New Delhi is finally waking up to the concern of deteriorating situation in Kashmir and has summoned the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Narendra Nath Vohra for deliberations. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has summoned the governor a week later after he held meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who termed upcoming three months crucial for the coalition government in state. It is to be believed that
Mehbooba had urged Unionists to hold a dialogue with separatists in Kashmir and Pakistan to restore normalcy and counter the ever increasing threat of civil uprising in Kashmir. Apparently, the Prime Minister who has taken a tough stand on Kashmir so far refused to initiate any dialogue on Kashmir and put the ball in Chief Minister’s court and asked her to restore peace to pave way for the dialogue. The admission of Mehbooba can be understood from her statement after returning from the meetings with Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh- Union Home minister. “Talks, bullets and stone pelting can’t go hand in hand. We need to pave way for dialogue and ensure peace first,’ Mehbooba told media. “In peaceful conditions Prime Minster is ready to talk.”
Sarcastically, it was a threat for fragile coalition in Jammu and Kashmir by Chief Minister. She wanted its ally to succumb to save the coalition in state and initiate the dialogue. However, she is retorted by none other than the BJP Chief Amit Shah in Jammu on Saturday where he gave importance to national interest’s not state coalition.” For BJP Nation is important not government,” he launched a wielded attack on state government during his visit to state. Although BJP would not be in the interests of governor’s rule in state as clamour grows for it across country, however, it has no other option. The agenda of the party to settle the vexed problem through the code of accountable and transparent governance fell flat. The day when it shared the crown of Kashmir with PDP, the aim of party was clear. The goal was, however, defeated by its own ministers in state. Instead grabbing opportunity to reach out the estranged class in Kashmir and maintain the regional balance, the party leaders remained confined to Jammu province only. They refused to own Kashmir and not a single minister from the BJP camp is seen visiting the troubled valley. On occasions they developed more hatred towards the troubled region and spoke irrational and odium pushing further people to the wall. Administratively, they failed as well. In the ongoing regime, Kashmir has witnessed the lowest ever or no developmental initiatives in all the sectors. The socio- economic sector is in shambles. No developmental plans are envisaged, therefore, crushing the Modi’s vision of addressing Kashmir through governance. Today, the Kashmir is on powder keg and the rule of governor can be a short term choice. Conducting elections in near future would be herculean task in view of recently held elections for Srinagar Parliamentary seat with embarrassing turn out amid bloodshed. Even if elections are held tomorrow and the choice would be among the political parties but in context of setting the narrative of development and ensuring peace all have failed at their times of rules. The Congress and National Conference which promised stars for the people in state and insisted for the abolishing of prevailing regime in fact also failed at their times. It was PDP-Congress in power in 2008 when Kashmir witnessed first ever powerful civil uprising. Again in 2009 and 2010 it was Congress and NC in power when the uprising over rape and murder of two women in Shopian set Kashmir on fire followed by the staged killings of three civilians in 2010 by army. The ugly situations in past that set Kashmir afire must be a reference point for present regime to “think out of box” before taking any decision on Kashmir.
The editorial appeared in the print edition of May 3 to 9, 2017.
