BLUNT BUTCHER
JAMMU: In one format or the other, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is pushing for Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) before re-entering into alliance with BJP to settle down in the coziness of power corridors. This is a proposition that is either beyond BJP’s comprehension or they just don’t want to decipher it.
The preface of the Agenda of Alliance (AoA) reached between PDP and the BJP is crystal clear as it reaffirms that “the purpose of this alliance is to form a Coalition Government that will be empowered to catalyse reconciliation and confidence building within and across the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K thereby ensuring peace in the State. This will, in turn, create an enabling environment for all round economic development of the State and prosperity of the people”. Economic development and prosperity is, therefore, offshoot of the Confidence Building Measures. However, the BJP is interpreting it the other way round. They keep on saying the alliance has been stitched to push forward development and progress. It is here where the two parties are at daggers drawn with each other.
When Mehbooba Mufti asks for CBMs, the BJP responds by emphasing need for forming the government and get on with developmental odyssey. Obviously, and as per provisos of the AoA, the PDP is within its rights to over-rule, seeking first thing first. And the first priority agreed to by the BJP is ‘to catalyse reconciliation and confidence building within and across the LoC’.
In 10 months of Mufti Sayeed led government, no initiative was taken towards reconciliation ‘within and across the LoC’. Under sub-paras- Political Initiatives, Security Matters, Social & Humanitarian Issues- the Coalition Government was ‘to facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all internal stakeholders, which will include all political groupsirrespective of their ideological views and predilections. This dialogue will seek to build a broad based consensus on resolution of all outstanding issues of J and K’.
The hardcore nationalist BJP and an RSS ideologue Ram Madhav has changed the dynamics of the so-called Kashmir imbroglio by making it tripartite, instead of bilateral, while agreeing to initiate dialogue with all internal stakeholders. Who are these stakeholders? They are not the people from Jammu, Ladakh, Sikhs, Pandits and huge chunk of PDP, Congress and NC supporters of the Valley, who are in no conflict with Kashmir being an integral part of India. Therefore, the stakeholders are those who challenge the integrity of the nation openly and violently by adopting means like guns, grenades and stones. That being so, the BJP has failed in making any headway in opening channels of dialogue with separatists, secessionists and terrorists. Mehbooba Mufti is, therefore, rightly agitated over leaving this ‘crucial’ agreed upon CBM in backburner. If the BJP was not appreciative of this provision, why did it find mention in the AoA?
Similarly, the BJP led government at the Centre is dithering from taking a position on Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Not even once during ten months, need was felt to review the need for de-notifying ‘disturbed areas’. The AoA is emphatic that, “This, as a consequence, would enable the Union Government to take a final view on the continuation of AFSPA in these areas”. On the contrary, the army made it publically known that repealing this Act, partially or entirely, is not desirable. The BJP is also committed to return to the rightful legal owners all the lands other than those given to the security forces on the basis of lease, licenses and acquisition under the provision of the Land Acquisition Act.
While none of provisos under social and humanitarian initiatives has so far been taken up for implementation, the Centre made an abortive bid to create composite townships for the displaced people, which met horrendous reaction from the united opposition as also the PDP. The BJP was forced to retreat, leaving Kashmir-centric parties to rejoice. Return of NHPC power projects etc are the other CBMs which the PDP has been yearning to be initiated, sooner the better.
Now that Mehbooba Mufti is craving for accomplishment of these CBMs in a time bound and phased manner, the BJP tends to demonstrate ignorance. All that the BJP points-men want to understand from CBM is ‘Can’t Believe Mehbooba’. This is a Catch 22 situation, more for the BJP than the PDP, which is taking its own time in deciding the course of action with regard to government formation.
