Soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew from its alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ghulam Nabi Azad, once the CM of that State, suffered a bout of oral diarrhea. He was at his worst in criticising the BJP for taking Jammu and Kashmir to the bottom of peace, harmony, economic development etc. But he hardly touched a feather of criticism on Mehbooba Mufti who, as the Chief Minister (CM) of the State led the coalition government since its formation in March 1, 2015.
Who, exactly, is this 69-year-old Ghulam Nabi Azad? A devoted Member of the Indian National Congress, he was a Cabinet Minister in the Manmohan Singh government, he became the Chief Minister of the State on 2nd November 2005. His own fragility as a Chief Minister is evident from the following incident narrated on Wikipedia[1].
In June 2008, Azad’s government announced plans to transfer land to the board of a Hindu shrine. Many Muslims were angered by this decision and protested, leading the government to cancel the transfer; however, this reversal provoked Hindu protests. Seven people were reported killed in violence that accompanied these protests. The People’s Democratic Party, a coalition partner of the Indian National Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, withdrew its support for Azad’s government, and rather than attempt to sustain his government by requesting a vote of confidence, Azad resigned on 7 July 2008, and later left office on 11 July 2008.
What becomes clear from the above is that PDP has long been against the Hindu community’s interest despite what it has always been touting about Zamooriyat, Kasmiriyat, and Insaniyat. Secondly, the above incident shows that Ghulam Nabi Azad was just not a tough Chief Minister. And now, after withdrawal of BJP from the coalition with PDP, he seems unable to understand why the BJP claimed that it did what it did because they had come to the conclusion that “continuance of its coalition with the PDP was untenable.”
The incident cited above also puts a big, big question on the PDP. By severely opposing a Chief Minister’s decision of June 2008 in favour of the Hindu community and letting at least seven people die in the subsequent counter Hindu protests — was it an evidence of its “reconciliation policy” which Ms Mufti reiterated at her Press meet after the BJP’s withdrawal decision? Or was it, instead, a “muscular policy” (of the Modi government) which she rubbished in that address to the media?
The fact remains that the BJP was being too idealistic when it agreed, after long-drawn discussions, to start a coalition government with the PDP.
Its first error was that it appointed a weak man as the Deputy Chief Minister of J&K. The appointee, Nirmal Singh, could not even speak coherently, confidently and slyly to TV reporters. The man for the job was 61-year-old Dr. Jitendra Singh, hailing from Jammu. He was a professor of diabetes and endocrinology, a consultant and clinical practitioner, author of 8 books, and a newspaper columnist, resigning from a Government job as the as Professor, Medicine for pursuing his political career. He played a historic role in 2008 Amarnath Land Row Agitation, as a member of the core committee of Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti. Hailing from Udhampur, he defeated Ghulam Nabi Azad in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He would have been a truly worthy representative of the BJP in J&K, amply capable of winning the youth and the old in that State. He also would help all Kashmiris understand the constitutional status of J&K that it “is and shall be an integral part of the Union of India” – something about which the BJP has, for years, been poor in its public relations. And, being born in a Rajput family, he would have more than stood up against Ms. Mehbooba’s pro-Islamic and pro-Pakistan commitment.
All that, alas, is now in the past. And a very serious stock-taking is essential. Let it think of the future.
First of all, do not give an extension to the existing State Governor, N.N. Vohra, whose 10-year term ends on June 24 this year. Instead, appoint a new Governor — a strong Army man. That will help immensely to halt terrorism, external and internal. He must, first of all, remove each and every stone in the State so that those bloody stone pelters from being able to get hold of a stone. And thus that still remain, inflict jail on them; end all the amnesties given to them so far.
Secondly, get the Kashmir children (from the age of ten onwards) involved in the socio-economic activities in schools, military academies from the funds of Government of India, of those sought from charitable trusts. Appoint an Army set-up for this purpose. For adults of all ages, spread the undeniable fact that J&K was, in fact, given the right to self-determination through a Constituent Assembly established in 1951 by the Yuvraj of the State. In fact, vaporize all doubting Thomases on the various rights of J&K State citizens as well as those of the rest of India.
Yes, this writer is of the firm opinion that a very important need of J&K State is massive PR accompanied by sustained efforts to make the people there to be truly integrated with residents here.
References:
[1] Azad as the CM of J & K state – Wikipedia.org
His freelancing career began in "The Times of India" with a sports article published when he was a month shy of 20 years of age. He was also a regular political affairs columnist first for rediff.com for five years or so and then shifted to sify.com. He also wrote extensively for niticentral.com "till it stopped publication."
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More than half the Indian population according to me does not know what is ailing Kashmir. All the solutions so far are half backed and we are no way near any solution over the years. I am in agreement with both Arvind Lavakare and Jayashankar V. to give the job of Governor to someone from the army who knows Kashmir like the back of his hand. Present government must desist to offer this coveted position as a cushy job to someone in recognition of his services for the party. Enough of doling out such rewards to civilians and get down to a serious business.
only if Nehru ji had agreed to let Mr. Jinnah rule India, [knowing fully well about his health condition], India would not have partitioned.
similarly, if Sheikh Abdullah hadn’t entertained a Strong desire to rule, J&K would have been another peaceful Indian state.
