The elections ahead

The ECI has announced the dates of the parliament election for the largest democratic country of the world. The first phase of election starts from 11th April 2019. The leaders of different national as well as regional political parties are busy  in selecting their candidates and warming up and  making strategies for launching the campaign for their nominated candidates  to score gains over rival political parties.

But the elections in J&K, particularly in Kashmir valley, being the conflict zone draws very less enthusiasm or attention on the part of the people excepting who are  directly or indirectly  concerned or connected with the mainstream parties to meet the needs of their families or relatives.

   

This has been evident from the low percentage of votes polled in the last parliament bi-elections of Srinagar constituency and non-conduct of  bi-elections of Anantnag constituency.

This time a new political party has been formed by X-IAS officer to give some fresh air to the people of Kashmir as told by him while launching  new political party. With the downfall of the PDP regime, the party has seen many of their prominent stalwarts leaving and joining other mainstream parties with little credentials. This election in Kashmir is also witnessing a new trend of retired officers and judges from civil services and judiciary joining mainstream political parties with NC having edge over others by this class of society than other political parties.

The chapter of democracy in Kashmir is like an open page ofthe book of  history of Kashmir. The oldand main political parties like NC, PDP and INC have been tested many a timesand have done no good to the people of Kashmir as we can see from their pastperformance and records.

The BJP is the latest entrant in the political arena of Kashmir and their performance with the recent coalition partner is no secret. Some intellectuals of the various civil societies are of the view that the political parties which have been joined by some bureaucrats and judicial officers, will infuse some fresh air to NC and will represent and serve Kashmiris better in parliament if elected than other senior workers.

I feel the members and the intellectuals of these civil societies having short memory, do not remember that both these parties were having previously also a good number of  legal luminaries and well read people on their rolls. For example N.C had already tested their leading lawyers like Payera Lal Handoo, Abdul Ahad Vakil, Afzal Beg and others as their policy makers. And the other law makers barring few, are also well read and educated, some of them also with  legal back ground  consisted the core group of the party. The PDP has one of the best legal luminary of the country with them. 

The damage caused by the intellectual like late Sadiq sahibhas been colossal and even the Harvedian did not do any good to the people ofKashmir. There is no dearth of well read and educated people in the politicalparties. The question is not of having educated or illeterate people  which could make the difference but werequire people who are honest, selfless, sincere, dedicated and withconscience, committed to cause of well being of Kashmiris.

These mainstream parties have generally its own agendaof  their welfare. No member could  go against the policies of the party. Theyhave no individual identity or carry any independent opinion or view solong  they remain the part of  larger agenda of the said party.

They play such politics just to befool the innocent and poorKashmiris in the name of autonomy and self rule to reap the fruit of dirtypolitics, with out contributing any thing to the their wellbeing. All thesemainstream political parties have so far failed to  give good and corruption free governance.  These parties gave nothing but miseries tothe people of Kashmir by encouraging corruption, nepotism, encroachment ongovernment land, waterways and legalizing unauthorized occupation of  government and custodian land in the name ofRoshani act.

Even one and a half km Jahingir Chowk — Rambagh fly over has not been completed andcommissioned  during last 6 years. Butthey have been busy in raising assets in and out side state, in  Dubai and U.K abroad. Even some law makershave become from rags to rich and have invested billions of rupees  in Jammu in real estates by encroaching stateland.

There fore there is no force in saying that these well readand legal luminaries will give some fresh air and add aroma to already pollutedatmosphere in the valley. They are using the NGO’s and civil societies, towhich they belong, as a stepping stone to gain entry in the green pastures oflager political fields. They could not even stop the construction of a hotel onthe bank of Jehlum and restoration  ofvehicular bridge converted into foot bridge near convent school Rajbagh andtherefore we should not expect wonders  from them.

They are just taking care of their comfortable postretirement life and building and securing the future of their children. So faras article 35-A is concerned the Kashmir Bar Association has been  doing good job in contesting and defendingthe petition in Apex court.

As far as Dr. Shah Fasil’s joining politics is concerned, hereally made a sacrifice of his bright career which gave him the name and fameat the initial stage his service. But it is yet to be seen  whether he will fulfill his commitment ofproviding good governance and corruption free administration by strengtheningthe always dormant accountability institutions, only the time will decide.  

Abdul Rashid Khan (IPS) is the former IGP

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