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| Political resolution of J&K BJP | | Exercise In Self-Deception | | Neha
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 23: The state unit of the BJP, which is vertically divided into several camps and whose 7 MLAs dumbfounded the people of Jammu province only a couple of months ago by cross voting in favour of the Congress and NC candidates seeking election to the Legislative Council, released its political resolution to the press the other day. The resolution, among other things, talked about the state's bonds with rest of the country, discrimination with Jammu, Article 370, delimitation of assembly constituencies, Jammu Central University, the Army presence in the state, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, unemployment problem and refugee problem. It was, in fact, a carbon copy of its earlier political resolution.
The resolution sought the people of Jammu province to believe that the BJP would neither allow anyone to "dilute the state's bonds with rest of the country" nor would it allow anyone to force the authorities in New Delhi to withdraw Army and the AFSPA from the State." The resolution also sought the people of Jammu to believe that it is committed to creating a situation in the province that would force the state government to end discriminatory policies towards Jammu, as also force the Indian law-makers to abrogate Article 370 under which the state enjoys a very special status in the Union. Besides, the resolution sought to convince the people that the BJP would see to it that delimitation commission is constituted, Jammu Central University established and the age-old problem of the refugees resolved to their satisfaction. The resolution said these were some of the issues the BJP regards as "core" issues.
Indeed, the issues the BJP took up and reflected on were the core issues as far as the people of Jammu province are concerned. In fact, the people of Jammu province had returned to the assembly as many as 11 BJP legislators with the hope that they would enter the Assembly, fight for the cause of their constituency and obtain what they had promised in their 2008 election manifesto. It was for the first time that the people of Jammu had expressed their confidence in as many as 11 candidates seeking election to the Assembly. Earlier, the BJP used to capture 2 to five seats. In 1996, it had for the first time increased its tally to 8.
However, the fundamental question is: Does the BJP mean what it says? The answer cannot be in the affirmative. The BJP has never meant what it would say from time to time to garner votes. A reference here to just three instances would be enough to lay bare the disparities between what it says and it actually does. Leave aside those in the party who got votes in the name of Jammu and nation but subsequently voted for those rabidly opposed to Jammu and in favour of a dispensation that is outside the Indian Constitution.
One, in 2008, the BJP had deleted that portion from the election manifesto that dealt with Article 370. Earlier in 1998, BJP veteran Vajpayee had declared that Article 370 shall ever remain part of the Indian Constitution. Besides, Vajpayee as Prime Minister had talked of resolution of the Kashmir issue "within the parameters of insaniyat." In fact, he had made up his mind to compromise the Indian position of J&K in 1999. His foreign minister and the Pakistani foreign minister had virtually reached an agreement under which the state was to be divided on communal lines and Kashmir and its adjoining areas were to be granted "maximum possible autonomy."
Two, in 2008, the BJP did not think it prudent to include in its manifesto any roadmap for Jammu. So much so that it didn't talk even about regional development board or regional council. Between 1996 and 1997, the BJP had adopted at least four resolutions demanding reorganization of the state. Only the BJP leadership knows why did not it talk about any political instrument for the people of Jammu province. Had it thought of sharing power with the National Conference? Or, had it entered into some secret pact with the National Conference? Only the BJP can answer these questions. But the rumour in 2008 was that a section of the BJP had been toying with the idea of forming a coalition government with the National Conference. The BJP leadership was then expecting to capture 20 to 22 seats in the assembly. The BJP was so confident.
Three, the BJP has been talking about delimitation since long. But the fact is that all the 8 BJP MLAs had in February 2002 made common cause with the National Conference and had voted en block for a constitutional amendment that banned delimitation of constituencies for decades together.
These instances create serious doubts in the minds of the people of Jammu province about the BJP's commitment and its public pronouncements. In fact, the situation has now climaxed to the point that no one is prepared to trust the BJP. The BJP leadership is responsible for the rise of such a situation in the region. It will have to work hard to win back the trust of the estranged people. Adoption of resolutions would not help the BJP in any way. It has to show results on the ground. This is the only option available to the BJP, which is, undoubtedly, passing through a very critical phase. |
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