Development with dignity

Shafiq Mir
In 2002, when People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had taken over the reigns of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in an alliance with Congress party, the centre was being governed by NDA led by BJP with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively. At that time, Mufti had begun his business with the centre on the slogan ‘ Peace with Dignity’. He had convinced the centre that all the peace initiatives regarding Jammu and Kashmir must be taken keeping in view the dignity of the people by adopting a ‘ Healing Touch’ policy. And he succeeded in his moves. Even he had convinced the then BJP leadership at Centre to engage with Pakistan for the permanent peace in the region. Not only this, even he had convinced the national Indian intelligentsia and policy makers that how the alienated Kashmiries could be won back. He had successfully convinced the Indian establishment at Centre to control the excesses of security forces. Despite AFSPA being in place, the security forces were not alleged by any one of any type of violation of human rights during that period. And a lot of change was witnessed within a one year period of his governance from law and order to the delivery of the Government. Though, his business with then BJP Government in centre was brief up to 2004 only, but the major policy was drafted during that period including Lahore bus yatra by then PM Vajpayee . The healing touch policy crafted during that period continued on the same lines with UPA Government led by Congress during the rest of the period of PDP – Congress Government in the state of Jammu and Kashmir . During that period, in his all initiatives, Mufti’s prime focus was on the dignity of the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir particularly the people of valley though that time Mufti had very weak mandate of only 16 seats with him while his coalition partner had 21 seats. His first fight had begun on the CM post saying that snatching CM post from Kashmir valley would be like sprinkling  salt on their wounds and he had succeeded to convince the then Congress leadership at the centre  that CM post be given to Kashmir valley despite the fact that he had less numbers as compared to Congress. Convinced with his arguments, Congress had also displayed an ‘ elder brother’s’  role at that time in national interest and agreed to give first three years to Mufti. However, later the CM chair was rotated and given to Congress that was done only because the Congress had a leader like Ghulam Nabi Azad who had  not only acceptability in all the three regions of the state but a capability of running the affairs of the state.
However, at present, the situation is quite different. Neither the BJP leadership at the centre is of that quality who can be compared with Vajpaaye nor the Jammu Kashmir BJP has any such leader who has acceptability in all the three regions of the state to be discussed for rotational basis . So, the question of rotational chief minister does not arise at all. Now the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has only two options with him . Either to have an alliance with Congress along with Independents and form the Government or to do same with the Bhartiya Janta Party BJP. For his alliance with the later, Mufti has many challenges to confront with. Firstly, majority community including all political parties are deadly against any sort of alliance with BJP having many reservations about the party known for its hard-line  agenda on each issue . Secondly, the BJP itself is not ready to compromise on the various issues including CM post .
However, Mufti’s silence despite the support extended to him by all political parties including his arch rival National Conference itself speaks that he wants to have alliance with the BJP for certain valid reasons. There are many sound reasons for him to think so. It is also a hard reality that BJP has emerged as the second largest party in the State with all 25 seats from Jammu region. Of them, 24 belong to Hindu community of Jammu. And it is not easy and justified to set this representation aside. If he does so, these 24 MLAs belonging to Hindu dominated districts of Jammu division may create trouble for him if left out side with the blessings of central BJP Government. Moreover, he will have to face problems in his each step from the central BJP Government if he goes with Congress and others. These are some of the concerns stopping Mufti to go with Congress and others at this point of time. But if he decides to go with BJP that is not an easy task too. If he goes with BJP, Mufti knows that his opponents can exploit it at larger level among the masses and can label him BJP mask man which will be disastrous for the future of his party in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti must keep this thing in mind that despite his wave and anti incumbency against Omar Abdullah, his party PDP could not cross 28 numbers which Omar had been occupying in the past two terms. Mufti can not cross this number in future too if  he will have BJP tag with him and might be he comes back to 16 from where he had started .
But Mufti has sound argument as well if he decides to go with BJP. May people are of the opinion that if BJP accepts his all  demands including 6 years full term CM post and other healing touch proposals like AFSPA etc and goes silent on the issues like  article 370 etc, there is no harm to keep them on board . Now it is the responsibility of BJP leadership at the centre to behave like an elder brother in national interest and give the Mufti a free hand to govern the state.
( The author is a senior columnist and Chairman All J & K Panchayat Conference).

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