It is with reference to present political narrative being pushed in Jammu Kashmir. In the name of cautionary counseling persons with debatable background and allegiances are inciting passions in a pre-determined track. Events are interpreted and incidents analyzed in a manner reaching prescribed inferences. This for sure is going to cost us gravely as has happened in the past also.
Construing Mistrust
In a diverse society like Jammu Kashmir it is imperative in this 21st century, globalized environment to have an effective leadership that is cognizant of the ever-changing and diverse landscape. A worthy leader who has integrity, courage, compassion, and resilience and is ready to flex their influence while communicating the vision, showing gratitude, and collaborating effectively.
A genuine Leader will rise above narrow confines of colour, caste and creed. Rising above restrictedness however, does not mean discarding own beliefs and allegiance. It means amplification of persona by being considerate to expectations and aspirations of every section and to represent them in a manner that breeds material confidence of all of them.
Regrettably we have lacked such a leadership in Jammu Kashmir for a long time. Our polity has been dominated by suspicion, mistrust and misgivings. This has percolated down to every stratum of social alignments. Inter and intra assemblage relations are simulated, not genuine and unpretentious.
In such a situation garnering support of every section is perceived to be an implausible notion. Easy way out taken is to raise pitch of selective emotional issues to a level where a substantial chunk of population is coerced to support a leader, party or alliance. This has become a vicious circle
Over a period of decades this complex chain of events is reinforcing itself with detrimental results. If we again fail to realise adverse impact of such an atmosphere on all of us combined together, no matter who starts it, this will continue. This sectarian mobilization may look rewarding in short term but the direction of its momentum will ensure contrary impact sooner than later. In such circumstances external factors get an opportunity to intervene and use factional forces to their advantage.
Facts are Facts
Thinking in terms of abstract formations may help us go deeper into a situation to make generalizations about our collective experiences but to make headway out of present complex situation it is important to talk in tangible terms. Common People can make their opinion on noticeable events. It is therefore necessary to talk about issues in concrete terms also.
One of the crucial issues dominating political spectrum is forth coming elections, particularly to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu Kashmir. Most of our political parties, regional or national, demonstrate their exhilaration in a manner as if nothing is more important than an election to the Legislative Assembly.
Some enthusiasts have resigned from much sought-after government job to jump in to the poll fray. Nothing wrong in aspiring for becoming an elected representative in the Legislative Assembly or other democratic for electing a popular government with people’s representatives in office is essential and best available alternative in a democratic set up.
Now that we have sufficient experience of ‘popular governments’ in the country and also in Jammu Kashmir, it is worthwhile to recapture their performance and popularity. People must also recall behaviour of elected representatives towards people and even each other.
Communicating Revulsion
In a Tactical move that was conceived by its political opponents as acknowledgment of weakness BJP did not contest Lok Sabha election in 2024 from the three seats of Kashmir valley. BJP explained its absence from contest by focussing on overthrowing of the dynasts. It further said that the party believes in winning hearts which will ultimately lead to the lotus, the BJP’s poll symbol, blooming across the Kashmir Valley.
In non-appearance of BJP candidates in the fray opposition parties, National Conference (NC) and Congress in particular had to redesign its political campaign. BJP focussed on its anti-Dynasty campaign. INDI Block, to begin with, was forced to come out of delusional unity. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was first shown the door by rejecting its demand for consensus candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. NC was adamant with its logic of my way or highway. That left Congress and NC as poll partners.
After ensuring exclusion of PDP from the so called alliance of likeminded parties NC turned towards other candidates in the fray. They called everybody including PDP as B-party of BJP. Remember, bringing BJP to debate where the party was not contesting was political compulsion of NC-Congress combine.
That has been its political strategy from the very beginning of its existence. Breeding abhorrence against its political opponents has been essential part of the politics NC and Congress Party. They do not even spare each other when not-together for the sake of power.
Historical resonances
Leaving aside pre-1947 political mannerism of NC that was born as Muslim Conference in 1931 in its post-1947 avatar as ruling dispensation the Party and its leaders demonstrated intolerance, masculinity, antipathy for those who showed & dissent raised questions and entitlement in its actions and decisions for zealous followers.
Late BP Sharma, a Jammu based journalist wrote in an article ‘The history copy’, “However, notwithstanding …. changes in agrarian relations and other aspects, the condition of the common people worsened and the whole period got mired in controversies and conflicts leading to the disillusionment of the people as well as dismissal of the Sheikh”.
How can one forget what happened afterwards. Ruling faction of NC merged with Congress. Unhappy with these developments Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah is believed to have encouraged, Mirza Mohammad Afzal Beg, who formed a political platform called Plebiscite Front. “At the very outset, a campaign of social boycott known as Tarak-i-Mualat was launched by the separatist elements to intimidate and harass the Congress workers” writes BP sharma. “Syed Mir Qasim in his autobiography Dastan-i-Hayat has given some harrowing details of the hardships the Congress workers had to suffer on account of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s call for a social boycott” he adds.
Soon people of J&K witnessed an accord between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mohd Abdullah being signed by their representatives. Quoting again from the above mentioned article of Late BP Sharma republished by the Kashmir Life on August 15, 2018 under the title “when NC ceased to Exist” , “On February 15, 1975, the Plebiscite Front Executive approved the Centre-State Accord after which Mirza Mohammad Afzal Beg declared the Plebiscite Front ceased to exist………
A meeting of the Congress Legislative Party was held in Jammu on February 22, 1975, in which Qasim tendered his resignation and proposed Sheikh Abdullah’s name as Leader of the Congress Legislative Party”.
Even this arrangement did not last for long. Wary of the impact of party being overtaken by Sheikh Abdullah, the Congress party decided to call Sheikh Abdullah as “Leader of the House”, instead of “Leader of the Congress Legislative Party”. Retaliation came sooner with the revival of the National Conference. In 1977, Indira Gandhi advised the Congress to withdraw its support to Sheikh Abdullah. Rest as they say is the history.
As is visible there was no debate or discussion on any policy issue. People’s opinion also was not a factor. What was good for Jammu Kashmir and the nation was not of any merit. The only thing that mattered was party and politics of individuals concerned.
This love-hate relationship continues till date with historic episodes of 1984, 1986, 1987 forming alliance and then separating happening at intervals. It is a sort of cyclic spectacle where these parties of neo-elites play musical chairs within the limited group.
Tradition of public debate in India goes back very early times. That tradition needs to be reinvented. We the people need to shift discourse from what suits individuals and their parties to whatever is in the interest of larger good. Let the conscious citizenry take charge of the public debate and educate people accordingly.
(The author is former member of the Legislative Council of Jammu Kashmir and spokesperson of BJP JK-UT)
