Will elections change Kashmir The Excelsior 21 Aug 2020

Will elections change Kashmir The Excelsior 21 Aug 2020

Will elections change Kashmir?

Will elections change Kashmir? 21 Aug 2020

From the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15^th August, PM Modi announced that elections would be held in Kashmir once delimitation is complete. Would elections integrate Kashmir deeper into the mainstream? The reality remains that unless the government targets the centre of gravity in the valley, mindsets will not change, and complete integration is not possible.

Post the revocation of article 370, Amit Shah stated at a rally, ‘To eradicate terrorism from J&K and protect Kashmir, the Prime Minister has taken a huge step by revoking Article 370.’ He added, ‘I would like to assure you the removal of (Articles) 370 and 35 (A) has paved the way for Kashmir’s development.’ It appeared the twin reasons for changing the status of Kashmir were improving the security environment and ushering in development.

Speaking to the media last week, J and K Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam criticising earlier governments’, mentioned that J&K was a ‘broken state’ without any ‘proper system’ where frauds were committed by leaders of mainstream parties and separatist organisations. He added that ‘not a single soul had cried’ over the detention of political and separatist leaders and that the ‘common man is not bothered about article 370, what they expect is jobs, growth and development.’ Local political parties denounced his statement however, none contested his claims on corruption and mis-governance.  

To ally misgivings within the population he added, ‘I think we need patience. We have got the institutional architecture in place and we are moving ahead step by step.’ Subrahmanyam also said that 2,273 infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,979 crores, which had been pending for the last 5-10 years were sanctioned and 506 completed. He also described efforts to bring good governance and development to the region as ‘work in progress.’ The government announced creation of 10,000 jobs, recruitment for which has yet to commence, as also opening 50 colleges.

           The government has initiated democracy at grassroots level by conducting panchayat elections and hopes to complete the process for the balance 12,600 vacant posts, once the COVID situation improves. The investment summit has been pushed to next financial year. The power ministry announced that 33 substations and 745 new distribution terminals have been built in the past year. More projects are in progress. 

          The security situation has improved in every respect. Terrorism is down, infiltration has reduced, stone pelting, a sign of public anger against the centre, has witnessed a drop, local recruitment is low, and information of terrorist presence is flowing, leading to clean operations with little collateral damage. Success of security forces has pushed terrorists onto the defensive. They are compelled to change tactics and seek soft targets, including elected representatives, BJP workers and security personnel on leave hoping to enhance fear within the valley.  

          Overall, the valley is witnessing a positive change.

Security concerns have always dominated Kashmir policy. Hence, security forces, led by the army remain the most visible element in the region. They act as the interface between the public and administration, which on account of terrorism, rarely moves beyond their comfort region. This permits terrorists, over ground sympathizers and venom spitting Wahabi preachers, larger space. This needs to change.

          The public has over time, been convinced that the region is disputed, and they are entitled to an independent state, an issue which no one has bothered to contest. Rumours are abounding that on account of religious ethnicity the region has never been accorded priority in development by Delhi. This, despite the state receiving maximum central funding. Political leaders, Pakistan’s disinformation campaign and Imams have been warning the public that the government seeks to bring about demographic change, pushing its current population into minority. These fake inputs need to be countered

When questioned on developments post abrogation of article 370, residents would state that nothing has changed on the ground. On the contrary, they would claim they are being differentiated by the centre, the state been downgraded to a Union Territory and denied 4G network connectivity.

The reality why the Kashmiri’s remains dissatisfied is because the government has effectively not addressed the centre of gravity in Kashmir, which is ‘public opinion.’ Nor has it aimed to create a counter to those ranting an anti-India narrative in the region. Unless it addresses these two pillars, there would be implications. Developmental projects would never change existing beliefs and anti-India narrative would continue to flow.  

If this narrative must change, then there are actions which must be undertaken. Most important amongst these is to create pro-India groups within the region, which should rise as a challenge to anti-national groups. The second is to influence local media to project reality on ongoing developmental projects and benefits accruing from amalgamating the region with the union. The third is to ensure governance at grassroot levels reclaims its space and visibility within the local populace, pushing terrorist sympathizers, political party operatives, all of whom dominated the vacuum and influenced local minds, into the background.

Pro-India groups can be created by involving the mass of army, police and CAPF veterans spread across the valley. They have witnessed the anguish of terrorism, seen development across the country and understand the importance of national unity and integration. Membership should be voluntary, supported by the state and these organized based on regions.

Others who have understood Pakistani and anti-national agencies game to keep the valley under terrorism and deny development, should join. These should be empowered to be the voice of the public in interacting with local governance and security agencies. The army, which is the current face, should recede into the background. This would make these groups powerful enough to counter the anti-national voice.

The media in the valley, unlike the rest of the country, apart from being homogeneous, has for decades faced the wrath of terrorism and learnt to survive. They remain under the influence of politicians, who, for generations, have ruled the state like fiefdoms. Hence, their projection is biased. There are means available to change media outlook, within the gambit of democracy, and should be considered.

Panchayats which were elected two years ago, need to be supported. The fact that they are being targeted by terrorists implies that success at grassroot level democracy is irking terrorist masterminds. Local governance had been almost invisible in the state throughout high levels of terrorism. This needs to change. The more visible the governance, the lesser is the space available to terrorist sympathizers who influence local narratives.

Close interaction between local administration, positive media and pro-India groups would together target the centre of gravity of the region, public opinion, change mindset and enhance integration. It would project the right belief that the nation desires Kashmir’s development, is working towards it and can only succeed with cooperation from the local public. This will change Kashmir not elections nor completion of development projects.