Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Since 2018, there is political vaccum in Jammu and Kashmir. When the coalition of BJP-PDP came tumbling like a pack of cards, there has been no serious process towards the restoration of real politics in Jammu and Kashmir. There are no Legislative Assembly elections. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been going through the Governor’s or the President’s rule. Satya Pal Malik, the Governor of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, left for Goa in 2019.. In 2019, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. For the first time, the post of LG came in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. But given the organisational structure, there should have been the Chief Minister at the helm of affairs but this is not the case. The first LG, Girish Chandar Murmu, was replaced by Manoj Joshi. However, there still is political vacuum because democracy is all about the governance of the common people. When the common people feel isolated, what the fun is replacing one leader after another. In this background, there are many problems being faced by the common people. In this context, let us look at some difficulties. Firstly, people have lost faith in democracy. When in the garb of democracy, dictatorship reigns, people no longer believe in democratic processes. When a sane voice is choked on the basis of nationalism, there remains no space for dissent and democracy dies. Dissent is the safety valve of democracy. Since 1951-52, the common people of Jammu and Kashmir have never been taken into account. They are for name’s sake. Their numbers matter in the times of elections. After that, they are worthless. But since 2018, people are more disgruntled than before. They can’t believe how they have foolishly been deceived by the ideals of democracy. Secondly, the Constitution of India has become unconstitutional. As it is a universal fact that the walls of the coalition governments are made of sand. Any misunderstanding can result in its demolition. The charming slogans under the patronage of the Constitution fall flat. Moreover, when the times for the vested interests come, the Constitution is kept in abyss. Constitutional principles are trampled upon. Constitutionalism takes a beating. Last year, the way the Article 370 was abrogated, means that the ways of Constitutional Morality are lost. A particular area of the world was placed in one of the most severe forms of restrictions. Communication blockade and the fear of death loomed large in the air. All Constitutional Writs were thrown into oblivion. Habeas Corpus was and is given a severe beating among all the writs. There is no difference between a political prisoner and an anti-national. Bails take time to implement. The courts have become the Kangaroo Courts. A trial goes on and on for decades without any verdict on the horizon. Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court have come under the undue influence of the Parliament and the Prime Minister. Federalism has become unitary system but not vice versa. Power is centred at a single place though in the name of federalism.
We need balm on our wounds. Our wounds become green every day. How long shall we die like this? Is there an end? The question remains.
Thirdly, development has been lost somewhere. There is no social development, economic development, moral development, etc. Grievances are adding with each passing day. The common people want solutions of their problems but there seems no end to their sufferings. No government means no problem solver. People find themselves in wilderness. Educational system is in ruins. Continuous shutdowns have taken heavy toll of students. Precious years are wasted. Syllabi are incomplete. Schools and tuitions are shut since long. Teachers are fed up with the continuous shutdowns. Many people related to the educational sector other than teachers, are bearing the brunt. They have been neglected. Their lives are very complicated. Fourthly, diseases are on rise. Mental diseases are found in the book and corner of the valley. Encounters, stone pelting incidents, CASOs, etc., have made our lives hellish. Depression is common here. Suicides have become the order of the day. Adolescents commit suicide on a large scale due to the vaccum in their lives. Sane voices are not listened with carefully while insane voices rule the roost. Remaining aloof from nears and dears during the lockdown periods, has made the youth, in particular, subject to many diseases. Fifthly and lastly, we feel neglected and biased. We are at the receiving end. On the international level, every one is heard but in our case, we are hardly heard. Our so-called leaders are living dead. They need money and fame. They never bother about the common masses. Their coffees should be full. Our human rights violations are taken by some other people. The sufferers cannot open their mouths. The need of the hour is to fill the political vaccum in Jammu and Kashmir. Resistance is in our veins. Suppression and repression should be avoided. “Healing touch” should be the need of the hour. “ The Sky is the limit” should be implemented in letter and spirit. We need balm on our wounds. Our wounds become green every day. How long shall we die like this? Is there an end? The question remains.
(The writer is a freelancer and writes regularly for “Kashmir Horizon”. Views are his own) [email protected]
