Dear Editor,
The politics in Jammu & Kashmir is taking new turns after abrogation of Article 370, fragmenting and downgrading State by the dispensation in centre for their political gains. Taking advantage of opportunities and circumstances many politicians irrespective of their long association and enjoying handshake with those parties in power from time to time, now changing their loyalties and paragliding in one another political party and some are in line to formation of new political parties and some have already fielded their formations. For such persons we find the word ‘Turn Coat’ a new coinage in politics but it is the politics of opportunism as no ideological strings are attached to it. They become a soft recipe for discussion because they take advantage of any situation in order to gain power (or to get shield for their personal interests), without considering whether their actions are right or wrong. Politicians are driven by their own interest.
Theory of opportunistic political cycles argues that political decisions may be linked to opportunistic behavior (much resonating in Jammu and directed towards a tall leader in process of forming new party in Jammu & Kashmir and parting away after enjoying more than half century honey-moon). After revocation of Article 370 and re-organizing of State, the first reaction came as ‘Gupkar Declaration’ from a formation of seven political parties, including National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, Awami National Conference, Indian National Congress and Jammu & Kashmir People’s Movement.
In sequence some days after political parties in Kashmir came together a group of regional political outfits and social organizations from Jammu that came together and issued a common statement widely known as ‘Jammu Declaration’. Barring many mentions in both the declarations, we find the ‘Gupkar Declaration’ asking for restoring the special status of J&K after it was revoked in 2019 whereas ‘Jammu Declaration’ opposed the move to demote the erstwhile state of J&K to a union territory and demanded restoring statehood for the Jammu region. Hindu-dominated region of Jammu, and political parties and members of several regional outfits, and other social organizations in Jammu, who have been celebrating scrapping of special status, restricted their demand only to restoring statehood. This was to be an open and vocal opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
We should not hesitate to mention that those champions of Kashmir-based parties in Jammu were not part of the Jammu Declaration, but can be taken as supportive to ‘Gupkar Declaration’ in demanding restoration of the special status of J&K. In Jammu largely people welcomed the transition with mute celebrations and hoped to look towards an end to an ‘Era of Discrimination’, but there were also who protested against the decision to withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. These reactions reflect the region’s diversity on contemplation. A collective fight for the Jammu cause in view of the persistent neglect and deprivation faced by the people is the mature decision, but practically we can say that there are too many cooks for the cause spoiling the broth.
The obvious aim is to be the ‘Chef-in-Chief’ as all cooks once have been in the position of dominating chefs.
Thus all are resonating for the cause of Jammu like seasonal frogs, trumpeting from different corners of the pond to register their presence. Almost two years after the abrogation of Article 370, the state of Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing hectic political activity these days which have led to a whole new level of ‘Opportunism Politics’. Some staunch heavy weight pursuers of Kashmir based political ideology have already changed their loyalties and are inclined and proclaiming to dedicate their loyalties and to exert for the cause and in support of Jammu. Similar loyalty is projected for the last few days with the agenda of the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, protection of land and job rights of its residents, and the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. This is nothing but the traditional all time rhyme of all political hawks, the tested horses who are exploiting the people on one or other false promises. Otherwise too they have no other agenda to attract the voters except the much talked discrimination against Jammu. They have made little or no contribution towards the development of Jammu when they were in power. The politician’s mind is not a logical or consistent place. No wise man ever thinks that a turncoat should be trusted. The people of J&K want a democratically elected government.
Mahadeep Singh Jamwal.