By Brij Bhardwaj
Crisis in Jammu and Kashmir has blown over, but continuance of the Coalition Government will require lot of skills and capacity to manoeuvre in days to come. The cause of crisis remains that is conflicting agendas of PDP and BJP who have joined hands to form a Government in Jammu and Kashmir. The coalition was a compulsion as this was the only combination which could give a stable Government in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the fractured mandate given by the electorate.
While BJP swept in Jammu region, PDP drew its strength from Kashmir Valley. BJP in the past has been advocate of abolition of article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and abolition of separate state flag and constitution. On the other hand PDP has been advocating for release of all political prisoners, dialogue with separatists and Pakistan to bring about normalcy and to resolve Kashmir dispute. It was for this reason that coalition of BJP and PDP was described as joining of two opposite poles.
As for the release Masrat Alam BJP can not blame the State Government as the process for same started when Jammu and Kashmir was under Governor’s rule. PDP tried to take credit for it to pacify public opinion in Valley which had not liked PDP joining hands with BJP. In case they had come out with facts in the first instance showing that the process started when state was under Governor’s rule and they had only carried forward the process and not initiated it.
If State Government had shared facts with BJP leadership, a conflict could have been avoided. In any case the two sides have been warned. They have also realised that there was urgent need for regular consultations between two parties who after negotiations spread over a period of few months have come together on the basis of a common minimum program to form the Government. It is not to suggest that conflicts will not arise in future, but it would be better if the same are resolved through consultations away from public gaze and media hype.
The biggest challenge for Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be to convince public in Kashmir Valley that he has not surrendered his independence and remain committed to the agenda of PDP which includes many controversial issues like abolition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and dialogue with secessionists. This is a compulsion for PDP as in the absence of it, there is a danger that it may become an easy target of groups like National Conference in the Valley
The PDP over the years has enjoyed the support of Jamait Islami cadre in the Valley which enabled them to get support in South Kashmir. In addition they also received support from many who wanted to prevent BJP from capturing power on its own. The large voters turnout in the valley also is attributed to this sentiment. Same compulsions apply to BJP which has swept Jammu region because it promised a better deal for Jammu region, grant of Citizenship rights for displaced persons settled in Jammu region after 1947 and even a Hindu Chief Minister for the first time in Muslim majority State.
These conflicting promises make working of coalition Government difficult, but at the same time it also offers an opportunity to undo the polarisation of two regions that is Jammu and Kashmir on communal lines. It is possible provided the common minimum program is implemented. The Center must realise that even when same party was in power in State and at Center, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers had to walk an extra mile to show that they were no puppets of Center.
There is also a need for neutralising hard core elements in Kashmir. With this objective in mind a dialogue has been on with such elements at all times. It started when Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad became Chief Minister after the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah. Bakshi picked up Molvi Farooq, a student at that time and crowned him as Mirwaiz and head priest. Molvi Farooq’s uncle Molvi Yusuf Shah was deported to Pakistan for his anti-India stand. Bakshi successors like G.M Sadiq and Sayeed Mir Qasim also followed the same line.
The need for keeping a window open for dialogue with hard core elements has been followed by Center and State Governments in order to maintain peace in the State. Mufti has no option but to follow the same, but he would have to do the same with skill and tight rope walk so that it does not upset the Center who in the past have adopted a hard line. Mufti must use his skill not to ruffle the Center while Prime Minister Modi tries to present a soft face of BJP as shown by Atal Bihari Vajpayee to win hearts in the Valley. IFS