B L Saraf
Former IB Chief, one time adviser on Kashmir to the Central Government during the tenure of PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and a very knowledgeable person on Kashmir matters, A S Dulat said some days ago that separatism in Kashmir is dead, though a sentiment of alienation among a significant section of the local society still persists. We may recall that he was chiefly responsible for bringing some hard core armed militants of Hizbul – Mujahidin group to the table for talks with the representatives of the GOI ,in early 2000s. Therefore, his assessment has some merit. On ground, also, there are sufficient indications available to hold the similar view. In fact it was in the late 90’s of the previous century and beginning of the 2000s that decline of the Azadi sentiment had set in. However , it will be too naïve on one’s part to say that the situation in Kashmir has turned round in favor of enduring peace and tranquility .Separatism may have ebbed out but, what in local political jargon is called, ‘alienation’ still lurks in mind of so many .Armed terrorist mark their presence at regular intervals with a dastardly effect .
The situation can be redeemed by allowing genuine political process to take the course and putting in place an elected Government. But the ruling dispensation seems to have other thoughts. Perception goes that it wants- if not its own men- but certainly ‘like minded ‘ones to hold administrative and political power in J&K. So experimentation in cobbling together the ‘ like minded ‘ is under way since 2020 . A desired result though is nowhere in sight, despite an all out assault on the established local political parties.
There is nothing unusual in the clamour for a new leadership – be it political, commercial or the spiritual. New leadership with new and innovative ideas is always welcome. However, when the idea of new political leadership is premised on a set notion it opens up for an objective critiquing. There is no wisdom to run down the conventional political set up which has served India well in trying times.
Post 5th August 2019, we hear of the need for a new leadership to take over political and administrative mantel in the state. A narrative is underway that revolves round the requirement of new leadership which, we are constantly reminded, would lead J&K to the ultimate salvation. An impression is, nonetheless, spread by the persons in political and administrative authority in Delhi and Srinagar to make one ponder: is it about creation of a new political force, or for weeding out the old one, existing in the state? It is argued that old political system- be it of National Conference or the PDP – has generated a “culture of subterfuge, blackmail, corruption and the notion of a family rule.”
Irony is not lost! In year 1983, Indira Gandhi came to think in similar terms, after Farooq Abdullah spurned her offer to fight Assembly election together, with NC and INC as alliance partners. Failing in her attempt to woo NC, Gandhi fought it out hard with Farooq: she raised sectarian pitch in Jammu region to a great electoral advantage of the Congress party. But she couldn’t succeed to stop NC from coming to power. But soon Farooq was shown the door. How well said: inscrutable are the ways in which nature acts! Soon after Indira Gandhi dethroned NC Government in 1984, all the opposition leaders from Delhi – lead by BJP’S Atal Behari Vajpayee, descended on Srinagar to show solidarity with the deposed Farooq Abdullah.
There is no denying that the Valley suffers from a political vacuum which must be filled up by the nationalist forces of genuine credibility and some standing among the public, as soon as possible. Political space should not be left open for the exploitation of undesirable elements who are present there in large numbers. It is also true that the recent developments have squeezed space for the mainstream politicians in Kashmir: it will take a Herculean effort for them to regain some political ground.
Political leaders can’t be manufactured in a work shop and then put in place, somewhere. Political leadership has to evolve, over a period of time, in a conducive environment. There can be no complete demolition of an earlier structure. In Kashmir, it is difficult to imagine where a new order will come from. Mainstream politics is, undoubtedly, a rare commodity there. Therefore, foundations of the old order have to remain intact. Debris of the old political formulations may throw up new leadership. It has to be a natural progression and a down up process.
The ‘ so called new party and new politicians shouldn’t be King’s Party , as someone has commented on how establishment in Pakistan is on way to crackdown on Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek – e – Insaaf (PTI) and created a new party of deserters named Istikam – e – Pakistan Party ( IPP ) Politics blessed solely by the Agencies won’t work in the long run . Sooner we learn the lesson better it would be for the nation.
The relative calm in the Valley shouldn’t fool anyone. Situation can erupt anytime .Playing one sect of the society against the other is no wisdom. Such an approach adopted some time back to win election in Manipur has boomeranged with the deadly consequences. More than 120 people have been killed and thousands displaced in the ethnic violence that has overtaken the state .The tribal rally against the Meiti demand for Scheduled Tribe status triggered the violence. The Manipur Government and the BJP led Central Government are perceived to be acting in a partisan manner with a tilt towards the Meiti community. It is important to note that just a couple of year’s back a normalcy of sorts was proclaimed in the state when election to the State Assembly was held which led BJP to form the Government. J&K , as volatile as Manipur , is where nobody can predict when the state’s fault lines will come alive .
HM Amit Shah while speaking in Jammu, at a function to remember Shyama Prassad Mukerji, said that terrorism has vanished from J&K and tourists throng every nook and corner of the Valley. Read with EX CBI Chief’s assessment it should be easy for the HM to ask Election Commission to start process of Assembly election in J&K. Separatism may be dead but it will get the final burial only when people in J and K are given a fair chance to rule themselves through a time tested democratic process and enjoy all rights which Constitution of India has given to its citizen .For that to happen election to the Assembly must be held, soon.
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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