The dates of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections have been announced finally and the results are likely to come on October 4, 2024. The last state assembly was dissolved on December 19, 2018 by then Governor Mr Satya Pal Malik under peculiar circumstances.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre, with a Parliamentary act and without asking the representatives of the state (which had no assembly) read down the articles 370 and 35 A of the Indian Constitution. Further, the state was divided and demoted into 2 union territories (UT’s) – A decision which has never happened in Independent India. Two Lieutenant Governors, Mr G C Murmu for J & K and Mr R K Mathur for Ladakh were appointed. The present Lieutenant Governor Mr Manoj Sinha replaced Mr Murmu on August 7, 2020 after Mr Murmu resigned.
The execution of the development agenda of the central Govt for J&K, beginning in August five years ago looks very artificial. There have been a few patches of renovation in Srinagar the highlights of which are paving the streets of “Polo view” the fancy tourist marketing centre of Srinagar with new tiles and also improving the clock tower at Lal Chowk “Ghanta Ghar”.
Both places are visited by a large number of Indian visitors. The tourist season in the last 2 years has been booming mainly because of the post COVID release phenomenon, tourists feeling safer because of no agitations going on, the charm of the valley which remains unchanged and also the well-known hospitality of the local population.
However, the important areas of developments which matter to the local population of the UT and are being neglected can be seen clearly as soon as one enters the border of Jammu at Lakhanpur. One is struck by the state of roads which are in a dismally poor condition, dug up at various places with pot holes.
There is a new militancy threat which was earlier restricted to the Kashmir region but now spreading to Kathua, Udhampur and Doda regions of Jammu. These areas are close to the national highway NH 44 connecting Pathankot to Srinagar via Jammu.
The power situation is as bad as it was 5 years before. There is however a difference – courtesy smart metres, the resident’s electricity bills have gone up several folds but without any improvement in the supply with frequent cuts.
The people of Jammu who in the beginning of the abrogation of article 370 seemed to be jubilant because they thought the dominance of the Kashmiris will end are rather disappointed. Jammu city has been a strong hold of the ruling party. They were expecting to get priorities: more jobs, better education for their children, more business contracts for locals and better standard of living. Unfortunately, very little has happened on that front. Unemployment, rising prices and corrupt practices have continued or increased.
A taste of this disappointment was seen in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections where the party has lost ground in many Hindu dominated segments. Even the Union minister Dr Jitender Singh, who was elected for the third time from the Udhampur-Doda constituency, trailed the congress candidate Lal Singh in Bhaderwah and Doda, which are traditionally BJP strongholds.
Likewise, in Rajouri-Anantnag seat despite canvassing for Apni Party (BJP did not field its own candidate) Mr Zafar Iqbal Manhas trailed even in assembly segments last won by Mr Ravinder Raina, the Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief.
For Kashmiris, the last 5 years have been a period of oppression and humiliation. Being a well-known doctor visiting the valley frequently, people quietly confide in me and often ask me “why our humiliation makes people in the rest of the country jubilant?”. It is viewed by them as a punishment and making them feel inferior.
Their freedom of speech has gone and losing their government job is on the cards if someone is even distantly related to a person labelled as an anti-national in the past. They know that most of their leaders and many prominent personalities were arrested or put under house arrest. The journalists do not dare writing a word against the present dispensation.
An often-asked question is why have protests in Kashmir valley died down if there is so much of oppression. The answer is that Kashmiris have shown their wisdom by remaining silent because they are intelligent enough to realise that holding protests will be self-defeating and suicidal with army in all the lanes and streets and the administration keeping a close watch on their activities and statements even on the social media. Any such activity is promptly penalised.
However, at the earliest opportunity of expressing their opinion democratically and non-violently at the Lok Sabha elections it was all very clear. The result of the Baramulla constituency giving a thumping victory to a proclaimed supporter of plebiscite and currently in jail for his anti-Indian activities, Engineer Rashid is a clear answer to their oppressed feelings.
His victory has given them a vent and is a response to the treatment and humiliation they have been subjected to during the last 5 years.
The ruling party, after claiming the fulfilment of their development agenda, making smart cities and bringing in prosperity for the common man in the valley did not think it wise to field candidates in any of the three Lok Sabha seats there.
The reason is obvious, the guilt complex and moreover fear of a certain defeat. The reason and the motivation behind removing the DG police and a major reshuffle in the state administration one day before the announcement of election dates is not clear and could be anybody’s guess.
The forthcoming assembly elections of the UT with the powers of the assembly being severely curtailed and resumption of the statehood still a dream is being carefully watched by the people of rest of the country.
Kashmiris are still hopeful. On a positive note they still remember and believe in the words of PM Modi “Kashmir is the crown of the country and to pull it out of its turmoil is our responsibility”. Time and history will tell us the truth but one thing is certain it will be a bitterly fought election. Let us wait for October 4.
Upendra Kaul is a Kashmiri cardiologist. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Dr B.C. Roy Award.
