Count Down Begins in J&K

It is 18th September today and the countdown for the emergence of the new political dispensation has started in Jammu and Kashmir after a long gap. People have been waiting for this day to shape their destiny and vote for their empowerment by choosing the apt representatives who can raise their voice in the Assembly and help in devising the policies and plans for their welfare. The first phase of polling will start today. Now the onus lies on the authorities to maintain law and order. So that the electoral process culminates in a peaceful manner without any subversive activities meant to sabotage it. This time there is a need to be extra cautious. This election is being held after the neutralisation of the Article 370 and 35A that led to the political reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. This has sent a strong message to the forces across the borders who want to keep Jammu and Kashmir on the boil. The writ of the Indian state to mainstream Jammu and Kashmir has unsettled the applecart of Pakistan. Its policy has been to inject subversion through its political proxies and its extended paramilitary arm. That is the mercenaries who indulge in terrorist activities to create the fear psychosis among the common masses. The result has been the radicalisation and the destabilisation of the society. That has led to destruction and devastation of the resources in Kashmir. Not only that, we have witnessed from the last year it has shifted its theatre of war to Jammu region and started the extension of destabilisation by targeting the security forces with impunity. Consecutive terrorist attacks in Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua areas of Jammu region indicate a wider plan to give traction to terrorism. In such a challenging situation lowering guard will mean enabling a free ground for the enemy to operate. It is of paramount importance that the faith of the voters is not violated and the war mongers are given a free run. The confidence in the electoral system has been restored to a larger extent in the Kashmir region. This can be gauged from the high voter percentage and participation of the masses during the Lok Sabha Elections. If things are taken by that logic then it means that the Assembly Elections will definitely catalyse democratic forces and enable them to express their dissent in a progressive manner to take Jammu and Kashmir out of the political logjam. This time it is quite evident the traditional political forces in Kashmir will surely face a stiff competition. This time the political turf is not an easy one. As many new groups and faces will cash on the radicalisation. Though it will consolidate them but one thing is good for the democracy that competition of political visions on Kashmir will crystallise. The moderate political forces will have to present an alternative vision, instead of trying to imitate the radicals to retain their constituency they must focus on social inclusion. Political climate is indicating that new calculus will emerge and it will pose new challenges. It demands that the people in Jammu and Kashmir must vote intelligently after witnessing more than three decades of violence and social turbulence that has devastated many families. Jammu and Kashmir wants peaceful lives and development for all sections of society. To end violence the people must vote for progression and not for regression.