Kashmir Affairs :PDP has intelligent game plan :: appears tracing the decades old NC road map
Daya Sagar Sharma
September 06, 2009
J&K Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has added a new day to the festivity of Kashmiries , 25th July the Self Rule Day. Incidentally this year it also happens to be the 10th foundation day of PDP and on this day diplomats from UK and Australia ( Australian delegation comprising first secretary of Australian High Commission, Tim Higgins, second secretary, Michael Cheyne, & Mike Hillman Australia´s consultant on South Asia and a British High Commission delegation led by the first secretary (Political), Jasper Thorenten ) also met Mehbooba Mufti (at her residence in Srinagar ) She introduced to them her party´s Self Rule Document as a potential tool for reconciling the positions of India and Pakistan in accordance with the aspirations of the people of J & K. The diplomats are said to have discussed with the PDP president (i) the current political scenario , (ii) exchanged views on PDP´s campaign for strengthening of civil society (iii) and including the demand for thinning of troops and revocation of special laws.
At the same time JK PDP has also taken to the soft track after having indirectly exploited the sentiments / emotions of innocent Kashmiri. PDP has surely succeeded in fixing some roots in the "NC´ fields. PDP has even set some working roots in Jammu region . So PDP has to work in the broader arena now. So like Kr. Mayawati , Mehbooba Jee too has now attempted coming on level track to compete with Omar Abdullah after forcing Omar Abdullah to play soft on the separatists.
The approach now adopted by PDP leadership , is more to gain time. The Mehbooba Mufti has been wisely changing tracks to retain the goodwill of the common Kashmiri masses as well as those at New Delhi. And some success has been achieved. But PDP leadership also wants to remain at the international scene .So still under the circumstances "Mufties" can not afford to lag behind and hence do occasionally appear playing separatists like tunes in the name of settlement of Kashmir dispute. UK and US would always extend welcome nods pretending as neutral peace players.
After forcing the NC leadership including Omar Abdullah to play some soft on the separatist elements, PDP has now understood (I ) that to remain in the political race and (ii) to lay hands on the seat of governance PDP has to make its stand on the 1947 Accession of J&K with India clear so that New Delhi´s sword does not fall on its head. So it is for the first time after more than 5 years that Mehbooba Mufti has tried to define the PDP Self Rule with in the scope of 1947 Instrument of Accession and the Constitution of India. To people of J&K ( Kashmir Valley in particular ) PDP has introduced Self Rule as a better personal rule of Kashmiries than the Greater autonomy of National Conference. It was during 2nd week of July 09 that TOI quoted Mehbooba Mufti in its Question Answer coloumn as having said that (1) PDP firmly believed in the 1947 Accession of JK with India (2 ). The Self Rule as proposed by PDP is with in the provisions of Indian Constitution and Instrument accession. On 9th July 09 Peoples Democratic Party in a special meeting presided by Mehbooba Mufti said that Self Rule flows through Article 370 & Instrument of Accession. On the spirit behind Self Rule document Muzaffar Hussain Baig said "Self rule was provided to the State in Instrument of Accession but later on it was snatched & taken back from Jammu Kashmir by the Government of India. PDP now wants it to be back."
Mufti Mohd Sayeed appears following the foot steps of BSP supremo Kr Mayawati. BSP leadership in the initial days adopted a total caste divisive political approach. A total confronting approach was cultivated in the BSP cadres against the Brahmins, Thakurs and Vashaya varnas . In simple words I would say that against the so called swarn Hindu the dalits were made to stand with near social enmity. The worst lessons sounding like tilak , taraju aur talwaar , ein ko maro jootae chaar were allegedly written. To add more of strength to cadres even the religious minorities were hugged to build pressures on other political parties.
After some base was dug in, Mayawati understood that for rising on the national scene she will have to shed caste divisive approach. So she made an attempt to mend her approach before last UP Assembly elections. The slogan appeared modified some thing like tilak, taraju aur talwaar ein se karo shishtachaar. No doubt Mayawati in the process pulled some Brahmin caste leaders close to her. And ofcourse now she is on real competitive play field with Congress, SP, LD, RJD and others. All political parties are out and out to pocket the vote of SC/ST/OBC/ Muslims/ other minorities in India . Similarly in Kashmir Valley questioning the intentions of New Delhi appears the mantra of the day for political survival.Some caste leaders did not like her changed approach towards the upper caste Hindu .Mayawati has suffered some apparent loss in 2009. But she knows well that holding the hand of swarn Hindu is must for rising to Delhi throne. So knows also PDP that total loss of good will before Delhi can not be afforded.
In Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohd Sayeed had been the first rival to National Conference. National Conference always held firm to 1947 accession of J&K with India. But had been simultaneously also l had been expressing some reservations regarding the relations between the Center and State. Mirza Afzal Baig had lead the Plebiscite Front that was later disbanded after 1975 Indira Sheikh Accord.
