Defying the public anger against the continuing growth of dynasty rule the politicians of mainstream political parties engaged in the fight for power in the ensuing assembly elections tend to bring on the political scene the sons of senior politicians who have been neither the students nor the practitioners of politics. By doing so mainstream political parties are sending out a message that children are born to take care of the political life of their fathers and it suits the current definition of democracy in Jammu & Kashmir state where dynastic rule has become a norm. So without any exaggeration one can say that democracy means that if father retires, his son or daughter is the only eligible person in the whole state to head that political party or the suitable candidate for election to Lok Sabha or assembly. Unfortunately this happens in India which claims to be the biggest democracy of the world and mainstream politicians in Jammu & Kashmir are extending the trend in Jammu & Kashmir with respect to norms of democracy of India . Not showing any respect for those who say growth of dynasty politics is an insult to participatory democracy in any part of the world the mainstream politicians in Jammu & Kashmir tend to be the masters of their own destiny. By doing so they deserve to be called the saboteurs of democray .
Both Beigh and Soz had no ground to handpick their loved ones as candidates of their respective political parties in the previous assembly elections and the rise of the sons of more political veteran of National Conference and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) can’t be stopped in the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly elections too. Words can’t change the system but tough constitutional remedies are needed to curb the rise of dynasty politics in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of the country.
Claiming to be contributors of growth and development in the biggest democracy of the world the mainstream politicians of Jammu & Kashmir shamelessly project their sons and daughters as their successors. After late Pandit Jawhar Lal Nehru, history saw Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and now Rahul Gandhi heading Congress the oldest political party in India . Similarly late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was followed by Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah in Jammu & Kashmir state. Though we had hopes on self rule and peace with dignity chanting people, with pen and inkpot wrapped in green flag, but here too our hopes were dashed to the ground with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba firming up their grip over Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Furthering the cause of dynasty politics in last assembly elections PDP moved party veteran Muzaffar Hussain Baig to Lok Sabha and replaced him with his first cousin Javed Beigh who was MLA Baramulla in the previous assembly dissolved in November last year. Similarly the State Congress President fielded Salman Anees Soz the son of senior party leader and former Union Minister as party candidate for Baramulla assembly constituency. And the list goes long. People reserve the tight to ask question that Isn’t there any other person more educated, dedicated and patriotic who can fight elections instead of Javiad Beigh and Salman Anees Soz. Obviously both Beigh and Soz had no ground to handpick their loved ones as candidates of their respective political parties in the previous assembly elections and the rise of the sons of more political veteran of National Conference and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) can’t be stopped in the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly elections too. Words can’t change the system but tough constitutional remedies are needed to curb the rise of dynasty politics in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of the country.
