Democracy has won over ‘Demoncracy’ in J&K
Syed Ali
Mujtaba
The BJP government in Delhi has conducted the District Development Council in J&K. This was done almost one year of its occupational rule. The poll was conducted to make a point that people of J&K endorsed BJP’s decision of August 5, 2019. The results speak how miserably the BJP has failed. Inherent in the BJP’s victory beguile is the slur that Democracy has won over ‘Demoncracy’ in J&K
There are few
things that need to be analyzed with regard to the DDC poll results. The BJP’s
strategy was that the local poll will be boycotted by the people of Kashmir and
in such case its victory in Jammu will hold the credibility of the poll and
that would justify its August 5, 2019 decision. The participation of the
mainstream party in the polls upset the BJP’s calculation.
The results of the
DDC polls did not endorse the BJP’s move to revoke the special provisions to
the J&K and make it a Union Territory. In fact the poll verdict made a loud
statement for the restoration of the autonomy which was forcibly taken by the
BJP government in Delhi. It also made a statement that the people of the Valley
desperately need freedom, peace, dignity and democracy.
The poll
results highlighted the total alienation of the people of the valley towards
the Delhi rule. The restoration of faith and trust deficit that BJP has created
will linger on long after it ceases to be the rulers of ‘Hindusthan.’
The BJP’s claim
that it has emerged as a single largest party at the DDC has to be accepted
with a pinch of salt. Out of 75 seats that the BJP won, 72 have come from
the Jammu region, that too from six Hindu dominated districts —Jammu, Kathua,
Udhampur, Samba and Doda and Reasi. In these districts there is sharp
religious polarization between Hindu Jammu and Muslim Kashmir. These districts
are traditional Hindutva vote banks and there is nothing to celebrate about the
BJP’s win.
The fact is the
Congress won 26 seats in the Jammu region and the ‘Alliance’ won in both mixed
areas, as well as in Muslim-dominated areas, makes BJP claims of being the
single largest party being hollow.
The puzzle is how
did the BJP win three seats in the Srinagar region? How it got 3 per cent votes
in the Valley? Independent sources say, the 3 seats are won by coercive
methods. People were asked at gunpoint to vote for BJP. Many votes were cast in
absentia by bogus voting. Those managing the booths voted for the BJP. Huge
security personnel took part in the state orchestrated voting process.
There were reports
that the alliance parties were not allowed to campaign freely, their movements
were restricted. The central government made life difficult for the top leaders
to reach out to the masses. The BJP candidates or its allies were given full
security to campaign. Many high profile Muslim BJP leaders like Shahnawaz
Hussain and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi went to for campaigning to the valley.
Even with all these, hullabaloo the BJP could win only 3
seats. Given the administrative paraphernalia and security set up that the BJP
has put up in the Kashmir valley, this very poor show by the mighty state
power. Certainly, the result does not suggest that the BJP has become a
mainstream party in the Valley.
The BJP backed Apni
Party hardly had any significant impact in the DDC polls. There were reports
that the BJP used the state machinery to the benefit of the Apni party. It has
also pumped in huge cash and resources to help it win the polls. But in spite
of all the backing given by the BJP, the Apani party could win only 12 seats.
The BJP thus miserably failed in creating an alternative leadership in the
Kashmir valley.
The BJP’s moves to
change the course of Kashmir valley’s politics by propping up Apni Party was
totally debunked by the people of the Kashmir valley. In BJP’s circles,
Altaf Bukhari, the leader of the Apani party is touted to be the new Shiekh
Abdullah who will hold the BJP’s flag high in the Kashmir Valley. The
DDC results point that Altaf Bukari has become the
Altaf Hussain of Pakistan – a crook to the core.
The DDC poll also did not endorse the BJP claim
that its move of August 5, 2019 has been able to contain the scourge of
terrorism in J&K.? The statistics of militancy related activities
speak the fact that armed militancy has increased since the state became a
Union Territory.
The BJP claims to
end dynasty rule has also not got vindicated at the DDC poll? The fact is BJP’s
campaign to remove dynasties in J&K did not reflect on the poll results.
People have restored faith in the old dynasties of Abdullahs, Muftis and Sajjad
Lone.
In sum the DDC poll
results clearly reflect a mass resentment and anger at the state of affairs in
the Union Territory of J&K. People have clearly voted against the
‘demoncracy’ that is thrust on them. The poll verdict points that the people
unanimously oppose the central government’s move to abrogate Article 370, the
dissolution of the state assembly, the arrest of political leaders, the
lockdown, the clampdown, and the totalitarian and authoritarian methods adopted
by the BJP. The DDC poll results reflect a total failure of the BJP government
towards J&K.
The DDC poll on the
positive side has restored people's faith in the electoral process. The results
vindicate that people want restoration of autonomy, state assembly and true
federalism in J&K.
--
Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in
Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com