If Nehru ji hadn’t agreed for Art 370, Valley would not have seen so much of Blood bath.
If mrs. Gandhi had not dismembered East Pakistan in 71 and would not have returned the 90K+ Prisoners of War, to Pakistan, without getting PoK vacated, Valley would not have been disturbed today.
No democracy has ever won against Radical Islam so far in the world and only partially successful state is Israel.
Sri Lanka is the only country which has succeeded in crushing Armed Militancy.
so long as Abdullahs and Muftis and Hurriyat Leadership will survive in the Valley, they will not allow the valley to b free from blood-spilling, whether in the name of Islam or any other thing.
Gen Rawat will need to have a surgical strike inside the valley, against these jokers, so that the misguided youth don’t get any provoking leadership.
unless that is done, there is no way that Islam can be defeated by a Democracy
and India and the world must realize that it is “Democracy versus Islam in the valley”.
Srilankan Model+ Rawat method is the ONLY possible solution to the valley problem, all other methods have been tried in the past and have not succeeded.
only a gross optimist will hope otherwise, and put his/her IQ in serious questionmark
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE BJP HAS BEEN DEEPLY ERODED NATIONWIDE AND THEY ARE LEFT WITH NO OPTION BUT TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT EXTENDED TO PDP AND THERE ARE FEW OPTIONS LEFT FOR BJP TO REGAIN ITS SUPPORT BASE NATIONWIDE BEFORE 2019 GENERAL ELECTION TO LOK SABHA. IT IS A LONG AWAITED AND BELATED GOOD DECISION BY BJP TO PULL OUT OF PDP LED COALITION GOVT IN J&K, WHICH BROUGHT VERBAL STONE PELTING FROM ITS SUPPORTERS & COMMON CITIZENS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AGAINST THE BJP FOR HAVING PROPPED UP A WRONG PARTY IN J&K. ANY WAY BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. BJP WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS HAD MEHBOOBA MUFTI PULLED OUT OF ALLIANCE GOVT & TENDERED HER RESIGNATION BEFORE BJP’s WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT, WHICH PROBABLY SHE THOUGHT OF DOING SO ON THE VERY EVE OF STARTING OF AMARNATH YATRA ON 29th JUNE 2018 AND EARN BROWNIE POINTS WITH HER RADICAL SUPPORTERS / JIHADIST IN KASHMIR. HER HOPES ARE BELIED. SO FAR SO GOOD. A GOOD RIDDANCE.
I SUGGEST MAJ GEN RETD SHRI GAGAN DEEP BAKSHI BE APPOINTED AS NEW GOVERNOR OF J&K, AS THE PRESENT INCUMBENT’s TENURE IS COMING TO AN END ON 24-06-2018. NOW, GOVERNOR’s RULE IS IMPOSED WITH THE APPROVAL OF PRESIDENT OF INDIA, NOW GIVE FULL FREEDOM TO ARMED FORCES TO CRUSH AND PHYSICALLY ELIMINATE JIHADIST / TERRORISTS / ARMED MILITANTS AND TAKE INTO CUSTODY NC / PDP / J&K CONG ELEMENTS / FAKE HUMAN RIGHTS WALAS UNDER NATIONAL SECURITY ACT.
DEPORT ALL ROHINGYA MUSLIMS BACK TO MYANMAR. REMOVE ART 370 & 35-A THROUGH PRESIDENTIAL ORDER – DR. SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY ADVOCATED THIS MANY TIME AND IT IS POSSIBLE. GIVE PERMANENT RESIDENTS & CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS TO HINDUS / SIKHS / BUDDHISTS SETTLED IN J&K, MIGRATED FROM PAK DURING PARTITION 1947-48.
No more talk of Zamooriyat, Kasmiriyat, and Insaniyat by Union Govt. KASHMIRIYAT means J&K ruling elements have licence to loot the Indian tax payers money with no accountability. You send the money and I will spend money, the way we want it, but you should not question it. ZAMOORIYAT – whatever mine is mine and whatever belongs to you, is also mine. INSAANIYAT – Kill the Kafirs like innocent Kashmiri Pandits / Sikhs / Children / few journalists with Nationalist outlook / Men of Armed forces – without any reason, as a MUSLIM RELIGIOUS DUTY.
It is high time, the Central Govt thorougly revamp the J&K Administration, discarding anti national elements and totally revamp the entire school syllabus, which currently is full of ANTI INDIA VIEWS.
I request Shri Arvind Lavkhare to closely interact with Prof Hari Om, Retd Dean of Jammu University – his twitter account address – @Prof_Hariom and extend full support and strength to Nationalists leaders in J&K.