NEW DELHI: As Mehbooba Mufti is undecided and reluctant to take over the reins of government in Jammu and Kashmir with Bharatiya Janata party as an alliance partner, the Centre seems to be making all out efforts to create a situation where-in not only she is convinced to toe her father’s line (by bringing North Pole and South Pole together) but also to make it a win-win situation for her as also for those within the PDP opposing any tie up with the Sangh Parivar.
The latest move with regard to bringing Ranbir Panel Code (RPC) under the purview of National Investigation Agency (NIA), granting extraordinary powers to the central agency to take over any terror case in Jammu and Kashmir is seen one such ploy to provide an alibi to have a government installed with assurance from the Centre not to force any decision on it. Obviously, the proposed move is a red rag for Kashmir-centric so-called mainstream parties, which have already raised alaram over the fears about State’s special status under Article 370 getting jeopradised. The issue has all the potential to hot up Kashmir politics in this season of Chilla-i-Kalan.
Inclusion of RPC means that the NIA can take over any case registered under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act as well as RPC. And under the NIA Act the agency can take over any case related to terror suo-motu except for Jammu and Kashmir where it requires permission of the state government before taking up the investigation. In the past both PDP and NC had opposed giving sweeping powers to NIA to take suo-motu cognisance of terror-related cases in the state.
While National Conference has straight away opposed the proposal, the PDP tends to give a space, saying they need to go through the statement. This is important. The statement is not a voluminous document which entails time and concentration to analyse its fall-out in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir. Seeking time has provided enough ammunition to such of the political parties which have been cornering the PDP-BJP duo over delay in formation of the government to see red-spots.
The political analysts also feel that the proposal can be used by BJP’s think tank in New Delhi to convince reluctant Mehbooba Mufti and her party to go to the antagonized people (who are opposing its alliance with BJP) with the plea that only the PDP can stop this overture by the Centre. Hype is likely to be created over the issue with Kashmir centric parties describing the move as a step to trample Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The authors of the smart move could, in the din of political outcry’ chip in and send out feelers that Mehbooba Mufti would ‘consider’ formation of government only when this proposal is shelved and assurance held out to the new dispensation that such a proposal will not be renewed at any stage later.
The BJP strategists know that Mehbooba Mufti cannot force the BJP-led government at the Centre to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act as a face-saver in view of impending elections in Punjab and West Bengal. After having miserably failed in Delhi and Bihar elections, the BJP cannot take further risks. Therefore, an alibi in the form of bringing RPC under the ambit of NIA Act has been worked out to woo Mehbooba Mufti.
Given her experience in public life, especially in the wake of mass contact she has established by being out of power in all her political career, Mehbooba Mufti can differentiate between truth and trap. The truth is that her core constituency in Kashmir is aggressively against any tie-up with the BJP, which they feel, has eroded the PDP’s traditional stronghold hugely. There are constituencies where the chosen representatives are unable to even face their electors, who chose them in fierce political battle, focused on anti-BJP agenda.
Aware of mass resentment and open annoyance by nearly a dozen and half legislators, Mehbooba Mufti is currently weighing all options, main among these to shelve the idea of forming government with BJP and instead going to people for fresh mandate. After having earned the displeasure of the party supporters for, what they call, unholy alliance with the BJP, the PDP President cannot afford open revolt. This prospect has been worrying the BJP most, both in Jammu and New Delhi, which is why they are determined to go to any extent in forcing an alliance, even if it means annihilation of the PDP. In pursuit of getting the process of government formation expedited, the BJP even floated name of Tassaduq Mufti for the top political slot in Jammu and Kashmir. Last but not the least, the BJP strategists used the institution of Governor to move the proposal with regard to bringing RPC under NIA Act, forgetting that under the stop-gap arrangement the present dispensation has more important jobs to do without political interference.
