By Bhal Chandra Kango
The Modi government’s Kashmir policy has been a grand failure. In 2015 when the election to J&K Assembly took place people participated with a great enthusiasm. However, the subsequent opportunistic alliance between PDP and BJP vitiated the atmosphere as the central government started pursuing the so-called strong arm approach of resolving all issues related to Kashmir. BJP’s constant threat of doing away with Article 370 of Constitution and its communal approach also added fuel to fire. But today after 4 years 6 months of misrule, the alienation of Kashmiri people is a reality. In the local body election participation of people was less than 3 per cent. Similarly, more than 1,200 Kashmiri students studying in Aligarh Muslim University have threatened to go back if cases against three Kashmiri students are not withdrawn, creating a crisis in the university and also in Kashmir.
During the earlier NDA regime under Advani a deliberate attempt was made to divide Jammu and Kashmir on communal lines. Ladakh, a Buddhist dominated region, Jammu, a Hindu dominated region and Kashmir valley as Muslim populated region. However, it did not succeed. But BJP still holds that dream and in the Kathua rape and murder case it was seen that BJP leaders even supported the culprits to fan communal divide. When Modi came to power on the basis of false promises (Minister Gadkari is on record saying that promises were made, as BJP did not believe it would come to power) besides many claims, resolving Kashmir issue was one of them.
During student agitation, rubber bullets were used, which blinded and injured more than 300 students, resulting in massive unrest. In addition the BJP government has aggravated the situation by imposing governor rule on the state. It is a strange logic that BJP supported PDP to protect democratic process in the state and withdraw the support to protect democracy.
Prime Minister Modi had claimed that demonetization and surgical strike had decimated terror structure in the state but while withdrawing support to PDP, BJP claimed that terror activities in the state had increased. Thus double speak, a hallmark of BJP, is clearly seen in these claims. Daily encounters in Jammu and Kashmir and on border with Pakistan are reported and claims of success of surgical strikes are dumped.
The Modi government has failed on all fronts but the most glaring failure is in its policy on Kashmir, which is a political issue and needs political resolution. Any attempt to force a military solution is bound to alienate the people and that is what is happening. In fact, after the rigging of the 1987 elections and grand failure of Governor Jagmohan plans, the situation in Kashmir in 1990-94 had worsened; but subsequently dialogue and democratic processes were restored. However, the present government policy under Ajit Doval has brought back the situation to pre 1994 situation.
Kashmir problem is aggravated by constant Pakistani intervention and we must condemn it and oppose it but the issue is one of people of Kashmir; hence a political and internal issue.
It is high time that the emphasis in Jammu and Kashmir be shifted to dialogue and discussion and less on military use. Resolution of the students problem in Aligarh Muslim University should be given priority from that angle. But BJP as usual is trying to communalise the issue for the coming general election in the country. This would be a dangerous game and people must foil it. (IPA Service)
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