Muhammad Tauseef
In March 2015 new pages got attached to the records of contemporary political history of J&K. The month of the year marked the beginning of an arranged marriage between two diametrically opposite political parties. So opposite that they had jumped into the election arena on the scaffold of vehement opposition to each other. The parties that had asked for votes from the common masses for the basic reason to keep the other away from the political landscape of the state ended up joining hands as coalition partners post-elections.
The actualization of the coalition shocked the masses of the valley and left them spellbound. The PDP that the people of the valley had voted for in more than ever numbers, just to keep the BJP away from entering the political landscape of the state, embraced the same BJP as their counterpart. It enunciated one thing to the people of the state that just like every other party of the state it too was for the power rather than its tall claims of being for the people and the state at large.
Anyhow a contemplative analysis of the political happenings and the dynamics of the state pronounce anything as a major probability in the near future. Which happens to be that, the government is tantamount to a patient on the deathbed, which can expire anytime. It is very well said that ‘a chain is as strong as its weakest link’. This quote applies to the current political scenario of the state aptly as there is not just one weak link but multiple, simultaneously. So the strength, durability and longevity of the current dispensation may not be hard to imagine.
At present, more than the survival what should actually be bothering the PDP is their incessantly tarnishing image amongst the masses of the valley. Their primary concern should be on what basis they would face the common masses and what grounds would they ask for votes? When they have actually forged an alliance with a party with whom they had to compromise the basic fundamental agenda of their existence. It would have been much better an option for the PDP to be out of power. Had they desisted from forging an alliance with BJP and kept up with their stands they would have ensured a much better victory and representation in the next elections as they would have a bigger constituency of masses to bank upon. Had they kept in mind such subtle sensitivities of the common people they would have easily succeeded in touching their hearts and winning them over for the years to come. This would have been the best way to power over the basis and the grounds of their arch-rival NC, which with all the failures and negativities managed to get nearly 20 seats. The PDP needs to realize, that their so called political ingenuity would be cashed in on by the NC in the times to come and their lackadaisical and myopic decisions might cost them their existence in the near future.
Joining hands with a party, which was out rightly rejected to the hilt and the edge from being given a political representation in the valley by the people, was a folly on part of the PDP. Plus the stands taken by the BJP over the different issues ranging from thanking the Hurriyat and Pakistan to the state flag issue and the continuous submissive approach of the PDP was icing on the cake. The sooner PDP realizes it the better it be for them.
Also, the rising right wing extremism in India at the hands of the ideological mother of BJP (RSS) and their cronies be it the forceful conversions, the attacks at the religious places of Muslims and Christians, their vehement opposition and discrediting of the Kashmiri pro-freedom leadership, their denial of Kashmir as a dispute and their continuous shout for merging J&K with the rest of India by abrogating article 370 has further angered the Kashmiri masses and deepened the wedge between Kashmir and India. Continuing the coalition under such circumstances with the BJP really puts PDP in a tight spot. The need of the hour for them is to put their thinking caps on and gather some spine to take some bold steps apart from straight away defending their moves rather than maintaining silence. The PDP need to prove to the people that voted them to power, that they are not subservient to the dictations of New-Delhi unlike the previous regimes.
Moreover, the PDP need to gain some ground and acclaim from the masses on the lines of development and policies in order to avoid a political fiasco in the coming times especially the elections. The first step towards the same would be to reassert the fact that J&K is in a true federal equation with the GOI (government of India) and as such its internal sovereignty needs to be upheld and respected by others instead of equating it at par with other states of the India. Ensuring that the state flag is hoisted by all the constitutional authorities which till date has been rejected by the BJP ministers who believe in the “EK VIDHAN, EK NISHAN, EK PRADHAN IDEOLOGY” of their founding father S.P.Mukherjee would be the first step in the run. The PDP would also have to initiate some pro-active steps to revive the economic sustenance and independence of the state including the reviving of traditional industries in the state, return of power projects to the state and remaking J&K Bank as the lender of the last resort for the state.
They PDP would also have to proactively work towards the formation of a well planned youth policy to do away with the crisis of unemployment, stagnant educational scenario, entrepreneurial development, etc. of the nearly 60% constituents of the population of the state. The up gradation of the infrastructure, especially the roads and communication systems need to be expedited. A fillip to the hospitality industry must also be prioritized to strengthen the tourism sector of the state and bring prosperity to a large chunk of the population affiliated to the sector either directly or indirectly.
The biggest and the most important domain on which the PDP needs to initiate a proactive role and strategy is the development and strengthening of the peace process and peace constituency of the state. For that brining the pro-freedom camp, especially the Hurriyats on board is a must. The release of Masrat Alam was a welcome step in this regard, but the inability of the PDP not to talk of the government to justify and stand by its decision was heart wrenching. Also the initiative must not stop at Alam only instead all other political prisoners must be released along with stone-pelters and the government must be strong and decisive enough to stand by their decisions.
The best option with the PDP to strengthen the clutch of their political constituency is to not bow and succumb to the pressure from BJP. They should always remember not to compromise on the core issues. Accordingly a tough call on AFSPA, article 370 and dialogue process should resonate from all the corners of PDP. This would help them big way to do away with the vices of their spineless and lackluster performance till date. It is high time for them to be ready to prove to the people that agendas are anytime dearer than power.