JAMMU: Sixteen years after the Resolution on autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir (read Kashmir only), passed by National Conference with two-third majority in the Legislative Assembly, was consigned to ‘dust-bin’ by Atal Behari Vajpayee Government in New Delhi, the party has again woken up to this ‘core issue’, which, however, has no takers in the Valley. Ask separatists, they will use choicest abuses and question National Conference on, what they say, ‘sell-out’. Ask the PDP, they will term the ‘rant’ as symptoms of frustration on losing the power. Ask the BJP, they will dismiss the demand as gaining sympathy of secessionists. And, importantly, ask the Jammuites they will just laugh it out. Finally, ask the people of Ladakh, they will raise eyebrows over Khachalpa day-dreaming.
Why National Conference feels compelled to rake up the issue of autonomy again and again, even as majority of Kashmiris don’t subscribe to it? The secessionists, despite lacking proven representative character, have never owned it up. The PDP, which incidentally took birth weeks and months after the issue of autonomy got renewed currency in 1996, came up with a substitute in the form of Self-Rule but never endorsed that NC version of Kashmir solution. Even Sheikh Abdullah did not press for it (which he could have while tailoring 1975 Indira-Sheikh Accord) and accepted to embrace the down-graded chair of Chief Ministership despite having been Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir pre-1953. He termed 23 years of his plebiscite (Mahaz-e-Raishumari) movement as Siyasi Awaragardhi.
The votaries of autonomy, or for that matter self-rule, must understand that Jammu and Kashmir is a unique State with multiple ethnicities, regions, languages and religions. It will assimilate only such a party which provides space to all segments of its complex society. To some extent National Conference reflected compositeness, perhaps because of its pioneering role during horrendous days of Partition. It retained its relevance and sheen as long as it believed in the State’s inclusiveness. But, forced to face wall in the wake of successive electoral debacles since 2002, due to governance deficit and allegations of corruption against its ministers. The party seems to be erroneously finding solace in being replica of secessionists or what the PDP was before 2014 elections.
It is ironic for two major political parties of the Valley to have swapped their roles and places; one having successfully capitalised its pro-separatist stance, and the other awkwardly pursuing similar track to remain relevant in the Kashmir politics. But it is not working. And it will never due to historic reasons; the major one being National Conference having endorsed accession of Jammu and Kashmir with Dominion of India. This is hurting the party and haunting its leadership in radicalised Kashmir. The radicalised people of the Valley will never own up the Sheikh Abdullah’s legacy.
Instead of understanding fast changing dynamics of Kashmir politics, the National Conference is making experiments, and in this hot pursuit it is losing whatever little constituency it retains across the State. National Conference leadership is desperately trying to overtake separatists and secessionisms. Its highly motivated stance over the New Industrial Policy and proposed colonies for ex-servicemen and Kashmiri Pandits has made it more vulnerable to falter than to derive any benefit or retrieve lost space in the Valley politics. It is not learning any lesson from arch rival PDP. See, how ‘pro-separatist’ Mehbooba Mufti took a stand on transit accommodation for displaced Kashmiri Pandits, notwithstanding her personal stakes in the upcoming Assembly elections to Anantnag Assembly Constituency.
The Chief Minister was resolute and confident enough in saying that she will bring back Kashmiri Pandits. If PDP sincerely believes in return of displaced population, it will ensure it by roping in separatists, who may just show cosmetic resistance. And if Mehbooba Mufti does not want their return, the separatists will take a centre-stage against the move, which will make even the powerful BJP as helpless. Same is the case with Sainik Colonies. NC has taken a strange and rigid stand by opposing it, knowing it well (for having remained in power for better part of the half decade) that non-state subjects cannot own properties in the State. National Conference is also clueless on leasing of land for setting up of industries in industry-starving Jammu and Kashmir. How can the State expect investment unless it makes available land to intending industrialists for establishing industrial units?
National Conference is opposing leasing out of land to industrialists, setting up of colonies for Sainiks and Kashmiri Pandits to prove itself as champions of Kashmiris. In this hot pursuit, the party is even overtaking chronic separatists and secessionists by describing these measures as erosion of special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Whether such sort of ‘autonomous mindset’ will help the party or not but one thing is certain that this type of autonomy will lead to further radicalisation of Kashmir.
(To be continued)
