The one good take away from election campaigns is that the truth with attendant
skeletons starts tumbling out of the closet. In Kashmir, this happens at a much
higher degree in view of the negativity on which the campaigns are based.
Engineer Rashid, patron of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party and
fighting the election from the Baramulla Constituency as the sole
representative of his party, has said that the mainstream political parties (National
Conference and Peoples Democratic Party) are, “behaving like concubines of BJP
and Congress and disgraced Kashmiris in every forum.”
Sajjad Lone, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Conference, has
accused the National Conference (NC) of doublespeak, “The dynastic rulers are
best separatists when out of power and worst cruel mainstreamers while in
power,” he said.
The BJP has raised questions about the rationale of the NC and PDP in contesting
parliamentary elections after having boycotted the Panchayat and Local Urban
Bodies polls. “It is because the LS (Lok Sabha) polls
will empower them and the ULB (urban local body) polls will empower the people.
They are against the empowerment of people,” said BJP General Secretary Ram
Madhav.
There have been instances of the selected candidates
invoking allegiance to Pakistan as a part of their election rhetoric. In this
context the BJP has declared its intention of registering an FIR against National Conference leader, Muhammad Akbar Lone, for allegedly raising
pro-Pakistan slogans.
A summation of the statements by political leaders of various hues gives
a clear indication of the fault lines that exist in the political spectrum of
Kashmir. Small parties with limited popular reach are at each other’s throat. Each
considers the other to be self-serving and opportunist. In effect, this implies
that all are self serving and opportunist. The
only statement holding merit is the one made by Ram Madhav in questioning the
rationale behind the mainstream local parties contesting the parliamentary
elections after having boycotted the Panchayat elections. After all, nothing
has changed on ground for the parties to have a change of heart. The people should
definitely pose this question to the parties concerned during their election
campaigns.
The main issues on which parliamentary elections are fought deal with
creation of infrastructure and taking on big projects which can bring up the
standard of living of the people, especially so, in terms of health, education and sustainable development
aspects, among others. None of these is coming out in the campaigning being
done by the prospective candidates in Jammu and Kashmir, more so in the Kashmir
Valley.
A derivative of the aforementioned narrative is that the political
parties have nothing to show as achievement and for this reason they rely on
mud-slinging at each other to gain the necessary visibility.
The people of Kashmir, especially the youth, are looking for affirmative
action from their elected representatives to usher peace and prosperity in the
region that has witnessed turmoil and violence for too long now. The youth are
looking for integration to become a part of the success story of their nation.
They wish to derive benefit from the nation’s march towards becoming one of the
largest economies in the world with the biggest market share. The youth have
the qualification as well as the will to take the plunge. What they require is
the necessary push, for which the local Member of Parliament (MP) can play a
big role.
It is in this direction that the entire narrative of the election
campaign should be channelised and the best man should be selected for the job.
The people need to compel their elected representatives towards seeking
responsibility to bring about the necessary change. If they are allowed to
carry on with the old rhetoric of raising passions through articulation of
non-issues then the forward movement will not be possible.
The second serious aspect of the election is the voting itself. If the
people come out to vote in large numbers, a message of their trust and faith in
democracy and freedom will go out to the entire world. It will also pave the
way for state assembly elections which the Union Government and the Election Commission
have already committed to hold within a month of the parliamentary election
process getting completed.
There are security concerns raised due to the call given by certain
terrorist and anti-national elements for boycott of the elections. People
should lay their faith in the security forces who have, with great cost and
sacrifice, created an environment where there is no need for the common man to
be scared. Terrorism has for long been eradicated from all regions of the state
except the Kashmir valley and there too it is at the lowest ebb. Security
forces, especially the army have infiltration well in control and the situation
is absolutely stable for a political process to be launched. The centre has
boosted the paramilitary strength to the required degree to give security to
the electors from the house to the booth level.
Youth in the age of 18 to 35 years form a bulk of the voting population
in the Kashmir Valley. These are educated boys and girls who know what is good
for them. This is the best opportunity for them to take control of their own
lives and ensure that their representatives are such who can give a shape to
their aspirations and dreams.
The elections can usher the change that Kashmir is waiting for. The environment is also such that facilitates evolution of new ideas and concepts. The candidates who are most receptive to the changing environment should be chosen. Politics of hate and dissension should be replaced with positivity and forward looking thought. Coming out to vote is as important as selecting the best candidate. The elections bring with them hope and an opportunity that should not be lost.
