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Opportunity in Kashmir |
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The coalition between the National Conference and the Congress, which is taking office today, presents a fresh opportunity for resolving the Kashmir issue in both its internal and external dimensions. The two parties have decided to give up the practice of rotation of chief-ministership, which was followed during the earlier coalition between the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Hopefully, with Omar Abdullah taking over as Chief Minister for a full term of six years and with a Congress man as Deputy Chief Minister, the coalition would be stable. The Congress decision not to insist on the rotation of chief-ministership appears to be rooted in its past experience of sharing the post with the PDP. Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, who was the first Chief Minister under the arrangement, was reluctant to make way for the Congress at the end of his term of three years. Even when eventually Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress took over as Chief Minister, the Government’s term was cut short when the PDP withdrew support on the Amarnath land allocation issue.
While both the Congress and the National Conference have reason to be happy at being able to ally in Jammu and Kashmir, they face big challenges in the state. All political parties, especially the mainstream ones, are elated at the larger than expected voter turnout in the Assembly elections. But this does not mean that the problems in Jammu and Kashmir have disappeared or ended. The separatist elements, who have been taken aback because of the failure of their poll boycott call, are right to some extent when they say that the high voter turnout does not mean that there is no need for finding a solution to the Kashmir issue.
Omar Abdullah has come to power emphasizing good governance and has made it clear that no tainted politician either from the Congress or his own party, the National Conference, would be inducted in his government. If he is able to keep his promise, this would be a good beginning for his Government, in a state where some people say that corruption has been institutionalised. This would also be a big step towards tackling the internal manifestations of the Kashmir issue. A democratic government, responsive and perceived to be responsive to the people’s aspirations would go a long way in ending the alienation of the people of Kashmir.
Days before taking over as the youngest state Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said that his government will give priority to restoring peace in the state, development and resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan to usher in peace in the region. His priorities are well placed as peace is a pre-requisite for attending to both the internal and external aspects of the Kashmir issue.
The alliance between the Congress and the National Conference will also have an impact on the Lok Sabha elections, so far as the state is concerned. Observers say that the Congress-NC combine would be in a good position to win all six Lok Sabha seats from the State, when elections take place.
As the separatist leaders themselves admit, the high turnout of voters in the recently held Assembly elections has foiled their moves to give a push to their azadi (freedom) campaign . As JKLF chairman Yasin Malik said, the separatists were expecting the incoming Barack Obama administration in the United States to appoint a special envoy on South Asia to put pressure on India to resolve the Kashmir issue, when, in his words, “the Kashmiris came out in hordes to vote and foiled their plans.” Significantly, none of the Hurriyat leaders this time alleged that the Centre had fudged the figures to show higher participation in the Assembly elections to mislead the world. There was no allegation either that the security forces coerced the people to vote.
While the Omar Abdullah Government would be riding on hope and seeking to turn the tide in Kashmir, it will have to be on guard against the separatist elements, smarting under the people’s rejection of their poll boycott call, and their sponsors across the Line of Control. The Poonch encounter between the Army and a terrorist group, which started on New Year day is a case in point. More such terrorist strikes may be on the way and the security forces will have to be alert to foil the designs of groups mostly directed from across the border.
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