Kashmir has changed AIKS NAAD Nov 2020

Kashmir has changed AIKS NAAD Nov 2020

file:///C:/Users/Harsha%20Kakar/Downloads/Naad%20November%202020%20final%20for%20web.pdf

Kashmir has changed AIKS NAAD Nov 2020

          Since the abrogation of Article 370 the Union Territory has witnessed multiple changes. Apart from initiating development, the centre, in its latest decision, has amended land laws enabling people from outside the state to purchase non-agricultural land within municipal limits. It has also permitted contract farming and enabled setting up of Industrial councils. The erstwhile leaders, who dominated Kashmir politics have viewed this decision as an affront to their power and control. They have been further disillusioned because they were neither consulted nor taken into confidence, implying the centre considers them as having lived their prime. In their opinion, this is the first step in changing demography of the region.  Omar Abdullah criticized this decision, stating, ‘J and K has been put up for sale and left bereft of any basic protections.’ He also expressed fears of demographic changes. He was speaking on behalf of the Gupkar Declaration.

          ‘The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration’ was announced by Farooq Abdullah on 15 Oct. Major valley political leaders met at his residence after the release of Mehbooba Mufti and decided to oppose the centre as one entity. Omar Abdullah also sought to induct members from Kargil into the alliance. The alliance currently comprises of the NC, PDP, CPI, CPM, People’s Conference and other small insignificant regional parties. Farooq announced that they will work together to restore the special status of J and K, which was revoked in Aug last year.

          In order to register their protest senior political leaders passed comments which caused further embarrassment to their already diminishing status. Mehbooba Mufti commented that she would not contest elections nor unfurl the tricolour till the constitutional changes enforced last year were rolled back and the Kashmir flag reinstated. In all the time she was the Chief Minister, there is no record of her unfurling the Kashmir Flag. Her sudden love for the flag emerged after the status was revoked. In anger, members of her party from Jammu resigned and the national flag unfurled from her party office in Jammu.

Farooq stated in a TV interview that Kashmiris ‘do not feel or want to be Indian’ and they would rather prefer to be ruled by China. He also mentioned that Kashmiris support the Chinese in the current ongoing border crisis. Post strong criticism, the NC sought to offset national anger by stating that he had been misquoted.

Kashmiri politicians in the last year have been side lined. They have lost their voice and ability to influence local public. They are currently clutching at straws hoping to regain some semblance of political authority and power which they exercised in earlier days. Hence, these comments must be viewed as a cry for attention, an attempt to force the centre to involve them in some manner in future discussions, a mistake the centre is unlikely to commit. Kashmir has witnessed long bouts of central rule. However, never have Kashmiri politicians been made to feel so helpless, incapable and isolated as at the current time.

The Hurriyat had always considered itself as the representative of the masses and even demanded that it be a party to tripartite talks involving India and Pakistan. It always had an anti-India and pro-Pakistan bias and was funded by Pakistan through the hawala network. Thus, its collection of overground workers and gangsters dominated the region and enforced Hurriyat’s diktat. It was also in league with local political parties.

In recent times, the Hurriyat has been made redundant, funding stopped, many members behind bars and those free have had their movements curtailed. The withdrawal of their personal security has also impacted their freedom. Its power to enforce violence and strikes has immensely receded. Its paid overground workers are now underground. Terrorism has been largely curbed across the state.

Thus, with no political activity and a powerless Hurriyat, the valley has witnessed a year of relative peace and some levels of development. Local elections have given power of development to the population, which was denied to them earlier. Scales of violence, support to terrorism and protests have reduced. Infiltration is down to a trickle forcing Pak to drop arms and ammunition by drones and push narcoterrorism as an alternative.

During the same period, the common man has realised that during the rule by valley political parties he was exploited for personal gains of local politicians while being denied benefits accruing from central schemes. He is aware of palatial residences of politicians constructed by diverting development funds meant for his benefit. Hence, he would prefer direct central rule than a reversion of manipulative politics.

Pakistan has been left high and dry. It is only screaming in empty desolate halls. The strong message that J and K is no longer on the discussion table has caused internal panic. Imran crying in every international forum that India would stage a false flag operation on Kashmir has found no takers. Pakistan has realised that it is to their benefit to accept reality, which they cannot do easily, after feeding its population a different narrative for seventy years.

The BJP has emerged as a major force in the Union Territory. Realising this, terrorists have begun targeting its members. Its membership has risen from 4.5 to 7 Lakhs, of which 2.5 Lakhs are in the valley itself. They currently have 14 Municipal Councils and 63 block development chairpersons. In addition, in Kashmir alone they have 1266 panches and sarpanches. They will now be a major challenge to traditional valley political parties.

The government has, over the past year, issued over four and a half lakh domicile certificates including to 3.7 lakh permanent residents, who were denied benefits because of article 35A. It has implemented central reservations and seventh pay commission salaries, which had not been accepted by earlier state governments. None of these can now be rolled back. The delineation exercise currently underway, would provide a true representation in running of the UT. Things can only move forward, never in reverse.

It is in this environment that recently released political leaders now find themselves in. They no longer possess the power they once had. Their masks have been removed. If the PDP and NC leaders assume that they would gain sympathy for their incarceration, then they are living in a fool’s paradise.

The only logical way forward is that instead of continuing to be stumbling blocks for development of the UT, valley based political parties must look to join hands for its betterment. They must now seek to push the region forward, rather than reverse. The transition is well on its way, with no turning back. It would be best if they join the bandwagon, rather than attempting to challenge it.