Shiban Khaibri
The coalition of two divergent political ideologies, the PDP and the BJP has completed 100 days in office on June 8 in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite many political hiccups in its journey, it has somehow managed to survive and is somehow dragging at. Vowing to work within the ambit of the common minimum programme (CMP), it has emerged with many a contradiction and also with indications of fissures coming out in the open, though being less increasingly vivid. Minister for public works, Altaf Bukhari has advised the BJP “not to prop up chaos and confusion by propagating divergent opinions and to stick to the agenda of peace, political stability and development and not to cry hoarse on issues of secondary importance.” It is left to our imagination as to what the Minister meant by “issues of secondary importance” as he was more critical of the Dy. CM for the latter’s views over the quantum of money required for rehabilitation of flood victims in Kashmir. The question, therefore, revolves round the apprehensions of the continuance of the coalition and proceeding ahead till it completes its full term. On its part, the BJP as a sincere coalition partner has termed the 100 days of Mufti Sayeed government’s rule as a “success” as the Dy. CM Dr. Nirmal Singh is of the view that the State Government was “setting the stage right” for good governance despite the fact that the state was “battling empty treasuries”. The Dy. CM, however, admitted that there were some controversial issues which impacted governance, but “we resolved all the issues and these 100 days’ (governance), I can firmly say was successful”.
Wherefrom the coalition started its journey, a brief has been given in as much as that “even the utilization certificates (of funds and grants etc) sought by the Central Government from the previous State Government were not sent with the result, funds for MGNREGA, SSA and ReT and other central sponsored schemes are not made available, the conditions having been created such by the previous NC Congress government that for 8 to 9 months , salaries could not be disbursed to many employees resulting in unrest and agitations or protests from them nor have any budgetary provisions been made for these schemes and administrative units by the previous government”. It is argued by the coalition that the mess inherited is being corrected for “good governance”.
Former CM Omar Abdullah, on the other hand, has termed the PDP-BJP coalition as “a government of U- turns and surrenders which has failed on all fronts”. Giving a new twist to his “secular credentials”, he has castigated the Mufti government for its drive against encroachment of the forest land in Jammu as, according to him; the campaign was restricted to only Muslim dominated areas and has termed the drive as “a brazen case of discrimination”. Since Omar Abdullah is from non BJP political Party, any intentional reference with communal overtures has to be considered as ” sincere secular stance” like his uncle Dr. Mustafa Kamal advising to respect (and not object to ) Pakistani flags as and when brandished on the streets of Kashmir valley being “no ordinary piece of cloth” and that “Pakistan being innocent cannot spoil its case” and that “India was responsible for all that happened in Kashmir valley all these 26 years” cannot be treated anything other than “secularism”. This trend has now more or less been legitimatized by all “secular” Parties in the country.
Minister for Forests and environment, Bali Bhagat appears to be attempting to do a difficult job of retrieving forest land from the ones who are found to have grabbed it illegally and any criticism prima facie against it looks unjustified and motivated. The Minister has alleged destruction of records during the previous dispensation and the existence of a “big nexus” among senior politicians, some revenue and police officials who, according to him have encroached upon a large part of forest land in the state. He has expressed his resolve not to spare anyone found involved. It is pertinent to mention what the Minister has revealed in respect of the encroachers facing eviction desperately spreading rumours that such move was aimed at a particular community and he resolves to fight the menace of encroachment irrespective of religion or political affiliation. Out of a whooping 13000 hectares of forest land so far identified as encroached, 3100 hectares have been retrieved which at least one commendable job is done by this coalition. Not only this, action under land grabbing by misusing the Roshni Act too must start at the right earnest. We have yet to see any development taking place in respect of the fight against corruption and establishment of accountability in administrative apparatus. This state is moving at a snail’s pace to plug leakages, corrupt practices, loss of revenue, transparency and innovative methods of governance. At least a start is nowhere in sight.
Agreed that a period of 100 days is too little to judge the performance of this government, nevertheless, the trend of governance seems not up to the expectations of the people. The scenario emerged depicts that Jammu region continues to feel not getting its due share in the development process , the glaring examples being those of the AIIMS and artificial Tawi Lake issues, not to speak about other affected development projects. Wherever one looks, the roads, lanes etc are in such a mess that perhaps this city has never seen before. The ditches, pot holes, dug out areas on the roads make it very difficult for pedestrians, two wheelers and other vehicles to pass and even patch work repairs are nowhere in sight. Fresh diggings of roads either by ERA or other agencies are making a mockery of the difficulties faced by the people. Now we are heading towards fourth year of continuous irritable and problematic road digging. This writer, in these very columns a few days back, had suggested the leaders to pass through these roads and lanes to know for them the plight of the people.
The coalition Government seems to be found wanting in showing its mettle in containing the anti India and pro Pakistani activities going on in Kashmir valley. Waving of Pakistani flags and raising Pakistani slogans has now become a regular feature. We do not quite agree with the Dy. CM’s contention that “anti national activities by separatists have been going on since long, the question is whether the government is acting or not , we have acted…..” as it does not hold water. At least, under this coalition, when BJP is a partner with 25 seats on its own in the House of 87, there should have been a firm reining in of traitors and Pakistani agents in the valley. The redundant theory of fighting the separatists and traitors politically and setting the ropes too loose to pull them back with a jerk , all under “democracy” is projecting these anti India forces internationally thus playing up to the nasty Pakistani game. The coalition appears to be giving a free run to anti Indian forces, all under freedom of expression and democracy, only to result in more extremist groups emerging there and newer techniques of terror activities like damaging telephone towers taking place. The proposed anti India rant via “seminar” as to “How to resist Indian state Fascism” by Geelani and others must never be allowed and anyone arriving in Srinagar with intention to deliver “lectures” in favour of the myopic topic set out by myopic mindset against India must be treated as a traitor and proceeded against legally along with the hosts. If India would have been nurturing absolute fascist policies, Geelani and his ilk would have not been politically and economically so comfortably placed. The unprecedented soft handling by successive Central Governments despite gravest provocations and even open allegiance to Pakistan by Geelani and other separatists all these years, not to mention the unparalleled religious freedom and liberty enjoyed, can never entitle them, not in the least, to brand any “fascism” pursued by India.
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