As the central government sought time on the plea that hearing on Article 35 A could affect the political engagement by newly appointed point man on Kashmir dialogue Dineshwar Sharma, it seems Modi government like the previous Congress governments has once again tried to keep people guessing on the categorical position it has to take on the filing of a counter affidavit against the petitions filed to challenge Article 35 A in the supreme court. The central government’s decision to seek time on the grounds of the conduct of political engagement by new point man Dineshwar Sharma is just political appeasement of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by the top brass of her ally the BJP. Had the central government filed a counter affidavit to support the pleas of the Jammu & Kashmir government and oppose the pleas of petitioners including an NGO “We the Citizens” on article 35 A, the people of Jammu & Kashmir had every reason to believe Modi government’s promises on protection of the special status revolving around article 370 and article 35 A. The central government’s plea to seek time under the garb of the appointment of new point man on Kashmir dialogue is yet another indication that Modi government at the centre is dealing with both the political situation and security scenario under the compulsions of coalition politics. Modi government by seeking three months time under the garb of new point man on dialogue in Jammu & Kashmir though bailed out Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the time being but it did act to keep the promise of Home Minister Rajnath Singh who during his last visit to Srinagar and Jammu promised that central government won’t go against the sentiment of the people of Kashmir on article 35 A.
Keeping in view the fact that the previous Congress governments at the centre also used to keep people guessing on decisions over contentious issues the way Modi government keeps people of Jammu & Kashmir guessing on its decision over petitions on article 35 A in the supreme court, it seems Delhi is not showing any interest in keeping promises but instead tries to falsify its own commitments on contentious issues like a legal row over article 35 A.
Though the incumbent central government controlled and commanded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to pronounce the decision of supporting or opposing the Jammu & Kashmir government on article 35 A in the supreme court but it has been delaying the much awaited announcement for last several months. The delay in the announcement of the decision for the last several months is only eroding the already eroded faith of the people of Jammu & Kashmir in central government’s approaches towards policies on Kashmir. Better it would be for the Modi government to convey in very categorical terms its decision on filing a counter affidavit against petitions filed to challenge article 35 A in the supreme court of the country. Keeping in view the fact that the previous Congress governments at the centre also used to keep people guessing on decisions over contentious issues the way Modi government keeps people of Jammu & Kashmir guessing on its decision over petitions on article 35 A in the supreme court, it seems Delhi is not showing any interest in keeping promises but instead tries to falsify its own commitments on contentious issues like a legal row over article 35 A.