Over the years questions have been raised over the manner in which New Delhi has been handling the Kashmir affairs. Questions have also been raised over the manner in which Kashmiri Hindu had migrated enmass . Even it has been alleged that those at the helm of affairs have not seriously worked for the return of the migrants. The local mindset of some Kashmiri people back in the Valley has surely moved some distance away from oneness of J&K with India. More doubts and confusions had taken birth .Not much efforts were made by New Delhi , Congress & NC cadres in Kashmir valley to check the spread of separatist and "Sponsored" militant view points gain some roots in thinking minds of new generation.
National Conference had already passed a Greater Autonomy Resolution in 1994 and later on NC had got a resolution on similar lines passed by J&K Assembly in 2000. The autonomy resolution / greater autonomy concept had initiated discussions/ debates as regards center state relations. Some termed the Greater autonomy (i) as moving to pre 1953 position,(ii) some even named it some thing like simply moving to days of accession. The separatist ideology and those who talked of referendum or plebiscite did not have hence much opposition to face after 1990. So Mufti Mohd Sayeed had to come up before Kashmiri people with some thing that looked different or more than the Greater Autonomy of National Conference. PDP came up with Self Rule slogan. Some called it a proposal from the then Pakistan Parvez Musharraf. Mufti Mohd Sayeed or Mehbooba Mufti did not outrightly reject those who called Self Rule as an idea from Musharraf.. New Delhi too did not reject PDP and even shared power with PDP in J&K after 2002. It was here that PDP played its trump card when it suggested that (i) the currencies of both India and Pakistan should be used in J&K ( not all states of India & Pakistan ) and POK (ii) there should be common control of India and Pakistan on certain subjects as would pertain to J&K and POK. Kashmiri Hindu was already out of Kashmir Valley and some had started demanding a sub region ( Union Territory like ) by the name of Panun Kashmir. The suggestions did raise controversies but in Kashmir Valley PDP did succeed in sentimentally exploiting the Kashmiri masses for a moral support to its political game plans.
PDP well know in hearts that it can´nt dare adopt anti accession approach nor can it afford to join the separatist ranks. It has to remain loyal to Indian Constitution for enjoying power rides. Kashmir going to Pakistan could never be dreamt . So PDP did not refute 1947 accession in plain words though it asked some thing like joint control of India and Pakistan over J&K which it knew was a vague dream as long as 1947 accession of India is not nullified.
IN 2008 elections to Legislative Assembly PDP proved tough on both Congress and NC.PDP has a well thought intelligent game plan, rather it is tracing the road map that NC followed for many years. New Delhi is playing in a field without goal posts which is well evident from the fact that Return of Kashmiri Hindu has been nearly forgotten. PDP knows well that innocent Kashmiri will not question PDP over vague demands like joint control of Indian and Pakistan over some affairs of J&K with 1947 accession of J&K with India still staying intact.
( Daya Sagar is social activist and leading scribe on Kashmir affairs dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk)
At the same time JK PDP has also taken to the soft track after having indirectly exploited the sentiments / emotions of innocent Kashmiri. PDP has surely succeeded in fixing some roots in the "NC´ fields. PDP has even set some working roots in Jammu region . So PDP has to work in the broader arena now. So like Kr. Mayawati , Mehbooba Jee too has now attempted coming on level track to compete with Omar Abdullah after forcing Omar Abdullah to play soft on the separatists.
The approach now adopted by PDP leadership , is more to gain time. The Mehbooba Mufti has been wisely changing tracks to retain the goodwill of the common Kashmiri masses as well as those at New Delhi. And some success has been achieved. But PDP leadership also wants to remain at the international scene .So still under the circumstances "Mufties" can not afford to lag behind and hence do occasionally appear playing separatists like tunes in the name of settlement of Kashmir dispute. UK and US would always extend welcome nods pretending as neutral peace players.
After forcing the NC leadership including Omar Abdullah to play some soft on the separatist elements, PDP has now understood (I ) that to remain in the political race and (ii) to lay hands on the seat of governance PDP has to make its stand on the 1947 Accession of J&K with India clear so that New Delhi´s sword does not fall on its head. So it is for the first time after more than 5 years that Mehbooba Mufti has tried to define the PDP Self Rule with in the scope of 1947 Instrument of Accession and the Constitution of India. To people of J&K ( Kashmir Valley in particular ) PDP has introduced Self Rule as a better personal rule of Kashmiries than the Greater autonomy of National Conference. It was during 2nd week of July 09 that TOI quoted Mehbooba Mufti in its Question Answer coloumn as having said that (1) PDP firmly believed in the 1947 Accession of JK with India (2 ). The Self Rule as proposed by PDP is with in the provisions of Indian Constitution and Instrument accession. On 9th July 09 Peoples Democratic Party in a special meeting presided by Mehbooba Mufti said that Self Rule flows through Article 370 & Instrument of Accession. On the spirit behind Self Rule document Muzaffar Hussain Baig said "Self rule was provided to the State in Instrument of Accession but later on it was snatched & taken back from Jammu Kashmir by the Government of India. PDP now wants it to be back."
