B L Saraf
In run up to the state Assembly elections, the way political parties are shaping their stance and politicians brazenly go on party hopping, one can’t escape the impression that J&K is in for the repeat of 1977 exercise. In 1977, Janata Party , an amalgam of socialists , communalists and the centrists came into the existence in the wake of emergency and deposed the Congress Government , led by Indira Gandhi and assumed power at Delhi. In misplaced euphoria the Party government rode rough shod over the Congress lead State Governments and dismissed them. In the states where elections were due, unholy alliances with the disparate and self serving political characters were forged . Jammu & Kashmir was one such state.
In 1975, pursuant to the Indira – Sheikh accord , Mir Qasim lead Congress Government abdicated power in favour of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah . But he was not allowed to enjoy power for a long and the Congress Party pulled the rug from under his feet in early 1977, and the state came under Governor’s rule . Fresh elections were ordered. The Janata Party saw an opportunity to clobber together the political elements opposed to Sheikh Abdullah , unmindful of their political ideologies and convictions . The Party commissioned George Fernadeze and Ashok Mehta to meet Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq , Maulana Syed Massodi , Gulam Mohiddin Qarra and others to explore chances of establishing Janata Party in the State and fight the coming elections. The Party came into the existence. Apart from the persons mentioned above, Abdul Gani lone, Shamim Ahmed Shamim , Maulana Ifitiqar Hussain Ansari , Abdul Rashid Kabuli and other prominent political figures of the State joined the Janata Party, and entered the election fray in a full swing . No holds barred election campaign was unleashed . To bolster the chances of its candidates , the big wigs of the Janata Government at Delhi campaigned hard in the state for. They included Choudry Charan Singh – the Home Minister , Jagjiwan Ram- the Defence Minister and above all Prime Minister Morarji Dessai himself . Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram , in total disregard to the basic rules of courtesy, launched a scathing attack on ailing Sheik Abdullah. Things came to such a passé that it took the political wisdom and sagacity of the PM Dessai to salvage the situation from a brink.
BJP appears to be more or less on the same path . Indications are that , in a rather secretive mode, the Party attempts to rope in those very political elements who they stood against, in not so distant past , and whose ideology it detested . Well , it is no sin to engage, peacefully, even with a sworn enemy . But that has to be in the broader national interest , with due regard to the transparency. It can’t be for a narrow partisan purpose . Indira Gandhi did it in Punjab, J&K and elsewhere in the country , having Congress party’s interest in mine. With the result, both, she in person , and the nation as a whole had to pay heavily for this short sighted policy. A murmur is growing loud that BJP is calculating on various ethnic, social and sectarian groups within the J Kian society for a narrow political purpose and is formulating an election strategy on these permutations and combinations . Well , given that the Sates’ society is vertically riven at the moment, thanks to the ongoing militancy , such a misadventure will be fraught with the serious consequences .
True, a Government at the centre has to strive for nation building and curb the fissiparous tendencies . None the less , it has to tread very cautiously in J&K . Whatever may work smoothly elsewhere the country may act counterproductive here . The inbuilt complexities of the situation can be ignored only at the national peril. In the larger national interests , para trooping of the outside political forces , particularly , in the Valley and a swashbuckling political campaign must be avoided at all costs. National integration has to be strengthened throughout – J&K including . But given a peculiar relationship of the state with the centre it has to be more bottom up than top down. Emotional and psychological integration is sine -quo – non for the physical and political integration .Aggressive political posturing will not do here . Local sensitivities should be kept in mind.
During the highly surcharged election campaign of 1977, some Kashmiris felt that though India was not their first choice, but since Sheikh Sahib had taken them there it was time to tell Indian people that the Kashmiris had associated with you on certain commonly cherished principles . They will, certainly , not allow India luxury of entertaining a feeling that it has annexed them like other states in the country . So , they would vote for Sheikh Abdullah . The more the central onslaught the more their resolve to rally behind Sheikh Abdullah. That was a down to earth assessment of the situation created by the overzealous Janata Party leaders of Delhi. No wonder , their so called stalwarts proved pigmies before the towering Sheikh , at the hustings. The spirit may have metamorphosed to a radical belief since 1990 , but, still , it is not beyond redemption. Love for Sheikh Abdullah may have waned but his thought has not completely evaporated. Despite the hardened prejudices, there is still something for India in Kashmir . That needs to be harnessed with care.
Kashmir youth has aspirations similar to those living elsewhere. Who better person than PM Modi to understand it? Let him work in this direction with earnestness, so that in the valley the aftermath of 1977 election does not visit the BJP in 2014.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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