Would the Voters in Jammu and Kashmir reject the three families and Embrace Peace & Prosparity!

Srinagar/Jammu:  As the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)  goes to polls from tomorow to elect an Assembly, after 6 years of Governor’s rule;  the then Guv  Satya Pal Malik having dissoved it in November 2018 citing reason of instability in the state.  During this period  several significant events have changed the scenario in the border state of India like  repeal of controversial Section 370 on  August 05, 2019,  by Parliament and reorganisation the state into J&K and Ladakh.  The state  has seen several bouts of terorrism,  governor rules on an umpteen occasions and governments led by regional parties National Conference (NC),  Indian National Congress (INC),  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and various alliances  including PDP-BJP (for a while) ,  during the last  76 years. Lastly   Guv Malik was shunted off to Goa and new Gov Manoj Sinha  was appointed  late in 2019.

The state of J&K has a chequered history from the very beginning since India’s independence in 1947 and merger of Jammu & Kashmir with the  Indian Union.  The most respected King of J&K Hari Singh failed to fathom the game of the leaders of newly formed country  Pakistan, who didn’t wait for his final choice or decesion to remain as Independent State or join with either India or Pakistan.  That confusion resulted in the loss of a large part of the State ( viz., Gilgit, Baltistan, Siachin, Shakesgram Valley  and  Aksai Chin)  to Pakistani  army  raiders in the garb of  Pashtun/Bakrawal tribesmen. India could have pushed those ‘tribesmen’ out of the State, when the Prime Minister of India Jawarlal Nehru declared the ceasefire and handed over the dispute to UNO.

After signing the Instrument of Accession on Oct. 26,  1947,  the Maharaja Hari Singh handed over the State Prime Minister’s chair to Sheikh  M Abdullah (who was more loyal  to Nehru than the Maharaja or India). Article 370 was introduced  on Oct. 17,  1949, practically watering down the benefits and  impact of meger of J&K  with India.

Since that day, the state of J&K had been ruled mainly by  Four families,  namely Abdullah family (NC), Nehru family through INC, Mufti family (PDP)  and the Maharaja family as titular heads, as Governor initially and later joining the INC.

The dilemma for the Residents of J&K was that the Articles 370 and 35A added later (10 years only) for the administrative purpose,  though temporary, became an integral and fused parts of merger, with emotional and political  remifications on J&K’s relations vis a vis merger with mainland India.

The clamour of non-NDA political parties against the repeal of Articles 370 & 35A  bares their love for these provisions,  and shows why  these articles were not removed for 68 years,  to enable local political parties continue their rule perpetually.  Even Dr. Karan Singh, the Yuvaraj of the State, who was initially a Governor there, later joined INC in Delhi and abdicated his role as  benfector of State’s   subjects. Even during terrorism  for large part of 75 years, the No. 1 Family of J&K stopped short of  playing an active role in solving the tangle or telling his Party Congress firmly, to save thousands of Hindu Residents being killed by  terrorists; local and from neighboring Pakistan.

The political scene at present is still not crystal clear,  as the Voters in the Valley are not yet clear whether to rid the yoke of old Political Families from the scene,   namely Abdullahs (NC) , Muftis (PDP)  and Gandhis of Congress,  this time or not. Apart from these,  some  powerful candidates have been  put up by Engineer Rashid,  a known pro-Pakistan voice, who had defeated NC’s strong leader  and former CM Omar Abdullah  to enter Lok Sabha June this year. The three political families have started  feeling uncomfortable by his release on bail by Supreme Court. He might snatch their traditional voters and dent chances of forming a majority govt.

With removal of Article 370  on August 05, 2019 and getting thumping endorsement from  the  Parliament later, the Narendra Modi led NDA giovernment,  not only fulfilled its long standing Manifesto Promise,  it opened several vistas of progress for the  people of J&K, apart from  finally merging the State with mainland India.  Many provisions which could not be applied due to these provisions or otherwise,  have brought in  ample opportunities,  tremendous options for  prosparity  in the state through enhanced two-way trade,  safe tourism and jobs for all across India. The last 2 years have shown very positive growth in tourist visits and revenues.

These elections will be beneficial for the people only if a Stable Govt. is elected in the State and has  strong bond with the NDA at the Centre.  Going by the records of  Modi  govt. during the last 10 years of strong commitment   and delivery, a comfortable NDA Govt. in J&K  is the need of the hour.    If that doesn’t happen, it is difficult to foresee any  such   opportunity coming in the near future !