Guiding J&K to its rightful destination

Time has its own way of defining events and consequences. On Tuesday-April 8, when Home Minister Amit Shah will be reviewing the developmental projects and security situation  in two separate meetings at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar, the day also marks six months of the people’s verdict  of historic Assembly polls. The verdict that overturned many myths and revealed new and bright pathways should have become a guiding path for the whole of Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the nation.

It reinforced what is now taken as a given – the improved situation in the UT  and introduction of a new kind of democracy in which the clash of narratives resulted in strengthening of bonds of integration of the territory with the rest of the nation. It firmly established  faith of the people of J&K in the country  and trust in the leadership that it will guide  them in the right direction  and will  recognize its aspirations and deliver on the promises made  to them before and during the election time.

Let it be specified – no matter what the interpretation is or the narrative floated that National Conference was voted to power because of its manifesto that it will work for the restoration of Article 370  and get the  statehood restored, the people knew that it was the Centre that can deliver on statehood. Article 370, they knew is a history as the stark realities were visible to them. Kashmiris are intelligent people, they know  what is achievable  and what is not. They had understood the reality of the times long before the elections, but they just wanted to make a point  to Delhi that they have adjusted to the new realities but they have their aspirations too. These need decoding  in the realistic terms because Kashmiris love nothing but reality now.

At the end of six months after the elections when an assessment  of the situation is made, there are certain  givens – Kashmir has transformed  and the people know it better than the narratives. They are the best judge of the changes they are seeing in their life. The cloak of fear and terror that  chained them  physically and psychologically for over three decades is gone. That is the common perception. They have clarity in their minds where to look for realization of their aspirations – the Centre and the so-called greener pastures of the past  were broadcasting pictures of nightmares both within and outside.  Pakistan has written  its own obituary. It is known to Pakistanis, and the people of  Jammu and Kashmir are more aware of this than anyone else.

Home Minister  knows that it is now the time to move beyond the givens. The look back will reveal what has been accomplished, what remains to be done. The ground situation is the best parameter to judge that. The ground situation has to be understood at psychological plane as well. The Centre has its own understanding of the situation and the future needs. It is peace, peace and peace. It is because that it is fundamental to move on from where Kashmir is today.

BJP, with 28 lawmakers in J&K, has a responsibility to shoulder. It is in the role of the opposition today, and it cannot be expected to praise NC government  and its work. It has been assigned to pick holes in the working of the government in J&K. But that is what the opposition parties do always. In Jammu and Kashmir, there are greater sensitivities – the opposition has to play a role in which it sounds to be reaching out to  people.  It has the responsibility to win hearts and minds of people.

Despite its current status of UT, J&K has its own geo-strategic importance. It has not diminished  with the downing of its status from a state to  that of UT. The crisis of the past have been converted into opportunities  but these need to be expanded  as the endeavour of the  Modi government is to present and project it as a role model which inspires the people across the LoC – POJK – to aspire rejoining their original state of Jammu and Kashmir that acceded to  India in 1947. It is from Kashmir only that international messaging  can be done on how conflicts are tamed and converted into  peace zone. Here Amit Shah’s phrase is both striking and appealing – “Kashmir has transformed from hotspot of terrorism to tourism hotspot”. The bloom in the tulip garden  and the visitors – tourists and the locals  converge together to appreciate the beauty of the place. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever,” these lines form Keats  aptly  apply to Kashmir.

This is celebration time. We have celebrated the success of the Assembly elections  a lot  and there were reasons for that  too. The time has come to expand opportunities and times for celebrations as a result of that.

It is time for reality check. If I am to use the Hindi term for Amit Shah, he is “Saarthi”- the man who leads the people on the right path. Here, I am reminded of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s profound pronouncement that “J&K is keen to play its role in contributing to progress and prosperity of the country as equal partners.” J&K requires further handholding  beyond the success of elections that was a big milestone but not an end in itself.

People have the right to pin hopes on  Home Minister to deliver on this. It is the responsibility of “Saarthi” to guide people on right path. Here I am drawing reference to term “Saarthi” from Mahabharata – an epic saga of fight for the right.