gifted well. The
last time when G.M Sadiq was awarded Padam Vibhushan the state lost the title
of head of state and resulted in erosion of article 370.
In
last 70 years the status of once an Independent kingdom has changed drastically.
The state has witnessed these changes from Prime Minister to Chief Minister and
Sadr-e- Riyasat to Governor and now the Lieutenant Governor as an agent of
Centre. The latest move to downgrade the state to the status of Union Territory
(UT) was just to prove that India has the sovereign right to change its status and
that people in J&K over the years have been made too weak to resist. It
shows the rise of India’s might and dominance while the state over the period
has been weakened. The state machinery which had taken oath to protect
the constitution of the state is being used by the center to take away all the
rights of the people. Kanan
Gopinathan stands lone example who resigned in protest for not allowing descent.
The question is for those who took oath
to protect and preserve the state constitution? They should take the responsibility
as they failed not only to protect and safe guard the interest of the state but
even found themselves being used to take away the fundamental rights of the
people.
It
cannot be denied that the state has largely been under lockdown. It is also a well-known
fact that it is only in darkness, the democracy dies in silence. Delhi used
some Muslim organizations of India to justify its claim of abrogating article
370. The opposition parties largely failed to protect it even though they knew
that its essence has already been taken away and now it will be used as a
hollow slogan for elections. But they largely failed to convince that the
constitutional ground on which it has been abrogated will not set a good
precedence and other states particularly the North East will start fearing that
following similar practice their rights can also be taken away by simply first
imposing Presidents Rule and then by assuming that the legislative powers of state
rests with the Lok Sabha.
Historically the
state has witnessed all changes and it has shaped political movements but state
leadership has largely failed to learn the lessons. Unlike other states Jammu
and Kashmir failed to protect the provisions enshrined in the constitution
itself. Largely speaking the policy of the center has always been consistent
and always resulted in erosion of Article 370 while the state leadership has always
failed to protect it. It is primarily because of the fact that the politicians
in Kashmir knew and understood well that in order to remain in power they have
to remain on the right side of the central government. To put it in simple
words “When Sheikh was told to give up his cap, Bakshi agreed to give his
cap and his Coat and when G.M. Sadiq was contacted he agreed to give up his shirt
also along with the Cap and his Coat and this process continued until there was
nothing left now”. The same statement has been written by A.S.
Daulat who emphasized that Mr. Farooq Abdullah knows in order to remain in
power he will always have to remain on the right side of Delhi and will not
follow his father’s foot step who had to live half of his life in incarceration.
However, now I find it very difficult to understand as to how the National
Conference will chalk out its agenda for the future political process. It will
be difficult for Dr. Farooq Abdullah who has danced on the tunes of Delhi to
remain on the right side of Delhi. The restoration of statehood as some of the
regional political parties have already started demanding can never form a new
political discourse at this point of time. By this action of the
Delhi, it is the mainstream political parties who have lost ground and not the
separatist. It can be seen as a victory of the separatists. I fear that their
idea will gain more support than before and it is only the mainstream political
parties who are at the cross roads.
As per the Govt.
of India three of the Ex. Chief Ministers are threat to peace and security of
the state and therefore have been placed under house arrest and now Public
Safety Act. Mr. Farooq Abdullah who has been used by Delhi at the National and
International forums to undermine the Independent Kashmir movement was the
first to be charged with Public safety act (PSA). The narrative was initially
built that these leaders have won elections with 1 to 2 percent votes. But the
question remains unanswered. Who conducted elections? Was India not aware of
this fact before? Does Govt. of India admit that past leadership which has been
ruling the state represented the wishes and aspirations of only 2% voters? Why
were wishes and aspiration of the rest of the population not listened if India
claims to be largest democracy? So this is an admission of the fact that
democracy has been ruthlessly murdered in Kashmir. Now in the statement of PSA,
Omar is charged with potential to mobilize support as he had successfully
called to defy boycott and therefore has the potential to create an atmosphere
which will destabilize peace.
Next step
of the Delhi which seemed to be launching an alternative to NC and PDP has come
true but they have nothing to sell in their basket. Delhi may find a Mir
Jaffer but it will not lead to
the resolution of the long standing dispute. This time the politicians of the
state will have to justify before initiating any political discourse as to how
they will be different. Why they will not be labelled as the leaders of 2% when
their part of conspiracy gets fulfilled.
The safe guard given by the constitution of India and the promises made
by the then leadership have not been honored. Kashmir is in the middle of a
very difficult of path. If India is serious on resolving the dispute then
instead of carving out a new political class it should start a dialogue and
listen to people. The people also have the responsibility to listen and not
fall prey to false and propaganda which will start once the curbs are lifted.
Kashmir has been
very unfortunate not to have people’s leader who would guide them through this
rough sea. If we compare any national movement with the Kashmir movement, the
sacrifice rendered by the people of Kashmir has no comparison. There are
thousands of stories of brutal repression, mass graves, rapes, war crimes,
political killings, rise and fall of Ikhwani’s and towards the past few years
the use of pellet guns which has not even spared a two year old Hibba. Kashmir
movement largely remains under-covered at international level not only because
of the darkness which is created to kill the democracy but by divided voices
which come out. But post Aug 5 the Kashmir has found place in the news
across the globe with UN discussing it at least two times.
It is for this
reason I see it as a watershed movement. If all the leaders become united under
one umbrella and choose and draft the idea of Jammu and Kashmir in joint
declaration as and when the political discourse starts, it is only then, not
only India but the world will see and look at you seriously. Many of the
leaders have danced on the tunes of Delhi and did everything to convince them
about their Indian character and if Delhi has been suspicious of them they
can’t and won’t trust anyone from Kashmir. So even if the new political party
comes up from the faction of National Conference or Peoples Democratic Party,
it will only throw the state into another cycle of violence and then after some
time even these leaders will be labelled as threat to peace.
Lot of lives
have been lost, lot of bloodshed has happened. The leaders instead of thinking
“apna apna or apni apni” should join hands for a peaceful and just resolution
of dispute which is true representation of the aspirations of the people of
entire Jammu and Kashmir. The people should stop looking at the outside world
for help and rather get united to develop an idea for peace. Stop trading blood
as you will be no different than the past leaders. Kashmir will prosper only
when there will be peace. Development of few can be no substitute to peace.
By: Hamid
Iqbal
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