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| Land row cast dangerous impact on political scene | | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
The fallout of the agitation over the land row on the political,social and economic scenario in Jammu and Kashmir has been no less than alarming.If you talk to any sensible political leader,even those belonging to the Kashmir valley, you will find them worried over what they call communal divide.They do not hesitate saying that regional divide can be settled but the communal divide must be ended as soon as possible.They are right.The result of this divide is that for the Kashmiris Jammuites are untouchables and the vice versa.Again the result is that the traders in Kashmir have snapped their trade links with their counterparts in Jammu.The impact of the land row on the political scene has been equally distressing,more in the valley than in the Jammu region.In the Kashmir valley normal political activity has got grounded after the separatists took centre stage while raising one issue after the other.Their cry for Azadi has unnerved mainstream political leaders and they dare not organise public rallies.Yes their political activities are confined to their party headquarters.A stage has come when for the Muftis Jammu is,these days,almost a prohibited area.National Conference supporters and leaders organised a party function where the party chief,Omar Abdullah,was the Chief guest but apart from resorting to a flag war Omar's activities were confined to the Sheri Kashmir Bhawan.As far as the Congress is concerned some of its former MLAs and ministers have started holding small rallies but for Ghulam Nabi Azad the atmosphere is yet to be as congenial as it was prior to the rise of the land row.He has done a lot for the state as chief Minister and once he starts playing the development card he would draw many listners to his rallies.
The BJP and the Panthers Party believe that the land row has been a God's gift to them.Their leaders do not face any ire from the people but it is yet too early to say whether these two organisations are able to convert the favourable peoples' response into their vote bank.As far as the impact of the land row on the state's economy is concerned the losses have hit hard traders,transporters,hoteliers and ohers connected with tourism and pilgrim traffic.Besides this the State's development activities suffered a major setback.It is in this context some parties,especially the PDP,the CPIM and the National Conference pleaded with the members of the Election Commission for postponement of the election.Those who wanted the election to be deferred were valley centric because Kashmir,which is their main base,is yet to witness pro-PDP or pro_National Conference wave.Their worry is that when their political activities remained dormant for the last over three months what will their leaders be able to do if the elections were held either in the middle or towards the end of November.And they want confidence building measures,which includes rehabilitation of the families of slain militants and demilitarisation to precede elections.They know that these confidence building measures cannot be completed within days or weeks but they have aired their views on the issue simply to regain goodwill and support of people.
Another worry they harbour is that in case the valley witnessed very poor percentage of polling they could be losers. In 2002 election the totl percentage of voting was 43.69.This favourable figure was the result of high polling percentage from Kupwara(53.15),Badgam(46)Kargil(75)Kathua(61.19)Poonch(53.92),Jammu and Doda(57 and 53 respectively).The PDP leadership seems to be worried on account of its fears that the valley may witness lower percentage of polling than registered in 2002.In 2002 though the PDP won 16 seats its total share of polled votes was9.28 followed by the Congress,which had won 20 seats,having secured24.24 per cent.The National Conference,having won 28 seats,had secured28.24 percentage of polled votes.Prior to the land row the PDP was well placed and its leaders were planning to make a clean sweep in the polling to the extent of winning absolute majority.At present its poll fortune has registered a down hill journey. |
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