| News Details |
| Government Formation-What ails PDP? | | 
BY M.Y.G Nairang
Why is PDP reluctant to form the government in J&K despite the fact that all other parties and the unattached newly elected members extended their support to it, weeks back? Barring BJP other parties and the unattached members even affirmed that their support would be unconditional. National Conference confirmed its support in writing and clarified that it will not share power. Congress too didn’t put any hard conditions, while the unattached members asked it only to opt for a secular alliance. Despite this positive and conducive situation, why does PDP suffer from Hamlet Syndrome-“to [do] or not to [do] that is the question?”
PDP can’t enter into alliance with the NC because PDP was created to share the grazing ground of the NC. Indian establishment wanted to weaken the NC so that it would not be in a position to blackmail the centre as it had been doing since 1947. Moreover, the NC symbolized this distinct Kashmiri identity and projected itself as the sole protector of Kashmiri ethos, its age old culture, syncretic religious traditions and demographic character. It also gave the impression that J&K is ‘semi-independent’ and the wall between the state and the rest of India is being maintained by it alone. Since Mufti, who alongwith Bakhshi, Sadeq, Qasim and others actually cooperated with the centre in eroding the special status of the J&K, is more loyal and trustworthy in the eyes of the Indian state; it motivated, groomed and projected him as an alternative to National Conference. The centre even allowed him to use the clichés of “self rule”, “joint legislature”, and “common currency”. This definitely weakened the national conference and diluted the demand for the restoration of autonomy.
If Mufti joins hands with the National Conference, he will have no ground of his own to stand on. Since both harp on greater autonomy, PDP will have no political program whatsoever. Moreover, presently it is flourishing on anti-NC rhetoric. Once it accepts the support of the national conference it will have to remain tight lipped. It will also drag more than a year blaming the NC for misrule, underdevelopment and all the ills faced by the state. This is why PDP can’t accept the support of the NC. As far as BJP is concerned, PDP is more than willing to ally with it because it feels the centre will advance unlimited funds and Mufti can deliver better if the centre is cooperative and generous. The problem with BJP is that Mufti like BJP has won by exploiting religious and regional sentiments of the voters. Can he accomodate BJP’s agenda of abolishing Article 370, giving state Subject Rights to west Pakistan refugees, reserving 8 seats for the POK migrants and maintaining the AFSPA as it is? The answer is, he can’t, because people in Kashmir valley will be antagonist and various fractions of Hurriyat including Jamat-e-Islami who tacitly supported Mufti, have openly criticized him and expressed their resentment.
The only safe alternative for Mufti is to form the government with the support of Congress, his original party and real mentor, the unattached five and Sajjad Lone’s two members who are simply eager to join him. The resentment in Jammu can be dealt with by electing half a dozen MLC’s and nominating two women MLA’s from that region. They can be included in the cabinet and the promised “good governance” can take care of the rest. However, Mufti seems to be unlikely to tread this relatively smooth path, because he depends and owes more allegiance to the centre than to the state.
“My knowledge ends where it began
Hedge is taller than a man”- W.H. Auden
(Feedback : [email protected])
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the scoopnews.in)
Editor, Scoop News
... |
| |
|
|
Share this Story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|