B L Saraf
Jammu and Kashmir has come under Governor’s rule, for the eighth time so far. BJP has walked out of the Mehbooba led PDP/BJP Alliance Government, stating that it” has become untenable for the party to continue with the alliance.” This was an unique political arrangement stitched by the two political parties to form Government in State in March 2015, after Assembly elections had delivered a fractured mandate. Given the mutually contraindicative political creed and color of the PDP and BJP late Mufti Sayead, one of the architects of the alliance, saw it as coming together of North Pole and South Pole. The tie up didn’t come easy. Months were taken to cobble up the alliance.
We had an occasion to say , in March 2015, that PDP -BJP alliance Government was founded more on the” Doctrine of Inevitability” than on sound principle of governance . J &K needed popular rule. The alliance had arithmetic in its favor. But it was not lost on many a observer that this arrangement will not have a smooth run. What added to the woes of this “arrangement of contradictions’ was the untimely death of Mufti Sayaed. The momentum of gelling together went down. Mehbooba didn’t quite measure up to the situation when occasion demanded. Burhan Wani’s death in 2016, Khatua incident in Feb, and Shujhat Bukhari’s assassination in the first week and growing militant activities proved too heavy a burden for the alliance government to bear . Then it was only a matter of time when the North Pole – South Pole marriage would burst out. And, the end came on 19th June 2018, AN.
We are is a situation akin to the one which came up in June 2008 when PDP pulled rug from under the feet of Gulam Nabi Azad led Congress – PDP government, in the wake of Amarnath land row. How ironic! Some observers feel that one of the reasons for BJP to walk out was to ensure safe conduct of upcoming Amarnath Yatra – and we are in the month of June. The difference , however, is that this time there are no mourners for the demise of the Government. People in Kashmir – wherefrom PDP drew strength – are as indifferent and unmoved as people of Jammu – which supported BJP. No tear has been shed. On the contrary, it appears that for the people it is a good riddance. Surely, it is matter of concern for both the parties.
While announcing withdrawal of the support to the alliance government BJP functionaries in New Delhi, said that rise of terrorism, radicalism and sense of regional neglect felt by people in Jammu and Ladakh have compelled the party to withdraw from the government. It looked as if BJP has trounced a government led by opposition and not the one of which the party was a main constituent. If the Mehbooba government had faulted as BJP wants us to believe then, as a coalition party, it too has a lot to explain .
The political pundits, however, have various theories for the sudden change of heart of BJP. Some say it is an attempt by the party to shore up its sagging fortunes in the mainland, in 2019 Parliamentary elections. They feel the” Masculine approach ‘ which BJP led Central government is likely adopt to deal with the terrorists, after having shed PDP baggage , may yield some political harvest to it in the rest of country. Reverting back to the. ‘nationalism ‘ and ‘zero tolerance to the terrorism ‘, some hope , will add to that prospect. No doubt, the terrorists must be flushed out but it is extremely essential that no harm comes to the innocent.
If it is so then there is a time to pause and think. Is Kashmir only a political laboratory or an object used to garner votes in the mainland. It must be said that while Governor exercising executive power in J& K, without aid and advice of council of ministers, is constitutionally permissible but it doesn’t have a democratic flavor. It is a constitutional remedy to be applied in special circumstances. The democratic flavor is a pleasant blend of constitutionalism and the real politics. In J&K , political component often outweighs the constitutional part. The Governor rule is generally read as a rule by the Centre.
J &K is one state which can ill afford a rule by the Centre. It is a complex political entity. What happens in Kashmir reverberates, in high tones, around the globe. The dastardly murder of a noted journalist in Srinagar, on the Idd eve has brought Kashmir back in the head lines of world media. We have yet to come to terms with the recently published Human Rights report by a world body, with respect to Kashmir. Though the report is highly lopsided and concocted yet there’re many inimical forces across the globe ready to buy anything that goes against India; Kashmir will resurface on the talking table of many countries .
In view of the peculiar geopolitical considerations, every political party – big or small – has a role to see the situations doesn’t worsen more. It is highly imperative that stream of democracy flows freely. Governor’s rule has to be short lived. In the interregnum, the polluted atmosphere must be detoxified to allow sanity to rerun . It is not a good news that people of the state have not reacted to the latest development. The eerie silence speaks volumes . Given the volatile nature of Valley’s politics and highly activated fault lines, hostility to the Central rule may appear soon from the quarters welcoming it now , negating what good may have come in-between and giving one more cause of worry to the administration.
Kashmir on the boil is not a good sign for any person whose heart beats for the Country. PM Narandra Modi is , surely, one among them. So, he must see to it that state comes back on the track of peace and tranquility; and a popular Government is soon at the helm in Jammu and Kashmir.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge )
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