Prof. A N Sadhu
The BJP-PDP alliance is in office for the last one year and a half. It took quite sometime to the ideologically opposite parties to reach an understanding and form a coalition government. It struck surprise in all sections of the society and even when such an alliance looked unbelievable, the people slowly realized that politics makes such combinations possible not on the basis of logic but on political vested interest. It is where Indian politics has let down this country time and again and it is where politicians have let themselves down and marred their chances of becoming the statesmen to steer this country through to a brighter future with stable conditions so essential to put this vast country on a high growth trajectory.
Politicians justify any of their actions on the so called priority of public interest. The alliance was also sold to the people on the same logic, even when nobody approved it and no one could see any visible wisdom in forging such an alliance. During the campaign for 2014 general elections, the state had received repeated mention and hints were focussedly dropped about vigorously pursuing the search for solution of some contentious issues. That such an alliance was any initiative in that direction betrayed the public confidence. That the contentious issues will remain under the basket, manifested that political gain overrides all other priorities. It became an exercise of evolving a working arrangement for sharing the power even if it became counter productive to the peace and development of the state.
To orient such strange combinations to the advantage of the people, needs skill, maturity and high degree of thoughtfulness among the role players. In a state like Jammu Kashmir, these virtues are needed even in a greater measure. Routine management of political and civil administration is a phenomena of normal times. The state of J&K has been in turmoil since 1989-90, (if we ignore the earlier period), and no innovative approach has been adopted to overcome this on-going turbulence. Accords, packages, appeals and visits of delegations are the often repeated exercises to help correct occasional distortions and camouflage the mischievous strifes. The state needs a formidable approach to put the records straight and bring home the rationale of its accession to the Indian union as per the standard procedure laid down for the purpose.
Has the present alliance made any headway in straightening the cobb-webs in the state? Probably no headway has been made. In fact state has witnessed greater instability during this period. Many a time, main stream political parties also drop confusing hints for public consumption which leaves the common man high and dry about comprehending any clear strategy of such a political party. Drawing a distinction between accession and merger does not add any clarity to otherwise a controversial impretation of a non controversial tie-up. How could any convincing formulation be envisioned in the BJP-PDP tie-up is still not clear to the people. Whenever any issue of national importance is sought to be diluted or made conditional for its applicability in the state, quick comes the statement from BJP that it was not discussed in the cabinet like GST, at present. There have been several such occasions in the past as well. What it implies should not be far too difficult to understand.
That Mr. Modi is at the helm of national affairs and that he enjoys the confidence of a vast majority of the country should still generate a hope of better political management of the state when, particularly, the state CM is taking a positive view of the initatives launched by the Prime Minister. Making this strange combination to work in the national interest as also in the interest of the state ( knows as mini India) will enhance the public esteem of the Prime Minister further. That the people of the state particularly, Kashmir valley, have started realizing the fututility of the agitational path is a good sign and should create an opportunity for the alliance to forge better understanding and coordination and come to the grips of the problems faced by the people. The resolution of the concerns of different sections of the society including those of minorities should receive priority and get sorted out immediately. The state cannot afford more strife and halting pace towards development, because the world is changing fast and no part of this country should apply brakes to the economic, social and political development of the society. The alliance is on test and if it does not deliver for some more time, it will be too late for the partners to sail their ship smoothly.
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