Being in government Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asking partner party People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to revise soft policy towards separatist as if it was affecting business and tourism in Kashmir is once again to test the strength of alliance for the government formation. Well being a partner in the government is it wise to air such views. How far it is politically correct to toe such a line of thinking? It could be out of concern but youth joining militancy in Kashmir is no new phenomena. This has been there since the militancy erupted in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP has also demanded that security given to separatists be withdrawn and they be put behind bars. The party also demanded that concrete steps be taken to prevent the youths from being lured by terrorist groups. The irony is that government was formed on an agenda of alliance which gives margin of understanding on the issues which could be settled within the inner circle. There is no doubt that such public announcements does not come without the clearance at higher level and it cannot be just at state-level. Expressing concern over frequent protests, violence and hoisting of Pakistani and ISIS flags in Kashmir Valley, party has blamed the soft policy of the government towards separatists who are instigators. What BJP is trying to convey looks as if it wanted to keep its vote bank on this side of Banihal happy. BJP may be taking an alibi to gain the lost ground politically which it must be finding it tough today. Cautioning that the situation might worsen if steps are not taken, BJP has asked the government to take concrete steps so that the youth of the Valley are not lured by the separatists and terrorist groups. Such untimely public announcements and expression of patriotism is not going to get any political dividends but it would create unwanted understanding as the relations between BJP and PDP are not new and it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was instrumental in floating PDP with late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at the helm. Caution is the key word to retain the alliance.
