Political waves settle in J&K after high-stakes Assembly session

Srinagar, Nov 10: After the brief but highly important and high-voltage assembly session, which saw the passage of a resolution related to special status and statehood, things have started slowly getting back to the usual business at government and political levels.

This was the first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory assembly.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the session as historic in view of the passing of the resolution. In his address to the assembly, he said that he would ensure that he utilises every single day of his government for the betterment and welfare of all the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

By passing the resolution, the ruling (NC) has further consolidated its position politically in the Kashmir, Pir Panchal, and Chenab Valley areas. The resolution was a promise made by the party during assembly polls. After the formation of the government, NC was under pressure from its cadres and Kashmir-based opposition parties to go for the big move. The government passed the resolution amid stiff resistance, protest and criticism from the main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The protest and criticism continued even after the passage of the resolution.

So far as the Congress is concerned, the resolution may help it in its vote bank here but at the national level, the party seems at the receiving end to some extent due to the fresh onslaught launched by the top BJP  leadership against it on the issue. BJP is taking full advantage to target Congress, particularly in the assembly poll-bound Maharashtra and Jharkhand, where the campaigning is in full swing. The J&K assembly resolution came as a big political weapon in the hands of the BJP against Congress at the right time there.

So far as the Kashmir-based opposition parties - People's Democratic Party (PDP), People's Conference (PC), and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) are concerned they too made their presence felt before a mighty ruling coalition and the opposition BJP. However, it is also a fact that the National Conference has been able to convince most people in most areas with its agenda and narrative during assembly elections and win massively and form the government. The ruling party continues in the driving seat as far as the support for its moves by its traditional vote bank is concerned.

On the last day of the assembly session, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah watched the proceedings from the visitors' gallery in the afternoon. Having been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir several times he had attended the sessions during his time in the old assembly building. The new assembly building was completed during the tenure of the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. However, soon his government was toppled as the PDP withdrew its support. Later, Omar Abdullah, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti attended the assembly sessions in the new assembly building during their respective terms. Now Omar Abdullah is back as the Chief Minister and is in action. Two days back he addressed the assembly on the vote of thanks to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's address. Farooq Abdullah keenly listened to the Chief Minister's speech from the visitors' gallery.

It was Farooq Abdullah who during the campaigning of assembly polls had said that if BJP comes into power it will pass a resolution endorsing the decision of August 5, 2019, taken by the central government in Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, the NC in its election manifesto promised to pass a resolution in the assembly against the decisions and in favour of the restoration of special status and statehood.

Finally, the NC government passed the resolutions. Later, objections were raised by Kashmir-based opposition as to why the abrogation of Article 370 was not mentioned in the resolution and why the decisions of August 5, 2019, were not opposed directly. Speaker of Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather while talking to the media said that special status and Article 370 are the same thing. "The special status of Jammu and Kashmir was because of Article 370. When you talk about special status, you are talking about Article 370," he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the resolution was drafted in a way so that it is not rejected by the union government outrightly.

"We did not want to limit our demand to a particular point or level only. We did not wish to say that we demand this much only.  By using the words 'special status' we extended our demand beyond that limit or circle," Omar Abdullah said.

He said that his party and government do not have much hope from the present government in the centre as far as the restoration of special status is concerned." But for future governments in New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, our resolution will be a roadmap for movement forward and dialogue on the issue," he said.

Farooq Abdullah during his brief interaction with the media said that a day will come when Jammu and Kashmir will get back what it has lost.

Supporting the resolution was a tricky issue for the Congress. But it did support the resolution. Not mentioning Article 370 directly in the resolution was in favour of Congress. But  BJP leadership launched a frontal attack on Congress, especially in two poll-bound states for supporting the resolution.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly criticised Congress and other parties for the resolution and said that no power in the world can bring back Article 370.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hamid Karra said that his party is demanding special status for Jammu and Kashmir which some states in the country are having." There should be protection of jobs and land rights. And the statehood should be restored without any further delay," he said. Congress wants to delink the resolution from Article 370 to prevent the BJP from getting any electoral benefit in Maharashtra and Jharkhand now. But the BJP is hitting hard on Congress on the issue.