All about statehood

Last week was all about statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Nothing new, except that the two sides reiterated their stands – it is right of the people of this land, and Centre was reminded of, the promises it made on the floor of the Parliament and to Supreme Court on restoring the statehood. Union Home Minister Amit Shah cited the same promises made in the Parliament to counsel Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to be patient and trust the word that statehood would be restored at an “appropriate time”.

The Home Minister made three significant points at a media conclave in Patna on Saturday with regard to Jammu and Kashmir - (a) the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has taken a U-turn in the past 11 years as India has given befitting reply to all acts of cross-border terrorism, (b) the whole concept about Kashmir has changed, entire India has right over Kashmir and the vice-versa, and (c) the statehood to J&K will be restored at an appropriate time to be decided in consultations with Omar Abdullah, who returned to power after historic September-October 2024 Assembly polls. He was Chief Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir from January 2019 to January 2015, and now he is the first chief minister of the Union Territory of J&K.

The assertion that Kashmir is of India and India is of Kashmir in the post August 5, 2019 era implies that not only the abrogation of Article 370 but split of the state into two UTs too contributed to this change. The two realities cannot be separated from each other. It transcends original schedule of return of statehood after delimitation and Assembly elections; it is now open to discussions and debates on the issue.

The status of the promise of restoration of statehood is where it was, but the content and contours seem to have undergone a big change. The elections and the outcome will be given their due weightage. In all probability, it has the hints of give and take on the issue. It will have to be seen how much weightage entitlement of J&K to the statehood will be given on table as the security issues have also come to dominate the issue.

It needs to be reflected what all possibly could be on table. That statehood should be restored to J&K as was the case before August 5, August 2019 is one of the prime factors. Post –April 22 Pahalgam incident, Kashmir will have to contend with a condition to prevent Pakistan from all the mischief that it continues to plot against India on Kashmiri soil.

The changed situation in Kashmir is not serving as deterrent to Pakistan in planning more such attacks. Threats continue to emerge from Pakistan. Despite suffering humiliating defeat, Pakistan army Chief Asim Munir continues to make threats and these cannot be dismissed lightly. He had done so before Pahalgam happened.

The dynamics of Pahalgam attack and its aftermath have been given a new twist. It has been linked to the restoration of the statehood, the echo of which was heard in the Supreme Court early this month. Omar has termed such a linkage as unfortunate and “injustice with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” The ghastly Pahalgam incident took place when J&K status was that of the UT, as it is today since October 31st, 2019. The security, and the law & order were not in the hands of the elected government. These facts have not made the chronic critics to change their outlook and deep-seated doubts about Kashmir and the people .

They, without blinking even an eyelid, blamed the tragedy on the Assembly polls and its outcome. Undermining of democracy and the elected government is detrimental to fight against terrorism.

That Pahalgam like incidents can happen again is a threat. National security requires focusing on threats emanating from outside of borders, not making a spectacle of it. Pahalgam struck a crisis, but peddling that crisis on a prolonged basis is unhelpful. This places adversary into larger than life frame, and undermines success of the security forces that accomplished huge task of teaching enemy a lesson within 22 minutes on May 7. It also hurts the image of Kashmir marching on path of peace.

According to Central government, the Article 370 is “dead and buried”. It is a widespread perception and belief all across the nation. They believe that the return of Article 370 amounts to strengthening the secessionism. The impression in the country is that the abrogation saved Kashmir from Pakistan.

The National Conference government continues to cite the passage of its bill for the return of special status in the Assembly in November 2024 session as manifestation of its commitment to the issue. The contradiction will crop up if the discussions on the statehood are held to decide shape of the state and powers that will have to be returned to the elected government. Given the mood across the country, it is going to be a very tough call for Omar Abdullah.

It has fallen on Omar Abdullah’s shoulders to perform this herculean task. In some ways, it is going to be like 1975 moment for him. His grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had Mirza Afzal Beg on his side; Omar Abdullah will have to look for one.

The current government at the Centre is all out against any discussion on the central laws, leave alone scope for autonomy. Omar will have to summon all his experience and political skill, which he has in plenty, to negotiate and make a breakthrough in getting the statehood, like other states in the country. It is more difficult task for him than his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah had to perform. Circumstances are different, dynamics more challenging.

He will have to draw his own roadmap for the statehood, which Jammu and Kashmir has been aspiring ever since it was announced in August 2019 and executed on October 31st that year. The fact is that Kashmiri parties have been quite vocal about it. Jammu, because of its inherent compulsions and reticent nature rarely takes a stand. That weakness is exploited by both Srinagar and Delhi. National parties exploit Jammu, claiming that challenging Delhi would run against the national interest, and the Valley-centric regional parties use the region as a frill.

Omar should change the old system and take Jammu on board for strengthening his case for the statehood. Jammu, despite its own version of things, offers finest route to get the things done.