For the first time in many decades, Kashmir’s regional parties have come together to pressure the Center to roll back last year’s measure to withdraw J & K’s special constitutional status.
The announcement of the formation of the Declaration of the Popular Alliance for Gupkar, a six-part conglomerate, came as an attempt to fight for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and to seek a final resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue. and inviting all interested parties. Conglomerate politics in Kashmir is rare and only separatists have tried it so far.
Kashmiri leaders, including three former chief ministers, had been withdrawn from circulation, just hours before Parliament diluted Article 370, to curb any resistance. During this time, the politics of the Valley remained frozen because the Center did not want any opposition to its movement.
Now, back from the arrest, Kashmiri leaders have set themselves a tough task of fighting for the lost status, considering that the central government has said the decision is set in stone. The strategy to achieve your goal or fight for that end is in the works.
Limited Alliance Options
Although the first step has been taken to launch the alliance, Valley leaders say future meetings will decide on the form, structure and agenda of the combination. From now on, the parties will wage a political, constitutional and legal struggle to regain their rights. Currently, the case is in the Supreme Court but there has been no hearing for months.
The alliance does not oppose talks with senior government officials if such a possibility exists, as Ladakh representatives had done on the issue of the extension of the Sixth Annex of the Constitution in the Union Territory. The Center was very quick to listen to Ladakh leaders and within hours of their call to boycott the hill council elections, the BJP rushed to bring two senior leaders to Leh. A few days later, Interior Minister Amit Shah held a meeting in Delhi to appease them. Kashmir leaders would be thinking of a similar audience, but are not sure if that will happen anytime soon given state elections are months away.
For the time being, the alliance will spend time consolidating the roles and their structure and then try to reach the leadership in Ladakh, Kargil and Jammu, where cases of public discontent over constitutional changes have been reported. The alliance will certainly leverage that sentiment to present a picture that disenchantment is not specific to Kashmir or Muslims and that similar fears exist when it comes to jobs, education and safeguards of the land.
Political activity revived
Meanwhile, the release of Mehbooba Mufti on October 13 has given a sudden boost to political activity in Kashmir that had otherwise remained frozen for the past year due to the imprisonment of top leaders and large numbers of activists and young boys.
The leaders, who face tremendous public mistrust over the years, will also use the alliance’s coverage to regain lost space and trust. Mehbooba Mufti and Sajjad Lone faced much public anger for being part of the PDP-BJP government and Mufti’s “milk and candy” comments still infuriate young Kashmiris.
The Abdullahs are responsible for not stopping the rampant killing of young people in the summer of 2010. By launching Kashmir “sentiment” on the two critical constitutional articles, they are somehow attempting a makeover. The Center understands this and is giving them room for maneuver despite receiving much criticism.
Delhi is not averse to political revival
The unity movement of the Kashmiri parties may be of concern to the BJP government in the short term, but in the long term it is good news considering that New Delhi will look to hold elections next year. The Indian government has already faced a lot of criticism from local parties here that only the BJP and their ‘friends’ can run free while rivals are pinned down.
The Chinese dimension
Farooq Abdullah, who is likely to lead the alliance, recently caused a storm when he suggested in an interview that there was such anger in Kashmir over the repeal of Article 370 that the people would not mind being ruled by China. Feeling that it infuriated Delhi, the party subsequently rephrased the statement. Whether readers like it or not, the Chinese have shown a lot of interest in Jammu and Kashmir since the articles were removed.
The Chinese have repeatedly questioned the August 5 constitutional changes and Ladakh’s status in UT. Kashmir’s leadership feels that with increased pressure from China, New Delhi could be forced to undo last year’s step. Although they haven’t said it, those feelings can provoke harsh responses.
GOI has the key
The government of India holds the key to solving this problem. You can interact with Kashmiri leaders (such as Ladakh representatives) and try to find a solution that is beneficial to all parties. Inertia won’t help anyone.
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