BLUNT BUTCHER
Post 1990 Kashmir is quite different to what it was between 1947 and 1989. The advent of alien gun culture did not only muzzle its 5000 year old ethos but defaced the very persona of the Valley. Politics, inter-alia, became worst causality. Deceit, duplicity and deception formed core of, what is now known as, mainstream politicians. They alone are not responsible for what they are now. New Delhi equally shares the blame for murky Kashmir politics.
In a vein bid to counter growing cult of Jihad, the so-called Kashmir think tank in the national capital began to woo traditional politicians under the new-found concept of political process, as political activities had remained suspended for six years due to threat. The process saw non-entities coming to the centre-stage, which included small time politicians and ‘reformed’ militants. A new breed of politicians became face of democracy in the Valley.
The historic 1996 elections and emergence of National Conference as premier political player led to controversial passage of Autonomy Resolution and subsequent formation of Peoples Democratic Party, comprising disgruntled leaders of Congress, Janata Dal etc. These two parties have been swapping power corridors with cushions of Congress and now the BJP since 2002. The two national parties have been playing second fiddle to big bros, NC
To maintain their hegemony on Kashmir scene, the PDP and NC, which eventually became indispensable for the Centre (due to growing clout of separatists), realised their political prowess and started playing tantrums. Virtually, they started blackmailing the nation by raking up issues like autonomy and self-rule to ensure that the strings between Kashmir and the rest of India continue to remain loose. Nobody gave a thought as to what kind of autonomy or self-rule they stand for? Isn’t Jammu and Kashmir enjoying more autonomy or self-rule than any other state? The legislations passed in Parliament become meaningless for Jammu and Kashmir unless ratified by the state legislature, because of its special status under Article, notwithstanding the fact that six members in the Lok Sabha, chosen by the people of the pampered state, remain actively engaged in the passage of such laws. Isn’t it a contradiction? Anyway, the subjects of autonomy and self rule deserve thorough elucidation in larger national perspective.
Had NC and PDP been clear about their commitments, their leaders would not have been saying, ‘Kashmir is a political problem and needs a political solution’ or ‘it is the right time to resolve Kashmir’. They have always discouraged the people to come out of the shell of Azadi or Kashmir Banega Pakistan by subtly keeping this sentiment alive in one manifestation or the other. Congress and now BJP too have been walking in dark alleys. The bankruptcy in their Kashmir policy has hugely encouraged pseudo nationalists and separatists in the Valley, who call shots at the behest of Pakistan.
Kashmir has suffered more due to the duplicity of its so-called mainstream leaders than terrorists. The mainstream players have added more confusion and suspicion about the future of Kashmir in public mind by raking up issues like self-rule and autonomy. The rankers of these two parties in their different avtaars have retarded development despite massive central funding. Had these funds been judiciously utilized for the public good, the scenario in the state would have been quite different.
Better part of the central funding has unfortunately gone to chosen few, leaving the majority of people in lurch. Those who benefited from the uncertain political climate in the valley did not come from UP or Bihar, they belonged to Kashmir and ditched the valley most. They changed colors as per situations; when ‘grapes’ were sweet they rehabilitate corridors of power and once these turn sour, they become front runners in the separatist amalgam. Haven’t PDP (after coming to power) and the NC (after losing the government) swapped their positions with regard to future of Kashmir? Ideological commitments of the mainstream parties and politicians in the Valley keep changing as per their political expediencies. They have hugely benefitted by browbeating New Delhi, which has eventually alienated the people of Kashmir from mainstream.
(To be concluded)