NDA Government has, in Satya Pal Malik, given Jammu and Kashmir a new Governor. Much is being made of Malik’s political background . So, in his appointment, the K experts see a ” genuine effort of the GoI to start talks with the estranged Kashmir and engage with whosoever was willing to talk within the frame work of the Constitution .”
One can’t comprehend where is the need to emphasize the ” political back ground ” of an incumbent Governor for starting a dialogue process . Non – political Governors have often done this job better. Outgoing , N N Vohra is the best example. It is said that Malik will build up on what center’s representative Dineshwar Sharma has done so far . Pray ! What has the representative achieved so far , except meeting people who , may be the sufferers , but are hardly in a position to contribute much to the peace process . The people who need to be talked to have shunned him . Even ‘ sufferers ‘ have got nothing so far. Sharma has thus far proved only a political tourist .
That Malik is a political man can cut either way. According to reports he is not from the RSS breed. He has reached the position after having fitted across the political spectrum. While that should free him from the ‘ hyper nationalist ‘ baggage and give him some leverage to act on his own understanding but, on the other side, the survival instinct in a man may tempt him to discard the past and prove ‘more loyal’ and latch on to the ‘hyper nationalism bandwagon’-rather firmly .
We hope that the new tenant in the Raj Bhawan will initiate moves to translate into action PM Modi’s pronouncement to resolve the K issue within the parameters of Jamhooryat , Insaneyat and Kashmiriat. These terms are so broader in meaning as to sound vague. Put in to the context and to inspire faith of the people in PM’s announcement , there are certain things which Governor Malik must do to start with. There is an impelling need for him to dispel the impression, howsoever misplaced it maybe, that he has come here as a point man to fulfill an agenda which is an anathema to the vast majority of the J K residents. People here won’t like him to be Jagmohan of 1984 , who replaced unyielding B K Nehru only to destabilize the then elected government and bring in one to the liking of the Centre . Even a whisper of horse trading business must be silenced. Only a fresh, fair and fearless Assembly election will put Jamhooriyat into the practice.
People, in general , nurse a feeling of physical and psychological hurt .Regard must be had for their sensitivities. There is a need to assuage the bruised feelings. In many ways government can provide a healing touch. Governor Malik must reiterate the position which the elected government has taken on continuation of Article 35 A and 370 of the Constitution. Modi must travel beyond his words . On its part, the NDA government should stop playing games on the Constitutional matters, and come out unequivocally in support of these provisions. This is one of the ways GoI can hope to bring people in Kashmir to the table for a dialogue . The gesture could accord some respectability to the Insaneyat component of the PM’s declaration .
For Kashmiriyat to be put in place it is important for the government to do justice- economic, emotional and political – to all the regions of the State and the inhabitants thereof. Restoration of the regional balance is need of the hour. Thousands of the Valley’s original inhabitants, of whom the Pandits constitute a bulk , are languishing outside living a miserable life. They must be appropriately and earnestly rehabilitated in their home land .
In Kashmir there aren’t many who would come forward for the talks within constitution of India . There are various angularities to the K problem which, understandably ,make job of the new Governor a Herculean one. But all is not lost for India. There is a significant, though not a big, constituency in the Valley which still has hope in India. It is the duty of the ” nationalist ” forces to make an endeavor to enlarge it. The maddening noises heard in Delhi and Jammu against retention of some Constitutional provisions and brazen display of hardened positions will result only in shrinkage of the constituency .
Writer is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge