At a time when Jammu and Kashmir is rewriting history , embracing democracy in its realistic form , the Congress has taken upon itself to wreck the narrative of development and future of this place which has suffered numerous atrocities for decades . As an opposition party , it has all the right and claim to counter what the ruling party says and claims , but that should be on facts not on the imagined speculations.
Rahul Gandhi surprised the audiences in J&K on Monday when he said that he would represent them in the Parliament. This is an anomaly. How could he represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir when they have already given their mandate to five MPs they elected in the Lok Sabha elections – two of them, Dr. Jitendra Singh MoS in PMO and Jugal Kishore from BJP, two others from National Conference, the pre-poll ally of Congress and one independent . This is against the norms of democracy and violative of the verdict that people have given in favour of their elected representatives.

POLITICAL PULSE

There is an established role for MPs. It also is a fact that the MPs can speak for all the people of the country, but primarily they are responsible for the constituencies from where they get elected. In Rahul Gandhi’s case he is representing Rae Bareli constituency of Uttar Pradesh. As he is also Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha , he can talk about all the states and union territories in the House. So far so good.
Rahul should explain in what manner he wants to represent and become the voice of the people of J&K? He is pitching for the restoration of the statehood.
It’s a fact that the demand for the restoration of the statehood across J&K is widespread . It is heard from all corners. All parties are unanimous on this issue . National Conference, Congress, PDP, Apni Party, People’s Conference DPAP have placed this demand prominently in their manifestoes. They have vowed to fight for the restoration of statehood. This is a common knowledge that the erstwhile state, which had special status under Article 370 , with a separate constitution and flag, was divided . Ladakh was carved out of the state , and a large chunk of the geographical area went to the region that had been asking for the UT status for decades. J&K ‘s status as state was demoted to the UT.
This was a point of irritation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah knew that it would provoke some kind of irritation , so at the same very moment he had promised that the statehood would be restored at an appropriate time . Anything spoken on the floor of Parliament automatically assumes the status of a national commitment .
The only thing that had some disconcerting notes revolved around the delay in returning the statehood to this UT .The wait has stretched on to five years , and it is natural for the people who were in a vast and high-profile state for centuries to get impatient . The political parties took advantage of it and manipulated this issue in such a fashion as if this was a permanent loss and the statehood would never come back to J&K unless they raised this demand . The political parties have the right to demand so but they should have known their limitations too. Could they get the statehood restored unless or until the Centre was on board . No! The BJP is aware that it has responsibility toward the people of J&K; fulfilment of the promise on statehood is a commitment that cannot be left to uncertainty .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very categorical in stating that J&K would get the statehood and that would be granted by the BJP government alone . PM has fulfilled many a promises , including the commitment to restore peace to J&K at a time when it sounded unthinkable and unimaginable . Today that is a reality. There is both operational and functional peace in Kashmir . Terrorism is down , peace is up .
So, Rahul Gandhi , as Leader of Opposition , should have known that by seeking to appropriating role of others to himself is not good politics , putting it mildly . Let the democratic process get completed. The people are certain that PM and Home Minister will honour their promises and commitment . Rahul Gandhi should relax and plan a trip to some foreign country.