National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah has shifted gears from outright hostility to endorsing PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on many crucial issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, the latest being the demand for the opening of Shardha Peeth corridor between the two sides of the Line of Control to meet the decades-long urges and aspirations of the Kashmiri Pandit community in the State.
Their mode of communication is Twitter. It serves well for both of them. It is instant, and enables the two leaders to read each other’s mind. In this era of social media when policies are defined and interpreted through this media that takes fraction of a second to reach millions ad elicit the response . Then, there is an option to delete what one may feel is unnecessary.
What, actually have they agreed upon is a political necessity for them. Showcasing themselves as the parties willing to stand as one when it comes to defending what they deem as distinct identity of the Kashmiri people is to win back their political constituencies .
When viewed in realistic terms, their stand vis-à-vis Delhi is to tell the Centre that they, despite having their severe differences on many issues and approaches combined with the bitter criticism of each other will not shy away from taking a united stand against Delhi on the Kashmir-centric issues. The message is clear: let the historic relationship of Jammu and Kashmir scripted after the signing of the instrument of accession by last Dogra king Maharaja Hari Singh in October 1947 stay intact. It is also a warning that attempts to tamper with it would make them to join hands and work out a common strategy, howsoever, nominal, it may appear to the outsiders, to defend their people’s rights and privileges.
The Shardha Peeth discourse tells Delhi that it should accept the stark reality that the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir divided by the Line of Control cannot be joined geographically under India or Pakistan , but the reconciliation is the only way out . This diplomatic terminology seeks to inform Delhi and Pakistan that t Kartarpur corridor cue applies to Shardha Peeth as well where the realities of the LoC being the de-facto border needed to be accepted by both India and Pakistan . The rest of the connotations of the whole of Jammu and Kashmir being an ” integral part” of India and the Muslim majority state being the ” spinal chord” of Pakistan is wrapped in myths . Here, the two parties are taking on themselves the role of being the narrators of the stare’s discourse for the state .
It would be a big mistake if this messaging is applied to Delhi only . Pakistan, too, is being told as loudly as it may like to hear that State’s discourse cannot come from Islamabad-Rawalpindi corridor. At times, Pakistan inspired discourse in some sections in the State, may be loud and visible , but that is misleading as well. The factual position is known to the common people of the State. Without saying it in as many words , National Conference and PDP are trying to take the real ownership of the land and the people – it may seem to be repeat of the old tactics to many sections that feel that the two parties that exploited the people on unrealistic slogans would not change much – but the fact remains that they are sending a message through Twitter .
PDP should be thankful to National Conference that its rival regional group has helped it wash the political sin of joining hands with the right-wing BJP, a decision that was resented by the people from the day one . Had NC continued with its hostility toward PDP and reminded the people that this party of green flag with ink –pot emblazoned on it was the one that gave saffron party a foothold in the Valley, PDP would have been in a tighter spot. The political arrangement, which many, including Governor Satya Pal Malik , described as ‘fragile’ , absolved PDP of its original sin . Whatever might have been the political, regional considerations –cum compulsions of PDP to join hands with the BJP post-2014 Assembly polls , the alliance proved harmful for the state .
In hindsight, had PDP waited and not forced itself to the elusive middle ground with BJP , or had late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed listened to his daughter Mehbooba Mufti , not to ally with the saffron party, fresh elections would have followed and that perhaps would have thrown a better mandate in favour of one or the other arrangement . Mehbooba was caught in between her father’s legacy and her own choice , she overruled her choice and did what her father had done. The price was waiting to be paid. That happened.
A larger question is open still, with what issues these parties will go to the polls during the Assembly elections? The elections may be held in next few months . By any stretch of imagination, the two parties cannot fight under one banner or symbol, nor all their issues be the same . As their electoral-turf is same where they have to contest and fight against each other, they would have to devise their respective strategies. What will be those strategies. The parties will have to be original and would do better not to hark back to the old and failed ones.