B L SARAF
bushanlalsaraf@gmail.com
Discounting claims that some MLAs of his party are likely to ditch him, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told media that no one is leaving the National Conference and rumors floating in this regard are baseless. For some time, the social media has been abuzz that 3 to 5 MLAs of the National Conference are about to change their loyalty in favour of the other political force. Omar Abdullah was speaking to the media in Tangmarg while inaugurating multi – purpose indoor sports complex in the Degree College. According to him, these baseless rumours were spread “by the same people who helped the BJP in Rajya Sabha polls.” In support, the CM referred to a RTI revelation which came out recently. He was empathetic in saying that no NC MLA will leave him to support the BJP.
At the time when political parties ( both ruling and in the opposition) ought to concentrate on issues /problems faced by the general public and try to find out ways and means to ameliorate their lot, we are witnessing a political farce being played out in J &K, particularly, in the Valley. The Rajya Sabha (RS) election, held some time back, has suddenly resurfaced in the discourse, wherein the political parties are accusing one another of having indulged in horse -trading to ensure win of the lone BJP candidate. Two main Kashmir centric political parties are busy in accusing each other on this score: so much so that a ‘ Holy Book ‘ has been brought in to help fix allegations / counter allegations.
It is no secret that given the numbers in the Assembly the BJP Candidate couldn’t have crossed the bar to reach the House of States (RS). So, some MLAs from outside, in addition to his own Party, have definitely rendered a push to him to romp home. These MLAs could be among the flock of the NC or PDP. Even the lone wolfs in the Assembly may have been the helpers.
Omar Abdullah and his party managers may have the comfort to feel safe and see no threat of defection to the NC Government. But it doesn’t take too much time to spot a black sheep within the flock and upset the apple cart. The position could be of today but, seeing the game going on in the mainland, nothing can be ruled out in the coming days. After all the Aya Ram – Gaya Ram syndrome is in full swing everywhere in India. The political poachers are on the prowl: recent Assembly election results must have sharpened their appetite.
Omar Abdullah is heard complaining that the BJP led Central Government is punishing J&K for not having elected a BJP Chief Minister in the UT. For this reason, he feels, statehood is being denied to the people. An atmosphere of uncertainty is visible. Elected representatives, particularly of Kashmir region complain that the officers who are in charge of law and order departments do not take them into the confidence even on a minor issue. It is quite apparent that on some issues there is an element of mistrust between the two top constitutional functionaries in the UT.
The Chief Minister has made a significant observation on the outcome of recently held Assembly elections in West Bengal and the Election Commission’s SIR drive. He said “so many voters have been deleted from the voter list …. They will not get opportunity to vote. If the BJP had to do it for winning then be it they have won. We will have to see what impact it will have in the rest of the country.'” Well, J&K too is a part of the country so it will be naive to think that if there is any impact of these election results in the country the UT can stay immune to that impact – good or bad whatever it may be. So political parties – particularly Kashmir based will have to be extra cautious. For the CM, it is more important to deliver on his promises made to the people in run up to the last J&K Assembly elections, rather than go on protesting too much. Every section of the society faces issues of various nature.He may expedite the process of providing 20000 jobs to the youth he announced the other day and facilitate young entrepreneurs in establishing their business units. Mere providing free bus ride to the females won’t suffice.
Summer season has just arrived in Jammu and the people are bearing the brunt of the unscheduled power cuts. If the weather prediction proves right, the region is in for a harshest summer and then God alone can tell how a hell will break on the people. After electricity shortage, the threat of water scarcity is looming large. The Valley has its own economic problems besides having to be on alert to ward off the possible security threat. The Chief Minister and his colleagues should concentrate on these issue rather than waste precious time on hurling challenges to the PDP to have the ‘Holy BOOK ‘ in hand and come clean on the horse trading issue. Same can be said for the main opposition party, because it too has a duty towards the people. For the PDP, as a responsible opposition party, it is equally important to raise substantive issues of public importance, instead of wasting energy in throwing up challenges of no consequences. Make note of it! Big Brother has a gaze as much on the NC as it is watching the PDP. And, certainly the watch is not a benign one.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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