Mufti Mohd Sayeed appears following the foot steps of BSP supremo Kr Mayawati. BSP leadership in the initial days adopted a total caste divisive political approach. A total confronting approach was cultivated in the BSP cadres against the Brahmins, Thakurs and Vashaya varnas . In simple words I would say that against the so called swarn Hindu the dalits were made to stand with near social enmity. The worst lessons sounding like tilak , taraju aur talwaar , ein ko maro jootae chaar were allegedly written. To add more of strength to cadres even the religious minorities were hugged to build pressures on other political parties.
After some base was dug in, Mayawati understood that for rising on the national scene she will have to shed caste divisive approach. So she made an attempt to mend her approach before last UP Assembly elections. The slogan appeared modified some thing like tilak, taraju aur talwaar ein se karo shishtachaar. No doubt Mayawati in the process pulled some Brahmin caste leaders close to her. And ofcourse now she is on real competitive play field with Congress, SP, LD, RJD and others. All political parties are out and out to pocket the vote of SC/ST/OBC/ Muslims/ other minorities in India . Similarly in Kashmir Valley questioning the intentions of New Delhi appears the mantra of the day for political survival.Some caste leaders did not like her changed approach towards the upper caste Hindu .Mayawati has suffered some apparent loss in 2009. But she knows well that holding the hand of swarn Hindu is must for rising to Delhi throne. So knows also PDP that total loss of good will before Delhi can not be afforded.
In Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohd Sayeed had been the first rival to National Conference. National Conference always held firm to 1947 accession of J&K with India. But had been simultaneously also l had been expressing some reservations regarding the relations between the Center and State. Mirza Afzal Baig had lead the Plebiscite Front that was later disbanded after 1975 Indira Sheikh Accord.
Over the years questions have been raised over the manner in which New Delhi has been handling the Kashmir affairs. Questions have also been raised over the manner in which Kashmiri Hindu had migrated enmass . Even it has been alleged that those at the helm of affairs have not seriously worked for the return of the migrants. The local mindset of some Kashmiri people back in the Valley has surely moved some distance away from oneness of J&K with India. More doubts and confusions had taken birth .Not much efforts were made by New Delhi , Congress & NC cadres in Kashmir valley to check the spread of separatist and "Sponsored" militant view points gain some roots in thinking minds of new generation.
National Conference had already passed a Greater Autonomy Resolution in 1994 and later on NC had got a resolution on similar lines passed by J&K Assembly in 2000. The autonomy resolution / greater autonomy concept had initiated discussions/ debates as regards center state relations. Some termed the Greater autonomy (i) as moving to pre 1953 position,(ii) some even named it some thing like simply moving to days of accession. The separatist ideology and those who talked of referendum or plebiscite did not have hence much opposition to face after 1990. So Mufti Mohd Sayeed had to come up before Kashmiri people with some thing that looked different or more than the Greater Autonomy of National Conference. PDP came up with Self Rule slogan. Some called it a proposal from the then Pakistan Parvez Musharraf. Mufti Mohd Sayeed or Mehbooba Mufti did not outrightly reject those who called Self Rule as an idea from Musharraf.. New Delhi too did not reject PDP and even shared power with PDP in J&K after 2002. It was here that PDP played its trump card when it suggested that (i) the currencies of both India and Pakistan should be used in J&K ( not all states of India & Pakistan ) and POK (ii) there should be common control of India and Pakistan on certain subjects as would pertain to J&K and POK. Kashmiri Hindu was already out of Kashmir Valley and some had started demanding a sub region ( Union Territory like ) by the name of Panun Kashmir. The suggestions did raise controversies but in Kashmir Valley PDP did succeed in sentimentally exploiting the Kashmiri masses for a moral support to its political game plans.
PDP well know in hearts that it can´nt dare adopt anti accession approach nor can it afford to join the separatist ranks. It has to remain loyal to Indian Constitution for enjoying power rides. Kashmir going to Pakistan could never be dreamt . So PDP did not refute 1947 accession in plain words though it asked some thing like joint control of India and Pakistan over J&K which it knew was a vague dream as long as 1947 accession of India is not nullified.
IN 2008 elections to Legislative Assembly PDP proved tough on both Congress and NC.PDP has a well thought intelligent game plan, rather it is tracing the road map that NC followed for many years. New Delhi is playing in a field without goal posts which is well evident from the fact that Return of Kashmiri Hindu has been nearly forgotten. PDP knows well that innocent Kashmiri will not question PDP over vague demands like joint control of Indian and Pakistan over some affairs of J&K with 1947 accession of J&K with India still staying intact.
( Daya Sagar is social activist and leading scribe on Kashmir affairs dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk)