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Mainstream politics becoming irrelevant in Kashmir

By Brij Bhardwaj. Dated: 4/24/2017 12:18:08 AM

One hopes that those who matter in national capital will pay heed to the fears and apprehensions expressed by Tassaduq Mufti, younger brother of Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti and PDP candidate for Lok Sabha seat from Anantnag in Kashmir which has been postponed. His remarks that mainstream politics was becoming irrelevant in Kashmir and unless immediate steps are taken situation may slip into anarchy from which there would be no turning back.
These are strong words and not spoken by a politician looking for political space, but by a young professional reluctant to enter politics on basis of what he felt and understood which seeking votes in disturbed South Kashmir. He saw stark reality on ground which forced him to advise reluctant supporters of his party to give priority to their personal safety instead of seeking votes for him. His remarks that there was concerted effort at various levels to destroy even last shred of political base and completely erode its credibility of PDP should be treated with respect.
These remarks by him in an interview with Indian Express, with Muzamil Jaleel made it clear that in current situation there will be no winners. It was no more a question of who will govern Kashmir, but of survival of mainstream politics in Kashmir. The challenge can be met if all mainstream political parties come together and Center takes steps to check alienation of youth and open up opportunities in terms of employment. Choice offered to go for terrorism or tourism has found no takers in Kashmir.
Other old Kashmir watcher like Wajahat Habibullah has also expressed fears that gains secured during the last two decades after insurgency in nineties by holding elections with credible participation have been washed away. State Government today finds itself in a helpless situation where it lacks credibility and finds no support for the common minimum program adopted by PDP and BJP on basis of which they joined hands to form a coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Recent events in the country like lynching of Muslim youth transporting cows, ban on beef , movements like "love Jihad" and fears of growing saffronisation has not helped the situation in Kashmir. Kashmir Valley has big stake in keeping India secular and any change in this creates fears in minds of people in Kashmir. BJP may not be pushing its agenda like abolition of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir but its general agenda creates problems for Jammu and Kashmir government.
After all it is no secret that slogan "vote PDP" to keep BJP out of power won many votes for Muftis in Kashmir. But after the poll PDP and BJP had to join hands to form a Government. Death of Mufti Sayeed after he assumed office was a setback as he had the stature and clout to make the coalition work and make it acceptable in Kashmir. In his last term his policy of releasing political prisoners, opening trade and travel across line of control won him kudos.
Present Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who got installed after a brief delay has been under pressure from day one by her ally BJP and never got an opportunity to build on legacy of her father. Continuous street protests, stone pelting mobs ruling the streets which claimed large number of lives and blinded many more by use of pellet guns made her task more difficult. With passage of time one cannot help but notice that radicalisation of youth which was confined to urban centres like Srinagar and main towns of Kashmir has now spread to rural areas.
South Kashmir which has been free of insurgency in nineties has now become a major base for militants. In Kashmir even girl students have joined protest marches Policemen dare not visit their homes as it could endanger the safety of their families. Situation is such where it needs to be dealt as a national emergency. Mere use of force and strong arm measures offer no solution. Political parties like National Conference and Congress which have some following in Kashmir have to realise that it is no more a contest for power but a question of survival.
Initiative has to be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it could be a test case where priority should not be gains for a political party, but working for integrity of India by assuring people in Kashmir that India remains committed to values which made it a part of India. Task is not easy and options like imposing Central rule will not help. Initiative like taking help of non-state actors could help. Efforts by leaders like Yashwant Sinha former Finance Minister could help. It should be clear to all that need for early action cannot be overemphasized. Prime Minister could easily pick a chapter out of initiatives taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and find solution of Kashmir problem within limits of Indian Constitution and "Insaniyat".
(Brij Bhardwaj is a veteran journalist and commentator)
—[IFS]