The central government’s promise of restoring statehood seems to be nothing more than a lollipop for Kashmir mainstream leaders as restoration of normalcy is a pre-condition for restoration of statehood the way restoration of normalcy was a pre-condition of the central government for plebiscite in Kashmir way back in the year 1947. Knowing that Kashmir mainstream leaders suffering from the crisis of credibility for decades together are desperate to gladly accept whatever would be offered to them for the restoration of electoral politics in Jammu & Kashmir, the central government does not drop any indication of setting timeline for the restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir after it’s bifurcation into two union territories and abrogation of article 370 and article 35 A on August 5, 2019 . Expecting Kashmir mainstream leaders to hang their heads in shame for seeing a glorious state of yesteryears reduced to two union territories after release from several month of detention in March last year the Central Government saw whole lot of Kashmir mainstream leaders desperate to even contest the district development council (DDC) elections . While Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone used the mandate of Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) for control over a couple of district development councils in North Kashmir, the National Conference could not get control over district development council Budgam where it has still a convincing majority to stake claim for the position of both Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the council. Thrilled by the desperateness of Kashmir mainstream leaders for contesting elections even for a union territory assembly the central government ceased the opportunity to call them for an all party meeting only to impose agenda of controversial delimitation plan over them for the revival of electoral politics with no assurance of any timeline for restoration of statehood before the proposed assembly elections.
The dream of restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir is unlikely to come true as none else than the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country have refused to give any timeline for restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir. So the commitment of restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir is just like a lollipop for Kashmir mainstream leaders who have to keep it in mind that tasting a lollipop would be worse for their teeth than tasting a normal chocolate.
Shockingly Sajad Gani Lone instead of questioning the central government’s unwillingness to restore statehood before elections in a veiled reference questioned the political morality of PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for ruling out her personal participation in the elections but not of her party (PDP) before the restoration of statehood and special status to Jammu & Kashmir a glorious state of yesteryears since reduced to two union territories. Shockingly the Kashmir mainstream leaders who used to preach unity for restoration of statehood and special status till the conduct of DDC elections are now taunting each other over their stands on participation in the proposed election for a union territory assembly. The dream of restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir is unlikely to come true as none else than the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country have refused to give any timeline for restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir. So the commitment of restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir is just like a lollipop for Kashmir mainstream leaders who have to keep it in mind that tasting a lollipop would be worse for their teeth than tasting a normal chocolate.
