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All party meeting in Kashmir: The Road Ahead

by Rinku Khumukcham
0 comment 4 minutes read

By: Sauro Dasgupta 
The recent all-party meeting of Jammu and Kashmir with PM Narendra Modi has made it clear that these parties have ultimately reconciled themselves to the abrogation of Article 370, despite many claiming that they don’t, NC Chief Dr Farooq Abdullah and Congress demanding its revival and with PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti vowing not to contest elections till Article 370 was brought back by Modi government.
It seems that the government may either restore erstwhile statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and make it like another state like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh or it may remain a Union Territory with a government of its own like that in the case of Delhi and Puducherry. In that case, the main contenders of power would be Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Raman Singh or even the current Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Manoj Sinha.
A likely contender for the post of the CM would be Mr Altaf Bukhari, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Dal. Reminiscent of Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad and his reformist attitude, Mr Bukhari would be an ideal face for the CM post. However hard the BJP may try to ally with NC or PDP and even form a government in Kashmir with their support, such an alliance will fail in a short time.
Fresh ideas and new innovations in the political arena are required to herald PM Modi’s dream of ‘Naya Kashmir’. The old guards’ help may be solicited, but one cannot trust the handing over the reins of the government to them. It would be devastating.
Mr Manoj Sinha has been sincere in reaching out to the leaders of Kashmir. Bringing them to the table with the PM has been his big achievement. He has also led the implementation of a host of development projects in Kashmir and has been thoroughly inclusive in his approach. He has ensured the resumption of Internet and telecommunication services after lengthy parleys with the Centre. He has also encouraged people from other states to buy land and property in Kashmir and motivated the J&K Chamber of Commerce to attract more investment in the state.
Notwithstanding all prospects of an election, we must understand that the new CM must have absolute and unconditional support from Delhi. Delhi must ensure that this election is not rigged. Kashmiris have always held democracy very dear to them and despite calls for election boycotts, the people have never failed to participate in the elections and cast their votes. When the 1987 poll was rigged, naturally the people were dissatisfied. JKLF misused this dissatisfaction and manipulated them into believing that the NC had rigged the polls to ensure that Dr Farooq Abdullah remained the CM. Dr Abdullah, though a good friend and ally of PM Rajiv Gandhi, did not want NC to become a puppet of the Congress party, The Congress had become too dominating and was denying independence to NC. Though Dr Abdullah denied his involvement in the rigging, many young men were frustrated and refused to believe him. One young man, Abdul Ghani Lone, who was the father of friend-turned-foe of the Modi government, Mr Sajad Ghani Lone, went to Pakistan with his friends and gradually led many youths on the path of militancy. In fact, had the 1987 poll not been rigged, the current insurgency in Kashmir would not have started in the first place.
We also need to ensure that public order is maintained and that the statehood process happens smoothly. Mr Manoj Sinha has neither been engaged in disputes with local leaders like his predecessor Mr Satya Pal Malik or unresponsive like Mr GC Murmu. He has also desisted from denounciations on the Modi government, thereby keeping the ISI and terrorist groups on the backfoot with close cooperation of intelligence and security forces.
In the end, we must hope that the sins of the past may be washed away by the benedictions of the present. We have to take everyone along in the path towards a progressive administration in Kashmir. The welfare of the people should be the goal. Only then can we herald the way for reforms and development, otherwise we will be doomed.
(The writer is UG 3, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.)

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