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| NC-PDP tussle to enter a crucial phase | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 24: If the National Conference leadership is worried it has a reason for being so. If its partner in power, the Congress, is upset it too has a reason. The ruling alliance is perturbed over the PDP plan of launching a movement against Delhi for not resuming the stalled composite dialogue with Islamabad. The PDP has spelled out a number of reasons which have prompted it to launch the agitation. The stir is for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), reduction of troops, release of detainees, resolution of the Kashmir issue and allied matters. The PDP patron has been an a supporter of the resumption of the composite dialogue and he had been heard raising this issue, from time to time, in the conferences, seminars, in public rallies.
It had no impact. Hence he has decided to involve people so that Delhi was left with no other alternative but to resume the dialogue with Islamabad. Normally Mufti's call for stir should have not given sleepless nights to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who has claimed that the security situation has improved.
The experience the Government had in dealing with people's resistance movement in 2008-2009 and later in handling the groups of people pelting stones one police and the paramilitary forces seem to have made the ruling coalition wiser than it is otherwise believed to be. Normally police will not be asked to quell down people's protest by opening fire. There are fears that some extremists may sneak into the slogan shouting groups of people for committing some mischief. Once it happens one can imagine the grave consequences that flow from it.
It is in this context that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, wants the PDP patron, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, to understand that Delhi would be willing to resume the composite dialogue if Islamabad fulfilled India's demand for not allowing Pakistan's soil for exporting terror to the Indian states. Omar is himself a votary for the resumption of the dialogue and he has been pleading with Delhi to keep Islamabad engaged in talks. Earlier Omar too used to be in favour of reduction of troops and the repeal of the AFSPA but of late he has become wise enough to leave these issues to the security agencies, especially the Army commanders to decide.
He is right because last time he had persuaded the Union Home Minister, P.C. Chidambaram, and the Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, to drop a hint on the reduction of troops and the revocation or amendment to the AFSPA. They did so but the Army Chief, acting on the advice of the field commanders, opposed the plan. It had been decided that for a period of another six months the Government will watch the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and take decision accordingly.
The Mufti is not prepared to wait for six months. He seems to be adamant on launching the movement for persuading Delhi to resume the composite dialogue and for the repeal of the AFSPA and for reduction of troops. He is so determined that he is prepared to be equated with Kashmiri separatists. He has said that if he was dubbed as a separatist he had no problem because some of the issues raised by the PDP were similar to the one raised by the separatists and this includes the release of the detainees, reduction of troops, revocation of the AFSPA and the resumption of Delhi-Islamabad dialogue. He is opposed to what he calls cosmetics talks or dialogue between the two sides.
Why the Mufti is in a hurry now? He has been waiting for a number of years to stage a comeback, that too with a bang, in the political arena. He wants to demonstrate his strength in the state so that Delhi neither ignores him nor underestimates him. He wants to convey to Delhi that he is not a spent up force and his PDP has the strength and stamina to highlight not only the problems of the people of the state but of the people in South Asia. Indications are that his movement may evoke good response from the people in Kashmir because the issues that the Mufti has touched are very dear to the Kashmiris. In addition to this the Mufti will utilise the movement for securing people's support for his self-rule concept.
Hence from April 26,when the PDP launches the movement, the confrontation and the conflict between the National Conference and the PDP is likely to enter into a new but crucial phase. One will watch with interest how NC leadership will meet the new challenge. Will it opt for democratic process or favour strong arm tactics?
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