Would the Voters in Jammu and Kashmir reject the three families and Embrace Peace & Prosparity!
The Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus have suffered brutalities of terrorism through the past 75 years
The State Elections starting from Sept. 18, are a Golden Opportunity for the People of Pakistan to Vote for Peace and undisputed solidarity with mainland India !
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 !
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