December 21, 2024

Political Parties In J&K Vow To Get Articles 370 & 35A Restored

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2020-08-22 21:09:01

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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

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As the government moves to resume the political process in Jammu & Kashmir, political parties and politicians in the state have started making their moves. The government's intention to move towards a political solution was evident in the manner more than 10000 troops were recalled from the state recently after more than one year. Six political parties in the state also made their intentions clear today when they issued what they called the Gupkar Declaration - II (in Gupkar Declaration - I, these parties had asked the Centre not to change the status of J&K on August 4, 2019, just a day before Article 370 was abrogated and the state was bifurcated and made a union territory) and said that they will fight for the restoration of Article 370 and the special status granted to the state under the Indian constitution.

The declaration was signed by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Congress chief G A Mir, Peoples' Conference leader Sajjad Lone, CPM leader M Y Tarigami and KANC senior vice-president Muzaffar Shah. Calling the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A "spitefully shortsighted and unconstitutional", the declaration said that "we all reiterate that we are bound, wholly, by the contents of the Gupkar Declaration and will unwaveringly adhere to it. We are committed to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, the Constitution of J&K and the restoration of the state and any division of the state is unacceptable to us. We unanimously reiterate that there can be 'nothing about us without us'".

Having done their politics all these years in the belief that Articles 370 and 35A were perpetual and sacrosanct and having led the people of the state into believing that too, is there any other stand that the political parties in J&K can take? But the reality has now changed. J&K is not bestowed with a special status anymore. Although the statehood is likely to be restored soon, the state will be like all other states in India. There will be no separate constitution and flag and all Indian laws will be applicable to J&K also. The stand taken by the political parties in the state will perhaps create problems for restoring political normalcy, but when has J&K last had a proper election with full participation by either the political parties or the people?

Many times several parties have boycotted the elections citing some grievance. The people have often resorted to not casting their votes due to the fear of retaliation from Pakistan-backed militants. But the government had to postpone the panchayat by-polls after political parties objected to holding the same when the top leadership of all parties was under detention in February 2020, just a few days after announcing a schedule in March. It was then said that there were security concerns in holding the by-polls. How then will the government hold the elections in the state if all political parties boycott the elections?

It is clear that the state is headed towards a stalemate. Hence, the first thing the government must do is to further reduce the presence of troops and lift restrictions such as not allowing 4G internet. It must also allow free movement of people across the state. Next, it must release all political detainees in phases in the next couple of months. Finally, it should restore statehood. These measures will build confidence. There cannot be a political vacuum in the state. If the old political parties will still not budge from their stand, some breakaway factions from these parties or newcomers are likely to occupy the vacant political space. The government must encourage this by talking to all shades of political opinion in the state. Only then should the elections be held and the power handed over to the representatives of the people.