With the promise of acknowledging the awam as the real stakeholders, the newly-floated JKAP is making a big departure from the prevailing cult of personality-driven politics
March 7, 2020 will be flagged as a very significant date in the short history of the newly-formed Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). On this day, the first major political development took place post the reorganisation of the erstwhile State, announced on August 5, 2019 with the abrogation of Article 370. A new political entity, the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), was launched formally. The intransigent attitude of the “Gupkar gang” to accept the new reality — that separatism and terrorism would be things of the past as would dynastic rule — had brought to a standstill political activity, the heartbeat of democracy. The indifference shown by the Kashmiris towards the Gupkar Gang had not only taken them by surprise but also conveyed a message that the people in Kashmir are fed up with opportunistic parties bordering separatism.
The people were hoping for a new leadership to fill the political vacuum thus created. They were hoping that the old order would give place to a realist regime. However, complexities of Kashmiri politics prevented that from happening. In that scenario, the initiative was seized by a group of old politicians, who were willing to accept the new reality and move away from soft separatism. Unfortunately, the new entity comprises rejects of the old order.
This is significant considering the administration’s attempt to devolve power to grassroot leadership through development of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) has failed to yield the desired results due to various reasons. Though the BJP continued to raise issues of public interest, the people were feeling the lack of a viable alternative. Thus, the formation of the JKAP, drawing from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) under the stewardship of ex-PDP Minister Altaf Bukhari, has raised some hope, if not generate reassurance. On the face of it, the new party is an amalgamation of leaders who have parted ways with the parties led by the intransigent Gupkar Gang. The biggest sufferers are the disintegrated PDP and the sinking Sonia Congress. A sangam (confluence) of differing ideologies, beliefs and loyalties, the JKAP has yet to come out with a clear-cut ideology which would guide its future course and survival, since no political party can survive merely with the assurance of raising the current issues faced by the awam in the changed scenario.
Nonetheless, it is a very bold move under the present circumstances, though it could turn into as much of a puppet as the NC or the PDP. The easiest way for it would be to pass the buck without carrying out any introspection within its own house. The new party has an advantage to begin with but it would need political acumen, personal sacrifices and matured leadership to turn this advantage into a successful combination with wide acceptance. It would need to avoid being labelled as yet another Kashmir-centric party by adopting a holistic approach and rising above regional and religious considerations. It appears to be a Herculean task going by the present composition of the party because most of the heavyweights belong to Kashmir and the leaders who have joined from Jammu do not enjoy the same status. Most of the ex-legislators have their own pockets of influence and hence will ensure the party’s penetration among the awam.
The party has chosen a few issues on a priority basis and flagged them to be raised on behalf of the people. However, these will serve no purpose except to keep the people amused temporarily. The reversion to Statehood, which is on the top of the agenda, is a non-issue as it has been repeatedly said that the existing arrangement is temporary with a view to fighting terrorism, separatism and widespread corruption. Both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, architects of the reorganisation, have assured the nation on more than one occasion that statehood would be restored as soon as normalcy is achieved. To keep its promise alive, the Union Government has ensured separate awards by the 14th and 15th National Finance Commissions for J&K and Ladakh UTs, as a departure from the routine practice of combined awards to the Home Ministry in respect of the UTs.
Negotiating the domicile laws for people of the UT could be controversial and tricky for it. The people fear that such a move will further curtail employment opportunities for the youth of the UT and lead to a demographic disruption in the Valley.
Their apprehensions were further fuelled by the fact that the J&K High Court on December 31, 2019 invited applications from across the country for filling 33 vacant non-gazetted posts. Thankfully, the notification was cancelled after Opposition parties in Jammu slammed the move and pressed for enactment of laws for safeguarding the interests of the local youths. Though the notification has been withdrawn by the Government for the time being, the Centre is reportedly examining other options for opening up employment opportunities, land ownership rights and seats in institutions of higher education, including professional colleges, for non-Kashmiris. This is similar to what has been done in other States like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other Northeastern states, which are covered under Article 371 of the Constitution.
Fortunately, the party has not set its eyes on early elections and has given adequate hints of it not expecting the elections to be held in the next one to two years, till the process of fresh delimitation is completed. The fact that the party admits to the need for meeting “rational aspirations” of the people, without promising them the “moon and the stars”, sounds good but one only hopes that it sticks to its promise in letter and spirit.
The bane of J&K politics has been the “wada khilafi” (broken promises) made by the Gupkar Gang, that led to the disillusionment of the youth and was one of the causes of the emergence of the “gun culture” in Kashmir. With the promise of acknowledging the awam as the real stakeholders, the newly-floated party is making a big departure from the prevailing cult of personality-driven politics. Another noble thought, but one that needs to be watched as the days go by, since actions will speak louder than words.
Altaf Bukhari in his press conference also mentioned the Jammu & Kashmir Bank and it being “converted into sub-office of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.” Here one wonders if the businessman in him has overshadowed the righteous politician image that he perceives to build. The people are elated by the fact that the Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been saved from becoming a personal fiefdom of the Gupkar Gang and is now being reformed to become a true bank of the people. They want the corrupt to be exposed, nepotism and favouritism prevailing in the bank to end and for the awam be the real beneficiary. Bukhari and his party will have to come out with a clear stand on this. The major issue left with the party immediately is to focus on development and the economic well-being of the UT. It is heartening that Bukhari has chosen to draw inspiration from Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, whose tenure at the helm of the State’s affairs can undoubtedly be termed as the golden era of economic development. Bakshi not only avoided discriminatory politics but also did not allow the rise of fundamentalists in the Valley by encouraging and promoting the Sufi culture. One can just hope that the JKAP rises to those ideals and works for the return of peace, harmony and co-existence, the hallmark of the Bakshi era. The party must come out with its vision document at the earliest and formulate a clear road map for economic revival with alternatives and options rather than sheer rhetoric. Bukhari and his team will do well to remember that there is always resistance to any transition and change management should form the JKAP’s key strategy. Neither should he allow himself to be used as a mouthpiece and implementer of Delhi. His integrationist ways should not result in a trust deficit all over again.
(The author is a Jammu-based political commentator, columnist, security and strategic analyst.)
