People's Democracy

EDITORIAL

J&K Elections: Encouraging Response

AS we go to the press, the first round of polling in the elections to the Jammu & Kashmir assembly have been held without any major incident taking place. The near 44 per cent turnout is both heartening and significant. Firstly, despite widespread tension and the open call for a boycott, people turned up in large numbers with Kargil registering a 67 per cent turnout. The significance of this lies in the fact that clearly there is a widespread feeling amongst the people for peace and tranquility.

Secondly, barring places like Sopore, known to be Jamaat-e-Islami strongholds where people stayed away from voting in large numbers, almost all other constituencies saw a healthy turnout which was higher than the expectations. Thus, reinforcing the above noted widespread feeling amongst the people and their faith in the democratic process.

It is this sentiment that should have been harnessed by the central and the state governments to create conditions for larger participation in the elections. The Vajpayee government, unfortunately, seems to have an agenda other than the one of strengthening the democratic process and consequently advancing the movement towards restoring normalcy in the state. This government’s refusal to engage various political groups, particularly the Hurriyat, in a discussion on autonomy has ensured that the opportunity that these elections offered was squandered. To a large extent, this appears deliberate. Though the BJP was forced to put its demand for the abrogation of Article 370 on the backburner, given the compulsions of the NDA coalition, it has repeatedly asserted that it has not abandoned this demand. Any meaningful discussion on the question of autonomy, hence, was never its objective leaving alone being a priority. Consequently, the question of restoring any degree of normalcy was also not their priority.

This is substantiated by the manner in which they went about initiating the political process in the state. First came the K.C. Pant committee. This held some initial discussions with some groups, but was made to lose its way half way through. Even while people were waiting for the outcome of these efforts came the appointment of Arun Jaitley to discuss not autonomy, but devolution of powers, with the state government. No one is aware as to what has been the progress. Then came the farce of the Jhetmalani-led committee. This was given official blessings and at the same time dubbed as a non-governmental effort. When some progress appeared to have taken place and the Hurriyat leaders were called to Delhi to meet the government, obviously on the basis of an earlier assurance, they were summarily ignored. The government refused to meet them, thus, spiking any possibility of enlarging the political participation in these elections.

Clearly, the government has adopted a course of hunting with the hounds while running with hares. The RSS is actively pursuing its agenda of the communal trifurcation of the state. The government is, in effect, stalling any advance in the discussions on autonomy for Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370.

In the meanwhile, the National Conference is content with the situation where other forces are not participating in these elections. Given the widespread disaffection against the state government amongst the people, as reflected in the mood expressed during the first phase of polling, the absence of more political contenders, particularly in the Valley, favours the National Conference’s electoral fortunes.

Thus, the country has been denied a fine opportunity. Thanks to the communal agenda relentlessly been pursued by this Vajpayee-led government.

Notwithstanding this, the successful completion of these elections will be an important achievement in the progress towards restoring peace and normalcy in the state. Terrorists and anti-Indian forces will, however, continue their efforts to try and block this process. They may well mount a more aggressive approach given the participation of the people in the first round of polling. Utmost vigilance needs to be exercised in this regard.

Further, the political forces must redouble their efforts to strengthen the campaign to generate greater confidence amongst the people to participate in large numbers in the next three rounds of polling.