Dr Nirmal Kamal
All eyes are set for polling in Samba and Vijaypur Constituencies from Jammu for Assembly elections and 14 constituencies namely Pahalgam, Anantnag Habbakadal, Bijbehara, Sangash, Beerwah, Shopian, Dooru, Batmalu, Sonwar, Amirakadal, Khanyar, Hazratbal and Zandibal in Kashmir region on 14th of Dec, as scheduled under Phase 4. Election in these constituencies is significant from the point of view of some common issues as well as some areas in Kashmir being hot seats of prominent leaders from NC and PDP. It is significant to see the possible turn out of electorates from these constituencies after appreciative percentage in first three phases. People in Kashmir region and some trouble torn Jammu region, in first three phases, came out preferring ballot to bullet is the most significant aspect of the change of mind of the voters. The polling on 14th of December will be decisive action of the voters. At the moment all the mainstream parties are terming this high turn out of the voters in their favour while the final result of the action of the voters will come out on 23rd of December. Therefore, actual decision making issues for polling on 14th and 20th of December will be more detrimental.
Specifically, Samba and Vijaypur in Jammu with 78,103 and 1,02,575 voters respectively, being Kandi areas have always in news for non-development and militancy being partially border areas. Samba, popularly known as Sheento wala shahar for its excellence in block printing, has lost its glory in competitive textile development as the trade is hardly seen around despite the old town having SIDCO complex. No one who mattered in the government attempted to revive the trade in block printing. Samba, too, remained favorite hub for terrorists to have easy entry to Jammu via 300 meters tunnel dug by Pakistan as well killing of civilians and army men in the cantonment area. These places have given brave soldiers to the country also. Samba has also produced intellectuals of high caliber.
Rest of the constituencies in Kashmir , narrate more or less similar woes of electricity, water, roads, sanitation, health despite the fact that some of these constituencies gave very powerful leaders either from NC or from PDP. Anantnag or Sonwar Beerwah or Amirakadal – nothing has changed in these constituencies which could be referred as model towns except that PDP president is first to reach the families of the victims of terrorism (as often claimed by her). It seems she has passion for terrorist activity to satiate this compassion. Chief Minister of Kashmir, Omar Abdullaha, remained glued to his passion for ‘Tweeting’ during all the tenure of six years. He converted the State into a playful house of cards. Congress leaders remained busy in strengthening their own roots of dynasty. People .…say voters are well aware of the ground realities. Floody rains of September this year proved eye opener for people of Kashmir and people of south Kashmir in particular. Development claims of the government tumbled down to expose true picture. All the big leaders claiming Masihaas of the people disappeared from the scene only to appear on the surface when the situation began improving. Ruling coalition partners in the government came on the ground only to demand financial packages without any strictures when Prime Minister of the country had already announced liberal financial relief right on the very first visit to the valley on 7th of September. People of Kashmir know this. They have learnt the lessons. Certainly they are fed up of sinister designs of Kashmir based parties. They are well aware that National Conference is not a State level party. It cannot be termed as a regional party. It is a sub- regional party with a very limited support from the Valley which will disappear these elections. In Jammu, it has little support. Jammu in general and Vijaypur as well as Samba will prove wiser this time. PDP has similar credentials as Kashmir based one community centric party making desperate bid to lay inroads in Jammu. PDP is virtually befooling the Jammu people by committing what it do not intend to do. Tuning Self Rule in Kashmir and remaining silent on the issue and talking equitable development in Jammu, PDP is on the path of exploitation. Jammu voters should understand the dangerous parameters of PDP. Congress has authenticated dynasty rule in the country and in the State nurturing corruption to the extent that it made a common man’s life miserable. It proved an umbrella to shelter and protect corrupt. Congress today, seem a confused as well directionless and rudderless boat fastly eroding its base. Congress exhibited its notoriety while ditching Jammu with respect to delimitation of the constituencies. Party in question has vacuum in having any statesman. Torrential rains causing floods devastating the lives of the people as heavy price has changed the mind set of the people. The nature’s catastrophe exposed the capabilities of representatives of the present government.
People have faced wrath from these leaders who indulged in rampant corruption. Instability, anarchy and chaos through confused policies have created mistrust in the existing and tested political parties. The ruling coalition partners have started accusing each other of governance deficit and trust deficit. They are holding each other responsible for bringing the State to this level. Interestingly these accusations are being levelled only after remaining in comfortable cozy hug for six years. A phrase in ‘dogri dilect’ say, Jharhian bola diyan meaning black magic is revealing. All these years they forgot that the power is nothing but a little sand under the grip of a fist. Voters must prove very wise this time.