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| Iraq factor may influence voting pattern | | 2014 - assembly elections | |
Rustam
JAMMU, June 24: The disturbing developments in the far off Iraq, particularly the conflict between Arab Sunnis (around 15 per cent) and Arab Shiites (around 55 per cent) and the ganging up of terror outfits, including the dreaded Sunni ISIS) against the Shiite dispensation in the country, have caused unease across in the US, Europe and India. The raging bloody conflict in Iraq is fraught with dangerous consequences and it may culminate, among other things, in Sunni-Shiite Muslim clashes not only in the Muslim countries, but also in Jammu & Kashmir State, where the proportions of Muslims and non-Muslims is 60:40 and where the Kashmiri-speaking ethnic Sunnis dominate and control all or nearly all the institutions, as also control and dominate all the political parties and separatist outfits and formations, including the NC, the Congress, the CPI, the CPI-M, the APHC (Mirwaiz), the APHC (Geelani), the JKLF and so on and so forth. The Shiite Muslims constitute a minority in the state and they are spread all across the state. They are in majority only in Kargil district of Ladakh. In Kashmir, their population is about 8 lakh and their presence in Jammu province is also significant. They are in thousands in Jammu province.
The possibility of Sunni-Shia clashes in Jammu & Kashmir cannot be overruled for the simple reason that the Shiite religious places in Iraq are under attack. Anything can happen in the state anytime and it is the fundamental duty of the government to take all precautionary measures on time so that the eventuality is averted. It is a must because the relations between the two sects are far from normal and it is not a new phenomenon. Srinagar and parts of the Valley have in the past witnessed clashes between the two communities on particular religious occasions.
The fact of the matter is that the conflict in Iraq can create a volcanic situation in the state and the Jammu-based Shiite Muslims have already registered their protest against the Sunni onslaught in Iraq. Only a couple of days ago, they staged a peaceful protest demonstration and urged both the Central Government and the State Government to intervene to salvage the situation before it is too late.
The ongoing conflict in Iraq has also the potential of impacting the voting pattern in the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Unhappy with the NC-Congress dispensation as the Shiite Muslims are, they can look toward other political forces which, they believe, could protect and promote their interests and protect them against exclusion by the majority. It could happen in all the three regions of the state. However, this is not that important. What is disturbing is the possibility of clashes between the two communities and in case it happens, the results would be disastrous. After all, Jammu, Kashmir andLadakh State is not that simple. It is highly a highly difficult state. It would be only desirable if the authorities would take all possible steps without losing a moment aimed at maintaining peace and order and ensuring communal amity. The state cannot afford communal disturbances because its Socio-religious and political equilibrium is already rather delicate. |
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