Azhar Hussain
SRINAGAR, June 25: The insights of a recent meeting at PM’s Office reveal how political malleability works in J&K, with a zeal to come to power, every agenda is on sale which exposes the hedonistic nature of such partisanships.
Since the inception of PAGD in October 2020, the parties to this alliance have tried to sell various slogans to the people of J&K. May it be the restoration of Article 370 or seeking aid from the neighboring communist China. There is no end to such verbose on sale.
Soon after the August 05 2019, the Central Government was determined to put an end to the traditional political rule of three families in J&K, due to which many new leaders emerged out of commoners to serve the people during the first-ever DDC elections.
However, the old political parties still struggled to reserve some electoral space before the people in order to contest the elections in the impending future and maintain their validation.
Such a chance came to them in the form of an all J&K parties meeting that had been recently organised by the PMO in New Delhi.
On Thursday, a conglomerate of various political parties from Jammu and Kashmir finally met with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office.
The meeting was held in presence of PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt. Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha. As per the sources, every invited member was given an ample opportunity to speak and deliberate over the pressing issues that were relatable to the current situation in J&K.
The main excerpts from the meeting are highly astonishing which reveal that while speaking inside the power corridors, the tone and narrative is subject to change which is a clear example of the policy of two-hoots.
While entering into the meeting hall, the much-hyped PAGD members instantly turned into the separate emissaries of their respective political parties, each speaking about their own political agenda and areas of thrust.
The precursory glimpse of this valedictory was even visible before the commencement of this meeting when National Conference’s leader Omar Abdullah had intricately distanced his party stance from Mehbooba Mufti’s infamous Pakistan remark that sparked a vicious controversy.
Sources shared with the Kashmir Despatch that during the meeting, former Chief Minister and NC President Farooq Abdullah, as per the sources, had primarily brought in the nostalgic Geneva Convention speech wherein he had valiantly defended India’s stance over Jammu and Kashmir.
There exists no uniqueness in this kind of rhetoric because as always it was meant to prove Abdullah family’s nationalistic credentials before the immediate members of this conference. However, Omar Abdullah was not given time to speak but as the reports suggest, he relentlessly ‘tried to signal his father to compose his speech but of no avail.’
Apparently, the situation of J&K and its demands were also discussed but in a low & indistinct toned-down manner. Farooq Abdullah also demanded for the restoration of full-statehood to J&K along with its own administrative cadre before the central leadership.
Disappointingly, the call for restoration of Article 370 and 35A was mysteriously dropped down from his speech for reasons known best to the NC leadership.
Reliable sources revealed to Kashmir Despatch that the former CM of erstwhile State of J&K Mehbooba Mufti started her address while clarifying the infamous Pakistan remark which was much valiantly made by her before the national media channels. But in the meeting, she first and foremost clarified her stance while saying that ‘It was in the context of the Indo-Pak Ceasefire due to which the border inhabitants are feeling at peace now.’
This variation is quite predictable as no other member of the PAGD alliance corroborated her confrontational views. In contrast to that, they callously dissociated themselves from such kind of elated bombast.
Sources informed Kashmir Despatch that she may well have tried to evoke a discussion about Article 370 in a subtle, ambiguous and muttered way but to muster the nerve to speak in an unequivocal tone was seemingly absent. Thus, it was appropriately dropped by her as well.
In regards with a former ally of PAGD, it may cursorily seem as right as trivet between the PC Chieftain Sajad Lone and former J&K Deputy CM Muzaffar Baig, as the duo was seen even boarding the same car while driving in and out of the meeting venue, but shockingly Mr. Baig has reportedly put it on record to have no affiliations with any political party in J&K.
This should be a bolt out of blue that would have certainly hit the interests of the People’s Conference before the Central Leadership. The sources suggest that Muzaffar Baig earlier had impeded Mehbooba Mufti from deliberating over the issue of Article 370 while saying that ‘the matter is sub-judice and speaking over it would imply contempt of the Hon’ble Court’.
During the meet, Sajad Lone has also spoken extensively while laying much stress that the Government of India holds the panacea for the sufferings of people of J&K. As per reports, he has also recalled his transitional shift from a separatist to a mainstream leader while being imprisoned. He has said that ‘it was the generous attitude of an Inspector from Haryana which changed his heart and mind towards India and aroused in him the nationalistic sentiment.’
While commenting over the nationalistic feel, Sajad has passionately said that ‘Have we to die to prove that we are Indians?’ Besides that, he also spoke about the restoration of full statehood to J&K at an earliest.
Furthermore, Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari was also among the member invitees who said that the people of J&K need to be integrated with the rest of the country.
The sources have revealed to Kashmir Despatch, that he welcomed this initiative of political dialogue and said that ‘most of the leaders sitting here today belong to that political group who after the abrogation of Article 370 were locked inside their homes and detention centres but were eventually released after the ceaseless efforts put in by Apni Party while engaging with New Delhi.’ Bukhari has stressed over early elections in J&K so that people are able to choose their representatives and even demanded for an early restoration of Statehood to J&K.
The deliberations of CPI’s State Head M.Y Taraigami had been clearly pointed towards the PM while emphasizing that ‘different ideologies have to be accommodated.’
The reports suggest him stating that ‘the PM must adhere to Sabka Saath first and the Central Government should accordingly reciprocate with the aspiration of the people of J&K.’
In the meeting, former J&K CM and ex-Central Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has adopted an accommodative tactic while only stressing on the holistic restoration of Statehood along with elections.
While other members had been discussing the current situation and future of J&K, Panthers Party Chief Bhim Singh spoke about the need of ratifying the Instrument of Accession in the Parliament.
BJP leader from J&K Kavinder Gupta lauded the efforts made by the Central government and said the appropriate measures taken by the government ‘has changed the landscape through development.’ The regional BJP cadre stressed that elections must be done after the delimitation exercise has completed.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also addressed the members and asserted that the ‘Centre has tried to do what has not been done in 72 years.’ Speaking on political detentions during the abrogation of Article 370 Amit Shah said that ‘currently only 41 out of 16700 people are under detention since August 05, 2019.’ It was a kind of assurance that everything has gone back to normal.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that special committees will be formed to review all detention cases and said that his heart hurts even if a single person in J&K is hurt.
He informed the member invitees that after the delimitation process is done, the elections will follow promptly. Regarding the restoration of statehood in its totality, the Prime Minister said that the statehood will be restored soon at an appropriate time.
As per sources, Prime Minister has also laid a new criterion for participating in delimitation process wherein a party with a single DDC member can participate in this exercise. The number of DDC members in this quorum can exceed up to two.
Earlier, to become a member to the delimitation commission, a party was ought to have at least a single Member Parliament in its fold which of now has been lowered to a lone DDC member.
All this breaking down of political inertia is going to write a new chapter J&K’s history wherein people after years will be able to discern with much clarity the role that PAGD is playing in the current political scenario.
