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| Bhim Singh and his men playing a dangerous game | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, July 30: JKNPP chief Bhim Singh, who is known for his inconsistent approach to all the issues facing the state and who can do anything, anytime and anywhere to remain in news, has once again enacted a drama of sorts. He knew it full well that the situation in Kashmir in general and Srinagar in particular was volatile and grim; he knew it full well that Srinagar has been reeling under curfew since days; but still he planned to organize, along with a handful of his supporters, a march to Lal Chowk on Thursday. And, when his plan was thwarted, he not only accused the authorities of putting restrictions on his civil liberties, but also virtually identified himself with those in Kashmir who have been seeking separation from India saying they stand totally alienated from New Delhi. He termed the Thursday’s “even as a great victory of democratic forces in the state and a unique initiative for political process to fight” on behalf of the “alienated” people. He hinted at whom? Obviously, those involved in subversive activities. He had not gone to Srinagar to plead the case of the alienated Jammu. He had gone there to express his solidarity with those in Kashmir who feel alienated from India.
Just a few days ago, Bhim Singh had met Syed Ali Shah Geelani. It is not difficult to understand what transpired during the meeting between him and Geelani. In 2008, when the people of Jammu were on the road demanding the transfer of the snatched Baltal land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Bhim Singh had also met Geelani and the Mufti Azam of Kashmir. Instead of condemning the opponents of the transfer of the Baltal land, he had termed as “communal” those who had been spearheading the land agitation in Jammu. He made common cause with the agitators in Jammu only towards the fag end when he realized that his dissociation from the land agitation in Jammu might mar the electoral prospects of his party. That he had become thoroughly unpopular in Jammu because of the kind of role he played in 2008 could be seen from the fact that he could obtain only about three hundred votes from the Jammu East Assembly constituency from where he contested. He contested the election, notwithstanding the fact that he, like the former convener of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) Leela Karan Sharma, had publicly declared that he will not contest any election in future.
Bhim Singh has, everyone knows, on several occasions flirted with the likes of Geelanis and, like them, called those booked and imprisoned under various heinous charges as “political prisoners” and demanded their unconditional release. Again, it was none other than Bhim Singh who secured the release of the dreaded Bitta Karate, who was charged with murdering several Kashmiri Hindus.
The activities of Bhim Singh have in no way helped the constituency his party represents in the assembly, notwithstanding the fact the party leaders like Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal do try their best to identify themselves with the Jammu sentiment and rake the Jammu-centric issues almost regularly both in and outside the assembly. His activities have only harmed his party. If Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal won the 2008 assembly elections, they won it because they had identified themselves with the people’s sentiments during the 2008 land agitation days.
It is not only Bhim Singh who is damaging his own party. He has men in his organization who earlier were with the CPI-M. For example, one such person, who holds a party position, has been consistently condemning the authorities on the ground that they have unleashed a reign of terror against the people of Kashmir. He said so on Wednesday while addressing a press conference and repeated the same charge on Thursday while reacting to the government decision not to allow Bhim Singh to enact a drama at Lal Chowk, Srinagar.
It would not be out of place to mention here that during the first round table conference, Bhim Singh has completely identified himself with the NC and PDP leaders such as Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti. He had repeatedly said, much to the chagrin of Harsh Dev Singh: “Mufti Sahib Aap Aage Badho, Hum Tumahre Saath Hain; Farooq Sahib Aap Aage Badho Hum Aap Ke saath Hain.” He had taken recourse to such sloganeering when one of the Jammu--based delegates belonging to a national party was exposing the misdeeds and communally-motivated decisions of the state government.
Bhim Singh will do well to change his style of functioning. He would be doing a great service to his party, the people of Jammu province and the Indian nation as a whole if he remains consistent and firm and if he organizes marches to such places as for example Kishtwar where certain persons abducted two young girls and kept them in confinement only a few days ago. Both these girls have disappeared after leaving their Duppattas on the bank of river Chenab. Will he change himself?
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