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| Ending the post-election deadlock in J&K | | Four-point formula | | Rustam
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 3: The delay in the formation of new government has caused concern among many opinion-makers. They have said that the delay in the formation of government is not in the interest of the state and its people as well as the nation as a whole. They have come out with a number of solutions, which if accepted, they believe, could break the impasse. One opinion-maker, who has been taking keen interest in the J&K affairs, has come out with a solution to end the impasse.
His formula has four components. One, it is imperative for the PDP to engage with the BJP in the larger interest of the state and its people. "Why should PDP, the single largest political party, talk to BJP or Congress or think of forming a coalition government with these Manichean rivals (read the PDP, the BJP and the Congress)? Remember, history unambiguously teaches us that the conditions for peace and reconciliation can be only be created and sustained if adversaries talk to each other and, most important, work together to accomplish common goals. It is clear that Jammu has voted overwhelmingly for the BJP, the valley convincingly (if less overwhelmingly) for the PDP and the Congress has the support of the majority in Ladakh. If J&K has to survive as one state and any one region has not to be alienated, the largest single party PDP has no choice but to work with the BJP and the Congress whether they are in government or outside it. You can be sure that you are creating the conditions for deep social unrest if the BJP or even the Congress does not have a stake in the stability of the government. Only those who want trifurcation of the state will want PDP not have any truck with the BJP. Dialogue with adversaries is an essential part of governance, whether or not they form part of the government," he has said while elaborating the first component of his five-point formula.
Two, he acknowledges that the PDP and the BJP are ideologically poles apart, but also opines that these ideological differences could be ironed out if they put their ideologies on the back burner and devise a people-centric programme. "But can ideologically opposed parties really work together?," he has asked. His answer in his own words reads like this: "Sure, but programmes not ideology must be the basis for a new government. Ideologies divide, programmnes unite. Clearly, the BJP will have to keep its absolutist policies on the side, if they want to be part of the solution and a force of stability. On the face, Kashmiris voted for self-rule, Jammu for statehood and Ladakh for UT status, but the fact is that all three provinces voted , most of all, for nijaat (deliverance) from the six years of probably the worst ever democratically elected government, for change and for a better government. (The reason that the Congress was able to succeed in Ladakh is a tribute to its sitting Minister rather than a pointer to the success of the government). You do not have to be a rocket scientist to realize that beyond the differences, all three provinces have common aspirations as well". Interestingly, Mattoo has not asked the PDP to abandon its self-rule doctrine for reasons best known to him. Probably, he considers the self-rule doctrine as a secular solution to the so-called Kashmir issue.
Three, he has hinted at the programmes the PDP in alliance with the BJP should adopt and implement. What has he said in this regard? He has said: "What are these policies that can be part of a Common Minimum Programme? There is a spectrum of issues that unite all three regions, include the lack of adequate infrastructure, lack of access of to basic services, unemployment and poor governance. All parties can unite to create this Minimum Programme for a Most Livable Jammu and Kashmir and let each Minister be audited on the basis of his/her performance against key performance indicators linked to this programme. In addition, the people in the valley have dealt with the traumas of violence of the last 25 years which need healing and the security situation needs a complete review". Surprisingly, he has not said a single word about those people of Jammu province who had also suffered owing to the devastating floods and heavy rainfall. It only indicates his bias against Jammu.
Very significantly, the fourth component of his formula deals with what he calls political problems of J&K. Resolution of the political problems is also the need of the hour is his one of the main refrains. "This is, of course, critical but good governance is not in conflict with the search for solution to the larger problems (read Kashmir issue and Indo-Pak relations). In fact, adversaries working together can help and aid in the resolution of the larger problems. Cooperation is contagious and success breeds success. Once these adversarial parties learn to work together they can incrementally move from addressing issues of daily concern, in the common programme, to larger political issues". Three things become absolutely clear from what he has said. One, he has no doubt that the new government in the state will not be a stable one if the BJP is not an integral part of it. Two, he has suggested that the J&K will disintegrate in case the BJP is kept out of the government. Three, an alliance between the PDP and the BJP, plus the support of the Congress to the new government from outside or from within, would go a long way in resolving the political problems of the state.
But the question to be asked is: Will the PDP and the BJP be able to iron out their ideological differences? That these differences cannot be easily ironed out became clear on December 31, when PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told media persons in Jammu that the PDP will not compromise its stand on its core ideology after meeting with State Governor NN Vohra in Jammu. She said though the PDP has the support of 55 MLAs, still her party is not in a hurry to form the new government. It also became clear from her statement that the talks between the PDP and the BJP are still on and both the parties are trying their best to work out some power-sharing formula. On Friday, BJP national president Amit Shah also said that the talks with the PDP and the NC are on and that it would take some time to workout a workable power-sharing formula that is based on the needs, requirements and aspirations of the people of all the three regions of the state. Indeed, the situation is very complex and it would not be surprising if there is a brief spell of the Governor's rule in the state. |
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