Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo
Three decades old story of turmoil, death and destruction in Jammu and Kashmir coupled with old questions of discrimination and bias against regions and segments of society at large gave birth to the new thinking on Kashmir among the political class led by BJP. What triggered the final resolve was the intense urge to do it as soon as possible.
Certain factors emerged very strongly as the glaring facts of the story of turbulence in Jammu and Kashmir during the last thirty years. It included the ethnic cleansing and forced mass exodus of the Indegenous people of Kashmir -the Kashmiri Pandits. Separatism interwoven with religious fundamentalism in Jammu and Kashmir coupled with Pakistan abetted and supported terrorism was the other key factor that occupied the mind of the political and strategic class. A long pending issue of discrimination against the two regions, Ladakh and Jammu and their demand to get rid of hegemony of Kashmir also factored eventually to a large extent. The continuous disclosures about loot, plunder and embezzlement of the public money by a few political families and their coterie established the fact that separatist politics and terrorism had invented a vested interest in Kashmir which would like both to endlessly continue with uninterrupted speed.
All these factors forced a possible solution as a means to put Jammu and Kashmir back on rails and it all happened with the advent of Narendra Modi in May 2019 with an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha elections.
This author in his first press conference this year in Kashmir on “Kheerbhawani Mela” event clearly suggested that BJP was committed to the implementation of its resolve on Kashmir as expressed in its Election Manifesto. What was said had a substance, clarity and an honest intent regardless of the consequences, politically speaking. The Modi led Government was duly elected and mandated to implement its agenda on Kashmir and the Government went ahead on its chosen path.
Appointing people of metal on key posts at Centre and in J&K state to manage an eventful situation in future, giving a task to chosen officers and key stratigists in the Government and party to evolve the imaginable and unimaginable, keeping liaison with the RSS leadership over a possible piece of legislation to change the Center’s key policy & approach on J&K and asking important party functionaries to maintain a low profile on Article 370 and 35A for the time being were the Modi-Shah chosen master strokes in their ‘march’ towards Kashmir.
After some legal consultations, Amit Shah focused on the implications of the revocation of Article 370 on the valley’s law and order situation. It was on the Prime Minister’s suggestion that Shah then had a couple of meetings with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. Once Shah had reviewed the situation in Kashmir himself, Doval was sent to Srinagar to assess the situation from a security point of view.
US President Trump’s desire to leave Afghanistan with a promise by India to “takeover” militarily in Afghanistan was flatly refused by India. The artificial bonhomie between Pakistan and US with a clear message to include Taliban in the Afghan Government with the support of 40,000 armed terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan made a fundamental difference in the timing of the “operation in waiting”. While things moved fast on the international front, the NSA camped in Kashmir for three days. Then on July 26, the decision to curtail the Amarnath Yatra was taken. Later, recall of all tourists from the valley was also suggested by the NSA. Apart from this, an additional 100 companies of the Central paramilitary forces followed by 28 companies and RAF groups were also rushed as back-up to the prevailing security apparatus.
Asking Amarnath Yatries and tourists to wind up and cleansing Jammu and Kashmir of the vulnerable and politically volatile elements was only a precautionary measure that the “urgent timing” demanded on the ground. There was a serious developing security situation in which the government could not afford to give a wrong or negative message to the world at large enveloping the fate and future of Amarnath Yatra or tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, all possible steps that nesecciated smooth passage of the proposed policy implementation were taken without hiccups of questions and queries from the opposition.
The J&K administration was a very important catalyst that needed super bosses of high calibre and command to deliver at the most crucial time. A bout of rehearsal was also undertaken while maintaining secrecy and seriousness. Everything went as per plan and Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister took the floor on the fateful day of 5th August 2019 in the Rajya Sabha to unfurl the packated political, constitutional, strategic and diplomatic recipes for the future generations of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ladakh got what was due to it and it’s people for which they struggled for three long decades. Rest is history.
Jammu and Kashmir State will be a Union Territory now with its Assembly and Chief Minister. Whilè implications are being studied, one thing is crystal clear and that is that the two constitutions, two set of laws and two flags have become a thing of past. All central laws will be applicable in Jammu and Kashmir and there will be no issue pertaining to the multiplicity of law even in the criminal procedures.
However, delimitation is yet to be implemented and the message is that it will be addressed at an appropriate time. 1947 Pakistan refugees are a part and parcel of the citizenry of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory. POJK issue remains to be addressed so far as its representation in the JK Assembly is concerned. The general public in Jammu and Kashmir and particularly in Kashmir valley feel a sigh of relief that the political feudal system in the state around certain families has been dashed to the ground and they will be answarable and accountable to the people at large. Separate processes to that effect are already on.
Let us reconcile to the fact that political myths and lies about Kashmir have been buried deep down the ground with an urge to write a new history. Kashmir has a great opportunity to take lead, official funds and patronage to the sincere and honest, nationalist and rationalist, deserving and desiring will always be there. The old fairy political tales woven by Nehrus, Abdullahs, Muftis, and the likes as Karan Singh and Amitabh Mattoos are over and they have lost all relevance. Geelanis, Ghanis, Umer Farooqs, Shahs and Maliks need to reorient sooner than later. After all, welfare, peace and prosperity of the people is what politics means. All citizens in the reorganised Jammu and Kashmir will be free to enjoy the fundamental Rights and the human rights as envisaged in the Constitution of India and the customary law.
The reorganised Jammu & Kashmir is the new reality that needs a lot of study, research and development. That next time, please take care.
(Feedback: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com)
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