Political weather also getting hotter in J&K
Amid the ongoing heatwave, the political weather in Jammu and Kashmir has also suddenly become hot. It is expected to get even hotter in coming months because the opposition parties are now gearing up to increase their activities . They intend to take the National Conference (NC) government head on, on important issues. The opposition has been alleging that the elected government is not fulfilling the promises its leaders made with the people during 2024 assembly polls. According to them even the basic problems of the masses remain unaddressed. To what extent the opposition will be able to grab the attention of people and to what extent they succeed or fail in their efforts will become clear later.
The opposition parties BJP, PDP, People’s Conference ( PC), Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) and Apni Party have made their intentions clear. The People’s Conference headed by Sajad Gani Lone formed an alliance with two other parties, Justice and Development Front (JDF) and People’s Democratic Front ( PDF). The new alliance - People’s Alliance for Change - has been launched with an announcement to work for providing a political alternative to the people. Other like minded parties too have been urged to join. JDF comprises of some former leaders and activists of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami ( JeI).
The opposition parties are trying to get active at a time when they accuse the NC government of being inactive and failing to deliver. On the other hand the ruling party leaders say that they have been able to make a good beginning in the sectors under their government’s control. But they say that they are unable to operate fully because of the dual power system in the union territory. NC government has been demanding restoration of the full statehood. Chief minister Omar Abdullah recently said that it is high time that the centre restores the promised statehood without any further delay. He said that if centre is delaying the statehood just because NC is a ruling party in J&K, he would step down to have a BJP government here so that the statehood is restored. Replying to questions of media persons, Omar said that his party is ready for fresh assembly polls if the central government wants so after restoring the statehood.” The statehood is not for the ruling party or the chief minister but for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it should be restored,” he said. The central government leaders have been saying that the statehood will be restored at an appropriate time but when that appropriate time will really come continues to be a mystery.
Amid the deepening suspense on statehood restoration, the opposition parties have made their intentions clear to corner the elected government. They say they have already given the required time to the NC government to settle down and now it is the time to make the ruling party accountable regarding its performance.
In an interview recently, senior BJP leader and leader of opposition (LoP) in Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, Sunil Sharma, said that his party gave enough time to the elected government to settle and do things for the welfare of the people.” That honeymoon period is over. From July, the BJP will be in action mode as an effective opposition to make NC government accountable. We will not act as a silent spectator to the failures of the government,” he said.
Sharma denied the perception that the hands of the NC government are tied and that it is not fully empowered in the dual power system. “The law and order and security related matters are with the Lieutenant Governor administration, while the rest lies with the elected government. NC during assembly elections had made tall claims about taking welfare measures for people. Where are these welfare measures now. Nobody is stopping the ruling party to take steps in this direction but the government itself is not interested,” the LoP said.
BJP has emerged as a strong opposition in 2024 assembly polls and won 28 seats from Jammu. By and large it had kept a low profile till now. However, the party has opposed the demands being made by the ruling party and Kashmir based opposition regarding restoration of Article 370 or special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The main opposition party also tried to put a stiff resistance in assembly whenever these issues figured there. BJP has stated that it would not allow such moves by the NC government in future as well. Regarding the “non- resolution of the basic problems of common people” the BJP wants to register its protest from July.
Kashmir based opposition parties too want to take advantage of NC government’s “inaction” on vital issues. These parties are accusing the ruling party of abandoning its political agenda just to remain in the good books of centre. PDP has started highlighting some of the issues of public importance.
People’s Conference President Sajad Gani Lone is raising several public issues. He in this connection recently mentioned the NC’s promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to consumers and regularisation of the services of the daily wagers working in various government departments. Lone intends to raise more such issues in future also.
Awami Ittihad Party of Er Rashid too is drawing attention towards the problems of the people on various fronts. The party wishes to highlight such issues more vigorously in coming time.
Apni Party headed by Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has started getting active on the ground.
The only opposition party missing from the scene is Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP). The party has hardly any presence left now since almost all its senior leaders have resigned from and joined back the Congress.
Author is Senior Editor, Greater Kashmir.
