Development with dignity

In 2002, when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had taken over the reins of Kashmir in an alliance with Congress party, the centre was governed by NDA led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
At that time, Mufti Sayeed had begun his business with the centre on the slogan of ‘Peace with Dignity’. He had convinced the centre that all the peace initiatives regarding Jammu and Kashmir must be taken keeping in view the dignity of the people by adopting a ‘Healing Touch’ policy. And he succeeded in his moves.
Even he had convinced the then BJP leadership to engage with Pakistan for the permanent peace in the region. Not only this, even he had convinced the national Indian intelligentsia and policy makers that how the alienated Kashmiris could be won back. He had successfully convinced the Indian establishment to control the excesses of forces. Despite AFSPA in place, the forces were not alleged by any one of any type of violation of human rights during that period.
A lot of change was witnessed within one year period of his governance from law and order to the delivery of the government. Though, his business with the BJP government in centre was brief up to 2004 only, but the major policy was drafted during that period including Lahore bus Yatra by then PM Vajpayee.
The healing touch policy crafted during that period continued on the same lines with UPA government led by Congress during the rest of the period of PDP – Congress government in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
During that period, in his all initiatives, Mufti Sayeed’s prime focus was on the dignity of the people of Kashmir though that time Mufti Sayeed had very weak mandate of only 16 seats with him while his coalition partner had 21 seats. His first fight had begin on the CM post saying that snatching CM post from Kashmir would be like a salt on their wounds and he had succeeded to convince then Congress leadership at the centre saying that CM post be given to Kashmir despite the fact that he had less numbers as compared to Congress.
Convinced with his arguments, Congress had also played elder brother’s role keeping in view the national interest and agreed to give first three years to Mufti.
However, later the CM chair was rotated and given to Congress that was done only because the Congress had a leader like Ghulam Nabi Azad who had not only acceptability in all the three regions but also a capable person of running the affairs of the state.
However, the present situation is quite different. Neither the BJP leadership at centre is of that quality which can be compared with Vajpayee nor does the state BJP have any such leader who has acceptability in all the three regions of the state to be discussed for rotational basis chief minister formula.
So, the question of rotational chief minister does not arise at all. Now the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has only two options either to have an alliance with Congress along with Independents or to do same with the BJP. For his alliance with later, Mufti has many challenges to confront with. Firstly, majority community including all political parties are deadly against any sort of alliance with BJP having many reservations about the party known for its hard-line  agenda on each issue of Kashmir. Secondly, the BJP itself is not ready to compromise on the various issues including CM’s post.
However, Mufti Sayeed’s silence despite the support extended to him by all political parties including his arch rival National Conference—itself speaks that he wants to have alliance with BJP for certain valid reasons. There are many sound reasons for him to think so. It is also a hard reality that BJP has emerged as second largest party in Kashmir with all 25 seats from Jammu region. Of them, 24 belong to Hindu community of Jammu. And it is not easy and justified to set this representation aside.
If he does so, these 24 MLAs belonging to Hindu dominated districts of Jammu division may create trouble for him if left outside. Moreover, he will have to face problems in his each step from the central BJP government if he goes with Congress and others.
These are also some of the concerns that stop Mufti Sayeed to go with Congress and others and if he decides to go with BJP that is not an easy task too. If he goes with BJP, Mufti Sayeed knows that his opponents can exploit it larger level among the masses and can label him BJP mask man which will be disastrous for the future of his party.
Mufti Sayeed must keep this thing in mind that despite anti incumbency against Omar Abdullah, his party, PDP, could not cross 28 numbers which Omar had been occupying in the past two terms, Mufti cannot cross this number in future too even next time he will have BJP tag with him and might come back to 16 from where he had started.
But Mufti has sound argument as well if he decides to go with BJP. May be people are of the opinion that if BJP accepts all his demands including six years full term for CM post and other healing touch proposals like AFSPA and goes silent on the issues like Article 370, there is no harm to keep them on board.
Now it is the responsibility of BJP leadership at centre to behave like an elder brother in national interest and give the Mufti Sayeed a free hand to govern Kashmir.
So far, the present approach of BJP regarding the formation of government in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned it has sent a wrong message to the people of Kashmir who have conceived a feeling that even a single Muslim CM is not acceptable to BJP government and how they can talk of ‘Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas’.
To my opinion, giving full term CM post to Mufti Sayeed is not something favour to him, but it will keep the confidence of people intact who have many reservations about a BJP government.
Due to the aggressive policies of BJP, the people of Kashmir will never accept a BJP CM. Only in the name of development BJP cannot convince the people of Kashmir, although Kashmiris want development but with dignity.
So, if Mufti goes for an alliance with BJP that must be dignified and he should be given free hand to govern Kashmir.

Author is Chairman All J&K Panchayat Conference and can be mailed at mirshafiq@gmail.com