Arguably the biggest political vindication of the otherwise tumultuous 2020 was the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the single largest party in the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir District Development Council (DDC) elections.
It took 17 months after the scrapping of the erstwhile J&K state’s absurdly special status for the democratic process of elections at the civic level to return to the new union territory of J&K.
For the separatists in Kashmir, the leftist lobby in New Delhi and the pseudo-secular club spread across India, who had prophesied BJP’s drubbing in the DDC polls, the reality check came in the most glorious manner possible. It was an egg-in-the-face moment for the wily proponents of the restoration of Article 370. Hence, a political vindication for the Modi government’s momentous August 5, 2019 decision.
image source : ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Naya Kashmir has gone from strength to strength since the revocation of the discriminatory law and the bifurcation of the former state of J&K into two UTs - J&K and Ladakh. The advent of a new era of hope has majorly contributed to the rise of a strong nationalistic wave in the UT of J&K and the BJP’s stellar performance in the DDC polls, which is a shot in the arm for the resurgent nationalist movement in J&K, is testimony to it.
Not only has the region amalgamated into the Indian mainstream constitutionally, but it is now also witnessing a remarkable catharsis with the baggage of separatism slowly but steadily losing weight and a spirit of nationalism taking over. This is not to suggest that the entire Kashmiri populace has wholeheartedly accepted India’s unambiguous sovereignty over the region. The gulf still exists but it is narrowing down like never before, which is reflected in the civic poll results.
The DDC polls have traced a smooth-sailing and largely peaceful journey after J&K received its new identity in August 2019. The cozy partnership of anti-nationals and secessionists, the anti-Modi political class and the India-bashing international media had predicted mayhem and bloodbath on the streets of Kashmir if Article 370 were to be dumped by the Government of India. As pleasant as it sounds, it was the exact opposite that happened and the valley has seen some of the most tranquil times in recent history after the abrogation of Article 370. Barring the killings of some grass-root level political workers and leaders, primarily those belonging to the BJP, zero incidents of stone-pelting and other forms of violence in Kashmir have ensured peace in a way never seen before.
A conspicuous picture of democratic normality in J&K has emerged courtesy of the two historic democratic events (Article 370 revocation and DDC elections) that have taken place between August 2019 and December 2020, indicative of a future of political clarity and stability in the region within the sacrosanct framework of the Indian Constitution. The two events have created the perfect platform for the Legislative Assembly elections, expected to be held sometime in 2021, to define the course for J&K and push it along the path of growth and development. Principally, what the DDC polls verdict coming in the favour of the BJP has done is that it has established that with regard to the nationalism vs separatism battle, the former stands miles ahead with the UT approaching the forthcoming Legislative Assembly elections.
On the back of the DDC elections, the writing on the wall is clear. The era of an appeased Kashmir and an ignored Jammu is over. J&K is now seen as one entity comprised of two equally important regions, unlike in the past. The growing revival of Jammu as a region of political vibrancy is due to a nationalistic undercurrent that rewarded the BJP handsomely in the civic polls. BJP’s stellar performance in Jammu and the fact that the party was able to make strong inroads in Kashmir is a telltale sign of things to come. Despite the unholy Gupkar alliance managing to amass big numbers in the DDC polls, it is apparent that the supremacist demeanour of the Kashmiri secessionists has been dented.
A renewed political direction
The moot question is: what does the future hold for J&K and where does the region’s politics go from here?… In all probability, a positive phase beckons. Indian nationalists can draw comfort from the fact that pro-India developments in the last two years have left physical and ideological secessionist strongholds in Kashmir dispirited. These developments have also allowed all nationalists - especially the BJP on the political front - to consolidate themselves in J&K fundamentally, both on the political and ideological fronts. Therefore, emerging as the single largest party in the Legislative Assembly polls or, in the best-case scenario, forming the government will be the real game-changer in the process of building Naya Kashmir.
However, the journey before J&K goes to the polls again is equally as significant, if not more. BJP stealing the show in the DDC elections has made it incumbent upon the party and the Modi government to give J&K a renewed political direction, which will happen only if the BJP manages to form the first government in the UT in the post Article 370 revocation era.
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| image source : financialexpress.com |
Meanwhile, one of the greatest challenges that J&K faces in the run-up to the Assembly elections is the security situation of regional political workers and leaders, particularly from the BJP, which leaves much to be desired. From the cold-blooded murder of Kashmiri Pandit Sarpanch Ajay Pandita Bharti in Anantnag in June 2020 to the assassination of BJP leader Sheikh Wasim Bari, along with his father and brother, in Bandipora in July 2020 - J&K has witnessed an unprecedented rise in the killings of political representatives in recent times.
The need of the hour is for the Modi government to leave no stone unturned in creating an atmosphere of security and trust that bolsters uninhibited participation from democratic representatives at the rudimentary and higher levels. Not only will it help strengthen the fabric of the Indian democracy in J&K, but it will also impart more power to the region’s growing nationalistic spirit.
Well begun is half done! And the BJP is off to more than just a good beginning, thanks to how well it fared in the civic polls. Hence, this is the most opportune time for the Modi government to bring about a holistic transformation in the political and security situation in J&K.
For anti-India forces, such as the Gupkar gang supported by the united opposition and the leftist lobby, to be rendered weaker against the nationalist voices, lives of political workers need to be safeguarded and the BJP must commit itself to make landmark electoral accomplishments. These two aspects must be covered in tandem and take central priority in the Modi government’s blueprint of Naya Kashmir.
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