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| DISMANTLED J&K : DEJECTED DYNASTIES | | Edifice built by masses was demolished by Dynasts | | J P Singh Pawar
On the new year’s eve, we heard Omar Abdullah’s frustration being a politician in Karan Thapar’s interview; “whether I should continue in politics!”. It amused me to ponder what beholds for dynastic politics and our J&K UT in 2021. This sensational/despondent statement coming from a secure Kashmiri dynast who has been sitting on the laurels of forefathers is a sign of utter desperation. Is the despondency because of political posturing or Modi-non-stop-Pan-India onslaught on corruption and dynastic politics with remarkable outcome; is for him to clarify and us to understand. For me as a layman, the ground is slipping under his feet and hence throwing the towel in the ring is judicious. Being forthright in accepting what is in the offing is being wise. Dynasts quitting politics and giving chance to new entrants is very much wanted in J&K. Early Times is seen in the forefront to highlight Abdullah dynasty’s frustration after their release from detention post reorganisation of J&K.
Hemmed in by China & Pakistan, J&K has been a testing ground for the geo-politics ever since India became independent. It has been a tactical battleground for the US-Pak axis ever since Pakistan came into being. That apart, notable about J&K is that despite being a Muslim majority state, it tied its umbilical cord with secular & democratic India. Respecting public sensitivities Delhi granted it a special status through Article 370 of the Constitution. Ironically it was misused to the hilt by Sheikh Abdullah and later by his progenies. Muslim majoritarianism was used to blackmail and whip Delhi. Gun culture was promoted. Valley was cleansed of Hindus. Little realising that abrogation of 370 was BJP’s commitment to the nation, Abdullahs and Muftis continued their diatribes against Delhi, challenging it for touching 370, as if BJP was spineless nationalist party. True to its commitment and nationalism, BJP led Parliament abrogated Article 370 and divided J&K into two Union Territories to the utter dismay especially of Kashmiri dynasts. Soon after abrogation of 370, J&K’s future became a talking point not only in society and public but the world over followed by adverse reactions by China and Pakistan. Fearing public wrath, restrictions were imposed on civic liberties and political leader from all hue were put under detention. That led to unheard hue and cry from Abdullahs. Their prolonged detention showed that they are not extra-ordinary politicians but as good or bad Indians as you and me are.
Taking advantage of dynasts discontentment with reorganization of J&K and Corona Pandemic exposing Indian vulnerabilities, China tried to capture Ladakh. PLA misadventure wasn’t surprising in the above context that dynasts had been promoting separatism and raising issues over J&K’s merger with India. Farooq and Ms Mufti, the long time ruling dynasts went ‘hammer and tongs’ after Delhi after their release from detention. Farooq went to the extent of inviting China to restore 370 in J&K. The tone and tenor of his China-Call was antinational and seditious. This invited a strong public retort against him shaming him to be Janus-faced. Calling his retort as a treasonable act, action against him was the war cry. Another dynast Mehbooba Mufti threatened Delhi with bloodshed and disappearance of Indian Flag from J&K if its special status was not restored. She is the type of dynast who spent 82 lakh within 6 months on her residential comforts from the public funds when J&K was longing for peace and development. That is all about Kashmiri dynasts. Such illusive narrative immensely raised stakes for J&K. Nation should be grateful, firstly the Indian Army (Galwan Warriors) who showed PLA the grit of the Indian nation and secondly to the Corona Pandemic which turned the world against China. Left to their dictates, dynasts were all out to put J&K in China’s lap. Fastest Army mobilization and Corona saved J&K from Chinese ruse. But for these, J&K had nearly gone with which dynasts too would have gone forever. 2021 may be the beginning of yet more deprivation for J&K because of continued intimidation by PAGD (Gupkaris). Hearing Gupkaris declaration that they won’t participate in any election till Article 370 was repealed and volte-face later. I saw it as end of dynastic politics in J&K. It reflected despondency. Humiliation of immense illegal and corrupt practices by dynasts during their rule including infamous Roshni Act, terror related funding, Cricket & criminal scams cases brought up in the High Court, put them in poor light in public eyes. I saw them quitting the politics. My assumption was based on the premise that Abdullah dynasty was a political instrument of mass movement for change, that it once was, turned into money minting machine by corrupt dynasts was not going down well with the public. Edifice built by masses was demolished by dynasts. Time was ripe to show them the door. DDC election created a political ecosystem where an alternative to the Abdullah’s and Muftis was seen as an option. Election results have given enough indication that an alternative is emerging in the political horizon of J&K. Wise dynasts must make way for them.
Times have changed and so have the minds and contexts. Article 370 and special status may still be issues but how will you achieve it, public must ask the dynasts. Will it be democratically or through violence, terror or intimidation which was the main ploy of the above dynasts. Public is fed up of false promises and intimidation. They want peace and prosperity. People want political freedom and not to be hostages. For them political, economic and social freedom are ultimate to human existence. This time people of J&K saw it an opportunity to achieve such freedom from the platform of electoral process. Massive participation in DDC election has given clear message to the dynasts. Currently their loud voices are muted. It shows that the edifice built on false promises is crumbling.
Massive turn out of voters, at places above 75%, and peaceful conduct of the election is indicative of political change in the UT. Consequences of the election apart, biggest gain is re-establishment of public faith in the democracy and electoral process. Gupkaris are calling the outcome as referendum against 2019 Parliament decision. It is mischievous. NC leader Omar Abdullah, who had been out of the scene during the election, started a fight against Delhi. In a press conference on 27th December 2020 in Srinagar, he retorted that “democracy is being murdered in Kashmir as the winning candidates are being threatened and police force is being used to force the winners to switch sides to Apni Party which is our main opponent. This is being done to change the verdict of DDC election”. He further said, “verdict of DDC polls was loud and clear that people voted against August 5th decision. We will continue to fight for what we stand for”. PDP leader and former CM Mehbooba Mufti is equally forceful in calling Delhi names. After losing a battle of the ballot, they have started a fight to fight another provocative battle but retreated soon. This is not nineties and their era. Public and Delhi wanted change without them and the change is happening.
Another silver line of the DDC poll is that there is rise of nationalism in the valley. BJP has won 3 seats there and lot many independents have won. People have voted for political freedom and economic development. Post election situation can enlarge nationalism in the valley provided the corruption and mis-governance issues are handled properly. There is urgent need to either increase the number of Advisors or they should work overtime to address public problems.
For J&K, 2019 has been the year of dismantling of its ‘Pristine Glory’, 2020 was year of deprivation and 2021 starts with dismantling dynastic edifice and should end up with peace and prosperity. |
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