The Ceasefire line of Indo-Pak war in 1947-48 was also de facto, divided the polity of J&K on lines of secularism. On its Eastern side the J&K polity, enjoyed the confidence of an emerging progressive leader, Mohammad Sheikh Abdullah. He had changed name of his political party from Muslim Conference to National Conference. Nearing independence, the friendship between Nehru and Sheikh grew stronger and was forged more on ideology and mutual admiration. While, the integration of J&K into union of India under the provisions of article 370 had begun well, the demand of plebiscite didn’t die as wished, and anticipated by Nehru. The trust between Nehru and Sheikh started eroding as both were testing waters to encroach upon more and more political advantage. Nehru, had signalled in his Calcutta speech(1948), that Plebiscite may be difficult due to changed circumstances, and later subsequently enforced CAG jurisdiction over J&K, and merged its state forces with Indian Army much against the wishes of Sheikh. This led to mistrust and doubt in the mind of Sheikh, if his decision of supporting Instrument of Accession, was right. He started exploring possibilities to have an independent Kashmir, and his liaison with Ayub Khan, US envoys suggested that.
What came to be known as Kashmir Conspiracy was hatched. Sheikh was arrested and put behind bars in a jiffy. He didn’t realise what had hit him. This gave a backhand blow on Kashmiri mainstream politics, and seeds of separatism were sown right in.
Then, began the era of making and unmaking of Jammu and Kashmir Government through rigging elections, and manipulating politics of the state. The mainstream political leadership learnt the art of doing a tightrope walking, keeping the separatists and Delhi, both in good humour. Winning public support was of no consequence. The separatists had their militant wing going with the aid of Pakistan, and resorted to radicalisation through jihadi money to keep fuelling the insurgency. The mainstream politicians had to fine tune the violence, separatists voices and Delhi's cash flow, there in lied the art of living. There was no slot for common Kashmiri to share political space and chip in to build its future. As a result these, manipulators swelled financially and had their coffers full.
The real leadership of Kashmir that had believed in joining secular, socialist India, and with a greater autonomy, while discarding the Pakistan option being regressive, had no other choice but to fade away or join separatists. The Delhi sponsored and groomed stooges, represented mainstream politics of Kashmir but this was sheer pretence, and fake. It had no future. In Hindi a saying goes, jhoot ke paanv nahin hotey. The message from Center was loud and clear that Government in state would represent Delhi, and people of Kashmir do not matter.
A new strategy was unrolled by Delhi on 5th August 2019, as a Kashmir resolution formula. The State was reorganised into two Union Territories with severely curtailed legislative powers. The idea is to strengthen the local bodies and empowering people at grassroots levels on one hand, and dismantle the helm of mainstream leadership on the other. Should it work or not? This current speculation is puzzling Kashmir observers now. Rekha Chowdhary in 'The Wire' says : “By denigrating mainstream politics in Kashmir, the Modi government at the Centre has created a dangerous vacuum, reversing the gains of the past couple of decades.”
The empowerment of Panchayats in Kashmir is a noble idea and should work with people handling their own affairs of development and governance, leaving the separatist agenda for state leadership to conduct. And this has been already decimated smartly. Even the Hurriyat shall meet the similar fate.
Honestly speaking, mainstream politicians have failed the people of Kashmir by conspiring with Delhi, match-fixing with Separatists/Militants, and conniving with ISI. It’s good that vitiated leadership of Kashmir is dispatched home and new crop of leaders to build Kashmir for future is ushered in. It’s not going to be straight walk but would need sustain effort and support from Delhi to de- radicalise, and heal the wounded hearts of alienated as well angered Kashmiris.
It may, still be premature to mourn the death of mainstream leadership in J&K, and wait for the new Kashmir to shape. Possibility of moments of rejoice shouldn’t be discounted.
