DOST KHAN
Jammu: By tomorrow, if Narendra Modi grants audience to Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharief in Kathmandu, which seems to be most likely, the Indian Prime Minister will have a reason to tell the Mian in equivocal terms to shun the foolishness of holding parleys with Hurriyat in Kashmir. Syed Ali Shah Geenani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Hurriyat stands dismantled, fragmented and rejected by the people of Kashmir, who have pressed their button for Indian democracy in the first phase of elections to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The turn-out in the fifteen constituencies spread in seven districts has been whopping over 70 per cent. This is a huge snub to Pakistan, its lackeys in different separatist and secessionist outfits and unbridled terrorists. Despite huge drubbing of Hurriyat, will Pakistan still insist for holding talks with them prior to getting engaged with India?
No matter who wins or who loses in Jammu and Kashmir, India has triumphed; Indian democracy has shined and a new chapter stands scripted. Salutes to brave electors; most of them young, for braving the brunt of Jihadi elements by marching towards booths, despite chill and intimidation. When Pakistan’s explosive material exploded in a shanty Bandipore area, the voters standing in queues did not dither but they firmed up their resolve to send them a message through power of their vote. They succeeded and the message stands delivered.
Though it will be too premature to say what next, yet the beginning has been overwhelming. Today’s poll has even surpassed the record voting during Panchayat elections which were hailed internationally. The people, especially in Kashmir, have realised the futility of gun and the vested interest nurtured by secessionists during the past two and half decades. The chronic secessionists have been raking up contentious issues, human rights violations and occupation of Indian forces to further the game-plan of Pakistan and keeping intact their flourishing enterprise. The people have seen through their machinations and decided to inflict silent but decisive blow. One wonders how the separatists will react to the take off of the current spell of polls. All their plans have gone haywire. They stand exposed. In fact, they had seen writing on the wall during electioneering when people in thousands thronged to the rallies conducted by various political parties. This had demoralised them to such an extent that the people like Geelani had gone on record saying they would not press for boycott. Strange reasoning was being offered in terms of boycott helping Bhartiya Janata Party to establish its strong hold in Kashmir. This was just an attempt of face saving. However, finding a ray of hope, Geelani had retracted from his statement about withdrawal of boycott. He has erred in his judgment, as the first phase turn-out has potential to break the backbone of any movement, least the Pakistan sponsored Tahreek at the point of gun.
The Tuesday verdict by Kashmir voters has vindicated Narendra Modi’s bold initiative of reaching out to the people of Kashmir in a big way. Notwithstanding the canards spread by the so-called mainstream parties to psychologically distance the majority community of Kashmir from national mainstream, the voters have turned turtle their apple-cart. BJP may not register significant seats from the Valley but it is going to establish its credentials in Kashmir. This is the ‘gruesome’ fact which has brought arch rivals on same page. They have been speaking in one voice how to keep Kashmir out of bounds for BJP. However, a realisation is dawning fast how to marginalise political chameleons, which have been changing colours like distinct four seasons of Kashmir.
By reposing their faith in ‘ballot’, the people of Kashmir have rejected the politics of bullet, once forever.
