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| Formation of new parties shows people's faith in democracy | | Changing political scenario in Kashmir | | Neha
JAMMU, Sept 2: Interesting developments are taking place in Kashmir. All indicates the Kashmiris' growing faith in the Indian democracy or Indian political system. These developments also show that the protagonists of poll boycott like Syed Ali Shah Geelani are losing what little grip they had over Kashmiris by the day. This is all the more significant in the sense that Kashmiri Muslims are openly defying the diktats of the likes of Geelani by launching new political parties, all desirous of taking part in the upcoming Assembly elections and creating uncertainty for the existing major political players.
During the past three months or so, no less than five new political parties were formed in Kashmir, much to the chagrin of Geelani and even the National Conference leadership, which wants Geelani not to enforce poll boycott saying poll boycott would help the BJP capture at least six seats in Kashmir or help the BJP achieve its "Mission 44+". On June 7, "Awami Ittehad Front" was formed by "social activist", Rabbia Bajji, who had also contested the just-held Lok Sabha election from Srinagar Parliamentary constituency. According to Rabbia Bajji, her party would "work for dignity, security and development of Jammu & Kashmir".
The month of August witnessed the formation of four new parties. Advocate Fayaz Ahmad Bhat founded "Jammu and Kashmir People’s United Front" to participate in the forthcoming Assembly polls. He founded the party on August 9. The same week, Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri founded a new party, styled as "Liberal Democratic Party". Bashir Ahmad Malik and Amin Andrabi jointly funded "People’s Republican Party" to test political waters in Kashmir. It was founded on August 23. "People’s Republican Party" would, according to the founders of the party, work for "rehabilitation of victims of violence and reconciliation between various regions of the State". And on August 31, Advocate Syed Reyaz Khawar founded another political outfit from his native village, Gulshanabad, Pulwama district. He named his party as "Jammu Kashmir Awami Tehreek".
The establishment of new parties has unnerved parties like the NC. NC spokesman Junaid Azam Mattu and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's right hand man, for example, on Monday reportedly said: "These are attempts by some political powers and forces to fragment the voice of people of Jammu and Kashmir". The fact of the matter is that many of the major political players in Kashmir has described the formation of new political parties as an attempt to "divide their votes" in the upcoming Assembly election. One of the critics of these new political parties even went to the extent of saying that these outfits are no more than "proxies".
One can understand the reasons behind the opposition of the NC to the establishment of new political parties in Kashmir. After all, they have ruled the roost for decades and how could they take kindly to developments which have all the potential of upsetting their applecart. But from the point of view of democracy, these developments augur well for the political future of Kashmir. |
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